PTE Reorder Paragraphs: Developing Your Logical Thinking and Time Management

The PTE Academic exam is designed to assess a candidate’s proficiency in the English language across various skills, including reading, listening, speaking, and writing. One of the challenging tasks in the PTE exam is the “Reorder Paragraphs” section, which evaluates a candidate’s ability to comprehend and organize information logically.

This section also tests the candidate’s time management skills, as they need to efficiently arrange paragraphs to form a coherent text within a limited timeframe. In this blog, we will explore strategies to excel in the “Reorder Paragraphs” task, emphasizing the development of logical thinking and time management to achieve a high score.

Strategies to Excel in the PTE Reorder Paragraphs

Understanding the “Reorder Paragraphs” Task in PTE Exam

In the Reorder Paragraphs PTE task, you will be presented with a jumbled set of paragraphs from a given passage. Your goal is to arrange these paragraphs in the correct order to create a coherent and meaningful text. The passages cover a wide range of topics, making it essential to quickly grasp the main idea and identify the logical flow of ideas.

Developing Logical Thinking

1. Identify the Topic Sentence: The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Look for clues such as keywords, repetition of ideas, or the general context to identify the topic sentence. Once you identify it, you can use it as a starting point to build the logical sequence of the other paragraphs.
2. Analyze Supporting Details: As you read each paragraph, pay attention to supporting details and transitional phrases that link ideas together. Understanding how each paragraph relates to the others will help you construct a cohesive flow of information.
3. Use Context Clues: Sometimes, a paragraph might not explicitly state its position in the sequence. In such cases, use contextual clues, like time expressions, cause-and-effect relationships, or the development of ideas, to deduce the correct order.
4. Logical Connectors: Logical connectors, such as “therefore,” “however,” “moreover,” “consequently,” etc., play a vital role in establishing relationships between ideas. Be mindful of these connectors as they can guide you to arrange paragraphs logically.

Mastering Time Management

1. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is essential to improve your time management skills for the “Reorder Paragraphs” task. Set aside dedicated study sessions to solve sample questions and gradually increase the level of difficulty.
2. Set Time Limits: During practice, impose time limits to simulate the actual exam conditions. Challenge yourself to solve the task within the time constraints given in the PTE exam.
3. Skim the Passage: Before attempting to rearrange the paragraphs, quickly skim through the entire passage to get an overview of the content. This initial scan will help you familiarize yourself with the ideas presented and save time during the actual sorting process.
4. Divide and Conquer: If you encounter a complex passage, break it down into smaller sections to manage your time efficiently. Tackle each section independently and then try to connect them logically.
5. Eliminate Distractors: In some cases, you might come across paragraphs that seem related but are not part of the correct sequence. Train yourself to identify and eliminate distractors swiftly to avoid wasting time on incorrect options.

Conclusion

Mastering the “Reorder Paragraphs” task in the PTE Academic exam requires a combination of logical thinking and time management skills. By honing your ability to identify the main idea, analyze supporting details, and use logical connectors, you can arrange paragraphs in a coherent manner. 

Additionally, regular practice under timed conditions will enhance your time management skills and boost your confidence during the actual exam. Remember, developing these essential skills not only ensures success in the PTE exam but also equips you with valuable tools for effective communication in the English language in real-life situations. So, embrace the challenge, practice diligently, and excel in the “Reorder Paragraphs” task to achieve your desired PTE score.