No negative marking. Leaving a blank empty is the only guaranteed zero. Always choose something, even when you are guessing between two.
Strategy
- Check the part of speech first, then collocation, then meaning. Most distractors fail on collocation, not meaning.
- Options are usually near-synonyms — the winner is the one that fits the academic register of the passage.
- When stuck, pick the more formal option. PTE passages are academic prose.
- Worth up to two minutes per task, given the double scoring.
Frequently asked questions
Why is R/W Fill in the Blanks the most important Reading task?
It is the highest-weighted Reading task and it feeds both your Reading and your Writing score, with no negative marking — so it offers the best return on practice.
How do I choose the right word in R/W Fill in the Blanks?
Check the part of speech first, then collocation, then meaning. Most distractors are near-synonyms that fail on collocation or academic register rather than meaning.
How many R/W Fill in the Blanks questions are in PTE?
Usually around 5–6. Given the double scoring, it is worth spending up to two minutes on each.
Practice exercises
Practice Question 1 →
Practice Question 2 →
Practice Question 3 →
Practice Question 4 →
Practice Question 5 →
Practice Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks with instant scoring and explanation in our interactive practice platform.