The Reorder Paragraphs is a question type in the PTE Reading section that challenges many students.

Understandably, test-takers fail to earn high scores or even skip this part when they are in a tight time frame. These questions require excellent reading, time management skills, and a good sense of logical thinking.

If you are a beginner and feel perplexed about this part, here are 5 Reorder Paragraphs PTE tips from high-scorers that PTE Magic wants to share with you today.

Let’s take a look.

Key Takeaways

• The Reorder Paragraphs part requires you to arrange jumbled sentences into the correct order, forming a cohesive paragraph.
• The scoring is tricky, as the system only gives you 1 mark for every 2 correct sentences.
• Below are five Reorder Paragraphs PTE tips and practice from high-scorers.

Related:

• Everything you need to know about the PTE test
• Tips for cracking the PTE test
• PTE reading tips for beginners

Overview of the Section

As the name implies, the Reorder Paragraphs part requires you to arrange jumbled sentences into the correct order, forming a cohesive paragraph. 

This is to assess your understanding of the cohesion or flow in English in a specific context. Overall, there are about 2 to 3 Reorder Paragraph questions in the test.

At first, you will receive several text boxes, mostly 5,  in a random order on the left side of the screen, each representing a sentence. The total length of the paragraph is about 150 words.

Your job is to drag and drop the provided text boxes in the panel on the right side of the screen in the right order. Otherwise, you can use the arrow buttons on the screen to move those sentences vertically or horizontally.

As easy as it may sound, the scoring is quite tricky, as you will not earn any score for only 1 correct sentence. Instead, the system only gives you 1 mark for every 2 correct sentences. For example, if you place 3 sentences in the right sequence, you will receive 2 marks, while 5 correct text boxes equal 4 marks. 

With 2 to 3 questions, you can expect to earn up to 8 to 12 marks in this section.

Sample: The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel.

Answer: E-C-D-B-A

 

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5 PTE Reading Reorder Paragraph Tips

Tip 1. Read All The Provided Text

A common blunder of exam candidates is forgetting to read all the sentences from the beginning, thinking that they are short in time. However, reading all the text boxes gives you an overview of the topic and purpose of the paragraph. This way, it’s easier to get the hang of the logic.

Tip 2. Find The Topic Sentence

Every paragraph has a lead sentence that should come out on top. So, the next step is to locate this sentence and put it in the first place. This opening sentence should cover the topic of the text. Some tricks to determine it are:

• It conveys a full meaning and can stand alone without supporting ideas. It should not state any specific information or action.
• Most topic sentences don’t come with a subject pronoun, such as she, he, it, they, etc. Words like research or study are unlikely to appear in the first sentence.
• You should also rule out sentences with transition words like whereas, additionally, therefore, etc., or conjunctions like if, although, unless, etc.

Tip 3. Pay Attention To Linking Words

True to their names, linking words are used to connect sentences. Therefore, spotting these words can help you understand the relationships between sentences.

For instance, a sentence that begins with “therefore” implies a consequence or result, so the preceding one should represent a case or a reason. Meanwhile, if the transition word is “however” or “nevertheless,” the prior sentence should state the opposite idea. 

Tip 4. Understand The Logical Order

The logical order of a paragraph is built on a time sequence, a cause-and-effect relationship, contrast, etc. You can rely on these relationships to figure out the logic. 

The easiest clue is the time sequence, if any. Rearrange those text boxes in the order of past, present, and future events.

Use Grammar Clues

Besides the linking words mentioned above, other grammar clues can guide you to the right order. Take articles, for example. The use of “a” or “an” indicates that the following subject or topic is introduced, and sentences with “the” should follow after that.

The noun-pronoun relationship is also worth your consideration. Whenever you come across a pronoun like she, he, it, and so on, ask yourself: Who is she/he, and what is it? 

Then, you can easily find what these pronouns represent, and those people or objects should appear first in the paragraph.

Start With Brief Information And Then Details

The hierarchy of a paragraph mostly goes from an introduction, some brief points, and finally, details. We’ve mentioned that the lead sentence is the introduction, so your job is to identify the main points and their supporting ideas. 

5. Experiment And Manage Your Time Effectively

Trials and errors grant you a lot of lessons, potentially leading you to the right answer. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different orders and compare the results within the allotted time. 

