Timing at a glance
| Real test | No clock per question: the Reading items share one section timer |
|---|---|
| Our practice pace | About 2 minutes per question |
Timings are approximate and can vary slightly from question to question.
How it's scored
Scored on+1 per correct option−1 per wrong option
Each correct option you choose adds one mark, and each incorrect option you choose takes one away. The score never goes below zero. That means choosing only the options you are confident about is usually the safer strategy.
Worked example
A practice question we wrote
Text: "Community gardens give city residents space to grow food, but their benefits go further. Gardeners report meeting neighbours they had never spoken to, and several cities have found that vacant lots turned into gardens see less litter and vandalism." Question: Which benefits does the text mention? Choose more than one. A) Fresh food B) Lower food prices C) New social connections D) Less litter and vandalism E) Higher house prices
A strong approach
A, C and D are stated in the text. B and E sound plausible but are never mentioned, and choosing them would cost a mark each.
Common mistakes
- Choosing every option that seems possible.
- Picking an option because it's generally true, not because the text says it.
- Assuming there must be exactly two or three correct answers.
Tips
- Only choose an option you can point to in the text.
- When unsure about an option, leave it out; a wrong choice cancels a right one.
- Check each option separately against the text.
- Don't spend too long; this task carries few marks for its difficulty.
Reading: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers FAQ
Yes. Each correct option adds one mark and each incorrect option takes one away, though the score can't go below zero.
Related guides
PTE Practice is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Pearson. Our scores are a calibrated emulation, not official PTE scores.