PTE Academic Reading Module: Complete Guide 2025

Understanding the PTE Academic: The Reading Module

The PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic test assesses English language skills across Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking (LRWS). Of these, the Reading module tests your ability to read and understand academic English — passages, vocabulary, grammar, and textual coherence.

Structure of the Reading Module

The PTE Reading section typically contains a variety of item types, such as:

Multiple choice, single answer
Multiple choice, multiple answers
Re-order paragraphs
Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks

Depending on the test version and difficulty, you might see around 15–20 questions and have about 30–40 minutes (depending on how the test is structured). The “Fill in the Blanks” type is one of the trickier question types, because it demands both vocabulary knowledge and understanding of context / grammar.

Focus: Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Reading & Writing)

In PTE, “Fill in the Blanks” questions require you to fill missing words in a passage. There are two variations:

Reading: Fill in the Blanks — only a reading passage with blanks; you choose from a word-bank.
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks — a passage where you type or select appropriate words to fill the blanks, and coherence with writing style also matters.

These questions test your ability to:

Understand collocations, common phrasal structures
Grasp context (semantics)
Know parts of speech (verb, noun, adjective, adverb)
Predict what kind of word fits (preposition, conjunction, etc.)

Below I’ll explain strategies, give worked examples, and then list 50 collocations that often help in fill-in tasks.

Strategies to Master Fill in the Blanks

Read the full sentence (or surrounding sentences) first. Understand what meaning is being conveyed, then see what blank might logically be.
Predict the part of speech you expect: Does the blank require a noun, adjective, verb, adverb, conjunction, preposition, etc.?
Look at surrounding connectives or signal words. If there is “however,” “but,” “although,” “because,” etc., they often give clues about contrast, cause, or condition.
Check collocations / typical word pairs. English often uses fixed combinations (e.g. make a decision, take into account, play a role). If one side of the blank suggests a collocation, that helps.
Grammatically check the fit. After filling, read the sentence: does it agree (singular/plural, verb tense) and make sense?
Eliminate implausible options. If the test gives a word bank, remove options that obviously don’t fit.

Worked Examples: Fill in the Blanks

Here I present a few sample questions (fictional but modeled after PTE style) and solved explanations.

Example 1: Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Using word bank)

Passage (with blanks):

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Scientists warn that unless we __________ (1) __________ greenhouse gas emissions, the global average temperature will continue to rise. Many governments have pledged to __________ (2) __________ renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. However, the success of these policies __________ (3) __________ on the level of international cooperation.

Word bank (choose three): reduce / depend / adopt / raise / increase / shift

Correct Answers and Explanation:

reduce — “reduce greenhouse gas emissions” is a typical collocation.
adopt or shift — both are plausible, but “adopt renewable energy sources” is more common.
depends (from “depend”) — “the success … depends on … international cooperation.”

So the filled passage:

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Scientists warn that unless we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the global average temperature will continue to rise. Many governments have pledged to adopt renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. However, the success of these policies depends on the level of international cooperation.

Why not “shift” for blank (2)?
“Shift renewable energy sources” is less idiomatic; you shift towards something, but “adopt” is standard. Also, from the part-of-speech / collocation perspective, “adopt renewable energy” is more natural.

Example 2: Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (type-in)

Passage:

In recent years, the concept of smart cities has gained considerable attention. These cities use technology and data to (1) ___ urban services, from transportation to energy to waste management. The aim is to (2) ___ efficiency, sustainability, and the quality of life for citizens. Critics, however, caution that without careful planning, such systems may exacerbate (3) ___ inequality, favoring wealthier neighborhoods.

Blank answers & explanation:

optimize — “optimize urban services” is a common phrase.
enhance — to “enhance efficiency / sustainability / quality of life.”
existing — “existing inequality” is a phrase meaning inequality already present.

Thus:

These cities use technology and data to optimize urban services, from transportation to energy to waste management. The aim is to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and the quality of life for citizens. Critics, however, caution that without careful planning, such systems may exacerbate existing inequality...