If the arranged paragraph reads smoothly, you can submit the answer. Otherwise, try to reorder the sentences until you reach a good flow. Remember to review the final paragraph before hitting the submit button.

When confused with one text box, don’t waste your time reading it over and over again. Instead, move to the next sentence or skip to the next question.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The PTE Reorder Paragraph task calls for a strong, efficient approach. It’s vital to practice this as you get ready for the PTE Reading section. During your practice for this part of the exam, if you notice yourself making the following mistakes, it’s best to address them immediately:

• Failing to identify the Topic Sentence first: This is the most common error. Many test-takers start arranging the sentences randomly. They don’t first find the most general statement that introduces the main subject of the paragraph. That is often an independent sentence, not beginning with conjunctions (like but, however, for example, therefore) or pronouns (like they, it, she, he) that haven’t been introduced yet.
• Ignoring linking words and cohesive pronouns: Transition words (like firstly, in addition, consequently, moreover) and pronouns (this, those, they, it) are crucial “clues”. You can rely on them to identify the relationships between sentences. Skipping them will make it difficult for you to determine which sentences go together or their logical order.
• Disregarding chronological or logical order: Many paragraphs describe a process, a sequence of events, or a cause-and-effect relationship. If you don’t pay attention to time-indicating words (first, next, finally) or cause-and-effect relationships, you’ll easily misarrange the order.
• Spending too much time on one question: Although this section demands focus, getting bogged down in a difficult question will cost you valuable time for others. If you feel completely stuck, make your best guess for the arrangement and move on to the next question.
• Not re-reading the reorder paragraph: After arranging the sentences, many candidates skip the step of reading the entire paragraph again to check for coherence and logic. Re-reading helps you spot any “awkward” or illogical parts in the flow of ideas.
• Pairing sentences without understanding the overall meaning: Some test-takers are acquainted with looking at overlapping keywords between two sentences and automatically pair them up without truly grasping the complete semantic relationship. This leads to creating sentence pairs that sound related but don’t logically fit within the overall context of the paragraph.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Sentences Are Usually in a PTE Reorder Paragraph Question?

Typically, you’ll find 4 to 7 sentences that need to be rearranged to form a coherent paragraph.

How Much Time Should I Spend On This Section?

While there’s no fixed time per question, you should aim for about 1.5 to 2 minutes per question. Since the entire Reading section is timed, effective time management is crucial.

What’s The Best Strategy For Solving Reorder Paragraph Questions?

A good strategy involves:

• The first is to identify the topic sentence.
• Look for linking words, pronouns, and time markers to connect subsequent sentences.
• Group sentences that logically belong together.
• Reading the complete paragraph, you’ve formed a check for flow and coherence.

Can Practicing Reorder Paragraph help my overall PTE Score?

Absolutely! This section tests your reading comprehension and understanding of textual coherence. These fundamental skills are essential for the entire PTE Academic test. Improving this test section can indirectly benefit other reading-related tasks.

What Types Of Logical Relationships Should I Look For Between Sentences?

You ought to look for relationships such as:

• Cause-and-effect: (e.g., because, as a result, consequently)
• Comparison-contrast: (e.g., however, similarly, in contrast)
• Enumeration-illustration: (e.g., firstly, for example, such as)
• Chronological order: (e.g., initially, then, finally)
• Elaboration/Addition: (e.g., furthermore, in addition)
• Recognizing these types of relationships will help you connect the sentences more accurately.

Are There Any Tips for Handing Longer Paragraphs With Many Sentences?

You can try to break down the task. First, identify the topic sentence. Then, look for clear pairs of sentences that are closely related (for example, one sentence introduces a name, and the next uses a pronoun to refer to that person).

Build the paragraph section by section, then put the parts together and read the whole thing to check.

Should I Try To Understand Every Single Word or Skim To Grasp The Main Idea?

Start by skimming all the sentences to get the main idea and overall topic. After that, delve into each sentence to find the linking cues. 

Trying to understand every single word from the start can waste your time. The goal is overall coherence, not sentence-by-sentence translation.

Conclusion

The 5 Reorder Paragraphs PTE tips above are compiled from high-scorers, ensuring you can confidently ace the test. Grammar and logic are the keys to earning the maximum mark for this part. Additionally, you should not spend too much time on a single question but allocate time evenly to complete the whole section.

Don’t forget to practice daily, and visit PTE Magic for more help!