Many English tests include the fill-in-the-blanks task.
However, the PTE Core Reading Fill in the Blanks part might be a bit different.
While the test gives you the answer options in advance, some similar words might confuse test-takers.
Don’t worry; PTE Magic is here to help you with our tried-and-true tips.
Let’s take a look.
Key Takeaways
- The PTE Core Reading Fill in the Blanks part requires you to fill the gaps in a passage with the provided words.
- When doing this task, pay attention to grammatical cues to identify the missing words.
- Don’t be confused with similar or related words.
- Practice with mock tests on reliable platforms for the best score.
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About PTE Core Reading Fill In The Blanks
The Fill in the Blanks task in the PTE Core Reading section is identical to the PTE test.
In the beginning, the test will provide you with a paragraph with several gaps.
The given text can be up to 80 words long.
At the bottom, there is a blue box with some words.
Your job is to fill in the blanks using the provided words.
However, the test will give more words than the available blank spaces.
This increases the difficulty level because you have to consider more possible answers.
To give your answer, click on the word you want and drag it to the appropriate gaps.
You can change the position of the word between blanks by clicking on it and dragging it to the new place.
If you want to erase the word from a blank space, simply drag it back to the blue box at the bottom.
There will be 4 to 5 questions for this part, so allocate your time wisely.
This task assesses your reading skills.
In particular, it tests your ability to utilize grammatical and contextual hints to complete the passage.
Your answer is scored based on a partial scoring mechanism.
If you fill a gap correctly, you will get one point.
The good news is that your score won’t be deducted for incorrect responses.
5 Tips For PTE Core Reading Fill In The Blanks
Identify Grammatical Clues
The first step is to skim through the provided passage.
This enables you to grasp the overall idea and context of the text.
While scanning, highlight the keywords and pay attention to grammatical clues, especially before and after the gaps.
Some hints to focus on are collocations and parts of speech.
For example, “He is going to … that song in the next concert.”
The missing word must be a bare infinitive verb.
So, cross out any nouns, adjectives, or other words that don’t match the part of speech.
There are some common rules to keep in mind:
- A preposition should come with a gerund (V-ing) or noun.
- After “to,” it can be a bare infinitive verb or present participle (V-ing).
- An adjective is typically followed by a noun.
Differentiate Confused Words With Similar Meanings
The test might give you some words with close meanings or spellings to mislead you.
Try to differentiate their meanings and usage to choose the correct one.
It’s recommended to consider the context to find the word that really fits in.
Here’s a trick: When skimming the text, think of the possible answer for each gap.
Then, look at the list of words and find the one with the closest meaning compared to what you’ve thought of.
Learn More Collocations & Vocabulary
Vocabulary is key to dealing with this Fill in the Blanks task.
If you lack vocabulary, you can’t understand the context or the provided words.
So, remember to learn new words on different topics.
Focus on collocations, phrasal verbs, and idioms.
Additionally, you should learn a whole phrase instead of a single word to understand its usage better.
Spend No More Than 2 Minutes On This Task
Our experts recommend that you should not spend over 2 minutes solving this task.
The provided paragraph is shorter than other reading parts, so you don’t have to read it for too long.
Furthermore, there are 4 to 5 questions in this part.
If you allocate too much time to a single question, you’ll risk losing score on others.
Practice With Mock Tests
Practicing with mock tests is the shortcut to perform better in this Fill in the Blanks task.
It’s because mock tests imitate the real test format and use similar topics.
This allows you to sharpen your skills and speed up your reading time.
It’s also a great way to improve your time management skills.
However, you should turn to reliable websites like PTE Magic.
They offer diverse practice materials and personalized feedback to enhance your proficiency.
Conclusion
It’s undoubted that grammatical hints help you a lot when doing the PTE Core Reading Fill in the Blanks part.
They allow you to eliminate inappropriate words and narrow down the possible options.
So, solid grammar knowledge and extensive vocabulary are key to better results.
Remember to practice with mock tests to get used to the format and time pressure!
