PTE Essay Writing- How to Prepare?

Latest update: Two new question types have been added to the Speaking & Writing section: 

• Summarize Group Discussion: Listen to a discussion between three people and summarize it in your own words. 
• Respond to a Situation: Listen to and read a description of a situation, then respond with a spoken answer. 

PTE Essay Writing is a key component of the PTE Academic test, evaluating your ability to express ideas clearly, structure arguments, and use proper grammar. Each essay usually ranges between 200–300 words, and candidates are given 20 minutes to complete it. Studies show that students who practice structured essay writing can improve their scores by up to 15–20%.  

Common topics include technology, education, environment, and social issues, reflecting real-world debates. Scoring is based on content, form, grammar, and vocabulary, making it essential to plan essays before writing. Effective strategies include brainstorming ideas, creating a clear introduction-body-conclusion structure, and proofreading for errors.  

With over 200,000 test takers globally each year, mastering PTE Essay Writing is crucial for achieving a competitive band score. Regular practice, familiarizing yourself with essay patterns, and analyzing sample answers can significantly boost both speed and accuracy in the exam. 

Also Read: PTE Exam Dates 2025 in India - Find Locations, Fees, & More 

What is Essay Writing for PTE?

In the essay writing task, you will be given a 2-3 liner prompt (basically a statement) describing a real life event. You will be asked to write 200 - 300 words on it. Your response will be judged on how well you place your opinions, organize ideas, present supporting details and control the elements of standard written English. You’ll get 20 minutes for planning, writing and revising your essay.

The essay topic will be a general question or statement, and your job is to express your opinion clearly and convincingly. You don’t need to have in-depth knowledge about the topic—what matters is how well you present your ideas using proper grammar, vocabulary, and structure.

How is PTE Essay Scored

The essay is scored based on several criteria. Here’s a table that explains how the scoring works:

Scoring Criteria	Score	Description
Content	3 (Max. Score)	Relevance with the topic
Format Requirement	2 (Max. Score)	Word limit, paragraphs and flow
Development, Structure & Coherence	2 (Max. Score)	Logical flow of ideas
Grammar	2 (Max. Score)	Accuracy and complexity of sentence
General Linguistic Range	2 (Max. Score)	Use of varied sentence patterns and expressions
Vocabulary Range	2 (Max. Score)	Appropriate and varied vocabulary
Spellings	2 (Max. Score)	Correct spelling throughout the essay
Total	15 (Max.)	-

How to Prepare for PTE Essay Writing?

Preparing for the PTE essay writing task requires a strategic approach that strengthens both your language proficiency and test-taking skills. Here are some essential steps to help you prepare effectively:

1. Understand the Essay Structure

Every PTE essay should follow a clear structure consisting of an introduction, 2–3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should paraphrase the question and state your opinion or thesis. Each body paragraph should contain a single main idea, supported with examples or explanations. The conclusion must summarise your argument and reaffirm your stance. Practising this format helps you organise your ideas better and increases coherence, a major scoring criterion.

2. Practice Brainstorming Ideas Quickly

Since the time limit for this task is only 20 minutes, you must learn to think quickly. Spend the first 2–3 minutes analysing the prompt and listing key points. Practice freewriting or rapid outlining exercises on common PTE topics like education, environment, technology, or globalisation. This habit will train your brain to generate content-ready ideas in real time, reducing hesitation during the exam.

3. Learn to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is crucial in both the introduction and the body of your essay. Rather than copying the prompt, rewrite it in your own words using synonyms or a different sentence structure. This not only prevents content penalties but also shows your linguistic flexibility, which is rewarded in the scoring. For example, if the prompt says, "Should children start school at an early age?" you might paraphrase it as, "Is it beneficial for young children to begin formal education sooner than usual?"

4. Expand Your Vocabulary

PTE rewards students who demonstrate a wide and accurate vocabulary. Instead of repeating basic words like “good” or “bad,” learn synonyms like “beneficial,” “advantageous,” “harmful,” or “detrimental.” Focus on topic-specific terms (e.g., sustainability, innovation, globalisation) and formal linkers (e.g., moreover, however, in contrast). Use flashcards or vocabulary apps to practice and gradually incorporate new words into your essays.

5. Improve Grammar and Sentence Structure

To score well, your essay must showcase a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentence types. For example:

• Simple: “Technology is useful.”
• Compound: “Technology is useful, and it makes life easier.”
• Complex: “Although technology is useful, it can sometimes create dependency.”

Review key grammar rules (subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, articles, prepositions) and avoid common errors like run-on sentences or fragments. Writing grammatically correct and varied sentences makes your essay more engaging and easier to follow.

