PTE reading task guide

PTE Reorder Paragraph: format, scoring and practice

Reorder Paragraph tests whether you can recognise how an academic text develops. Instead of guessing a complete order at once, build reliable links between sentences and use them to reconstruct the passage.

Practise Reorder Paragraph See all PTE tasks
Task overview

Reorder Paragraph at a glance

PromptText of up to 150 words
PreparationSection-timed
ResponseNo separate item timer
Skills scoredReading
Test-day flow

How Reorder Paragraph works

  1. Several text boxes from one passage appear in a random order.
  2. You move the boxes until they form a coherent original sequence.
  3. There is no separate item timer, so the task uses the Reading section time.
Scoring

What your response is scored on

Text organisation

The task assesses whether you understand cohesion and the logical organisation of an academic text.

Partial credit

A fully correct order earns maximum credit, while partially correct ordering can still earn points.

Reading only

This task contributes to Reading; Listening, Speaking and Writing are not assessed.

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 text boxes

Reorder Paragraph Sample task

As a result, several cities began converting unused road space into protected cycle lanes.

During the early months of the trial, researchers recorded a steady rise in bicycle journeys.

The transport trial was introduced to test whether safer routes would change commuting habits.

This increase was strongest in neighbourhoods directly connected to the new network.

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 Reorder Paragraph

  1. Find a topic sentence that can stand alone and introduces the subject without referring backwards.
  2. Build pairs using pronouns, repeated concepts, chronology, articles and cause-effect links.
  3. Read the completed order as one passage and test every transition before submitting.
Practice this task type

Learn the strategy here, then practise filtered Reorder Paragraph items in the Practice Hub.

Practise Reorder Paragraph Back to all PTE task types
Focused session

A 15-minute Reorder Paragraph 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 Reorder Paragraph 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 the broadest sentence without checking whether it refers backwards
  • Ordering by repeated vocabulary while ignoring logical meaning
  • Trying to solve the full sequence before finding strong pairs
  • Failing to read the final sequence from beginning to end
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 Reorder ParagraphGo 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.