Timing at a glance
| Real test | No clock per question: the Reading items share one section timer |
|---|---|
| Our practice pace | About 2½ minutes per text |
Timings are approximate and can vary slightly from question to question.
How it's scored
Scored on1 mark per correct blank
Each blank you fill correctly earns one mark. A wrong or empty blank earns nothing and costs nothing, so always choose an option for every gap.
Worked example
A practice text we wrote
Remote work has ____ (1) the way many companies think about office space. Some firms have reduced their leases, ____ (2) others have redesigned offices as places for meetings rather than desk work. Either way, the change is ____ (3) to last. Options: (1) changed / chance / changing / change (2) while / during / despite / unless (3) likely / probable / possible / able
A strong approach
(1) changed: "has" needs a past participle. (2) while: it joins two contrasting clauses; "during" and "despite" need a noun after them. (3) likely: the fixed phrase is "likely to last"; "probable to" and "possible to" are not natural English.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the word that sounds familiar instead of checking the grammar around the gap.
- Leaving a gap empty when unsure. Empty earns 0, a guess may earn 1.
- Reading only the sentence with the gap and missing a clue in the previous sentence.
- Spending too long on one hard gap and rushing the rest.
Tips
- Read the whole text quickly first to get the topic and the tone.
- Check the word class each gap needs: noun, verb, adjective or linking word.
- Look for collocations: make a decision, likely to, depend on.
- Eliminate options that break the grammar, then choose on meaning.
- Always choose something for every blank.
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks FAQ
No. Each correct blank earns one mark, and a wrong blank simply earns nothing, so it's always worth choosing an option.
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.