The Reorder Paragraph task tests your ability to arrange sentences into a logical and coherent paragraph. You will see several text boxes in random order, and you need to move them into the correct sequence.
This task checks whether you can understand the flow of ideas, identify the topic sentence, and recognize connections between sentences.
Reorder Paragraph Scoring
Based on Pearson's official PTE Core scoring guide, you do not only get credit for placing every sentence in the perfect final position. You get credit for each correct sentence pair. This means building logical pairs is very important.
| Criteria | What It Measures | Scoring Range |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs | Whether two adjacent text boxes are placed in the correct order | 1 point for each correct adjacent pair; 0 for each incorrect pair |
Task Format
| Part | Format |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | Usually 2–3 questions |
| Sentences per task | Usually 4–5 sentences |
| Task | Arrange the sentences in the correct order |
| Skills assessed | Reading |
A Simple Strategy to Use
An effective approach is:
- Find the topic sentence first.
- Look for sentence links such as pronouns, repeated ideas, and transition words.
- Build correct sentence pairs.
- Read the final paragraph to check the flow.
Do not only guess based on sentence length. The correct order depends on meaning and logical connection.
Example Question
Let's take this Reorder Paragraph example and use it throughout the guide.
The text boxes below are in random order. Restore the original order by arranging them logically.
The text boxes below are in random order. Restore the original order by arranging them logically.
"He saw a 'few' snakes and quickly crawled out," said a post on Big Country Snake Removal's Facebook page.
The company ended up removing 45 rattlesnakes from beneath the house.
"We arrived around lunchtime and as soon as I crawled under I could immediately see that there was far more than a 'few'," the post said.
Big Country Snake Removal responded to a home in Albany, Texas, after a man who was trying to restore his cable climbed under the house and saw some snakes.
Step 1: Identify the Topic Sentence
First, look for the sentence that introduces the main situation without depending on previous information.
In this example, sentence D introduces the full context:
Big Country Snake Removal responded to a home in Albany, Texas, after a man who was trying to restore his cable climbed under the house and saw some snakes.
This sentence explains who was involved, where it happened, and what started the event. It does not rely on another sentence before it, so it is the best topic sentence.
Step 2: Find Sentence Links
Look for words and ideas that connect one sentence to another.
Sentence A says:
"He saw a ' few' snakes and quickly crawled out," said a post on Big Country Snake Removal's Facebook page.
The word "he" refers to the man introduced in sentence D, so D A is a strong pair.
Sentence C says:
"We arrived around lunchtime and as soon as I crawled under I could immediately see that there was far more than a 'few'," the post said.
The word "we" refers to the snake removal company introduced in sentence D. Sentence C also says there were far more than a "few", which connects back to the "few" snakes mentioned in sentence A.
These links show that sentence A should come before sentence C. Sentence B gives the final result:
The company ended up removing 45 rattlesnakes from beneath the house.
So it works best at the end.
Step 3: Build Sentence Pairs
Now build the paragraph using logical pairs:
- D A: The situation is introduced, then the man's reaction is explained.
- A C: The word "few" is repeated, and the company discovers the situation is worse.
- C B: The discovery leads to the final outcome: 45 rattlesnakes were removed.
This gives the order:
Step 4: Review the Final Paragraph
Before finalizing, read the paragraph in your chosen order:
Big Country Snake Removal responded to a home in Albany, Texas, after a man who was trying to restore his cable climbed under the house and saw some snakes.
"He saw a 'few' snakes and quickly crawled out," said a post on Big Country Snake Removal's Facebook page.
"We arrived around lunchtime and as soon as I crawled under I could immediately see that there was far more than a 'few'," the post said.
The company ended up removing 45 rattlesnakes from beneath the house.
The paragraph now flows logically: first the situation, then the man's discovery, then the company's observation, and finally the result.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Choosing a supporting detail as the first sentence
A detail may be important, but it may not introduce the topic.
Start with the sentence that gives the main context. -
Ignoring pronouns and references
Words like "he," "they," "this," and "such" usually refer to something already mentioned.
Use these words to connect sentences. -
Overlooking repeated words or ideas
Repeated words often show a link between two sentences.
Look for phrases that continue or explain an earlier idea. -
Putting the result too early
A sentence that gives the outcome usually comes near the end.
Build the situation first, then place the result. -
Depending only on transition words
Words like "however" and "therefore" are useful, but not every paragraph has them.
Also check meaning, references, and sequence. -
Not building sentence pairs
Trying to find the full order all at once can be confusing.
Focus on finding strong adjacent pairs first. -
Skipping the final read-through
Your order may look correct but still sound unnatural.
Read the completed paragraph to check the flow.
Practice more Reorder Paragraph tasks to improve your ability to recognize topic sentences, sentence links, and logical paragraph flow.
