PTE reading practice for every question type
Eight question types make up your PTE reading score. Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks counts most, at about 25 per cent.
By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated
What to know about PTE reading
Where your reading score comes from
Pearson's figures for an average test.
- RWFIBReading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks25%
- SWTSummarize Written Text23%
- RFIBReading: Fill in the Blanks20%
- HIWHighlight Incorrect Words13%
- RORe-order Paragraphs9%
- MCMMultiple Choice, Multiple Answers5%
- MCSMultiple Choice, Single Answer3%
- HCSHighlight Correct Summary3%
PTE reading question types
In the reading part
This part takes 23 to 30 minutes.
- RWFIB25%
of reading
Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Choose each word from a dropdown list.
A text of up to 300 words.
- MCM5%
of reading
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Wrong answers lose marks.
A text of up to 350 words.
- RO9%
of reading
Re-order Paragraphs
A text of up to 150 words.
- RFIB20%
of reading
Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Drag words from a list into the gaps.
A text of up to 80 words.
- MCS3%
of reading
Multiple Choice, Single Answer
A text of up to 300 words.
From other parts of the test
- SWT23%
of reading
Summarize Written Text
Write one sentence of 5 to 75 words.
10 minutes for a passage of up to 300 words.
In the speaking and writing partAlso counts for writing
- HCS3%
of reading
Highlight Correct Summary
A recording of 30 to 90 seconds.
In the listening partAlso counts for listening
- HIW13%
of reading
Highlight Incorrect Words
Wrong clicks lose marks.
A recording of 15 to 50 seconds.
In the listening partAlso counts for listening
How to practise reading
Skim the whole text first
Read before and after each gap
Pick only what you're sure of
Find the topic sentence first
In Re-order Paragraphs, it's the sentence that makes sense without the others. It doesn't start with a linking word or a pronoun.
The question
Which reasons does the writer give for planting more street trees?
Your picks
- They keep streets cooler in summer., picked, right+1
- They lower the cost of parking.
- They bring more tourists., picked, wrong−1
- They help to clean the air., picked, right+1
- They replace public parks.
Each right pick earns a mark and each wrong pick takes one away. Without the wrong pick, this answer scores full marks.
Once you've tried every question type, take a full mock. It's timed like the real exam, with a score for every skill. Take a free PTE mock test.
Common questions
How is PTE reading scored?
How can I improve my PTE reading score?
Is there negative marking in PTE reading?
How long is the PTE reading part?
Which PTE reading question type is the most important?
Can I practise PTE reading for free?
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