PTE reading task guide

PTE Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown): format, scoring and practice

Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) asks you to choose the best word for each gap from a short dropdown list. The task is slower than it looks because the right answer must fit meaning, grammar and the surrounding academic style.

Practise Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) See all PTE tasks
Task overview

Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) at a glance

PromptText of up to 300 words with dropdown gaps
PreparationSection-timed
ResponseNo separate item timer
Skills scoredReading
Test-day flow

How Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) works

  1. A passage of up to 300 words appears with several dropdown gaps.
  2. Each gap has its own set of answer options.
  3. You choose one option for each gap within the Reading section time.
Scoring

What your response is scored on

Per blank

Each correctly completed dropdown gap earns one point.

Partial credit

Wrong answers in other gaps do not remove credit from correct gaps.

Reading only

The current Pearson Score Guide lists this dropdown task under Reading.

Use scores as direction, not certainty

Pearson does not publish the complete scoring algorithm or raw-to-scale conversion. PrepEx feedback and 10-90 scores are practice estimates, not official PTE results.

Original example

Sample-style dropdown task

Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) Sample task

Researchers often analyse / avoid / publish large data sets before drawing conclusions, because incomplete records can distort / celebrate / repeat the final interpretation.

This is an original PrepEx example designed to demonstrate the response format. It is not an official Pearson test item.

Practice method

How to improve at Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)

  1. Read the full sentence before opening the dropdown so you know the required grammar.
  2. Use nearby collocations to reject options that are topically related but unnatural.
  3. After choosing all options, reread the paragraph to check flow and reference words.
Practice this task type

Learn the strategy here, then practise filtered Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) items in the Practice Hub.

Practise Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) Back to all PTE task types
Focused session

A 15-minute Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) practice loop

01

Preview the rules

Re-read the timing, scoring traits and common mistakes on this guide before opening practice.

02

Run focused attempts

Open the filtered Practice Hub view and complete several Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) attempts without switching task types.

03

Review and repeat

Use your activity history and target plan to decide whether to repeat this task or move to the next weak family.

Continue the loop

Stay on this task for a short focused set, then review whether it should remain your priority.

Run focused attempts Review attempts Update target plan
Avoidable errors

Common mistakes

  • Choosing by topic match instead of grammar and collocation
  • Ignoring transition words that signal contrast, cause or sequence
  • Solving each blank without checking the paragraph as a whole
  • Spending too long on one gap and losing Reading section time
Accuracy and source

Checked against Pearson's current format

Task format, timing and published scoring traits were checked against Pearson's current PTE Academic test-format guidance on June 23, 2026. Pearson remains the final authority and may update the test.

Primary source: Pearson PTE Academic test format.

All PTE task typesBrowse the complete 22-task library by section. How PTE scoring worksUnderstand partial credit, score traits and the 10-90 scale. Practise Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)Go directly to matching items in the PTE Practice Hub.
PTE Academic is a trademark of Pearson Education Ltd. PrepEx is independent of Pearson. PrepEx scores are practice estimates, not official Pearson scores.