Free PTE Core reading practice with answers
Free PTE Core reading practice with answers: every set below uses everyday English for work and community life, opens without an account and marks your answers with an explanation for each one.
Original BandLadder practice in Pearson’s published format, not real exam questions. Updated 2026-10-26. Task counts are from Pearson’s PTE Core Score Guide and the PTE Core reading format page.
Free PTE Core reading sets by task
PTE Core Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
A passage of up to 200 words has several gaps. Each gap has a drop-down list, and you choose the one word that fits both the grammar and the meaning.
In the test: 5–6 items in Part 2: Reading (27–37 minutes).
- PTE Core R&W Fill in the Blanks practice: Everyday Plans
Questions: Booking a Bicycle Workshop; Cleaning the Shared Fridge; Collecting a Neighbourhood Food Bag.
PTE Core Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers
Read a passage and select every supported answer: up to 350 words in Academic or 275 in Core. More than one option is correct, and wrong selections cost marks.
In the test: 1–2 items in Part 2: Reading (27–37 minutes).
- PTE Core MCQ Multiple Answers practice: Everyday Notices
Questions: Claiming Work Travel Expenses; Joining the Community Tool Library; A Changed Workshop Booking.
PTE Core Reading: Fill in the Blanks
A short text of up to 80 words has gaps, and a box below holds more words than you need. You drag the right word into each gap.
In the test: 4–5 items in Part 2: Reading (27–37 minutes).
- PTE Core Reading Fill in the Blanks practice: Everyday Instructions
Questions: Collecting a Library Reservation; Changing a Work Shift; Preparing Recycling for Collection; Booking a Community Room; Returning an Online Order.
Other PTE Core reading tasks
BandLadder has no Core-specific set for these tasks yet. They appear in both PTE Core and PTE Academic, so the free sets on each task page practise the same format, with academic rather than everyday topics.
- PTE Reorder Paragraphs practice (shared format)
Several text boxes appear in a random order. You drag them, or move them with the arrow buttons, back into the order of the original text. In PTE Core: 2–3 items.
- PTE Multiple Choice, Single Answer practice (shared format)
You read a short text and answer one question about it by choosing the single correct option. In PTE Core: 1–2 items.
PTE Core reading practice FAQ
Is this PTE Core reading practice free?
Yes. Every Core set on this page opens without an account. Answer the questions, then check the correct answers and an explanation for each one. Totals are practice marks, not official PTE scores.
Which reading tasks are in PTE Core?
Five, in Part 2: Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks (5–6 items), Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers (1–2), Reorder Paragraphs (2–3), Reading Fill in the Blanks (4–5) and Multiple Choice, Single Answer (1–2), according to Pearson's PTE Core Score Guide.
How is PTE Core reading scored?
Fill in the Blanks tasks earn one mark per correct blank. Multiple Answers gives one mark per correct option and takes one away per wrong option, down to zero. Reorder Paragraphs earns one mark per correct adjacent pair. Single Answer is right or wrong.
Is PTE Core reading easier than PTE Academic reading?
The task types are the same, but Core texts use everyday and workplace topics rather than academic ones, and some limits differ: a Core Multiple Answers passage is up to 275 words against 350 in Academic.
Does Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks count towards Writing in PTE Core?
Yes. In PTE Core it counts towards Reading and Writing. In PTE Academic it has counted towards Reading only since Pearson's July 2025 Score Guide.
More free PTE Core practice
- PTE Core listening practice
- PTE Core practice test across all four skills
- PTE Core to CLB calculator
- PTE Core preparation overview
BandLadder is an independent preparation platform. Practice marks are not official Pearson scores or CLB levels.