6. Time Management

A successful PTE essay balances quality with speed. Allocate your 20 minutes wisely:

• 2–3 minutes: Understand and plan
• 15–16 minutes: Write the essay
• 1–2 minutes: Proofread for errors

Practising with a timer will help you stay within the limit. The goal is to write a full 200–300 word essay without rushing, while still leaving time to revise.

7. Use PTE Scoring Rubrics

Pearson provides clear scoring rubrics for essay writing. These include categories like Content, Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary Range, Structure, and Coherence. Self-evaluating your essays using these rubrics can help you identify weak areas. For more accurate feedback, you can use online PTE scoring tools or get your essays reviewed by a mentor or tutor.

Sample Essay Writing Prompt

Prompt: Do you think the advantages of studying abroad outweigh the disadvantages? Support your opinion with reasons and examples.

How to Analyse the Prompt?

To analyse the prompt correctly, you need to identify what type of essay is this, first of all. Out of the four (argumentative, discussion, problem-solving and opinion-based), this one is opinion-based / argumentative essay. Break the question like:

• Topic: Study Abroad
• Task: State whether advantages outweigh disadvantages
• Requirement: Support with reasons and examples

After analysing all the basic points, start writing down the concrete points which are most important to include in your essay.

How to Plan PTE Essay?

Before starting working on your PTE essay writing, spend 2-3 minutes planning your thoughts and how to give them a good structure. It is always good to start with an introduction, setting a theme on what agenda you are going to discuss. Here is a brief structure in which your essay can be divided into constituent paragraphs:

• Introduction: Contains all the main points and a setting theme. You can start easy with just paraphrasing the prompt and putting yourself in a solid position.
• Body Paragraph 1: From here, your main opinion / idea starts taking shape. Explain your ideas with supporting examples.
• Body Paragraph 2: This paragraph is the continuation of your previous one but making your ideas more consolidated. State some advantages/disadvantages in support of your opinion.

Conclusion: Summarize your viewpoints by connecting all ideas and giving a generalized statement. State some solutions from your end.

PTE Writing Essay Sample

Educational exchange has grown with very many students being motivated to study abroad in search of good quality education and exposure in the world community. It does have some challenges, but I feel that there is a huge difference between the benefits and detriments.

The opportunity to live in different cultures and environments is one of the most important advantages of studying abroad. This exposes the child to elements of adaptability, independence and cross cultural awareness, which is a necessity in the workforce of today. As an example, a student who goes to study in Australia will acquire more practical experience and an enhanced viewpoint towards a field of interest than when he/she remains at home.

Furthermore, most of the universities abroad provide high research and curriculum facilities that improve a student academically. Various scholarships, internships and networks that international students provided by such institutions can greatly be beneficial to their career.

It is no doubt the expense and the emotional trend to study in another country. The most typical concerns are high tuition fees and homesickness, as well as cultural adaptation. Nevertheless, most of the students are able to overcome these challenges with careful planning and support of the institution.

To sum up, it is possible to say that all these positive aspects of studying abroad (and there are even more of them) outweigh the drawbacks. It opens up doors to international opportunities, thus, it is a worthwhile next step in the future.

Word Count: 240 words

Tips for Writing Essay

To write a good essay, you need to understand the question, plan your ideas, and present them clearly. It’s also important to use proper grammar and good vocabulary. Below are some easy tips to help you write better essays and get a higher score.

• Carefully evaluate the prompt that is given to ensure an essay that is relevant to the same. 
• Check what one is expected to do, i.e., for/against a statement, agree or disagree with something, discuss something and state a solution, and so on. 
• Examine the topic carefully and then plan the points that one should write about along with one’s main argument (after deciding which side one is on).
• Make sure that one writes with good grammar and showcases one’s vocabulary by using stylized words and phrases. Using complex sentence structures may also get one a higher score. One should also use a few colloquialisms or idiomatic expressions.
• Phrases may be used for introducing something or adding any point, along with expressing opinions and also concluding the essay.
• Keep some time for proofreading the essay and making all the changes that are necessary.

Conclusion

Mastering PTE Essay Writing is all about practice, planning, and precision. Understanding the essay structure, refining grammar and vocabulary, and analyzing sample essays can dramatically improve your scores. With consistent preparation, familiarization with common topics, and strategic time management, you can confidently tackle the essay section and boost your overall PTE band. Remember, clarity of thought and organized expression are just as important as language skills, so plan, write, and review each essay carefully to achieve the best results. 

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