First things first! What is the aim of the PTE reading section? Actually, the reading section assesses your skills to read academic comprehension, understand and interpret the information in it.
The tasks you find in the reading section generally aim to test your ability in vocabulary, analysis and identifying information. So, to crack the PTE reading section, you need to be perfect in identifying data, examples, summarizing, identifying context and understanding.
The PTE reading section happens in a time duration of 32-41 minutes.
Know the different tasks that the reading section includes and the following are some proven and effective strategies to ace the PTE Reading Section.
Types of questions in the reading section are:
- Multiple Choice Questions (choose single answer)
- Multiple Choice Questions (choose multiple answers)
- Reorder Paragraphs
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading)
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading and Writing)
PTE Academic Reading Strategies-Multiple Choice Questions (one answer & multiple answers):
Multiple Choice Questions (choose 1 answer) need a lot of focus and analysis to comprehend. MCQ question type aims to test how well you can identify the central idea and analyze as well as the author’s intent.
Similarly, MCQ (choose multiple answers) type presents more than 1 correct answer. Here, your task is to evaluate and select all the possible correct options.
While working on MCQs, before reading the passage, you have to go through the question first. Importantly, always think about the central idea of the passage (try to understand the intent of the narrator/ author) so that you can explain it on your own.
After understanding the key concept of the given passage, read the question and search for the answer, if you face confusion in recognizing the correct answer, use elimination technique and identify all the incorrect ones to get the correct option that suits the question.
Most of the time, in MCQs (choose multiple answers); your search process for the answers can be narrowed down by the use of elimination technique. Most of the times, you can deal with tricky MCQs by observing the nouns, adjectives, adverbs and certain repeated words which might provide you with a clue.
NOTE: Unanswered questions are considered as incorrect by the test graders. So, do not leave them unanswered. If you are not able to answer with the correct option, then make a guess (but no unanswered questions).
PTE Academic Reading Strategies-Re-order Paragraphs:
A unique question type you encounter in the PTE Academic is Re-order Paragraphs. This tests your ability to understand the text. To prove yourself, you are required to rearrange the jumbled paragraphs into a complete text passage that makes sense.
To easily solve this, you should get the key point that stands alone. Every paragraph will be directed towards that key context. Make them order through the series of events or else, search for the nouns, pronouns, linking words and other parts of speech.
For example, the first paragraph starts with nouns and not with the linking words. Pronouns usually are not seen in the first paragraph.
Keep a strong focus on the clues provided (generally in the form of repeated words and supporting data). Besides, always keep an eye on the time.
PTE Academic Reading Strategies-Fill in the Blanks (Reading – Reading & Writing):
The PTE reading comes up with interesting question types. Filling the blanks (Reading) is a question where you are provided with a passage with some words missing. Also, you are provided with options more (in number) than blanks. Your task is to fill the blanks with suitable options.
One more question type of the same kind is to fill in the blanks (Reading and Writing). You will find a text with many blanks. But you will find the blanks just beside through a dropdown menu. Your task is to select the right option. Remember, the options you find in the dropdown menu are deceptive and they mean the same. Learning the overall essence of the passage will help you get rid of all confusions.
Coming to the strategies to answer this successfully, you should master speed reading. Once you get the passage on screen, just skim it and grasp the main idea of the text. Through this you can place the correct option with respect to tense, voice, speech and finally context.
Use the ‘method of Colocation’ (generally for the words that go together). If you are perfect with the fundamental grammar such as speech, voice and tense, believe that you have already conquered half of it.
If we have to summarize the above, comprehending the complete meaning is the heart of your success in the reading part of the PTE examination. Before you answer, you must read either side of the blank to clearly identify the requirement.