A Safe Strategy for PTE Reading Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer

There’s a question in the PTE Reading section that can feel like a trap: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer. You have to pick all the right answers from a list, but if you click on a wrong one, you lose a point.

This “negative marking” makes a lot of students nervous. It’s easy to second-guess yourself when a single wrong click can undo your hard work and leave you with zero points for the question.

But there’s a simple, safe way to handle it. This guide will show you a low-risk strategy that’s all about protecting your score. You’ll learn how to focus on what you’re sure of and avoid the penalties that can hurt your result.

An Overview of Multiple Choice Multiple Answer in PTE Reading

First, let’s get a clear picture of what this Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer (MCMA) task involves.

• The Format: You will be shown a passage of text on the left side of the screen, which can be up to 300 words long. On the right, you will see a question about the text, followed by a list of 5 to 7 possible answer options.
• The Task: Your job is to read the text and select all the options that are correct answers to the question. There will always be more than one correct answer.
• The Challenge: The main challenge is the scoring system, which includes a penalty for incorrect selections.

How PTE Reading Multiple Choice Multiple Answer is Scored

To beat this question, you need to know exactly how it’s scored. It’s a game of points.

• You get +1 point for every correct answer you pick.
• You get -1 point for every wrong answer you pick.
• The lowest score you can get for the whole question is zero.

Let’s see what this means in practice. Imagine the right answers are A, B, and C.

The message is clear: guessing is dangerous. It’s always better to be safe and choose fewer options than to take a risk on an answer you’re not sure about.

Your Golden Rule: Only Click if You’re 100% Sure

Here is the only strategy you need to remember for this task: Only click on an answer if you are 100% certain it is correct.

What does “100% sure” feel like? It means you can point to the exact sentence in the text that proves the option is true. There’s no doubt in your mind.

If you think an answer is “probably right” or “looks good,” that’s not 100%. For this question type, “probably right” means “wrong.” Leave it alone. This one simple rule will protect your score from negative marking.

A Simple Routine to Follow for Every Question

1. Read the Question First: Before you even touch the long paragraph, read the question below it. What are you looking for? Knowing your goal helps you read the text much faster and more effectively.
2. Scan the Passage for Clues: Now, read the paragraph. Since you know what you’re looking for, you can focus on finding the specific parts of the text that are relevant.
3. Check Each Option, One by One: Go through the list of options. Treat each one like a true/false question. Find the part of the text that talks about it and compare them. Does the text support it completely? If yes, and you’re 100% sure, click it. If not, leave it and move to the next one.

How to Spot the Tricky Wrong Answers

The wrong answers are designed to look right. Here are the most common tricks they use.

The Keyword Trick

This is the most common trap. The option uses a lot of the same words from the text, but it changes the meaning just a little bit.

• The text might say: “The project was successful despite being over budget.”
• A tricky option might say: “The project was successful because it was over budget.”
• It has all the right keywords, but the meaning is completely wrong.

The “Logical Guess” Trick

This trap gives you an option that seems to make sense but isn’t actually stated in the text.

• The text might say: “The company’s profits grew by 30% last year.”
• A tricky option might say: “The company’s employees received large bonuses last year.”
• That seems logical, but the text doesn’t say it. You can’t use outside knowledge or make guesses.

This trap takes a balanced statement from the text and makes it extreme.

• The text might say: “Some research suggests a link between…”
• A tricky option might say: “It is always the case that there is a link between…”
• Watch out for words like all, every, never, and only. They often turn a right idea into a wrong answer.

A Smarter Way to Practice PTE Reading MCMA

Your goal in practice isn’t just to get the right answer; it’s to get better at spotting the traps.

• Be a Trap Detective: When you do practice questions on our PTE Reading MCMA page, don’t just check your score. For every option, ask yourself: “Is this 100% true, or is it a trick?” If it’s a trick, what kind is it? This kind of thinking builds the right skills.
• Build Your Reading Focus: This task requires careful reading. You can improve this skill by practicing with all the different question types in the main PTE Reading practice section.
• Test Your Nerves: Can you stick to the “100% Sure” rule when the clock is ticking? A PTE Reading Sectional Mock Test is the best way to find out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reading MCMA

Q1. How much time should I spend on this task?

Because of the complexity and the need for careful reading, you should allocate around 2 to 3 minutes per question. It is far better to solve one question carefully and get 2 points than to rush through two questions and get 0 points from penalties.

Q2. Is it possible for only one option to be correct?

While it is rare, it is theoretically possible. The number of correct answers is usually two or three, but you must not let this assumption guide your choices. Your decisions should only be based on the evidence in the text. If you are only 100% certain about one option, then selecting only one is the correct and safest strategy.

Q3. What if I am 100% sure an option is wrong? Does that help me?

Yes, absolutely. The process of elimination is very powerful here. If you can definitively prove that 2 or 3 of the options are “False” based on the text, you can then focus all your attention on the remaining options. Proving an answer is wrong is just as valuable as proving one is right.

Q4. Does this task affect my Writing score?

No. This is one of the few “pure” reading tasks in the PTE. Your performance in Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer contributes only to your Reading score.

Q5. The text is very long. Should I read the options first to save time?

It is generally more effective to read the question prompt first, then the text, and finally the options. Reading the options before the text can be confusing, as you don’t have the context to evaluate them. Knowing the question prompt first allows you to read the text with a clear purpose and actively look for the relevant information.

Q6. What happens if I choose one correct and one incorrect answer?

In this scenario, your score for that question will be zero. You get +1 for the correct answer and -1 for the incorrect answer, which cancel each other out (+1 – 1 = 0). This is the exact situation our “100% Certainty” strategy is designed to help you avoid.

This question is a test of your confidence and discipline. By using the “100% Certainty” rule, you take control of the negative marking and turn a stressful task into a manageable one.

Ready to see how you perform under real exam conditions? Take a free, full-length PTE mock test with a complete score report.