In Re-order Paragraphs tasks, several text boxes appear on the screen in a random order. You have to arrange the boxes to make a meaningful paragraph.
As per the current PTE Academic Reading test format, the complete text will be up to 150 words long. The test will include 2-3 questions based on the Re-order Paragraphs task.
You can use any of the following methods to move the text boxes in Re-order Paragraphs tasks:
- Click on a box to select it, hold the left mouse button down. Then drag it to the desired location.
- Left-click on a text box to choose it. Then click left on the left and right arrow buttons to move it across. You can also use the right and left buttons to change order of boxes.
To deselect a box, click anywhere else on the screen.
Following our 9 tips will surely help you improve your score in Re-order Paragraphs tasks:
Read all the options carefully.
Then look for that one sentence that clearly introduces a person, a place, or a concept. This should be the first sentence of the PTE Academic Re-order Paragraph task.
Every paragraph has a central theme or main idea.
It can be found in the first sentence or in the last sentence. The first sentence of the paragraph may contain introduction of something. The last line of the paragraph contains conclusions of some logical details. If the main idea is mentioned in the first sentence, then the sentences after it will give logical details. There may also be some examples related to the theme. If the main idea is present in the last line, the sentences before it will state some facts. These facts are such that you can draw a conclusion from them.
In tasks that mention events or activities,
you can easily arrange the sentences in the correct order, by determining the sequence in which the activities can take place.
Opening sentences usually don’t contain “connectives”.
Sentences having connectives always refer to people or events mentioned in previous sentences. Some examples of connectives are: Although, though, if, until, since, but, after, alternatively, besides, then, yet, because, consequently, and, when, meanwhile, so, however, for, whoever, whatever, whenever, therefore, whereas, etc.
In some cases, articles (a, an & the) can be useful in skipping sentences that can’t be the first sentence.
‘The’ is used to denote something or someone specific. It is also used when the person or thing has already been introduced. “A” or “an” are used while introducing something for the first time. They are also used for stating general facts.
Sentences containing pronouns
like he, she, they, it, them, their, him, etc. are usually not first sentences, as these pronouns are used when the person has already been introduced.
Sentences containing proper nouns
like names of persons, places or buildings or abstract nouns like qualities such as goodness, beauty, etc. are usually present in the first half of the paragraph.
If a sentence contains words like initially,
eventually, finally, proceeding, following, mentioned below/above, etc. it becomes easier to find other sentences that come immediately before or after it.
In some paragraphs, there are certain sentences that favour an argument,
and others that oppose it. The order of sentences will become more clear by placing the supporting and opposing sentences in two different groups.