PTE Competent Plan Week 4: Fill in the Blanks

This week's sessions

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Day 1 · 📖 Reading · about 25 minGrammar first: Fill in the BlanksRead this week's lesson, then do the practice set below. For each gap, decide the word type before you look at the options.
Day 2 · 📖 Reading · about 20 minMore Fill in the BlanksDo the Fill in the Blanks practice. For every mistake, write the correct collocation in your notebook.
Day 3 · 📖 Reading · about 25 minReorder and multiple choiceDo the practice set below. For each reorder question, circle the linking word or pronoun that joins each pair.
Day 4 · 📖 Reading · about 20 minReorder Paragraphs practiceRead the tips and do the practice. Find the sentence that can stand alone first, then follow the links.
Day 5 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 20 minRead Aloud reviewDo five Read Aloud texts and record yourself. Compare with week 1: fewer pauses, steady speed, key words stressed.

This week's lesson: Fill in the Blanks and Reorder Paragraphs

This week is about reading. The most important task is Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks, because it counts towards Reading and Writing and appears several times in the test.

Two kinds of Fill in the Blanks

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks has a drop-down list with four words for each gap.
Reading: Fill in the Blanks has a box of words, and you drag one word into each gap. There are more words than gaps.

The method is the same for both.

Step 1: grammar first

Before you think about meaning, ask: what type of word does this gap need?

After a, the, many, some → a noun: food production**
After can, will, must, to → a base verb: will begin**
After has, have, was → often a past participle: has decided**
After is, very, more → often an adjective: is important**
After he, she, it, everyone in the present → a verb with -s: everyone stands**

Often only one or two options fit the grammar. That makes the choice much easier.

Step 2: then meaning and collocation

Now choose the word that makes sense. Many PTE gaps test collocations: words that often go together.

play a role, save time, make a decision**
struggle to grow, prefer to visit, encourage someone to**

Online shopping is popular because it [saves / spends / serves / solves] time. Grammar: all four are verbs with -s. Meaning: you save time.

Step 3: watch for look-alike words

Wrong options often look or sound like the right one: habit / habitat, bins / bills, produce / product / production. Read each option carefully, letter by letter.

Step 4: read the whole sentence again

When you've filled every gap, read the full sentence once more. Does it sound natural?

Reorder Paragraphs: find the start, follow the links

You get four or five sentences in the wrong order. Put them in the right order.

Find the first sentence. It can stand alone. It usually introduces the topic and doesn't start with This, These, However, Also or They.

Follow the linking clues:

Pronouns and "this/these": these notes, this long rest, they point back to something in an earlier sentence.
Order words: First, Next, Then, Finally.
Contrast and result: However changes direction; As a result or So gives an effect.

Koalas spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees. → They eat the leaves... → As a result, koalas need to save energy... → This long rest is why...

Check in pairs. Marks are given for each pair of sentences in the right order, so even if you aren't sure of the whole order, get as many pairs right as you can.

Multiple choice: be careful

In Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers, wrong choices lose marks. Only choose options you can find in the text. In the single-answer version, there's no penalty, so always choose one.

Time

Reading has no separate timer for each task, so don't spend more than about two minutes on one Fill in the Blanks question.

Keep speaking too

Read Aloud also counts towards Reading, so this week ends with a Read Aloud session.

Practice for this week

Grammar first: Fill in the Blanks

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Reorder and multiple choice

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Weekly check: Mock test 2, Reading

Do Part 2 (Reading) in one go. For every wrong Fill in the Blanks answer, note whether it was grammar, meaning or a look-alike word.

Start the weekly check

When you finish, come back to your plan home: your dashboard updates with the new score.

Answers, explanations and transcripts

Finish the test first, then open each section to check your answers. Every answer has an explanation.

Grammar first: Fill in the Blanks

Answer key (14 answers)

