PET Reading Part 4

Part 4 of the Preliminary English Test (PET) Reading paper tests your ability to understand the logical flow of a text. You will read a short text with five sentences missing, and below the text, there will be eight sentences. Your task is to match the correct five sentences to the gaps in the text. Three sentences are extra and do not fit, which makes this exercise challenging.

This part of the exam focuses on how well you can follow the structure of a text and understand how ideas link together. You need to read carefully and think about how different parts of the text relate to each other.

Here is an example of a typical PET Reading Part 4 question.

time limit

The entire PET Reading paper is 45 minutes long, but for Part 4, you should try to spend not more than 10 minutes. This gives you enough time to understand the text, analyse the sentence options, and make logical decisions without rushing.

common difficulties

Many students find Part 4 difficult because:

1. sentences may look similar: it can be confusing to decide which sentence goes in which gap since the sentences are often quite similar in meaning.
2. understanding the logical flow can be challenging: you need to understand how different parts of the text connect. Some sentences provide extra detail, others give examples, and some introduce new ideas.
3. there are distractors: three extra sentences don’t belong in the text, and they are specifically designed to distract you.

how myenglishexams can help

This section of the website is designed to give you practice, guidance, and tips so you can master Part 4 of the PET Reading paper. Here’s how:

practice texts with step-by-step explanations: you can practise answering these questions with detailed guidance explaining why the correct sentences fit and why others don’t. Make sure to sign up so you receive new material direct to your email.

interactive activities: fun exercises that will help you recognize sentence structure, flow, and logical connections between ideas.

timed exercises: practise completing this part of the exam under timed conditions so you can get used to working within the time limit.

tips and strategies – Each practice activity comes with clear, easy-to-understand tips that you can apply immediately to improve your skills.

Here you will be able to practice as much as you need and receive support every step of the way, helping you to feel more confident in answering these types of questions.