The reading skills tested in PTE Academic include the following:Reading Skills

indentifying the topic and indentifying supporting points or examples and indentifying a summary

indentifying words and phrases appropriate to the context and identifying a writer's purpose, tone, technique and attitude

understanding academic vocabulary and the difference between connotation and denotation

inferring the meaning of unfamilier words and comprehending explicit and implicit information

comprehending concrete and abstract information and inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words

classifying and categorizing information and following a logical or chronological sequence of events and reading a text under timed conditions

About Reading & Exam FormatReading Details

reading skills tested in PTE Academic, Practice, PTE

Exam Format

Exam Format Of Reading

Overview of Reading items

Reading item types require you to understand an authentic text from an academic sourse.Five item types appear in the reading parts of PTE Academic. the total time to complete the reading part of the test is approximately 32-41 minutes, depending on the combination of items in agiven test.Reading & Writing: Fill in the blanks is an integrated item type that assesses both reading and writing skills.

Authentic texts about academic subjects in the humanities, natural sciences or social sciences are presented. Although you may not be familiar with the topics presented, all the information you need to answer the items is contained in the texts. You may take notes using the Erasable Noteboard Booklet and pen, and use these notes as a guide when answering the items.

Reading Item types5 Item Types

mouse hover on the image to see the video

Multiple-choice, choose single answer

Multiple-choice, choose single answer is a multiple-choice reading item type with a single correct response. It tests your ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate a short reading text on an academic subject. It assesses reading skills.

You response is scored as either correct or incorrect.No credit is given for no response or an incorrect response.

  • For this item type you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question.
  • There are several possible response options but only one is correct.
  • To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it, or left-click on a different option.

mouse hover on the image to see the video

Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

Multiple-choice, choose multiple answer is a multiple-choice reading item type with a more than one correct response. It tests your ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate a short reading text on an academic subject. It assesses reading skills

If all the response options are correct, you recieve the maximum score points for this item type. If one or more response options are incorrect, partial credit scoring applies.

  • For this item type you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question. There is more than one correct response.
  • You need to select all the response options that you think are correct from the list of possible options.
  • To select an option click on it using the left button on your mouse. If you change your mind, left-click on the option again to deselect it.
  • The options you select are highlighted in yellow.

mouse hover on the image to see the video

Re-order paragraphs

Re-order paragraphs is a reading item type with a single correct order for the text boxes in a reading text.It tests your ability to understand the organization and cohesion of an academic text.It assesses reading skills.

Re-order paragraphs tests your reading skills in an academic environment.Below are the key skills tested:

  • understanding the difference between connotation and denotation
  • identifying the relationships between sentences and paragraphs
  • inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words
  • comprehending concrete and abstract information

For this item type you need to restore the original order of the text by selecting text boxes and dragging them across the screen. There are two ways you can move the text: 1. Left-click on a box to select it (it will be outlined in blue), hold the left mouse button down and drag it to the desired location. 2. Left-click on a box to select it, and then left-click on the left and right arrow buttons to move it across. On the right panel, you can also use the up and down arrow buttons to re-order the boxes. To deselect a box, left-click elsewhere on the screen.

mouse hover on the image to see the video

Reading: Fill in the blanks

Reading: Fill in the blanks is a reading item type with a single correct order for each blank.It tests your ability to use context and grammatical cues to identify words that are complete a reading text..It assesses reading skills.

Reading: Fill in the blanks tests your reading skills in an academic environment.Below are the key skills tested:

  • identifying the topic
  • understanding academic vocabulary
  • comprehending explicit and implicit information
  • following a logical or chronological sequence of events

If all the blanks are filled correctly, you recieve the maximum score points for this item type.If one or more blanks are filled incorrectly, partial credit scoring applies.

mouse hover on the image to see the video

Reading & Writing: Fill in the blanks

Reading & Writing: Fill in the blanks is a multiple-choice reading item type with a single correct order for each blank.It tests your ability to use contextual and grammatical cues to identify words that are complete a reading text.It assesses both writing and reading skills.

Reading: Fill in the blanks tests your reading skills in an academic environment.Below are the key skills tested:

  • identifying the topic
  • understanding academic vocabulary
  • comprehending explicit and implicit information
  • following a logical or chronological sequence of events

If all the blanks are filled correctly, you recieve the maximum score points for this item type.If one or more blanks are filled incorrectly, partial credit scoring applies.

Strategies For ReadingStrategies

Do not interrupt your reading to look up words in a dictionary.Note unfamiliar words if you wish to check them later.Guess the meanings of words from the context, or simply carry on reading.Do not continue any reading material you are not enjoying.Change what you are reading.
Read the text quickly to determine the type of text and to find the title, section headings, table of contents or abstract. These provide clues to the content and structure of the text.
Read the questions quickly to get an idea of what you are required to look for. Some questions may ask for specific information, identification of the gist, or attitudes and points of view.Some questions may ask for understanding of what a word or expression refers to elsewhere in the text.

Want to practice with real time scenario, just like in the real test?

  • Awesome online platform to practice
  • Register yourself to enjoy two complete test absolutely FREE!
  • Providing flexible skills development solutions
get registered for free