Reading - PTE Academic / UKVI, PTE Core
Re-order Paragraphs
Re-order Paragraphs practice improves paragraph logic, cohesion, and sentence sequencing.
Task facts at a glance
| Appears in | PTE Academic / UKVI and PTE Core — Reading part |
|---|---|
| Items per test | 2–3 |
| Task | Drag text boxes into the original order |
| Scoring | Partial credit per correctly ordered adjacent pair — full marks need the full sequence |
| Negative marking | None |
| Skills credited | Reading |
Worked example
Five sentences about the evolution of communication technology — from hand-delivered letters to email — must be restored to their original order. (Real bank question — shown in the player below.)
Correct order: 2 → 4 → 3 → 1 → 5. “Decades ago…” sets the scene, “Communication was slow then…” refers back to it, “With increasing advancements…” pivots to the present, “One common method… is email” introduces the example, and “It is one of the fastest ways…” expands on email.
Why this scores well: Referential links (“then”, “it”) decide the order — and each correctly ordered adjacent pair earns credit even if the full sequence isn’t perfect.
Scoring traits to watch
Reading comprehensionCoherence
Key takeaways
Find the topic sentence before arranging details.
Use pronouns, connectors, and chronology as ordering clues.
Review why each sentence follows the previous one.
How to practise Re-order Paragraphs
This task rewards structure. Practise explaining the link between each pair of sentences, not just finding similar words.
- Identify the sentence that introduces the topic.
- Link pronouns and repeated ideas.
- Place examples after general claims.
Practice framework
- Identify the sentence that introduces the topic.
- Link pronouns and repeated ideas.
- Place examples after general claims.
- Read the final order as one paragraph.
Common mistakes
- Ordering sentences by topic words only.
- Missing pronoun references and transition clues.
- Placing examples before the main idea.
Frequently asked questions
How is PTE Re-order Paragraphs scored?
It is scored by correctly ordered adjacent pairs, which gives partial credit. You only get full points for the complete correct sequence.
How many Re-order Paragraphs questions are there?
There are 2–3 items, and the task appears in both Academic and Core.
Can I get partial marks if my order is only partly right?
Yes. You earn credit for every correctly ordered adjacent pair, so a partly correct sequence still scores, with full points reserved for the fully correct order.
This task inside EdKnot
