PTE Reading tips and tricks

PTE Reading is a very important test section in the PTE exam for which you must be well prepared to tackle it. Hence, we have compiled some important tips and tricks with which you can ace your PTE reading section with your desired score.

To start your practice for the PTE Reading section, firstly, you need to know how the test is formatted and what type of questions it contains. If you are worried about getting a good PTE Reading exam score, this article provides you with PTE reading tips and tricks.

Reading tips and tricks for your PTE exam

The reading section can be a tough nut to crack for candidates as it needs good fluency, dedicated focus, and a proper understanding of the English language. However, to score higher on the reading comprehension test, we have the following tips and tricks at our disposal for you:

1. Practice multiple-choice

Getting good at multiple choice questions should be your first priority for the PTE reading exam. For this part of the reading comprehension test, you need to understand the message the passage is trying to send and focus on the keywords to filter for the correct answer.

Furthermore, you can learn to focus on eliminating redundant information and narrow your options as much as possible from the passage. It will be best for you to scan through the first and last two lines of the provided passage, that’s where you will find 60% of your answers. 

It would be best if you also learned to paraphrase words and use them in a variety of sentences which shows how wide your range of vocabulary is. Moreover, do not leave your questions unattended, as this section has no negative markings.

2. Practice Re-order paragraphs

To reorder paragraphs, start with a lead sentence and build your further discussions. Also, we suggest you choose the order of the paragraphs in pairs.

Likewise, review your grammar and vocabulary in the sentences to find any errors and create a logical sentence order. Time is of the essence here; therefore, if your attempt at arranging, pairing, or understanding one paragraph fails, try rearranging another pair.

3. Practice fill in the blank

You should focus on the type of speech before and after the blank to help you find the missing word for the fill-in-the-blanks section. In addition, most of the time, you will find missing words that will have synonyms in the text provided in the reading section of the PTE exam.

Also, you should be aware that this section has no negative markings. Hence, you can take a guess and answer your questions and not leave the questions unattended.

4. Practice reading sample passages

Reading sample passages is one of the best ways to get used to reading for the exam. The more you practice reading, the better you will get at it. So, make reading a part of your daily routine.

Reading sample passages will help you get used to the tone and style of the reading passage you are about to encounter in the actual test. The more you read, the better you will get at it.

5. Use flashcards for vocabulary improvement

Vocabulary is the key to cracking the PTE Reading exam. To do well in the reading section, you need to know the words used in the different passages you will encounter.

Therefore, you can use flashcards to memorize important vocabulary words. You can create flashcards for several strategies, such as categorizing the words, associating a word with its meaning, making a chain of words in a certain order, and so on. 

If you are learning a new vocabulary word, you can always try to look up its meaning in a dictionary.

6. Learn the structure of a reading passage and answer keywords

Reading passages in the PTE Reading test is long and complex, and reading just for content understanding may not give you the right idea about the passage’s context. Therefore, to ace the reading section, you must also know the passage’s structure.

The structure of the reading passage has mainly two parts, the introduction, and the main content. The introduction is where the author introduces the topic, and the main content provides the main idea presented in the passage.

Learn to identify the keywords in the passages. If you can remember these words, you can answer the questions about them.

7. Be conversational while reading and understand the context

You can only understand the context of the passages if you read them as if you are talking about them. When you are reading, you must try to understand the passage’s context. 

What is the context of the passage? The context of the passage is the background knowledge or assumptions that the author makes in the passage. If you don’t understand the context of the passage, you will not be able to understand the main idea of the passage. 

Reading the passages as if you are talking about the topic gives you the context of the passage and ideas to solve the questions.

8. Manage your time wisely

Time plays a crucial role in any exam. You must be aware of time allocation and learn to manage it as wisely as possible. 

For the reading section, attempt to read at least 220 words per minute to cover all the questions at a given time. You can also take mock tests to improve your efficiency in reading.

9. Become a Better Reader

Exercising yourself every day by reading can be the best practice for reading comprehension tests. Develop a habit of reading 6-7 pages daily.

After a few weeks, there is a high chance that you will fall in love with reading and may even turn your reading habit into a passion. The more you read, the more you discover and learn new words.

Conclusion

PTE Reading is one of the most important sections of the PTE exam. Concluding this article, you should know that it is all you, and your consistent practice and dedication can improve and gain your desired reading score.

Additionally, to ace your reading section, you are suggested to take the mock test and go through the preparation materials as much as possible.