PTE (Pearson Test of English) is a computer-based exam that measures the English language proficiency of students who want to migraine abroad.
The PTE test measures the student’s language proficiency through four different modules; Speaking, Writing, Listening, and Reading.
NOTE: The speaking and the writing modules come under a single section. So there are 3 sections in the PTE exam.
I will focus on PTE reading in this blog because this is one of the most difficult modules of the exam.
This module test how well you can read and understand the English language. You will get an overview of the reading module in PTE, along with tips for different questions in this module.
So let’s get started!
PTE Reading: An Overview
As I mentioned above, this module is designed to check students’ ability to read and understand written English.
The PTE test takes around 29–30 minutes to complete. The total number of questions in this section is 13 to 18.
There are a total of 5 types of questions in the PTE reading module;
Question type | Number of questions | Description | Skills Assessed |
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks | 5 – 6 | There will be text with several gaps, and each gap will have 4 to 5 options. You must select the correct word. | Reading and Writing |
Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | 1 – 2 | There will be a text, and you have to answer multiple-choice questions based on the given text. You are required to choose more than 1 option for this question type. | Reading |
Re-order Paragraphs | 2 – 3 | There will be some text boxes in random order, and you are required to put those boxes in the correct order. | Reading |
Fill in the Blanks | 4 – 5 | There will be some gaps in a text, and you are required to fill those gaps by selecting the words given in the box. | Reading |
Multiple Choice, Single Answer | 1 – 2 | There will be up to 300 words of text, and you are required to answer MCQs based on the text. You must choose a single option for a question. | Reading |
Strategies For PTE Reading
After learning about the type of questions you will face in this section, here are some strategies or tips for this section.
The tips that are shown here will help you to improve your score in this section.
- Skimming
- Reading questions before the text
- Highlighting key points
- Use elimination process
- Use context clues
- Read and follow instructions
- Practice regularly
Skimming
Instead of reading the complete text, use the skimming process. Get the keyword from the questions and try to find that keyword in the context to get the answer.
Reading Questions Before The Text
Before start reading the text, you must read the questions. If you have read the questions before, then while reading the context, you will know what you have to look for in the context.
Highlighting Key Points
You must highlight the words, phrases, or dates in the text while reading the text. So if there is a question related to that, then you can recall the information you are finding and answer the question easily.
Use the Elimination Process
There are chances sometimes that you are not able to find the information you are looking for in the text. At that time to answer the question, the elimination process is the best.
While answering questions in PTE reading, you can eliminate the option you think is incorrect according to the meaning of the question or select the option that you think is right.
Use Context Clues
If you see a word whose meaning you are not sure about, then read the words before or after that word to guess the meaning of the word.
Read And Follow the Instructions
Always read the instruction before start answering the questions. This tip is not only useful for PTE reading but also very helpful in other sections of the PTE exam. By reading the instruction, you will know what the examiner wants from you and answer the question according to that.
Practice Regularly
To get succeed in your attempt to improve the PTE academic reading, the most important thing is to practice regularly. You can make a proper PTE study plan and stick to that plan for the best results.
To get the best result from above mention tips, you must use these strategies on a regular basis and note down your progress. You will get an idea of your strengths and weaknesses by practicing daily.
Common Mistakes Students Must Avoid In PTE Reading
After learning the best tips for PTE academic reading, you must also learn about the most common mistakes students make while answering questions in this section.
- Some students are not able to manage their time efficiently while doing the reading section. Due to this, they are not able to attempt all the questions and do not get the desired result.
- It happened many times that you may spend a lot of time understanding all the details in the text, due to which they can’t attempt all the questions. So avoid this mistake instead, use the highlighting key points techniques that are mentioned above.
- Sometimes students do not skim the text instead, they start reading the text deeply and trying to understand the meaning of the context, This can lead them to waste a huge amount of time, and because of this, they do not get the desired score.
- Sometimes students rush toward the question and answer the questions in a hurry, which can lead them to answer wrong.
- Some students also do not review their answers after attempting them, and this is also wrong. Always spare some time at the end of the questions to review the answer.
Practice Resources For PTE Reading
Here is the list of the best PTE study material you can use to practice for the reading and other sections in the PTE exam.
- The Official Guide to PTE Academic
- Expert PTE Academic B1 & B2 Level
- PTE General Skills Boosters
- Practice Tests Plus: PTE Academic
- Focus Exam Practice
- PTE Academic Testbuilder
- Official Pearson Mock Test (Online)
- PTE Academic Official Practice App (Online)
You can download our PTE pdf for free to get the sample questions for practicing the PTE exam.
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PTE reading is an important module of the PTE exam, and to get an overall good score, you must score well in this section.
So to help students score good marks in the PTE academic reading, I have provided the best tips like skimming, reading questions before the text and highlighting the key points.
I have also mentioned some common mistakes that most students make in this module, So you must avoid these mistakes to score if you are aiming to get a good score in PTE reading.
I hope this blog has cleared all your queries, and if you still have any questions, please contact our experts.
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FAQs
Can I skip a question in the PTE Reading section?
Yes, you can skip a question in the reading section of the PTE and attempt it later. However, it is essential to manage your time properly so you can answer all the questions within the given time limit.
How is the score calculated for the PTE Reading section?
In the reading section, the students get scored on the basis of the number of questions they answered correctly.