PTE Reading- Fill in the Blanks and Multiple Choice

The PTE Reading section is the second segment of the Pearson Test of English. As the name suggests, this section focuses primarily on the reading skills of an individual regarding the English language. Since reading skills are a fundamental part of an individual’s language proficiency, the PTE Reading section aims at a thorough assessment of this communicative skill of a person.

Several individuals find the reading portion of a language proficiency assessment to be a tough undertaking. For some people, their reading skills are the sole focus of their preparation for exams like the PTE. However, the PTE exam takes a simplistic approach to assessing the reading skills of a candidate. This is what makes the PTE Reading section an easy segment to overcome as compared to the reading assessment of other language proficiency tests.

The PTE Reading section consists of five different question types. All the question types included in this section require reading comprehension, including the ‘Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks’ where candidates have to use their writing skills as well. The scoring criteria may vary depending on the type of question being answered in this section.

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PTE Reading

Various English language proficiency tests are available for potential immigrants who wish to migrate to an English-speaking country. A popular English language proficiency test is the Pearson Test of English or PTE.

The PTE test is a computer-based examination that evaluates a candidate’s abilities in the English language by testing the four core communication skills. Administered by one of the leading learning companies in the world, Pearson, the PTE helps students understand where their capabilities lie according to the Global Scale of English and not British or American standards exclusively.

This exam is designed to test a candidate’s English language skills in a very comprehensive manner. If a candidate successfully achieves a decent score in the PTE exam, it can be safely assumed that the candidate is well-versed in the English language and can comfortably communicate in a society where the primary language is English. There are three parts of the PTE exam: Speaking and Writing together, Reading and Listening.

PTE Reading Question Types

As already mentioned above, the PTE Reading section includes five different types of questions that are aimed at providing a thorough assessment of a candidate’s reading skills. These questions are specially designed to evaluate how well an individual would be able to utilize their reading skills in the English language in various contexts and social settings. A detailed overview of the PTE Reading section and the various question types included in this segment is given below.

Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks

The ‘Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks’ questions evaluate both the reading as well as writing skills of a candidate. There are 5-6 questions in this category. They include passages with missing words and the test taker has to choose the most appropriate word from the given set of options.

Example:

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer

This section includes multiple-choice questions where there are more than one correct responses. The candidate has to select the options that are correct based on their understanding of the passage given in the question. There are typically 1-2 questions in this category. Candidates must note that they will lose score points if they choose the incorrect option.

Example:

Re-order Paragraphs

In this section, test-takers will be given a series of text boxes in random order and they have to arrange them in a way so that the sentences create a meaningful passage. There are 2-3 questions in this category. It is advisable that candidates read the text boxes quickly before attempting to re-order them.

Example:

Fill in the Blanks

In this section, test-takers are presented with a passage with some missing words and they have to select the correct option from the given alternatives. There is only one correct option for each gap. One has to be careful about choosing the correct answer as there are more words than gaps and one will not have to use all the words provided. There are typically 4-5 questions included in this category.

Example:

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

This is another section that involves multiple-choice questions, but in this section, there is only one option from the given options that is correct for each question. Candidates are supposed to read a text extract and choose the correct options by noting the important keywords. There are 1-2 questions included in this category.

Candidates should understand that the PTE test aims to evaluate the test-takers in the most meticulous manner possible. Thus, candidates should prepare according to the format of the test so that they are comfortable with the kind of questions asked in the PTE exam.

Example:

PTE Reading Tips

No matter how well you are prepared for a particular exam, it is always helpful to know certain points and strategies to aid your performance. These strategies and tips can significantly improve your overall performance in the PTE Reading section if used correctly and at the right moment. Given below are some important tips for candidates to keep in mind when answering the PTE Reading section.

1. Read the questions carefully and multiple times to clarify the type of the required answer and where to look for the same.
2. Do not leave any questions unanswered, especially for question types where negative marking does not apply.
3. Make a habit of reading long texts as quickly as possible to save time during the exam. Reading newspaper articles, journals, and blogs is an effective way to develop this skill.
4. Candidates must remember that the answers may not be presented in the order of the questions in the given passages. Candidates should learn to retain information and not lose track of any important points. Making notes is a useful strategy for keeping track of key information.
5. Do not spend too much time on one question. Ideally, each question should be answered in 2 minutes during the PTE Reading section.