Check coherence and grammar:

“enhance efficiency, sustainability …” — parallel noun phrases, fits.
“exacerbate existing inequality” — sounds natural.

Example 3: Multi-blank with more subtle cues

Passage:

The success of a research project often depends not only on diligent experimentation but also on (1) ___ collaboration and (2) ___ communication among team members. In multidisciplinary teams, members must (3) ___ the ability to explain ideas in layman’s terms to facilitate cross-disciplinary understanding.

Possible answers (word bank): effective / clear / rely / develop / strengthen / poor

Solution:

effective — “effective collaboration”
clear — “clear communication”
develop — “members must develop the ability to explain ideas …”

Thus:

… depends not only on diligent experimentation but also on effective collaboration and clear communication among team members. In multidisciplinary teams, members must develop the ability to explain ideas in layman’s terms …

Readers should always check that after filling blanks, reading the sentence gives both grammatical correctness and semantic sense.

Tips for Tackling Fill in the Blanks Under Exam Conditions

Don’t linger too long on one blank; move on and return.
Underline keywords in the sentences (e.g. contrast, cause, time, condition).
Use elimination: if a candidate word clearly breaks meaning or grammar, discard it.
Work with meaning first, then grammar, not vice versa.
Practice collocations and lexical chunks — that helps you more with fill ins than just individual vocabulary.

50 Useful English Collocations

Below is a list of 50 collocations (word pairs/triples) that frequently appear in academic / PTE reading passages and are useful when you encounter blanks.

make a decision
take into account
play a role
carry out research
conduct a survey
raise awareness
adapt to change
achieve goals
address issues
enforce regulations
obtain data
pose challenges
provide insight
establish connections
tackle problems
significant impact
vast majority
key factor
inherent limitations
growing trend
strong correlation
maintain balance
demonstrate ability
underlie principle
substantial increase
heavy reliance
critical role
crucial aspect
persistent problem
striking contrast
empirical evidence
robust framework
theoretical approach
unforeseen consequences
comprehensive study
limited resources
gain access
optimal performance
complementary methods
fundamental difference
consistent pattern
widespread adoption
economic growth
global challenge
long-term impact
policy implementation
social interaction
inevitable change
mutual benefit
lasting impression

You should try to internalize these collocations, because often when one half of a collocation appears in a sentence, you can guess the missing half.

Why Practicing with Full-Length Tests is Vital

The Reading section is just one of four modules in PTE. To get a real feel of timing, question flow, and integrated difficulty, you should practice full-length LRWS tests (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). Doing isolated reading exercises is helpful, but full tests train your stamina, time management, and holistic exam mindset.

That is why I strongly recommend the book (linked above via your Amazon short link: https://a.co/d/ekYHkOn) which offers 4 full-length LRWS practice tests. These test packs simulate the real PTE experience and let you assess performance across all modules. When you practice with full tests, you'll see patterns in common question types (like Fill in the Blanks), identify your weak areas, and improve pacing.

Sample Study Plan Using the Book

Here’s a suggested 4-week study plan if you use the book with 4 full tests:

Week 1: Take Test 1 as a diagnostic. Review your Reading section (especially fill-in blanks). Learn 10 collocations per week from the list above.
Week 2: Focus on modules you were weak in (e.g. reading, listening). Take Test 2 under timed conditions.
Week 3: Continue targeted practice; take Test 3 under exam simulation conditions.
Week 4: Final full test (Test 4). Review all wrong items. On exam day strategies (e.g. skip & return, time buffer, manage stress).

In each week, also practice Fill in the Blanks passages from other sources, try to time yourself, and analyze mistakes deeply.

Conclusion

The Reading module of PTE Academic is challenging, especially the Fill in the Blanks items, because they demand a good command of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, and context. But with systematic practice, awareness of common collocations (like the 50 listed above), and regular use of full-length LRWS test books (like the one linked above), you can improve significantly.

If you’re serious about achieving a high PTE score, do invest in that practice test book (link: https://a.co/d/ekYHkOn). Use the 4 full tests not only for reading but also for improving your listening, writing, and speaking under timed, exam-like conditions.

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