Reorder Paragraphs

Reorder Paragraphs

The "Reorder Paragraphs" task is often considered one of the most challenging parts of the PTE Reading section because it tests your ability to understand the logical flow of ideas. Here is a comprehensive guide covering its format, scoring, effective strategies, and practice samples.

Overview of the "Reorder Paragraphs" Task

Feature	Details
Number of Questions	Typically 2 to 3 per test.
Time for Questions	Part of the overall 29–30 minute Reading section timer. Aim for no more than 3 minutes per question.
Task Format	You are given a passage with 4-5 text boxes in a random order. You must drag and drop them to arrange them into the correct logical sequence.
Scoring	Partial Credit (No negative marking). You get 1 point for each correctly ordered adjacent pair. For a 5-sentence question, there are 4 possible adjacent pairs. You should always attempt an order.
Skills Assessed	Reading only. This task assesses your ability to understand the organization and cohesion of a text, including identifying the main idea, supporting details, and logical connectors.

Key Strategies for Success

Identify the Topic Sentence First

The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph. It is usually a general statement that stands alone and doesn't refer back to anything.

Look for sentences that:

• Introduce a new concept or idea.
• Do not contain pronouns like "he," "she," "it," "they," or connectors like "however," "therefore," "also," or "secondly" that would link it to a previous sentence.

Find Logical Connectors

Look for words and phrases that indicate the relationship between ideas. These are your strongest clues for ordering the sentences.

Sequencing

• First
• Second
• Finally
• Next
• Then
• Subsequently

Cause and Effect

• Therefore
• Consequently
• As a result
• Because
• Hence

Contrast

• However
• Although
• On the other hand
• Despite
• In contrast

Addition

• Moreover
• Furthermore
• Additionally
• Also
• Besides

Follow the Pronoun Trail

Pronouns like "he," "she," "it," "they," "this," and "these" refer back to a noun introduced in an earlier sentence. A sentence beginning with a pronoun almost certainly cannot be the first sentence.

Look for Chronological or Logical Order

Many passages follow a time sequence (past to present) or a logical progression (problem to solution, general statement to specific examples).

Treat it Like a Jigsaw Puzzle

Start by identifying pairs of sentences that must go together.

For example, if sentence B mentions a specific example of a concept introduced in sentence A, then A must come before B.

Once you have a few pairs, you can piece the whole sequence together.

Never Leave It Blank

There is no negative marking, so always submit an answer sequence.

An educated guess is always better than a zero.

5 Practice Samples with Answers and Explanations

Here are practice questions based on the official PTE format. Try to apply the strategies above to each one.

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Sample 1: The First Day

The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Reorder the paragraphs to form a coherent narrative.

Text Boxes

A. The day began with a sense of hope, but by midday, a storm had forced the crew to seek shelter.

B. Despite the setback, they were confident they could make up for lost time.

C. The sun rose over the calm sea, promising a perfect day for the voyage.

D. However, their optimism was soon tested when the engine failed to restart.

Answer & Explanation

The correct order is: C, A, B, D.

C (The sun rose...): This introduces the setting and the positive start of the day, establishing it as the topic sentence.

A (The day began...): This follows naturally by describing what happened during the day. The phrase "but by midday" marks a shift in time and a contrast to the initial promise.

B (Despite the setback...): "The setback" refers to the storm mentioned in sentence A. This sentence shows the crew's reaction to the obstacle.

D (However, their optimism...): "However" introduces another contrast, and "their optimism" links directly back to the crew being "confident" in sentence B. "The engine failed" is the new problem that follows.

Pair Logic

C-A: Chronological order (sunrise to midday) and a logical progression of events.

A-B: "The setback" in B refers to the storm in A.

B-D: "Their optimism" in D refers to the confidence in B, and "However" signals a new obstacle.

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Sample 2: The Discovery of Penicillin

The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Reorder the paragraphs to form a coherent narrative.

Text Boxes

A. It was not until the 1940s that penicillin was mass-produced for medical use.

B. This discovery revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections.

C. Alexander Fleming first observed the mold's antibacterial properties in 1928.

D. However, he initially struggled to isolate and stabilize the active compound.

E. The development of the drug was a result of a chance observation in his laboratory.

Answer & Explanation

The correct order is: E, C, D, B, A.

E (The development...): This is the topic sentence. It introduces the subject of the passage (the development of penicillin) and refers to a general "chance observation."

C (Alexander Fleming...): This follows by providing the specific details of the observation, naming the scientist and the year. It introduces "he," which links to the unnamed scientist in E.

D (However, he initially...): "However" introduces a contrast to the successful discovery, and "he" refers back to Fleming in sentence C.

B (This discovery...): "This discovery" refers to the eventual success of penicillin, summarizing its impact after the initial struggles mentioned in D.

