Reference words
Words like this, it, the, one and some refer to ideas elsewhere in the text. A sentence containing one of these is almost never the first sentence.
Made Easy
Reorder Paragraphs
Reorder Paragraphs tests how well you can follow the organisation of an academic text and understand how it is joined together. Sentences appear in a random order on the LEFT panel — drag them to the RIGHT panel and put them in the correct order. On this page: an overview, the Pearson exam interface, top strategies (Before / During the test), common mistakes, points to remember and a full drag-and-drop simulator with the most-repeated 2026 questions.
Chapter
Overview
Length of text:
around 50 – 110 words
Number of text boxes:
4 – 5
Interaction:
drag & drop
Number of these tasks:
2 – 3
Total time for reading tasks:
29 – 30 minutes
You will see instructions and two panels. The left panel has sentences in the wrong order; the right panel is empty. Drag each sentence into the right panel, putting them in the correct order. You can move boxes around as much as you like — back to the left panel, or up and down within the right panel.
- Drag a sentence from the LEFT panel to the RIGHT panel.
- Drag boxes UP or DOWN inside the right panel to re-order them.
- Drag a box from the RIGHT panel back to the LEFT panel to remove it from your answer.
- Partial-credit scoring: you earn one point for each pair of consecutive sentences placed in the correct order.
Scored by AI
How Reorder Paragraphs contributes to your score
Task
Reorder Paragraphs
AI
scoring
scoring
0%
Reading
0%
Overall
Your voice → analysed by AI → contributes 9% to Reading and 1% to Overall.
Watch — How To Answer Reorder Paragraphs
Official PTE School walkthrough — how to drag, re-order and check your answer for Reorder Paragraphs.
How the test screen works
The screen below is annotated with green markers (1–5). Hover each one to see what it does — the timer, the instructions, the LEFT (source) panel, the RIGHT (your answer) panel, and the Next button. Practise dragging boxes from the left panel to the right panel and reordering them up or down. Press 'Show correct answer' when you're ready to check.
Reorder Paragraphs — Exam Interface
Annotated walkthrough of the actual Pearson screen. Drag sentences from the left panel to the right panel. Drop a sentence ABOVE another to insert it in front; drag back to the left panel to remove it from your answer.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 9 of 18 (86786.2)
1Reading-section timer — counts down for ALL reading tasks. Don't spend more than 2–3 minutes here.The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.2Read the instructions: drag boxes from the LEFT panel to the RIGHT panel and put them in the correct order.
Source3Source panel — sentences shown in random order. Click a box, then press → to move it across.
5Arrow controls — exactly like the real Pearson screen. ← / → move between panels; ↑ / ↓ re-order on the right.
Your answer (0/4)4Answer panel — numbered slots. Click a box, then press ↑ / ↓ to re-order, or ← to send it back.
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
6When you're satisfied, click 'Next' to confirm. Use 'Show correct answer' below for self-study.
Hover the green markers to see what each part of the screen does.
What this task tests
Skill assessed
Reading
Score weight
up to9points
The AI scorer checks
Criterion
Following a logical or chronological sequence.
Criterion
Identifying supporting points or examples.
Criterion
Identifying relationships between sentences in a text.
Vocabulary
Understanding academic vocabulary and inferring unfamiliar words from context.
Comprehension
Comprehending abstract and concrete information.
Chapter
Top Strategies for Success in Reorder Paragraphs
Cohesion
Make sure you're familiar with how sentences in a text link together. Recognising cohesive devices will help you work out the order of the text because they show the relationship between sentences. Here are some examples.
Four cohesive devices to train your eye on. Notice them in every academic paragraph you read.
Linking words & phrases
Linkers like however, as a result and in fact show the relationships between ideas. They tell you a sentence depends on something said earlier.
Articles that link to previous ideas
The + noun sometimes refers back to where the noun was mentioned before. A / an + noun can show that it's the first time the noun is being mentioned.
Different words for the same idea or thing
The same thing can be re-named across sentences — e.g. a car might be referred to as the automobile and his new vehicle in the same text. Following the chain reveals the order.
Practice tips
Build the habit- 1
Practise reading academic texts from websites, textbooks or journals. To better understand the connection and flow of sentences, choose a paragraph and do the following.
- 2
Analyse the first sentence, asking yourself: 'Is this sentence before all the others?' Decide whether or not it communicates the main idea of the paragraph it's in or acts as an introduction to the other sentences.
- 3
Highlight all the words or phrases in the passage that are used for cohesion. Decide what each cohesive word or phrase does — does it refer to another thing or idea in the text, or does it show the relationship between two ideas?
- 4
Highlight all the articles (a/an and the). Decide why these articles are used. Are they used when a thing is mentioned for the first time? Does the article change when the thing is mentioned again later?
- 5
Look at the text and decide if the information flows logically from one sentence to the next. For example, does it follow a sequence such as: 1) topic, 2) opinion on the topic, 3) detail / reason or ideas, 4) explanation, 5) examples. Or does it follow another type of sequence?
Quick tips — Do this, not that
- Tip 01
You identify the topic sentence first.
You don't choose a sentence with linking words or references to earlier information as the first sentence.
- Tip 02
You manage time effectively — 2–3 minutes per task.
You don't spend too much time on one task; keep an eye on the timer.
- Tip 03
You attempt the task even if you're unsure.
You don't leave this task unanswered — guessing is better than no response.
- Tip 04
You read the whole right panel again to double-check.
You don't finish before reading the whole text in the right-hand panel to check it makes sense.
