You are scored on pairs, not positions. If the answer is A→B→C→D→E and you write A→B→C→E→D, you still earn the A-B and B-C pairs. Lock in the pairs you are confident about — an uncertain middle costs far less than people assume.
Strategy
- Find the topic sentence first. It introduces the subject and contains no backward references — no “this”, “these”, “however”, no pronouns without antecedents.
- Follow the pronouns. If a box says “They decided…”, the box introducing “they” must come first.
- Linking words are the map: However, Furthermore, This suggests, As a result.
- The final box usually concludes or summarises — it rarely introduces new information.
Frequently asked questions
How is PTE Re-order Paragraphs scored?
By correctly-ordered adjacent pairs, not absolute positions, with no negative marking. You keep marks for every pair you place in the right order.
How do I find the first sentence in Re-order Paragraphs?
Look for the topic sentence — it introduces the subject and contains no backward references (no “this”, “these”, “however”, or pronouns without an antecedent).
How many Re-order Paragraphs questions are there?
Typically 2–3 in the Reading section. Each is worth attempting fully because there is no penalty for a wrong order.