ScoreFluentPTE Reading, task by task.
The Reading part is five question types in about 23 to 30 minutes, with no timer for each question. Every answer is marked on whether it is correct, and one type takes marks away for wrong choices. Here is the format, what feeds your Reading score, and a guide for each task.
Five question types, one clock.
| Task | What you do | Questions | Text limit | How it is scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) | Choose a word from a drop-down menu for each gap | 5–6 | Text up to 200 words | 1 point per correct blank |
| Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers | Choose every correct option | 2–3 | Text up to 350 words | +1 per correct option, −1 per incorrect option, minimum 0 |
| Reorder Paragraphs | Put text boxes into the correct order | 2–3 | Text up to 110 words | 1 point per correctly ordered adjacent pair |
| Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) | Drag words from a box into the gaps | 4–5 | Text up to 80 words | 1 point per correct blank |
| Multiple Choice, Single Answer | Choose one correct option | 2–3 | Text up to 110 words | 1 point if correct, otherwise 0 |
Pearson lists 23 to 30 minutes for the part and gives the time to answer each question as not applicable, so you decide how long each passage gets. Question counts are the score guide’s published ranges and vary by test. Pearson’s format page also names the dropdown task Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks in some wording. The score guide lists its points under Reading.
What feeds your Reading score?
| Task | Skills Pearson credits | Part of the test |
|---|---|---|
| The five Reading question types | Reading | Reading |
| Highlight Correct Summary | Listening and Reading | Listening |
| Highlight Incorrect Words | Listening and Reading | Listening |
Two Listening tasks also credit Reading, so a Reading score is not built from the Reading part alone. Pearson’s score guide credits Read Aloud to Speaking only, although its format page words this less clearly.
How is PTE Reading scored?
Reading tasks are marked on whether your answers are correct. The score guide lists no scored traits for them, and the human content review Pearson describes covers Speaking and Writing tasks. Fill in the Blanks and Reorder Paragraphs give partial credit, Multiple Choice with a single answer is right or wrong, and Multiple Choice with multiple answers subtracts a point for each wrong option, down to a minimum of 0.
For the task-by-task breakdown, see how PTE Academic is scored task by task. We do not repeat it here.
A guide for each task.
The task facts are Pearson’s. The technique in each guide is ours. The first guide compares the dropdown and drag-and-drop formats, since the two share a name.
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks →
The dropdown format, how a blank is scored, and five practice gaps with the reasoning written out.
Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) →
The drag-and-drop format, how a blank is scored, and a practice passage with the reasoning written out.
Reading Multiple Choice →
The single-answer and multiple-answer versions, and why selecting more is not the safer guess.
Re-order Paragraphs →
Three clue types for finding the order without reading everything twice.
Highlight Correct Summary →
A Listening task that also credits Reading: checking each summary against your notes.
Highlight Incorrect Words →
A Listening task that also credits Reading: following a transcript against audio.
Straight from Pearson.
Checked 15 and 16 October 2026. ScoreFluent is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Pearson. The facts here come from Pearson’s published pages:
- PTE Academic Reading format page — text limits and the time to answer for each question type.
- PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (PDF) — question counts, points per question and skills credited.
Exam details change, and Pearson revises these pages during the year. If a decision hangs on a detail here, check the official pages first. They outrank this page.
Keep going: the PTE Academic overview, Speaking, Writing, Listening, full mock tests.
Reading questions, answered.
How many question types are in PTE Academic Reading?
Five: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown), Multiple Choice with Multiple Answers, Reorder Paragraphs, Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) and Multiple Choice with a Single Answer.
How long is the PTE Reading part?
Pearson lists 23 to 30 minutes. It lists the time to answer each Reading question as not applicable, so there is no timer for each question and the part’s clock is yours to manage.
How many questions are in PTE Reading?
Pearson’s score guide lists ranges for each type: 5 to 6, 2 to 3, 2 to 3, 4 to 5 and 2 to 3. Adding them gives roughly 15 to 20 questions, though the exact number varies by test.
Is there negative marking in PTE Reading?
On Multiple Choice with Multiple Answers, yes: Pearson’s score guide gives +1 for each correct option and −1 for each incorrect option, with a minimum of 0. It lists no deduction for the other four Reading question types.
How is PTE Re-order Paragraphs scored?
Pearson’s score guide gives 1 point for each correctly ordered pair of adjacent text boxes. Getting some pairs right earns partial credit.
What is the difference between dropdown and drag-and-drop Fill in the Blanks?
The dropdown version uses text of up to 200 words and a drop-down menu for each gap. The drag-and-drop version uses text of up to 80 words and a box of words with more words than gaps. Both give 1 point per correct blank.
Which tasks count towards the PTE Reading score?
The five Reading question types, plus Highlight Correct Summary and Highlight Incorrect Words, which Pearson’s score guide credits to both Listening and Reading.
Does Read Aloud count towards the PTE Reading score?
Pearson’s score guide credits Read Aloud to Speaking only. Its format page is inconsistent about Reading, so treat Speaking as the safe assumption and check the current page.
Is PTE Reading scored by AI or by a human?
Pearson says all question types are scored by AI. For Reading, the score guide gives points for correct responses, with partial credit on some types, and lists no scored traits. The human content review it describes covers Speaking and Writing tasks.
Can I practise PTE Reading on ScoreFluent for free?
Yes. Reading practice is free within fair-use limits and scored instantly. Credits are for examiner reports on speaking and writing, and new accounts start with 40 free credits that never expire.
Practise PTE Reading today.
All five Reading question types are on ScoreFluent, free within fair-use limits and scored as soon as you finish. Scores are practice estimates, not official PTE scores.
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