The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is a widely accepted, computer-based academic English test used for study, work, and migration. It assesses speaking, writing, reading, and listening in a single two-hour test. Aside from educational institutions, PTE Academic is accepted by the governments of Australia and New Zealand for visa and migration applications that require proof of English proficiency. In this article, we will look at the PTE Reading section and provide tips to increase your score!
Since the test evaluates real-life academic English, test takers work with academic texts and audio similar to what they may encounter in an academic environment. Some tasks use recordings of lectures or other spoken English, and visual information may appear in tasks such as Describe Image. The test includes international academic content and a variety of accents, including non-native English accents.
The test is made up of three parts: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening. Test takers have about two hours to complete PTE Academic. The exam consists of different question formats, including multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks tasks, reordering paragraphs, and essay writing.
Overview of the PTE Reading
The second part of the exam is PTE Reading. It evaluates the reading skills of test takers and consists of 15 to 20 scored items across five question types, including one integrated reading-and-writing item type. The test features different response formats, including fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice, and reordering paragraphs. These response formats are designed to evaluate the ability of test takers to understand written English and, in the integrated fill-in-the-blanks task, use writing skills. Test takers have 22 to 30 minutes to complete this section of the test.
Fill in the Blanks
In the fill-in-the-blanks tasks of PTE Reading, text appears on the screen with several gaps. In one item type, test takers choose the correct words from drop-down menus; in another, they drag words from a box to the correct gaps. There are more words than gaps in the drag-and-drop task, so not all words will be used.
Multiple Choice
The Reading section includes two multiple-choice question types. In Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers, test takers read a passage and select more than one correct response. In Multiple Choice, Single Answer, they read a passage and select one correct response. Questions may focus on the content or tone of the text.
Re-Order Paragraphs
In the re-order paragraphs part of PTE Reading, test takers will see several text boxes appearing on the screen in a random order. They are asked to arrange the text boxes to restore the correct order of the passage.
Tips & Techniques to Increase Your PTE Reading Score
Non-native English speakers may find it challenging to answer questions in the Reading component of the test. The following are some tips test takers can keep in mind when taking the PTE Reading section:
Tip 1: Read the Instructions Before Answering
More often than not, test takers will get down to work and start answering the test without reading the instructions. However, they should read the instructions properly since there may be instances when they will lose points for incorrect choices. This is particularly true with multiple-choice questions that have more than one correct option.
Tip 2: Understand the Passage Before Filling in the Blanks
Test takers should read through the passage and try to understand the meaning of the text before selecting an answer for each blank. Skimming through the passage or text will allow test takers to understand the main idea of the text and select the appropriate word for each blank. They should read the text before and after the blank since the choices in the drop-down menus may be similar to each other. Knowing the context of the sentence will help test takers choose the best answer among the choices.
Tip 3: Take Note of Repeated Words
For the multiple-choice part of PTE Reading, test takers should take note of repeated words in the list of choices. These words are likely adjectives or nouns that are also used in the passage. If these words come out in many of the options, it will provide clues to the correct answer.
Tip 4: Read All Text Boxes Before Answering in the Re-Ordering Paragraphs Section
Test takers should read through all text boxes before re-ordering them. They should look for important words in each text box so they will understand the main idea of each text box. After understanding the main idea of each text box, test takers should try to form the overall idea after the text boxes are put together.
Tip 5: Look for the Topic Sentence
Test takers should look for the topic sentence in the options under the re-ordering paragraphs section. Well-written text normally has a topic sentence. This sentence contains a clear statement on which all the other sentences are based or to which they are connected. Topic sentences can stand alone and do not start with linkers. They also do not begin with pronouns that are connected to a person or an object in a previous sentence. Topic sentences are also not connected to actions or any information found in previous sentences.
Tip 6: Think of Words that Are Normally Used Together
When answering the fill-in-the-blanks section, test takers should think about words that are normally used together. These words typically form a familiar phrase when they are used together. This is called collocation. Test takers will know the correct word to choose when they use collocation while answering the fill-in-the-blanks section of PTE Reading.
Tip 7: Take Note of the Rules in Grammar
Test takers should take note of grammar rules when answering the Reading component of the test. Grammar rules can guide them in selecting the correct answer in the fill-in-the-blanks section. For instance, test takers can look for the part of speech that is missing in the sentence. This will narrow down their options in the list of choices. In this instance, test takers can look for the best answer from the narrowed-down list of options.
How To Study For the PTE Reading
Test takers must prepare for the Reading section of the Pearson Test of English Academic. This applies to both non-native English speakers and native English speakers. The following are some ways test takers can prepare or study for the PTE Reading section.
1. Take the preparation course on the PTE website
Pearson now provides official preparation through Smart Prep and other PTE Academic preparation resources. Smart Prep includes a study plan, guided practice tests, online courses, and test tips. Pearson also offers paid resources such as Scored Practice Tests, the PTE Academic Question Bank, the Official Guide to PTE Academic, and the Expert Self-Study Course. These resources can help test takers review all three parts of the test: Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening.
2. Practice makes perfect
The best way to prepare for the Reading section of the PTE is to practice. This means test takers should read regularly. Reading exposes them to more words that they may not be familiar with. They can also look for the meaning of any unfamiliar words in a dictionary. This will allow them to enhance their vocabulary, which is necessary to perform well in the test.
3. Read academic material
Since PTE focuses on academic English, test takers can focus on academic-style reading materials, such as university articles, science news, general-interest nonfiction, and reputable magazines. Test takers should set a daily reading goal so they have something to achieve for the day. After reading, they can write down the main idea or the message the writer wanted to convey.
4. Become familiar with collocations
Collocations are words that are normally grouped when they are used in the English language. Test takers should become familiar with these types of words since they are useful when answering the Reading section of the test. A 20-collocation weekly goal is ideal for non-native English speakers.
We hope that this article on the PTE Reading Test was helpful. Make sure to also check out our Scholarships Page and the available courses for international students for different information on scholarships and universities across the globe!
