Easy Steps to Crack Multiple Choice Single Answer
Reading is the third section in the PTE test format. It contains different types of questions, this is one type of questions out of some others. To solve this question, you should first understand what this question is. For this question, you need to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question with only one correct option. You have to be very careful in reading the instructions in this question because, in your PTE-Reading Section(click here), there will be two types of multiple-choice questions, which will differ only in a way that in one, you need to pick more than one answer. That question has negative marking as well one, and in this task, you have to choose one option only.
STEP # 1: READ THE QUESTION FIRST
The first step to crack this task is to read the question, and then the question will decide what to do next. In PTE, there will be two types of questions, and you have to deal with these two different types of questions differently.
STEP # 2: EVALUATING THE QUESTION TYPE
There will be two types of questions one is called the Main Idea, and the other one is called Specific Information one. If the question is the Main Idea, then you do not need to read the options and have to go straight away. You need to read the whole paragraph and understand what writing is trying to say because it could be asked in different ways
What is the main idea of the passage?
What point the writer is trying to make?
What can be the best title of the passage?
What can be inferred from the passage?
What can be inferred from the paragraph?
The other type of question could be a specific information type, and this type is also known as the true, false, or information matching type. The question could be something like
-Which option was mentioned in the passage, or highlight the options which were not there in the passage?
STEP # 3: Responding accordingly to the analyzed type
Main idea: If the question type is the Main idea one, then you do not need to read the options first. Instead, you need to read the whole passage first and then read the options in the end. In this case, you have to understand what the writer is trying to say in the passage. You do not have to read it superficially. Use paraphrasing way when they are asking you about the summary of the passage,
Specific Information: If the question is specific information one, then you will not read the passage first, instead go to the options and locate that information in the passage. So basically, you do not need to understand the whole paragraph. You have to match the information in the paragraph that whether it was true or false information.
STEP # 4: USE STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE
Thi the most important strategy that you can use in any questions of PTE where you will have more than one option to choose. The approach is to not look for the right options straightaway, rather try to find the false ones. This way, even if you are not sure about the logic behind the right answers, you can still get your right options. Now the next question is how to eliminate the options and on what basis. The answer to this is that you can eliminate the given options based on these two things.
- False Information
- Not Given Information
False Information:
Now, if the information written in the passage is the opposite, it means that it is false information. So you can eliminate this option straightaway even if only one bit is contradictory. So, you need to read it carefully.
Not Given Information:
If you are not able to find the information given in the option in the whole paragraph, then it means that it is not given information. You should be careful that you cannot refer to any information indirectly. So if it is not mentioned there, it is not given for you, please do not assume it or use your general knowledge.
In the last, I would like to focus on one important factor, without which you cannot do well in this particular task, and that is time management.
Effective Time Management Skills
Last but not least, I would like to focus on the most important aspect, which is Time Management. In the Reading section, each question is not timed individually, unlike the Speaking and Writing tasks. So, when it comes to responding to specific tasks in the Reading module. Although you shall have the freedom to take as much time as you need in each question, you will be at big risk in terms of being able to attempt all questions on time.
So, what’s the solution? How long should you take to answer each question? Well. The thumb rule is 2 minutes per question. At times, a few passages might be a bit lengthy, but please make sure you are not wasting time. Keep an eye on the timer as well while solving the questions.
Also, look at our Blog Posts for tips on what to avoid to score well in PTE.
