PTE Academic 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In PTE Academic's 'Re-order Paragraphs' task, what must the test-taker do?
- Identify the topic sentence
- Arrange jumbled text boxes into a coherent passage (Correct answer)
- Fill blanks with correct connectors
- Choose the best paragraph summary
Correct answer: Arrange jumbled text boxes into a coherent passage
Test-takers drag and drop shuffled text panels into the correct logical and chronological order.
Question 2: PTE Academic 'Reading: Fill in the Blanks' (drag-and-drop) assesses which primary skill?
- Listening comprehension
- Vocabulary in context (Correct answer)
- Spelling accuracy
- Grammar production
Correct answer: Vocabulary in context
Test-takers select the contextually appropriate word from a bank to complete each blank, testing vocabulary knowledge in academic contexts.
Question 3: Which PTE Academic Reading task uses a NEGATIVE partial-credit scoring model, where wrong selections deduct points?
- Re-order Paragraphs
- Reading: Fill in the Blanks (drag-and-drop)
- Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers (Correct answer)
- Multiple-choice, choose single answer
Correct answer: Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers
Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers uses partial credit where correct choices add points but incorrect choices subtract points.
Question 4: How does PTE Academic differ from IELTS Academic in terms of test delivery?
- PTE is paper-based; IELTS is computer-based
- PTE is fully computer-based and AI-scored; IELTS uses human examiners for Speaking (Correct answer)
- PTE has a longer Speaking section
- Both tests use identical AI scoring
Correct answer: PTE is fully computer-based and AI-scored; IELTS uses human examiners for Speaking
PTE Academic is entirely computer-based with automated AI scoring, while IELTS Academic includes a face-to-face Speaking interview scored by a human examiner.
Question 5: In PTE Academic, 'Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks' is categorized under which section?
- Speaking & Writing
- Reading (Correct answer)
- Listening
- An integrated section combining Reading and Writing
Correct answer: Reading
Despite its name, this task appears within the Reading section and contributes to both Reading and Writing scores.
Question 6: What strategy is most effective for PTE Academic's 'Multiple-choice, choose single answer' Reading task?
- Read all options before reading the passage
- Skim for keywords in the question, then locate them in the passage (Correct answer)
- Always choose the longest answer option
- Skip the passage and rely on general knowledge
Correct answer: Skim for keywords in the question, then locate them in the passage
Identifying key terms in the question and scanning for them in the passage helps locate the relevant information quickly.
Question 7: PTE Academic scores are reported on which scoring scale?
- 0–9 band scale
- 10–90 point scale (Correct answer)
- 0–100 point scale
- 200–800 point scale
Correct answer: 10–90 point scale
PTE Academic uses a 10–90 point scale for the overall score and for each of the four communicative skill scores.
PTE Academic 3
In PTE Academic's 'Re-order Paragraphs' task, what must the test-taker do?