A (It was not until...): This provides the specific timeline for the drug's mass production, concluding the narrative. "It" refers to penicillin.

Pair Logic

E-C: General statement to specific detail. The "chance observation" in E is explained in C.

C-D: "He" in D refers to Fleming in C, and "However" signals the difficulty he faced.

D-B: "This discovery" in B summarizes the successful outcome after the struggle in D.

B-A: "It" in A refers to penicillin, and the sentence provides the final historical detail (mass production in the 1940s).

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Sample 3: Fear of Public Speaking

The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Reorder the paragraphs to form a coherent narrative.

Text Boxes

A. This creates a vicious cycle where the anxiety itself causes the very symptoms the person fears.

B. As a result, they often avoid situations where they might have to speak in front of others.

C. For many people, the fear of public speaking is one of the most common and debilitating phobias.

D. This avoidance, however, only serves to reinforce the fear in the long run.

E. The fear is typically rooted in a fear of being negatively evaluated by others.

Answer & Explanation

The correct order is: C, E, A, B, D.

C (For many people...): This is the topic sentence. It introduces the subject (fear of public speaking) and defines it as a common phobia.

E (The fear is typically...): This follows by explaining the cause of the phobia, providing a specific detail about its origins.

A (This creates...): "This" refers to the root cause (the fear of negative evaluation) mentioned in E. The sentence explains the resulting physical and psychological cycle.

B (As a result...): This explains the natural consequence of the cycle in A – people start to avoid situations where they might speak.

D (This avoidance, however...): "However" introduces a contrast to the avoidance as a solution, explaining that it actually makes the problem worse. "This avoidance" directly links back to the behavior described in B.

Pair Logic

C-E: Topic sentence followed by the cause of the topic.

E-A: "This" in A refers to the "fear of being negatively evaluated" in E.

A-B: "As a result" shows the consequence of the anxious cycle described in A.

B-D: "This avoidance" in D refers to the avoidance behavior in B.

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Sample 4: The Great Wall of China

The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Reorder the paragraphs to form a coherent narrative.

Text Boxes

A. However, the most famous sections, such as those near Beijing, were built during the Ming Dynasty.

B. The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic structures in the world.

C. These earlier walls were often made of rammed earth and were less durable than the later brick constructions.

D. Its construction spanned over two millennia, with various dynasties contributing to its expansion.

E. The initial fortifications were built by individual states to protect themselves from invaders.

Answer & Explanation

The correct order is: B, D, E, C, A.

B (The Great Wall...): This is the topic sentence. It introduces the subject (The Great Wall) and its iconic status.

D (Its construction...): "Its" refers to the Great Wall. This sentence provides a general overview of its long construction history, acting as a logical follow-up.

E (The initial fortifications...): This gives the specific details about the beginning of the construction, explaining what was built first.

C (These earlier walls...): "These earlier walls" refers to the "initial fortifications" in E. The sentence describes their characteristics.

A (However, the most famous...): "However" introduces a contrast to the earlier walls, shifting focus to the later, more famous sections built during the Ming Dynasty.

Pair Logic

B-D: Topic sentence followed by a general statement about its history ("Its" refers to the Wall).

D-E: General statement about "various dynasties" is followed by a specific detail about the "initial fortifications."

E-C: "These earlier walls" in C refers to the "initial fortifications" in E.

C-A: "However" introduces a contrast between the earlier walls and the famous Ming Dynasty sections.

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Sample 5: The Rise of Online Learning

The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Reorder the paragraphs to form a coherent narrative.

Text Boxes

A. As a result, many traditional institutions have begun to incorporate digital tools into their curriculum.

B. This shift has been largely driven by the increased accessibility of high-speed internet and smart devices.

C. One of the most significant changes in education over the past decade has been the rise of online learning.

D. However, critics argue that this mode of learning can lack the personal interaction of a traditional classroom.

E. Despite these criticisms, the trend towards digital education continues to grow globally.

Answer & Explanation

The correct order is: C, B, A, D, E.

C (One of the most...): This is the topic sentence. It introduces the subject (the rise of online learning) as a significant change in education.

B (This shift...): "This shift" refers to the rise of online learning. The sentence explains the driving force behind this change.

A (As a result...): This explains the consequence of the shift described in B – traditional institutions have started to adapt.

D (However, critics argue...): "However" introduces a contrasting viewpoint, presenting a criticism of online learning.

E (Despite these criticisms...): "Despite these criticisms" directly refers to the arguments made in D. The sentence concludes by reaffirming the trend, ending the passage on a final note.

Pair Logic

C-B: "This shift" in B refers to "the rise of online learning" in C.

B-A: "As a result" links the cause (the shift) to the effect (institutions incorporating digital tools).

A-D: "However" signals a shift to a contrasting viewpoint after the positive development in A.

D-E: "Despite these criticisms" in E directly references the critics' arguments in D.