Chapter
Practice now with your trainer
Practice — A good night's sleep
Try this Reorder Paragraph without the markers and without a time limit. Skim, find the topic sentence, then build the order step-by-step. Press 'Show correct answer' to check yourself.
Practice question — Reorder Paragraphs
Same Pearson-style screen as the real test. Drag sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 10 of 18 (86786.2)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/4)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
Reflecting on your practice
Private to you — tick each item you actually did. Saved on this device only.
0/7
Want a trainer to mark your reorder practice?
Send a screenshot of your reorder on WhatsApp and our trainers will explain the cohesion clues that prove the correct order — and why each wrong placement is wrong.
💬 Get evaluated on WhatsApp
Common Mistakes in Reorder Paragraphs
Watch the most frequent mistakes test-takers make in Reorder Paragraphs — and how to avoid each one.
Points To Remember
Reading Tasks- 1
No special knowledge required
The reading texts are designed to test only English. You don't need any special knowledge — it doesn't matter if you're unfamiliar with the subject. All the information you need is in the text.
- 2
13–18 reading tasks total
The Reading section has 13–18 tasks. The timer counts down across ALL reading tasks together — when you're satisfied with your response, click 'Next' to move on.
- 3
Partial-credit scoring
If all text boxes are in the correct order you receive the maximum score. If one or more boxes are in the wrong order, partial credit applies — each pair of consecutive sentences in the correct order earns a point.
Chapter
Most Repeated Reorder Paragraph Questions in 2026
Practise the 6 most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraphs
Each question below opens in the FULL Pearson-style drag-and-drop simulator. The sentences are SHUFFLED on the left panel — drag them across into the correct order on the right. Press Show correct answer on each one to check yourself. Each correct answer is also listed below the simulator after you reveal it.
MR-2026 #1 — Piccadilly Circus night-and-day map
Most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraph #1. Drag the sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 1 of 6 (90100.1)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/4)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
MR-2026 #2 — LADS — Father-led literacy project
Most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraph #2. Drag the sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 2 of 6 (90101.2)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/4)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
MR-2026 #3 — San Diego engineer — habits & memory
Most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraph #3. Drag the sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 3 of 6 (90102.3)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/5)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
5
Drop sentence #5 here
0 of 5 placed
MR-2026 #4 — Wheat-gluten clothing fibres
Most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraph #4. Drag the sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 4 of 6 (90103.4)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/4)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
MR-2026 #5 — Sea-level rise mortality projections
Most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraph #5. Drag the sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 5 of 6 (90104.5)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/4)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
MR-2026 #6 — A good night's sleep
Most-repeated 2026 Reorder Paragraph #6. Drag the sentences from the left panel to the right panel in the correct order, then press 'Show correct answer'.
PPTE Academic - Candidate Name
Time Remaining 00:18:34 6 of 6 (90105.6)
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Source
Your answer (0/4)
1
Drop sentence #1 here
2
Drop sentence #2 here
3
Drop sentence #3 here
4
Drop sentence #4 here
0 of 4 placed
Quick Tips for a Better Score
Read all the text boxes quickly before you start re-ordering them
Read the text boxes in order to understand the main idea of each one. You can do this by noting the key words.
Next, use the key words to form an overall idea of what the original text is about. This will help you find the logical order for the ideas in the text boxes:
Find the topic sentence first
Every well-written paragraph has a topic sentence. It is usually a clear statement about the topic, and all the other sentences are related in some way to this sentence.
The topic sentence can stand alone; it does not begin with a linker or a pronoun that refers back to something or someone (e.g. 'he' or 'this'), nor does it refer back to information or actions previously mentioned through the use of things like passive verb tenses (e.g. 'No link was found'):
How this question is scored
Your response is judged on your ability to understand the organisation and cohesion of an academic text. If all text boxes are in the correct order, you receive the maximum score points for this question type. If one or more text boxes are in the wrong order, partial credit scoring applies — you earn one point for each pair of consecutive sentences placed in the correct order. This question type affects the scoring of only Reading.
Reorder Paragraphs is NOT scored per blank — there are no blanks. The scoring engine looks at every pair of neighbouring sentences in your answer and awards 1 point each time those two sentences are in the correct order relative to each other. The maximum score equals (number of sentences − 1). One misplaced sentence can cost you up to TWO pairs, because it breaks the chain on both sides. There is no negative marking, so always submit a complete order.
What raises your score
- Find the topic sentence first — the one with no pronouns, linkers or back-references.
- Build the order by chaining cohesion clues: pronouns, definite articles, linking words, synonym chains.
- Re-read the right panel from top to bottom before submitting — catch any sentence that breaks the flow.
What lowers it
- Leaving any sentence in the wrong place — it costs the pair before AND after.
- Submitting before reading the full ordered text back to yourself.
- Choosing a sentence with 'he', 'this', 'however' as the first sentence.
Click a band to exploreMax varies (N − 1)
1
- Each pair of adjacent sentences placed in the correct order (e.g. sentence 2 directly followed by sentence 3).
Coach tip · Max score = (sentences − 1). 4 boxes → max 3 points; 5 boxes → max 4 points.
- ◾Reorder Paragraphs has NO blanks — scoring is based on adjacent sentence PAIRS, not on words or gaps.
- ◾Maximum score = number of sentences − 1 (4 boxes → 3 points; 5 boxes → 4 points).
- ◾One misplaced sentence breaks the chain on both sides, so it can cost you TWO pairs.
- ◾There is no negative marking — always submit a complete order, even if you're unsure.