The Pearson test or PTE for short, is a language test that checks the English levels of study abroad applicants. The candidates who are preparing for this test find the PTE reading to be a little more tedious than other modules. This is because this section has many different tasks that require different solving methods. Two of such tasks are fill in the blank questions that confuse the students. So, the tutors from PTE online coaching are sharing some ways to effectively solve these questions.
Fill in the Blank Tasks in the PTE Reading Module
In the PTE, there are two types of fill in the gap questions in the reading part.
- The first is called drag and drop. In this, students need to drag the correct response to the gap in the sentence. It assesses the reading skills of the test takers.
- The second one is where, besides each blank, there is a drop-down list of answers. Learners will need to choose the most appropriate one from these. Further, it examines both reading and writing skills.
Now, let’s see some of the methods for solving these tasks.
Strategies to Attempt Fill in the Gaps
Every student who is taking the PTE wants to get a high score on the exam. However, to do so, they must know the correct ways to solve the tasks included in it. The same is true for the PTE reading fill in the blank tasks. When you make use of the following strategies, you can easily get the answers without losing your marks.
Careful Reading
Before answering, you must go through the text. Try to grasp the main points and the flow of the passage. This will further help you get an idea of what words can come in the blank spaces.
Contextual Clues
When you are scanning the text in PTE reading, also pay attention to the terms that are around the blank. These, along with the subject, verb and meaning of the sentence, can help you to narrow down the choice.
Prediction
With the help of the context, try to make a learned guess about the type of word that can fit the gap. For example, is it a noun, verb or adjective? It will further reduce the options you need to choose from.
Collocation
Look for those phrases or words in the passage that are usually used together or form a sequence. As per mentors at PTE online coaching, it will help you select the term that maintains the flow of the text.
Evaluating Options
Experts suggest that you also need to check the answer options available to you. Read the options and see if they fit the blank in a logical sense without disrupting the context.
Grammar
When you are selecting a term to fill in, ensure that it fits grammatically. Moreover, in PTE reading, check the subject-verb agreement and tenses etc., of the sentence after writing the response.
Coherence
The answers you write in the gaps need to give the text a logical and coherent flow. Further, the replies should not alter the meaning of the text.
Elimination
When you are unsure of the right choice, then eliminate the options that do not fit as per context or grammar. Hence, as per PTE online coaching experts, you can select the correct response by taking out the least likely ones.
Time Management
When attempting these tasks, you must manage your time effectively. If you are not getting the response, move on and solve it afterwards.
Practice
Regular practice can be the key to mastering this task. Make use of the PTE mock test and other resources, to make yourself familiar with the type of questions.
In the next segment, get to know the scoring method used for marking the fill-up task.
Scoring Method for Fill in the Blank Tasks
This question judges the ability of a candidate to grasp the context and grammar clues and using them to fill the gaps. The PTE uses partial scoring system in these questions. If all the gaps are filled correctly, then the test taker will receive the full marks. However, in case of one or more incorrectly filled blanks, marks will be deducted. The scoring criteria are the same for both types of tasks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the fill in the blank tasks can be a good way to improve your score in the PTE exam. Moreover, with the above methods, you can easily master this task. Just remember to give enough time to practice these strategies. Further, if you want a free PTE mock test or coaching, then you can enroll with Gradding.com. It is a renowned platform for test prepping. In addition, the tutors here help you at every step.
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