Reading - PTE Academic / UKVI, PTE Core
Reading Multiple Choice (Multiple)
Reading Multiple Choice Multiple practice builds evidence-based selection when more than one option may be correct.
Task facts at a glance
| Appears in | PTE Academic / UKVI and PTE Core — Reading part |
|---|---|
| Items per test | 2–3 |
| Passage length | Up to 300 words |
| Scoring | Partial credit — 1 point per correct selection |
| Negative marking | Yes — −1 per wrong selection, total floored at 0. Select only what you can evidence. |
| Skills credited | Reading |
Worked example
A passage on the Silk Road explains how the trade network spread goods, religions, and technologies between East Asia and the Mediterranean. “Which of the following were significant effects of the Silk Road?” — four options, more than one correct. (Real bank question — shown in the player below.)
A, B and D — Buddhism spreading from India to China, papermaking reaching Europe, and the westward exchange of gunpowder and the compass are all stated in the passage. Option C contradicts it, and selecting it would cost a point.
Why this scores well: Every selection is evidenced by a sentence in the passage — the safe strategy under negative marking.
Scoring traits to watch
Reading comprehension
Key takeaways
Read the question stem before judging options.
Verify each selected option against the passage.
Avoid options that are true statements but do not answer the question.
How to practise Reading Multiple Choice (Multiple)
This task rewards careful verification. Practise making every selected answer earn its place from the passage.
- Mark the question focus.
- Find passage evidence for each option.
- Reject options with changed scope or unsupported detail.
Practice framework
- Mark the question focus.
- Find passage evidence for each option.
- Reject options with changed scope or unsupported detail.
- Review every wrong selection after scoring.
Common mistakes
- Selecting options based on similar wording rather than evidence.
- Missing that incorrect choices may be partly true.
- Not returning to the passage to verify each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Does PTE Reading Multiple Choice (Multiple) have negative marking?
Yes. You lose 1 point for each wrong selection, with the score floored at 0, so only tick options you can evidence from the passage.
How is Reading Multiple Choice (Multiple) scored?
It uses partial credit: correct selections earn points while each wrong selection deducts 1 point, and the total cannot fall below 0.
How many Reading Multiple Choice (Multiple) questions are there?
There are 2–3 items and the passage is up to 300 words. It appears in both Academic and Core.
This task inside EdKnot
