If you are aiming for a high score in the PTE Academic 2026, your success depends heavily on mastering the Reading section. Many students lose valuable marks not because they lack English skills—but because they follow the wrong strategy.
In this expert guide, you’ll learn:
The exact structure of the PTE Reading test
Scoring system explained in simple terms
Section-wise strategies
Time-management hacks
Common mistakes
How to boost your score to 79+ or even 90
Best PTE practice tests and books
This guide is based on real exam patterns, trainer experience, and official PTE formats—so you can prepare with confidence.
The PTE Academic Reading section evaluates your ability to:
Understand academic text
Identify correct meanings
Analyze sentence structure
Arrange logical flow of ideas
Use vocabulary and grammar accurately
It tests both reading and writing skills together, unlike other English exams.
29–30 minutes
13–18 questions
Up to 1130 words
PTE uses AI-based scoring, which removes all human bias. Your score depends on:
Reading accuracy
Grammar & vocabulary
Context understanding
Sentence coherence
Some tasks like Fill in the Blanks affect both Reading and Writing scores, which makes them extremely important for 79+ and 90 targets.
Here is the official structure of the PTE Reading section with smart strategies:
| PTE Question Type | Task | No. of Questions | Strategy |
| Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks | Choose correct word from dropdown | 5–6 | Focus on grammar + logic + collocation |
| Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) | Select more than one correct option | 1–2 | Read carefully—negative marking applies |
| Re-Order Paragraphs | Arrange sentences logically | 2–3 | Find opening sentence first |
| Fill in the Blanks (Drag & Drop) | Drag correct words | 4–5 | Check subject-verb + tense + meaning |
| Multiple Choice (Single Answer) | Choose one correct answer | 1–2 | Use elimination method |
These 5 question types decide your entire Reading score.
Poor time management is the #1 reason students fail PTE Reading.
RW Fill in the Blanks: 6–7 minutes
Reorder Paragraphs: 6 minutes
Fill in the Blanks (Drag): 7 minutes
MCQs: 8–9 minutes total
Don’t spend more than 60 seconds on any single question
Skip difficult MCQs and return later
Never rush through Fill in the Blanks—they carry maximum weight
Avoid these high-risk mistakes:
❌ Guessing in Multiple Choice Multiple Answer
❌ Ignoring grammar while filling blanks
❌ Choosing the first sentence emotionally in reorder paragraphs
❌ Spending too long on one question
❌ Not checking tense, preposition, and connector words
Even intelligent students lose marks due to these avoidable errors.
If your goal is 79 or 90, follow this daily routine:
✅ Read one academic article daily
✅ Practice at least 2 reorder questions daily
✅ Learn 10 new academic words daily
✅ Analyse your mistakes—not just attempt questions
✅ Take 2–3 full mock tests weekly
Improvement in PTE Reading happens through accuracy, not speed alone.
Here are the most reliable platforms for PTE reading practice:
| Practice Test | Developer |
| PTE Academic Official Practice Tests | Pearson |
| PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus | Pearson |
| PTE Practice Test – PTE Tutorials | LET’S UPSKILL PTY LTD |
| PTE Practice Test 2026 | Pacific Educational Consultant |
| E2Language PTE Practice Tests | E2Language |
| Aussizz Group PTE Mock Test | Aussizz Group |
Always prefer Pearson-based tests for real exam experience.
These books are recommended by certified PTE trainers:
| Book Name | Author |
| The Official Guide to PTE Academic | Pearson |
| PTE Academic Testbuilder | MacMillan |
| PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus | Pearson |
| The PTE Academic 79 Plus | I. Glendinning, P. Marks |
| PTE Academic Expert B2 Coursebook | David Hill |
If you want 79+ or 90, you must use Pearson Official Guides.
Ans. Speak clearly and steadily. Record your voice during practice to improve pronunciation and fluency. Avoid pauses and maintain natural rhythm.
Ans. Focus on grammar, tense, collocations, and context meaning. Never choose a word only because it "sounds right".
Ans. Take timed mock tests. After completion, deeply analyse each mistake to identify weak areas.
Ans. Official PTE websites, Pearson books, and premium platforms like E2Language and PTE Tutorials provide accurate answers with explanations.
Ans. Yes. Free tools improve your confidence, pronunciation, and fluency, especially for beginners.
Ans. Divide your time logically and avoid over-attempting any single question. Practise under timed conditions.
Ans. Because most options are partially correct traps. Smart elimination prevents wrong selection.
Ans. Improve vocabulary, practise skimming & scanning, take mock tests regularly, and analyse mistakes.
Ans. Master Fill in the Blanks + Re-Order Paragraphs, practise daily with academic texts, and take official mocks weekly.
Ans. You must start speaking within 3 seconds of the microphone opening in the speaking section, or the response won’t be recorded.
Ans. Follow a structured plan, practise daily, use official materials, improve grammar & pronunciation, and stay calm.
Ans. Find the topic sentence first, then connect ideas using pronouns, connectors, cause-effect patterns, and logical order.
PTE Reading is not difficult—it only requires:
✔️ Correct strategy
✔️ Smart time management
✔️ Quality practice
✔️ Accurate analysis
If you follow the tips in this guide consistently, 79+ and even 90 is absolutely achievable.
Want expert-guided PTE Reading training with mock tests & personal feedback?
📞 Contact Pacific Educational Consultant – Kota
🌐 Visit: https://overseaspacific.com
📘 Practice Online: https://elearning.overseaspacific.com
Free Counselling + daily mock strategy available
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