PTE Reading Tips 2026: Re-order Paragraphs & Fill in the Blanks

PTE Reading is the shortest section at only 29-30 minutes but contains 5 different item types that require fast, accurate decision-making. The biggest challenge is Re-order Paragraphs — a time-consuming task that many students struggle with. This guide covers strategies for each item type, time allocation, and the collocation knowledge that separates 65-scorers from 79-scorers.

PTE Reading Section Overview

Re-order Paragraphs — Strategy

Re-order Paragraphs is the most time-consuming Reading item. You are given 4-5 text boxes in random order and must arrange them into a logical paragraph. The systematic approach:

Step 1: Find the topic sentence. The first sentence of a paragraph typically: introduces a new concept, does NOT start with a pronoun (he, she, they, this, these), and does NOT contain transition words that refer back (however, moreover, consequently). This is your starting sentence.

Step 2: Look for pronoun and reference chains. If a sentence says "This approach," find the sentence that introduces the "approach." If a sentence says "They argued," find who "they" refers to. Pronouns and demonstratives (this, that, these, those) always refer back to something in a previous sentence.

Step 3: Check logical flow. Cause should come before effect. General statements before specific examples. Introduction of a concept before discussion of its implications. Time-sequential events in chronological order.

Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks

This item contributes to both Reading and Writing scores — making it high-value. You select words from dropdown menus to complete blanks in a passage. The key skill is collocations — knowing which words naturally go together in English.

Strategy: Read the full sentence around the blank before selecting. Check for grammar fit (noun vs verb vs adjective vs adverb). Check for collocation fit ("make a decision" not "do a decision"). Eliminate obviously wrong options first. If two options seem similar, re-read the surrounding context for the best semantic fit.

Collocation practice: Build a bank of common academic collocations. EEC provides collocation lists categorised by topic. Daily practice with 10-15 collocation exercises significantly improves FIB accuracy.

Reading Fill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop)

Similar to R&W FIB but you drag words from a word bank to fill blanks. The word bank contains more words than blanks — distractors are included. Strategy: same as R&W FIB — grammar fit, collocation, and semantic context. Eliminate distractors that do not fit grammatically first (e.g., a verb cannot fill a noun position).

MCQ Multiple Answer — Negative Marking Warning

This item has negative marking. Each correct option selected earns +1 point. Each incorrect option selected earns -1 point. The minimum score for the item is 0 (cannot go negative overall).

MCQ Single Answer

No negative marking for MCQ Single Answer. Always attempt this item — even a guess has a 25-33% chance of being correct, and there is no penalty for guessing wrong. Read the passage, eliminate obviously incorrect options, and select the best remaining answer.

Time Management for 30 Minutes

The total adds up to approximately 29-30 minutes. There is very little buffer — every minute counts. Do not linger on any single item. The items you answer quickly and correctly contribute the same marks as items you agonise over.

Common Reading Mistakes

1. Spending too long on Re-order: Set a 2-minute timer. After that, commit to your best arrangement.

2. Over-selecting MCQ Multiple: Negative marking means fewer confident selections beat many uncertain ones.

3. Ignoring collocations: Fill in Blanks items often test collocations, not just vocabulary. "Conduct research" not "make research."

4. Not reading the full sentence: Context before AND after the blank matters. Read the complete surrounding text.

EEC PTE Reading Practice

EEC's coaching includes dedicated Reading practice with collocation drills, timed Re-order Paragraphs exercises, and FIB accuracy workshops. Combine with our Listening Tips for complete PTE preparation.

“Re-order Paragraphs is where most Indian students lose the most marks in Reading. The key is finding the topic sentence first — it never starts with a pronoun or conjunction.”

— EEC PTE Reading Coach, Academic Reading Specialist

Related Resources & Further Reading

Ready to begin? Register for a free demo class. PTE is also accepted for study in New Zealand. Planning Canada? See our study in Canada options. Read our PTE Academic complete guide. Read our PTE fee structure in India. Read our PTE Academic vs PTE Core. Read our PTE scores for Australia PR. Read our PTE vs IELTS comparison. Read our PTE preparation tips for 79+. Also explore our IELTS complete guide. Also explore our IELTS vs PTE comparison. Also explore our IELTS Band 7 tips. Visit EEC Ahmedabad or EEC Surat for in-person guidance. Use our IELTS vs PTE comparison page for a side-by-side breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

PTE Reading questions from students: