What PTE Core Reorder Paragraphs is
Reorder Paragraphs is one of the five PTE Core reading tasks. Four short paragraphs from one text arrive shuffled, and you click them into the order the writer used. A real test has 2–3 items, inside Part 2, Reading (27–37 minutes). It feeds your Reading score only — the one reading task that also counts towards Writing is Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks.
The instruction you will see
On test day the paragraphs arrive in a random order, every one of them must be placed, and nothing is marked until you move on.
How it is scored: adjacent pairs, not all-or-nothing
This is the rule most candidates get wrong. Reorder Paragraphs is not all-or-nothing: the Score Guide gives partial credit of 1 point for each correctly ordered adjacent pair, minimum 0.
| Correct order | Your order | Pairs kept | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| C→A→D→B | C→A→D→B | C→A, A→D, D→B | 3 of 3 |
| C→A→D→B | C→A→B→D | C→A | 1 of 3 |
| C→A→D→B | C→D→A→B | D→B | 1 of 3 |
Row two matters: you broke the chain and still scored. There is no penalty for pairs you miss — a tidier scramble, right opening and right first link, banks 2 of 3.
This page's checker uses the same rule: correct pairs divided by the total, turned into a practice figure between 42 and 90 — a progress signal, not an official PTE score.
The method that works
- Find the topic sentence. It names the subject and stands alone, with no pronoun pointing backwards and no connector such as this, however or therefore.
- Hunt the links. Pronouns, repeated nouns and connectors all point at a neighbour: however opposes the sentence before it and therefore concludes from it.
- Check the chain. A sound item runs in time order, cause-and-effect order, or general to specific. If your sequence needs a jump no word supports, the jump is wrong.
Worked example
The first item in the practice bank is a transit notice, held as paragraphs A to D:
Correct order: C, A, D, B. The clue that fixes each position:
| Position | Paragraph | The clue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | No backward pointer: it names the cause (heavy snowfall) and the change (services adjusted from 10 PM). |
| 2nd | A | "during this period" points back to the 10 PM adjustment, and "Buses" narrows "transit services". |
| 3rd | D | With the route change stated, the text turns from the service to the people affected: "Riders". |
| 4th | B | The closing action: "your route" picks up the routes already named, and "Please check" only works last. |
That banks three pairs: C→A, A→D, D→B. Note what the clues are not: length. C is not the longest paragraph and B is not the shortest.
Three mistakes that cost the most pairs
- Picking the topic sentence by length or tone. The opening is identified by what it lacks, not by being the longest paragraph.
- Ignoring a connector that overrules your story. If a paragraph starts with "However" or "This change", the sentence before it is decided for you.
- Never checking the join. Pairs are what get scored, so ask of each new paragraph not "does this read well?" but "which paragraph does this follow?"
How practice scores map to CLB Reading bands
For Express Entry, IRCC puts Reading at CLB 7 = 60–68, CLB 8 = 69–77, CLB 9 = 78–87 and CLB 10+ = 88 or above. That band is Reading alone, and your Express Entry CLB is set by your lowest ability.
Frequently asked questions
How many Reorder Paragraph questions are in a real PTE Core test?
Two or three. The PTE Core Score Guide lists Reorder Paragraph as 2–3 questions in Part 2, Reading (27–37 minutes, five question types).
Is Reorder Paragraph scored all or nothing?
No. The Score Guide gives partial credit of 1 point for each correctly ordered adjacent pair, minimum 0. Get one link right and you have banked a point.
What is the PTE figure the tool shows after I check my order?
A practice estimate, not an official score. The checker divides the adjacent pairs you placed correctly by the total and turns that ratio into a figure between 42 and 90.
Do I have to place every paragraph before checking?
Yes. The Check Order button asks you to place all four first, then colours each paragraph and prints the correct sequence.
How long should I spend on one Reorder Paragraph?
Pearson publishes no per-task time for PTE Core, so any timer here is a practice aid. Part 2 gives 27–37 minutes for 13–18 reading items.
What to do next
Work through a batch of two, then continue: