The Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks task tests your ability to understand the meaning and grammar of a passage and choose the correct words to complete the missing blanks.
You will see a short text with several blanks. For each blank, you need to choose the most suitable word from the given options. To answer correctly, you need to understand the context, grammar, word form, and common word combinations.
Do not confuse this task with Reading: Fill in the Blanks; this question type assesses both reading and writing skills and usually requires choosing the correct option for each blank from a drop-down list.
Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks Scoring
Based on Pearson's official PTE Core scoring guide, each blank is scored separately, so even if you are unsure about one blank, you should still try to answer all of them.
| Criteria | What It Measures | Scoring Range |
|---|---|---|
| Blanks | Whether you choose the correct word for each blank | 1 point for each correct answer; 0 for each incorrect answer |
Task Format
| Part | Format |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | Usually 5–6 questions |
| Blanks per task | Usually 4–6 blanks |
| Task | Choose the correct word for each blank |
| Skills assessed | Reading and Writing |
A Simple Strategy to Use
For each blank, ask yourself three questions:
- What is the general meaning of the passage?
- What grammar is needed in this blank?
- Which option sounds natural in this context?
A word may look familiar, but that does not mean it is correct. The correct answer must fit both the grammar and the meaning of the sentence.
Example Question
Let's take this Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks example and use it throughout the guide.
Below is a text with blanks. Choose the appropriate answer for each blank.
A key component of emotional intelligence is self-awareness, which (1) individuals to recognize their emotional triggers and respond thoughtfully rather than reacting in stressful situations.
In relationships, emotional intelligence (2) the ability to resolve conflicts by promoting active listening and understanding different perspectives. Those with low emotional intelligence may struggle to accept criticism or feedback, leading to misunderstandings and strained interactions.
Conversely, individuals who develop emotional intelligence can build deeper trust and cooperation, as they are more likely to (3) disagreements with patience and diplomacy. This quality helps create more (4) relationships in both personal and professional settings.
Options
Step 1: Read the Entire Passage Quickly
First, skim the passage to understand the main topic. In this example, the passage is about emotional intelligence, especially how self-awareness helps people understand their emotions, manage conflicts, and build better relationships.
This first reading gives you the overall meaning before you focus on individual blanks.
Step 2: Analyze the Grammar Around Each Blank
Now look closely at the words before and after each blank.
For blank 1:
self-awareness, which (1) individuals
The subject is "self-awareness", which is singular. Therefore, the verb should also be singular. The correct option is: enables.
For blank 3:
are more likely to (3) disagreements
The phrase "likely to" must be followed by the base form of a verb. The correct option is: approach.
Grammar can often eliminate wrong options quickly, even before you think deeply about meaning.
Step 3: Use Context and Meaning
Back to the same example, some blanks depend more on meaning and word choice.
For blank 2:
emotional intelligence (2) the ability to resolve conflicts
The sentence explains that emotional intelligence improves conflict-resolution ability. The best word is: enhances.
The other options do not fit as naturally. "Raises" usually refers to increasing a number or level, "extends" means making something longer, and "spreads" means distributing something widely.
For blank 4:
more (4) relationships
The passage talks about trust, cooperation, patience, and diplomacy. The best adjective is: harmonious.
This means peaceful and positive, which matches the meaning of the passage.
Step 4: Eliminate Wrong Choices
If you are not sure about the answer, remove the options that do not fit grammatically or logically.
For blank 1:
- enable does not agree with the singular subject.
- enabling does not fit the sentence structure.
- enablement is a noun, but the sentence needs a verb.
- enables is correct.
For blank 3:
- approaching is not correct after "likely to."
- approachable is an adjective, not a verb.
- approached is past tense.
- approach is the correct base verb.
Elimination helps you avoid choosing an option only because it looks familiar.
Step 5: Review the Completed Passage
After choosing all answers, read the full passage again to check whether it sounds natural and logical.
The correct completed sentence should fit smoothly in both grammar and meaning.
Completed Passage
A key component of emotional intelligence is self-awareness, which (1)enables individuals to recognize their emotional triggers and respond thoughtfully rather than reacting in stressful situations.
In relationships, emotional intelligence (2)enhances the ability to resolve conflicts by promoting active listening and understanding different perspectives. Those with low emotional intelligence may struggle to accept criticism or feedback, leading to misunderstandings and strained interactions.
Conversely, individuals who develop emotional intelligence can build deeper trust and cooperation, as they are more likely to (3)approach disagreements with patience and diplomacy. This quality helps create more (4)harmonious relationships in both personal and professional settings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Choosing a word only because it looks familiar
A familiar word may still be wrong in the sentence.
Always check grammar, meaning, and context before choosing. -
Ignoring subject-verb agreement
A verb must match the subject of the sentence.
Check whether the subject is singular or plural. -
Forgetting word form
Some options may have the right meaning but the wrong form.
Decide whether the blank needs a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. -
Overlooking collocations
Some words naturally go together, such as "enhance ability" or "harmonious relationships."
Choose the option that sounds natural in English. -
Focusing only on the sentence with the blank
Sometimes the answer depends on the surrounding sentence or the whole paragraph.
Read before and after the blank. -
Rushing through the options
Quick guessing can lead to avoidable mistakes.
Eliminate clearly wrong choices before selecting your answer. -
Not reviewing the completed passage
An answer may seem correct alone but sound wrong in the full passage.
Read the completed text once to confirm grammar and meaning.
Practice more Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks tasks to improve your grammar awareness, word choice, and ability to select words that fit both meaning and sentence structure.
