The two tasks and their timing
In Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) you read a passage of up to 200 words and pick a word for each gap from a list beside it. In Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop), the task many people still call Reading: Fill in the Blanks, the text is up to 80 words and you drag words into the gaps from a box that holds more words than there are gaps (Pearson).
Neither has a clock of its own. Part 2, Reading, is timed as one block of roughly 23 to 30 minutes, so time spent on one item comes out of the others.
The scoring rule and item counts are from Pearson's PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (the post-August-2025 edition, copyright 2025, PDF dated 4 March 2026), read on 4 October 2026. The explanations and examples are our own.
| Detail | Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) | Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) |
|---|---|---|
| Items per test | 5–6 | 4–5 |
| Text length | Up to 200 words | Up to 80 words |
| Where the answers come from | A separate list for each gap | One shared word box, with spare words |
| Scoring | Partial credit, per blank | Partial credit, per blank |
| Skills (Score Guide) | Reading | Reading |
Does it still count towards Writing?
Not according to the scoring documents. The introduction to Pearson's Reading page still uses the old name and says that item also assesses writing, but the scoring notes for Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) on the same page, and the Score Guide's table on page 40, list Reading only. We follow the Score Guide, which is the scoring document, but the two Pearson sources do not agree.
Know your target? Check where you stand
Take a free AI-scored PTE mock and see your score per skill before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free scored PTE mock →The scoring rule: one point per blank
The guide gives one point for each correctly completed blank and sets the minimum at 0. It lists no deduction for these two tasks, so a wrong word simply earns nothing. Pearson does not publish how many gaps an item has or how the points are weighted into your Reading score.
| What you put in a gap | Points | What usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| The correct word | 1 for that gap | Checking meaning and grammar on both sides of the gap |
| A word that fits the meaning but not the grammar | 0 for that gap | Ignoring the preposition or verb form right after the gap |
| A word that fits the grammar but not the meaning | 0 for that gap | Choosing a familiar word without reading the whole sentence |
| Nothing | 0 for that gap | Running out of Part 2 time on an earlier item |
| The correct word in every gap | Full marks for the item | Not applicable; this is the maximum |
Practical advice for Fill in the Blanks
This is our advice, not Pearson's rules. Skim the whole passage first so you know what it is about, then work gap by gap, reading a few words either side of each one. Pearson's own tips point to the surrounding grammar and to words that usually go together.
On the drag-and-drop version, decide what part of speech each gap needs before you look at the word box, then rule out the words that cannot fit. There are spare words, so not every word gets used.
Fill every gap. A wrong word costs nothing extra, so an empty gap is the only answer guaranteed to score zero.
Keep an eye on the Part 2 timer rather than perfecting one passage. BandLadder's PTE mock tests mark these items blank by blank, though only Pearson's score is official.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in PTE Fill in the Blanks?+
No. The Score Guide gives one point per correct blank with a minimum of 0, and lists no deduction for a wrong word.
Does Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks count towards Writing?+
The current Score Guide lists Reading only for Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown), although one line on Pearson's Reading page still says the item also assesses writing.
What is the difference between the dropdown and drag-and-drop versions?+
The dropdown version has a separate option list for each gap in a text of up to 200 words. The drag-and-drop version uses one shared word box with spare words, in a text of up to 80 words.
How many Fill in the Blanks questions are in the Reading part?+
Five or six dropdown items and four or five drag-and-drop items, according to the Score Guide.
Is there a time limit for each Fill in the Blanks question?+
No. The whole Reading part is timed together at roughly 23 to 30 minutes.
Keep reading
Related
- PTE Academic scoring criteria overview
- PTE Reorder Paragraphs scoring criteria
- Free PTE mock test
- PTE predictions
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy