Reading · Question type
PTE Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)
In Reading drag-and-drop blanks, you drag words from a shared bank into gaps in a passage so each sentence is grammatical and coherent.
See it first
Watch Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) run.
This is the real sequence, sped up: the clock, the audio and the recording window. Press play, then read how to beat it.
The human body is remarkably good at its internal temperature. When we are too hot, we sweat, and when we are too cold, we . These automatic responses help to a stable environment for our vital organs.
Drag words from the bank into the gaps
What it is
What you actually do.
A passage contains several blanks and a box of word options. You drag words into blanks; unused words remain in the bank. Each word is typically used at most once.
Compared with dropdown blanks, the shared bank means choices interact: using a word in the wrong gap can block the correct gap later.
The task targets vocabulary, grammar, and discourse cohesion in academic paragraphs.
How it’s scored
What the computer marks.
Correct blanks are commonly scored individually.
Placing a word in the wrong gap misses that blank’s credit.
Partial credit systems, if any, follow Pearson’s current rules. Do not assume blog versions.
This type is primarily a Reading item; check official docs for any other skill contribution claims.
How to do it well
The moves that hold up.
Under the clock, these are the habits that keep you calm and on task.
Scan all blanks and the full word bank before dragging anything.
Slot the most constrained blanks first (unique grammar or rare collocation).
Group bank words by part of speech to see what each gap can accept.
After filling, read the whole paragraph aloud in your head for cohesion.
If stuck between two words, test both in the sentence and compare.
Leave flexible words (e.g., common adjectives) for later gaps.
Watch reference words and logic across sentence boundaries.
Common mistakes
What costs marks.
Most people lose points the same way. Know these before test day.
Filling left-to-right mechanically and painting yourself into a corner.
Forcing a word that almost fits instead of reconsidering earlier placements.
Ignoring singular/plural and verb tense cues.
Burning minutes on one paragraph while section time drains.
How to practice
Make it automatic.
Volume under exam conditions is what moves the score. Do this, not more reading.
Practice “bank-first” elimination: cross off impossible parts of speech mentally.
Review academic word families so related forms do not confuse you (affect/effect, economic/economical).
Use Wobzzy free drills to get comfortable with drag interactions under time pressure.
Keep going
Related tasks.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Usually each bank word is available once. If the UI removes a word after placement, plan as a one-use bank.
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