Advanced Techniques for Tackling Difficult PTE Reading Passages

1. Understanding the Passage’s Central Idea

The key to effectively reading any complex piece of writing is to identify its central theme. Reading a PTE passage without understanding its fundamental idea can waste precious time and might not yield correct answers. Therefore, look for the theme in the title or the initial part of the passage.

Focus on keywords and phrases that repeat in the passage. They might provide a hint towards the central idea. Understanding the central theme will help you infer the author’s opinion more effectively which is crucial for answering the questions accurately.

2. Scanning the Passage

Scanning is a quick reading technique used to find specific information quickly within a text. This technique will be particularly useful in PTE reading passages in order to locate and answer questions efficiently during the test.

Scanning involves checking the passage for facts, figures, names, or a particular piece of information that will assist in answering questions. It’s important not to read every line during scanning. Practice this technique to improve your scanning speed and accuracy.

3. Educated Guessing

Sometimes, you may come across unknown words or unfamiliar concepts within the passage. In such a scenario, it’s useful to make an ‘educated guess’. It involves using the context of the sentence or paragraph to guess the meaning of an unknown term or concept.

Also, look for hints in the text that can indicate the meaning of the unknown word. Be careful when guessing, as incorrect predictions can distort the meaning of the sentence and lead to incorrect answers.

4. Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is another technique that can assist in better understanding the reading passage. It involves rephrasing the sentences in your own words without changing the original meaning. This requires a good command of the language and vocabulary.

By paraphrasing, you can ensure that you have understood the text correctly, helping you answer questions accurately. Practice paraphrasing sentences and paragraphs to improve your overall reading comprehension skills.

5. Using Inference

Often the answers to questions in PTE reading passages are not explicitly stated in the text. Inference, or reading between the lines, is a critical skill for such occasions. This requires understanding the overall context and drawing conclusions.

Through inference, you can predict the author’s opinion, determine the tone of the passage, and understand implied meanings. This powerful skill can ensure your success in PTE Reading module, as often PTE test expects candidates to interpret unstated information in the text.