Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks: How to score HIGH?
The first question of READING SECTION, PART 2 in PTE Academic, is Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks. It is considered to be extremely crucial as it has a significantimpact in the scoring of READING and WRITING module.The passage up to 300 words with some gaps is given on the screen with DROP-DOWN menu comprising FOUR options for each blank. Choose the right option as per your understanding about the given text.
Task Format
The length of the passage is up to 300 words. This question type contributes to READING and WRITING score. Overall, the time provided for READING module is up to 30 minutes, question wise timer is not provided. There are 5-6 question based on Reading & Writing: FIB.
Scoring Pattern ofReading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks
One point is given to each correct answer and there is no negative marking. Student gets partial credits for the given answers in the passage. For scoring, it is not necessary to have all the blanks right, even one right blanks will be provided the score.
How the skills like Reading and Writing are tested?
In Reading, identify the given passage, means what the topic is and analyze the theme or main ideas of the passage, identification of the right wordsand phrases in the contextis important for that understanding academicvocabulary, distinguish the connotation anddenotation, guess the unfamiliar words and try to grasp the direct and indirect information given in the passage, even go through the logical and chronological sequence of events.
Writing:The phrases and words selected in an appropriate way, for instance, using the correct grammar or choosing the right word as per the collocation.
How to locate the right answer for the given blanks?
- 1.Go through the given passage to understand the context and meaning of the given passage. It will help you to choose the word which fits in the passage.
- 2.Analyze the sentence before you decide the requirement, for instance, if the blank follows the subject, then the required word is the verb and the verb form depends on the given information.
- 3.Knowledge of common words and the combination and collocations is essential for choosing the option which fits the given blank. Consider the word which naturally fits as per the surrounding text.
- 4.After selecting the answer for all the blanks, skim the passage to ensure the your choices cohesively fit within the paragraph, make necessary changes if required and move to the next question.
What should be strategy to locate right answer?
- A.Read short passages, try to summarize the main ideas of the text. While reading focus on the sentence structure and the verb tense patterns.
- B.Revise grammar and solve few exercises related to tenses, voice, preposition and noun, adjectives adverbs ectara.
- C.Read the articles based on different topics. These days the best option available is the internet. Check the meaning of the unfamiliar words in the dictionary and go through the synonyms and antonyms.
- D.Expand your knowledge of collocations, for that consultant any reference book related to collocations. Collocation is the pair of two words such as academic qualification, concise data, make a decision, a surge of anger.
- E.pay attention on cohesive devices such as conjunction, repetition of words and phrases, synonyms and antonyms in the passage.
Test Tips
- 1.Follow the time management. In the Reading module 5-6 question are based on Reading & Writing: Fill inthe Blanks. Try to spend only 2 minutes on each passage, as there are many other questions to be answered.
- 2.Before choosing any option, skim the entire passage to have a quick idea of it.
- 3.Apply your knowledge of Grammar such as tenses, conjunction, voice and preposition.
- 4.If you struggle getting the right answer, apply your knowledge of collocations.
- 5.Make a guess if the word meaning in not understandable such as the root words, synonyms, antonyms and transition words.
- 6.Practice will make you knowledgeable and perfect in the task.
