PTE Academic · Task guide 16 · 3 min read
PTE Reading Fill in the Blanks: format and tips
PTE Academic Reading Fill in the Blanks explained: drag words from a box into gaps, partial credit, grammar clues and a routine.
What you see and do
A short passage appears with several gaps. Below it is a box of words. You drag a word from the box into each gap. There are more words than gaps, so some words are not used.
This is different from Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks, where each gap has its own drop-down list. Here, every word in the box is a possible answer for any gap, which makes grammar clues especially important.
Timing
There is no separate timer for this item. It shares the Reading part timer, about 30 minutes in total. Allow about one and a half to two minutes per item.
How it is scored
Reading Fill in the Blanks counts towards Reading.
It uses partial credit: you earn one mark for each blank filled correctly. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so fill every gap.
How the two fill-in-the-blanks items differ
| Feature | Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks | Reading Fill in the Blanks |
|---|---|---|
| How you answer | Drop-down list per gap | Drag from a shared word box |
| Options | Separate set for each gap | One set for all gaps, with spare words |
| Skills | Reading and Writing | Reading |
Common mistakes
- Filling gaps in order without thinking ahead. Using a word in the first gap may leave the wrong words for the later ones.
- Ignoring the part of speech. A gap after "the" needs a noun or an adjective plus noun, not a verb.
- Choosing a word with the right meaning but wrong form. "Economic" and "economical" are not interchangeable.
- Forgetting to read the finished sentence. A quick re-read catches many errors.
A short routine
- Skim the passage to understand the topic.
- Label each gap with the part of speech it needs: noun (n), verb (v), adjective (adj), adverb (adv).
- Sort the word box mentally into the same groups.
- Fill the easiest gaps first, where only one word fits the grammar.
- Use meaning and collocation for the remaining gaps.
- Re-read the whole passage before moving on.
Exam tip: look at the words immediately before and after each gap. Prepositions, articles and verb endings narrow the choice quickly. For example, "depend ___" needs "on", and "a ___ of" often needs a noun such as "range" or "variety".
Illustrative example
This passage was written for Fable Tests. It is not taken from any official material.
The first public libraries were often (1) by wealthy individuals who believed that reading could improve society. Over time, local councils took (2) for running them. Today, libraries offer far more than books: many provide free internet (3), study spaces and community events, making them an (4) part of town life.
Word box: responsibility · essential · funded · access · funding · responsible · essentially
| Gap | Part of speech needed | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Past participle after "were" | funded |
| 2 | Noun after "took" | responsibility |
| 3 | Noun after "internet" | access |
| 4 | Adjective after "an" and before "part" | essential |
The spare words, funding, responsible and essentially, are close in meaning but the wrong part of speech for each gap.
Key points
- You drag words from a shared box into gaps; there are spare words.
- It counts towards Reading.
- One mark per correct blank, with no negative marking.
- Decide the part of speech for each gap first, then use meaning and collocation.
- Fill every gap and re-read the passage.
For the official current format, see pearsonpte.com. More guides are on the PTE hub.