Reading · RO
Reorder Paragraphs: PTE guide and practice
Reorder Paragraphs asks you to arrange shuffled text boxes into a logical and cohesive order.
- Section
- Reading
- Practice time
- About 3 minutes per item
- Official format
- Pearson PTE
Direct answer
What is Reorder Paragraphs in PTE?
Identify the independent opening sentence, then connect the remaining boxes using reference words, chronology and idea development.
What it measures
Which skills does Reorder Paragraphs assess?
Reading comprehension, organisation and cohesion.
Step by step
How should you approach Reorder Paragraphs?
- Find a topic sentence that does not depend on earlier text.
- Build strong pairs using pronouns, repeated terms and transitions.
- Read the complete sequence for logical progression.
Avoid these
Common Reorder Paragraphs mistakes
- Ordering boxes from general appearance alone.
- Ignoring pronouns or linkers that refer to earlier information.
Scoring focus
What matters in your Reorder Paragraphs response?
Reorder Paragraphs awards credit for correctly connected adjacent text boxes. Build reliable pairs from reference words and idea development before deciding the full sequence.
Worked example
See the strategy in a short practice example.
Illustrative The Panel practice example. Not official Pearson test material.
- Prompt or source
- A: This finding changed the project. B: Researchers first surveyed 200 households. C: The survey revealed a sharp fall in water use.
- Response
- B - C - A
- Why it works
- B introduces the survey, C names its result, and 'This finding' in A refers directly to the result in C.
Teacher review
One adjustment to practise next.
A sentence beginning with 'this result', 'however' or a pronoun usually depends on information that must appear earlier.
Before submitting
Use a final Reorder Paragraphs check.
- The opening can stand alone.
- Every pronoun has a clear earlier reference.
- The completed sequence develops one coherent idea.
Official reference
Use The Panel for guided preparation and practice. Confirm official test rules and scoring details on the Pearson PTE Reading format page.
Build the full skill
Continue with related reading tasks.
Connect question practice with scoring, study planning and timed test preparation.
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Reading: Fill in the Blanks
This task asks you to drag words from a word bank into gaps in a short reading passage.
Put the guide into practice
Try a focused Reorder Paragraphs session.
Open the matching module in The Panel practice portal and apply the steps while they are fresh.