Imagine you are given a list of disordered sentences that make no sense.

How can you rearrange them correctly?

That’s exactly what you have to deal with in the PTE Core Reorder Paragraph.

If you still don’t know where to start, this article will help.

PTE Magic will share some expert tips to finish this task in no time.

Key Takeaways

• In the PTE Reorder Paragraph task, you have to rearrange misordered text boxes into a correct paragraph.
• This part employs a partial scoring mechanism.
• To deal with it, skim all the boxes and find the topic sentence first.
• Pay attention to some clues like pronouns, transition words, etc. Check more tips below!

Related:

• How to prepare for your next PTE Core test
• PTE Core Reading format
• Tips for the PTE Core Reading Multiple Choice Multiple Answers task

What To Know About The PTE Core Reorder Paragraph Task? 

Format

As the name suggests, in the PTE Core Reorder Paragraph, you have to rearrange some misplaced sentences into a logical paragraph.

Initially, you will be given several text boxes in a random order.

Each box typically contains one sentence only.

The original paragraph can be as long as 110 words.

This is also the difference between PTE Core and PTE tests.

The paragraph can be up to 150 words in PTE.

There is no time limit for this task.

However, don’t spend too much time on it, or you might be short on time for other parts.

How to Answer

To answer this type of question:

• Click the text box on the left side and drag it to the desired position on the right side.
• Otherwise, select the text box and hit the left and right arrow buttons at the bottom to move it.
• The up and down arrow buttons on the right side can be used to rearrange the text boxes.
• Click on any space on the screen to deselect a box.

Scoring

This task evaluates your reading skills.

Your answer reflects how much you understand about the cohesion and organization of the text.

A partial scoring system is applied to this part.

In particular, you will receive 1 point for each pair of correctly ordered, adjacent sentences. 

This means if one box is misplaced while the preceding or following one is incorrect, you won’t get any score.

8 Tips For PTE Core Reorder Paragraph

Skim All The Boxes Before Reordering

First, it’s advisable to skim all the provided text boxes in advance.

This will give you an overall understanding of the context.

While scanning, don’t forget to highlight the keywords of each sentence.

Pay attention to important information, such as names, places, numbers, or other special data.

Combining these keywords enables you to grasp the main ideas.

This also helps you identify the logical order of the misplaced text boxes.

Identify The Topic Sentence First

Every paragraph starts with a topic sentence, so the trick here is to identify it first.

This sentence should deliver the overall idea of the original paragraph.

This means all the text boxes can be linked to the topic sentence in one way or another.

Below are some clues to help you pinpoint this sentence:

• It usually stands alone without any supporting ideas.
• It doesn’t mention or connect to previously mentioned information.
• It shouldn’t start with a pronoun, a linker, or a definite article (the).
• It doesn’t typically contain a passive voice.

Pay Attention To Linking Words

Transition words are your compass to determine the logical order of the text boxes.

They inform you of the relationships between ideas.

For example, let’s say a sentence begins with “Therefore.” 

In this case, the preceding sentence must mention a cause or event that leads to that effect.

Identifying these linking words enables you to arrange the text boxes in pairs.

This minimizes the risk of you getting 0 points due to an incorrect box in two adjacent ones.

Look For The Sequential Or Chronological Order

If the text boxes mention events in a chronological or sequential order, you’re in luck!

There are many cues that help you arrange them in the right order.

For example, the words “first,” “next,” “then,” “finally,” etc., are obvious indicators.

Don’t Ignore The Pronouns

The use of pronouns throughout the text will give you some hints about the precise order.

They always come after proper nouns, which are capitalized.

Here is an example:

“Professor Taylor won’t go to class today. He’s got a fever.”

In the above sentences, the pronoun “he” should be used after the proper noun “Professor Taylor” is mentioned.

What if there are many proper nouns in the text? 

You have to read carefully to determine the matching pronoun for each proper noun.

Go From Brief To Detail

A rule of thumb is to put the overall ideas in front of supporting details.

This ensures the logical order of the paragraph.

For example, examples should go after a definition or a concept.

Or, a statement should be followed by evidence, like statistics or studies.

Review The Paragraph Before Submitting

Once you have arranged all the text boxes, don’t rush to submit your answer.

Spend a few minutes reviewing all the sentences one or two more times.

Does the paragraph read smoothly and logically?

Are there any sentences that still confuse you?

If unsure, try rearranging the boxes again until you’re confident with the paragraph.

When you can’t find any better way to reorder the sentences, just submit your answer and move on to the next task.

Avoid spending too much time on a single question!

Practice Reading More

Practice makes perfect, and there’s no exception for this Reorder Paragraph part.

Try reading medium to long paragraphs every day.

It’s best to practice with different topics, such as education, healthcare, politics, environment, etc.

Additionally, familiarize yourself with various writing tones, like academic writing, reports, emails, newspapers, and so on.

Conclusion

We hope you now hold the key to completing the PTE Core Reorder Paragraph task.

Remember to arrange the text boxes in pairs so you can receive scores.

Besides some tips for dealing with the task, don’t forget to practice reading at home!