PTE Core Reading is one of the three sections in the exam.

This part doesn’t only evaluate your reading comprehension skills but also other abilities like writing.

Each question type requires different knowledge and methods to score high.

This guide by PTE Magic will help you approach the task more easily!

Key Takeaways

• The PTE Core Reading section encompasses five parts, including Fill in the Blanks, Reorder Paragraph, etc.
• Your answers are scored by an AI system. For some questions, your points might be deducted.
• To get a high score, manage your time wisely, practice reading, and expand your vocabulary. Find more tricks below!

Related:

• PTE Core preparation tips and tricks

PTE Core Reading Format

This section includes 5 main parts:

Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing)

You will see a text of up to 200 words with several gaps. There is a box next to each black. Click on the arrow to open the list of words. They are different forms of a word.

Your job is to select the correct option from the drop-down menu to fill in the blanks. You are allowed to change your response by clicking on another word from the list. 

Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

Initially, the task gives you a prompt of up to 275 words long. After reading the text, you need to answer several multiple-choice questions. These inquiries are about the content or the tone of the prompt. 

However, candidates must choose more than one answer. Your selected options will be highlighted in yellow. If you want to change your response, click on it to deselect it and choose other answers.

Reorder Paragraph

You will be provided with a list of sentences in random order. Each sentence comes in a text box. You have to rearrange them in the correct order, creating a meaningful paragraph of up to 110 words.

To move the boxes, click on it and drag it to the desired position. Or else, select a box and press the arrow buttons to reorder it.

Fill in the Blanks (Reading)

With this item, the test provides you with a text of 80 words at maximum. There will be some blanks, and you need to fill in them with the right word. A blue box at the bottom includes a list of missing words. You have to select the correct one for each gap.

Multiple Choice, Single Answer

This task is similar to the Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer item. However, you only have to select one correct answer for each question.

PTE Core Reading Score Chart

Pearson employs an automated scoring algorithm for the PTE Core examination. The AI system works based on data collected from over 10,000 real candidates. They come from 38 different cities in over 20 countries. This ensures the fairness and accuracy of the scoring system.

Below is the detailed score chart for the PTE Core Reading part:

Question Type	Number of Questions	How Is It Scored	How Your Skills Are Assessed
Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing)	5-6	Partial	Reading & writing: 1 point for every correctly filled gap 0 points for incorrect answers
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers	1-2	Partial	Reading: 1 point for every correct response -1 point for every incorrect response
Reorder Paragraph	2-3	Partial	Reading: 1 point for every consecutive pair of correct boxes 0 points for incorrect ones
Fill in the Blanks	4-5	Partial	Reading: 1 point for every correctly filled gap 0 points for wrong answers
Multiple Choice, Single Answer	1-2	Correct/Incorrect	Reading: 1 point for every correct answer 0 points for wrong answers

Note: Partial credits mean points are given to each correct answer. In some cases, incorrect responses will reduce the score.

6 PTE Core Reading Tips And Tricks (450w)

Skim And Scan The Prompt To Get The Context

Prompts in the PTE Core Reading section are from 80 to 275 words long. So, you should scan through both the text and the questions to get the overall idea. This only takes you several seconds, but knowing the context will help you choose the right answer. 

For example, in the Fill in the Blanks task, understanding the context allows you to think of related words and prepare your brain. 

Or, in the Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer item, you should skim the questions and highlight the keywords. Then, you can easily come up with the answer while reading the text.

Look For Keywords And Collocations

The test time is limited. You can’t read the text over and over again just to find the answer to a single question. Instead, make sure to identify the keywords both in the text and the questions.

Pay attention to linking words or those that indicate contrasts, like “however,” “but,” “nevertheless,” etc. They are beneficial in the Reorder Paragraph part, allowing you to follow a logical order.

Also, look for collocations in the text. These phrases sometimes give you clues about the correct response. This is especially useful in Multiple Choice questions and the Fill in the Blanks task.

For instance, some adjectives typically go with certain nouns, such as heavy rain/traffic, severe injury/pain, etc.

Expand Your Vocabulary

Without sufficient vocabulary, you can’t get the entire message of the text. Make it a daily habit to learn new words and collocations for diverse topics. Remember to learn the usage and contexts of each word carefully.

In addition, go the extra mile by studying the antonyms and synonyms of each word. This is incredibly helpful in the Fill in the Blanks tasks. They require a deep understanding of word forms and usages.

Allocate Your Time Strategically

Time management is essential in the PTE Core exam. You must allocate the time for each section wisely. Spend time on easier questions first. Then, continue with complicated ones.

The Reorder Paragraph and Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer questions usually take more time than others. So, you should allocate more time to these tasks.

Don’t forget to spare some time to skim through the text and take notes. Scan through the prompt and highlight all the keywords and transition words in the text and questions.

Practice Reading Regularly

We recommend reading articles from various sources, such as books, newspapers, reports, academic writing, etc. This enables you to get used to different themes and writing styles. Also, reading frequently helps you hone your comprehension skills and improve your reading speed.

Take Mock Tests

Mock tests are powerful weapons that allow you to familiarize yourself with the exam. You can get the hang of not only the test format but also the time pressure. All questions in the mock tests are taken from the question banks, imitating the real PTE Core test.

Just remember to find a reliable website like PTE Magic for practicing!

Conclusion

The PTE Core Reading includes five question types.

All of them require great comprehension skills to get high points. The only way to improve your score is to read more and practice regularly with mock tests.

If you’re still struggling with this part, don’t hesitate to contact PTE Magic!