PTE Core · Reading · R5
PTE Core Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Multiple Choice, Single Answer gives you a short text, a question and several options, of which only one is correct. You read, find the relevant part of the text and select that answer. There are 1 to 2 of these items in PTE Core Reading, and there is no negative marking.
- Items per test
- 1–2
- Response
- Select one option
- Marking
- Correct or incorrect; no penalty
- Timing
- Shares the Part 2 Reading time
How it works
- 1Read the question before the text.
- 2Find the sentences in the text that answer it.
- 3Rule out options that contradict the text or go beyond it.
- 4Select the remaining option and move on.
Sample question
Original sample · not from an official test
Text: "Our dental clinic now sends appointment reminders by text message two days in advance. Patients who prefer a phone call should tell reception." Question: What should a patient do if they want a phone reminder?
- AReply to the text message
- BInform the reception staff
- CBook two days earlier
- DCall the clinic every week
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Answer: Inform the reception staff
The text says patients who prefer a call "should tell reception". The other options use words from the text but do not match what it says.
Tips that work
- Paraphrase the question in your head so you recognise the answer even when the wording differs.
- Be wary of options that repeat exact words from the text; they are often distractors.
- Eliminate clearly wrong options first, then compare the last two against the text.
- Always choose an answer, since a wrong choice costs nothing.
Common mistakes
- Answering from general knowledge instead of the text.
- Picking an option that is true in real life but not stated in the text.
Questions candidates ask
Is there negative marking in single-answer questions?
No. Only the multiple-answer version takes points away for wrong choices.
Can a practice score of one item predict my PTE score?
No. One or two items are far too few to estimate a 10–90 score, so EnglishHub shows accuracy and explanations instead.
How long are the texts?
They are short everyday or workplace texts that you can read in a minute or two.
Other PTE Core Reading tasks
PTE Core overviewPTE Core Reading: all partsPTE Core full mock testsPTE Core articles on the blog