#	Question	Answer	Why
1	Drinking enough water is ___	important	After 'is' you need an adjective: 'important'. After 'when they' you need a present simple verb with no -s: 'exercise'.
2	…Most adults need to drink more when the weather is hot or when they ___	exercise	After 'is' you need an adjective: 'important'. After 'when they' you need a present simple verb with no -s: 'exercise'.
3	The city council has ___	decided	'Has' + past participle: 'has decided'. After 'will' you need the base form: 'will begin'.
4	to build a new swimming pool next to the community centre. Work will ___	begin	'Has' + past participle: 'has decided'. After 'will' you need the base form: 'will begin'.
5	Bees play an important part in food ___	production	After 'food' you need a noun that means the process: 'food production'. Crops 'struggle to grow' (find it hard to grow); the other verbs don't fit the meaning.
6	…flower to another. Without bees, many fruit and vegetable crops would ___	struggle	After 'food' you need a noun that means the process: 'food production'. Crops 'struggle to grow' (find it hard to grow); the other verbs don't fit the meaning.
7	Online shopping is popular because it ___	saves	Shopping online 'saves time'. 'Prefer to do something' is the only pattern that fits after 'some shoppers'.
8	time. However, some shoppers ___	prefer	Shopping online 'saves time'. 'Prefer to do something' is the only pattern that fits after 'some shoppers'.
9	…short meetings at the start of each day. These meetings help staff ___	share	'Help staff share' needs a base verb. 'Everyone' takes a singular verb: 'stands'. After 'more' you need an adjective: 'organised'.
10	their plans and ask for help early. To keep them short, everyone ___	stands	'Help staff share' needs a base verb. 'Everyone' takes a singular verb: 'stands'. After 'more' you need an adjective: 'organised'.
11	…for only a minute or two. Many teams say this makes their work more ___	organised	'Help staff share' needs a base verb. 'Everyone' takes a singular verb: 'stands'. After 'more' you need an adjective: 'organised'.
12	…when the rules are clear. Most councils give each house separate ___	bins	You put rubbish in 'bins', not 'bills'. After 'can' you need a base verb: 'cause'. You check rules on a 'website'. The extra words look or sound similar but don't fit.
13	…and for recycling. Putting the wrong item in the recycling bin can ___	cause	You put rubbish in 'bins', not 'bills'. After 'can' you need a base verb: 'cause'. You check rules on a 'website'. The extra words look or sound similar but don't fit.
14	problems at the sorting centre, so it is worth checking the council's ___	website	You put rubbish in 'bins', not 'bills'. After 'can' you need a base verb: 'cause'. You check rules on a 'website'. The extra words look or sound similar but don't fit.

Reorder and multiple choice

Text for question 18: Multiple Choice, Single Answer

Some cafés now give a small discount to customers who bring their own cup. The café saves money on paper cups, and fewer cups go to landfill. However, many customers still forget to bring a cup, so some cafés also sell reusable cups at the counter.

Text for question 19: Multiple Choice, Single Answer

A good night's sleep helps the body recover and helps the brain store new information. Teenagers often go to bed late but have to wake up early for school, which means many of them do not get enough sleep during the week.

Text for question 20: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

Community gardens are shared spaces where local people grow vegetables, fruit and flowers. Members usually pay a small yearly fee and share tools and water. Many gardeners say the best part is meeting neighbours and learning from more experienced growers. Gardens can also make empty land more attractive. However, there is often a waiting list, because demand for garden plots is higher than the space available.

Answer key (6 answers)

#	Question	Answer	Why
15	Reorder Paragraph	(1) Many people want to save money but find it difficult to star… → (2) One simple method is to move a small amount into a savings a… → (3) Because the money is moved straight away, it is less likely … → (4) Over a year, these small amounts can grow into a useful emer…	The first sentence states the problem. 'One simple method' offers a solution; 'Because the money is moved' explains why it works; 'these small amounts' refers back and gives the result.
16	Reorder Paragraph	(1) Making a good first impression at a job interview starts bef… → (2) First, find out about the organisation and the role, so you … → (3) Next, plan your journey and aim to arrive about ten minutes … → (4) Finally, during the interview, listen carefully to each ques…	The topic sentence comes first. Then follow the order words: First, Next, Finally.
17	Reorder Paragraph	(1) Koalas spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees. → (2) They eat the leaves, which are low in energy and difficult t… → (3) As a result, koalas need to save energy, so they sleep for m… → (4) This long rest is why they are often seen sitting still in t…	Start with the general fact. 'They eat the leaves' adds detail; 'As a result' gives the effect; 'This long rest' refers back to the sleeping.
18	Why do some cafés sell reusable cups at the counter?	Because many customers forget to bring their own cup	The passage says customers 'still forget to bring a cup, so' cafés sell them. 'So' shows the reason.
19	What is the main problem the passage describes?	Many teenagers don't get enough sleep on school days.	The passage says teenagers go to bed late but wake early for school, so they don't get enough sleep 'during the week'.
20	Which of the following does the passage say about community gardens?	Members usually share tools and water. · Many gardeners enjoy meeting neighbours. · They can make empty land look better.	A, C and E are stated. Members pay 'a small yearly fee' (so B is wrong), and there is 'often a waiting list' (so D is wrong).

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