Reading - PTE Academic / UKVI, PTE Core
Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)
Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) practice develops precise vocabulary and grammar choices from context.
Task facts at a glance
| Appears in | PTE Academic / UKVI and PTE Core — Reading part (integrated task) |
|---|---|
| Items per test | 5–6 — the biggest reading type |
| Text length | Up to about 300 words |
| Scoring | Partial credit — 1 point per correct blank |
| Negative marking | None |
| Skills credited | Reading and Writing |
Worked example
“What history books tell us about the past is not everything that happened, but what historians [1]… when a national school curriculum for England and Wales was first discussed… the history curriculum was the subject of considerable public and media [3]…” Five dropdown blanks. (Real bank question — shown in the player below.)
[1] have selected · [2] for example · [3] interest · [4] intervened · [5] place — each dropdown judged on grammar and collocation, 1 point per blank.
Why this scores well: Fixed phrases decide most blanks (“public and media interest”, “intervened in the debate”) — read around the gap before choosing.
Scoring traits to watch
ReadingVocabulary
Key takeaways
Read around each blank before opening the options.
Eliminate words that do not fit the grammar.
Use paragraph meaning to separate close options.
How to practise Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)
Dropdown blanks reward exact word choice. Practise proving why the selected option fits the sentence better than the alternatives.
- Identify the required part of speech.
- Compare options for meaning and collocation.
- Select the best fit in context.
Practice framework
- Identify the required part of speech.
- Compare options for meaning and collocation.
- Select the best fit in context.
- Re-read the completed passage before submitting.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the first option that sounds familiar.
- Ignoring part of speech around the blank.
- Not checking whether the completed sentence reads naturally.
Frequently asked questions
How many blanks are in PTE Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks?
It is the biggest reading type with 5–6 items. The text runs up to about 300 words and each blank has its own dropdown menu.
Does Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks have negative marking?
No. There is no negative marking and you earn per-blank partial credit, so every correct dropdown choice adds points.
What skills does the dropdown Fill in the Blanks task score?
It credits both Reading and Writing, and it appears in both Academic and Core.
This task inside EdKnot
