Multiple-choice, Multiple Answers, PTE Academic

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Score Weightage

Overall Score1%

Reading5%

Source: Pearson PTE Academic, Scoring Information for Teachers and Partners. Weightings are averages and may vary per test form.

The Do's and Don'ts

Scan Options for Repeated WordsDecide when to use background knowledge. If the question says "According to the text...", "The writer believes...", or "Which can be inferred from the text..." -- background knowledge is NOT appropriate and may mislead you. If the question asks which facts are true without a text qualifier, background knowledge CAN help predict or verify. Always verify against the passage.

Use the Elimination StrategyRule out options that contradict the text, are 'Not Given,' or use extreme language.

Base Answers Only on the TextIgnore your prior knowledge. If the text says the sun is cold, for this task, the sun is cold.

Be ConservativeBecause of negative marking, selecting one option you are 100% sure of is often safer than selecting three and getting two wrong.

Don't Choose All OptionsSelecting every box will result in a score of zero due to the negative marking system.

Don't Match Words ExactlyPTE often uses synonyms. An option may be correct even if it uses different wording than the passage.

Don't Over-readDo not spend 5 minutes on one question. Manage your time across the full Reading section.

Don't Ignore Signpost WordsHowever, furthermore, despite, and consequently often signal the relationship between the ideas listed in the options.

Tips & Tricks

The One or More Rule

While the task says 'Multiple Answers,' there are typically 2 or 3 correct choices. Rarely are there 4.

Watch for Half-Truths

Distractors often include sentences where the first half is in the text, but the second half is changed or exaggerated.

Manage the Risk

If certain about two options but 'maybe' about a third, stop at two. Protecting points from negative marking is key to a high Reading score.

Standardized Solving Protocol

Preview the Question & Options

Read the question to understand the goal. Identify keywords in the options to use as search terms.

Skim for the Gist

Quickly read the passage (30–45 seconds) to understand the general structure.

Scan and Validate

Take each option one by one and scan the text. Ask: 'Does the text explicitly support this entire statement?'

The Final Selection

Select only the 'Sure Wins.' Exclude 'Clear Fakes', contradictions or things not mentioned.

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Test-Taking Strategies & Practice

1 Decide whether background knowledge is appropriate

The approach depends on how the question is phrased:

"According to the text..." -- Do not use background knowledge. Only use what is in the passage.
"Which can be inferred from the text..." -- Do not use background knowledge.
"Which of the following are true statements about X?" (without text qualifier) -- Background knowledge may help you predict or verify.

2 Use text structure to locate information

Quickly identify the type of text and use its structure to find relevant information efficiently. Look at section headings, subheadings, and topic sentences (usually the first sentence of each paragraph).

3 Identify keywords and scan for matching information

Underline key terms in each answer option, then scan the text for words or phrases with similar meanings. Remember:

Correct answers are often paraphrases of what is in the text
Distractors often use the exact same words as the text but change a small detail
Because of negative marking, only select answers you are confident are correct

Practice - Australian Aborigines

Question: Which of the following statements about Australian Aborigines can be supported from the text?

Incorrect

It is estimated that the population peaked at about 400,000 some 30,000 years before white settlement.400,000 is the current estimated Aboriginal population, not a historical peak.

Incorrect

The didgeridoo rarely plays a significant role in Aboriginal cultural ceremonies.The text says the didgeridoo is used in formal ceremonies such as sunsets, circumcisions, and funerals.

Correct

Today Aborigines comprise approximately 2% of the Australian population.Government statistics counted approximately 400,000 aboriginal people, or about 2% of Australia's total population.

Correct

Aboriginal culture is based on a belief that people, animals, and the land are integrally linked.The Dreamtime section says aborigines believe people, animals and land share a common ancestry.

Incorrect

Unlike many other indigenous cultures, Australian Aborigines developed equitable relationships with colonial powers.The passage says Australian Aborigines had, like other indigenous populations, a difficult colonial history.

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Official Scoring Criteria

+1 per correct

Each correct response selected earns 1 point.

−1 per incorrect

Each incorrect response selected deducts 1 point.

0 (min)

Minimum score is 0. Score cannot go negative.

Partial credit with negative marking, do NOT guess randomly. Only select options you are confident are correct. Selecting all options will cost you points.