Most test-takers find it hard to write a high-scoring essay in the PTE Exam. It is actually one of the modalities under the Writing category and tests how the test-taker can present clear ideas, as well as grammatical capabilities, vocabularies, and coherence of thought. Preparation for PTE therefore hinges on how one can perform the essay task and get it done well enough to yield the desired output in terms of marks. The PTE Writing section has two primary tasks: summary writing, that is, summarizing a written text, and essay writing. In this blog, we will outline how to structure an essay, how to plan your response and manage your time well. It is through these that one improves their PTE writing score and propels their performance in the test. So, dive in!

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a widely accepted English proficiency test, and its writing section is a crucial part of the exam. The PTE Writing section requires you to write an essay of 200-300 words in length within 20 minutes. The topic of the essay might ask you to present your opinions on a given issue or ask you to present both sides of a case. To gain excellent grades on the essay, one should have a proper structure within that piece, which includes an introduction, body paragraphs supporting the arguments presented, and a conclusion.

Here’s an outline that you can use for your essay.

Introduction: Paraphrase the prompt in your own words and include your thesis statement summarizing your stand or general idea behind your essay.

Body Paragraphs: Use 2-3 paragraphs in the main body to state your argument. Each paragraph should define one clear point relevant to your thesis statement and use evidence, examples, or logical reasoning to prove it.

Conclusion: Summarize the essay bringing in key points and redoing your thesis statement in other words. The conclusion should sum up the essay so that it leaves a memorable impression.

Therefore, a coherent and effectively organized essay not only facilitates the examiner to read your ideas but also ensures that you have covered the entire task within the word limit.

Assessment Criteria

The PTE essay is graded on a few key things, and knowing what those are can help you write for the most impact. Your essay will be graded as follows:

Content: this refers to how well you answer the prompt, and how well you develop your ideas thoroughly. Stick closely to the topic and ensure your arguments are relevant.

Format: Limit your essay to 200-300 words. Deviation above or below the word count can result in a penalty.

Grammar and Vocabulary: Use a range of sentence structures and vocabulary. Avoid repetition of word use or simple sentence type.

Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has to flow logically from one point to another. In an essay, for example, appropriate connecting words should be used that include the ones listed below: however, moreover, therefore, etc.

Spelling and Punctuation: Ensure correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization in your essay.

By following these points, you can easily come up with a great essay, which would meet all the standards of PTE scoring.

The first thing to do while writing your PTE essay is to read the prompt very carefully and discern what is required of you. Knowing what kind of essay you require can give you an idea of how to shape your response properly. The PTE mainly carries three different types of essay prompts:

Opinion Essay: In this type of essay, you are asked to convey your view on a given issue. For example, the prompt may ask you whether you agree or disagree with a statement.

Example: “Do you think that technology has advanced the way of communication?”

Argument Essay: In this essay, you will have to consider the two sides of a controversial issue and then present your side. This tends to be a bit more challenging than an opinion essay since you are required to take into account the opposing view.

Example: “Discuss both sides of the argument as to whether social media is good or bad.”

Problem-Solution Essay: This is an essay that asks for a problem and a corresponding solution at least a corresponding solution set. It demands logical reasoning and clarity of the idea presented.

For example, “What can be done to reduce the level of traffic jams in cities?”

Knowing what type of essay is to be done would enable you to structure your essay properly and ensure your answer meets all the requirements of the task.

Full-Length Mock Tests

An application must be sought that offers full-length practice tests. Tests will allow you to mimic the experience so you can better manage your time and get a feel for the format.

Speech Practice Resources

Such an ideal PTE preparation application will be advanced with such voice recognition tools for speaking practice. This will enable you to understand how you pronounce, your fluency, and overall speaking. Such skills are what the exam will require you to possess, so you should go for an application that instills it.

Progress Monitoring

Set an application goal for tracking your progress and performance. This way, through the assistance of this feature, you will be able to find your strengths and weaknesses on the subject and make appropriate adjustments in your study plan, as a result of which you will be constantly motivated and focused.

Modules for Practice with Personalization

Choose an application where you are allowed to customize your practice sessions. Whether you need to emphasize reading, writing, speaking, or listening, you would be able to work on what you are weak in, therefore giving you the flexibility to choose.

Simple interface

It is important to have an interface in the app that is user-friendly; thus, one can learn without any hassle. Look for applications that have intuitive features and navigation with easy-to-understand instructions and content.

Once you have a clear understanding of the prompt, take some time to organize your essay. Planning your essay before you start writing it helps you write more coherently and with much less effort. This is how you can outline your plan:

Introduction: Use a hook or a paraphrased question to prove that you are familiar with the subject. Then, develop a thesis statement giving your central argument or opinion.

Body Paragraphs: Divide your essay’s body into two to three paragraphs. Each paragraph should raise one key point supporting the argument you are making. Every paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence followed by examples or evidence illustrating your point.

Conclusion: Conclude your essay by summarizing your most important points and rephrasing your thesis in different words to again drive home the central issue of your essay, but your conclusion should be short enough to be effective in driving home your overall argument.

A good argument is supported by examples and evidence. The most common error of PTE test takers is that they fail to support claims. Bringing examples into your essay demonstrates that you can exercise critical reasoning and apply everyday reasoning to your arguments. Here are a few ways you can bring examples into your essay:

Personal Examples: You can always make references to personal experiences to show what you know. For example, if you are writing about how technology has affected education, you can talk about how online learning has boosted your learning.

Historical or Factual Examples: You can use some statistics or historical examples to present your point. Just ensure that the facts you put in there are accurate.

Hypothetical Examples: You can always draw hypothetical situations to illustrate a point when applying such examples. For example, in a problem-solving essay, you may suggest some theoretical outcomes for implementing your solution.

Your examples should be straight to the point, clear, and concise. This makes your essay more persuasive and interesting to the reader.

One of the major challenges while working on the PTE essay task is time management. In an effort to provide a well-structured essay, you’ve got merely 20 minutes for the essay task. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step, utilizing strategic allotment of time:

Understand the Prompt: Devote the first two minutes solely to reading the prompt and identifying exactly what kind of essay it would generate.

Plan Your Essay (3 minutes): Take a few minutes to gather your thoughts and lay out the organization of your essay.

Write your essay (12-13 minutes): Draw on your outline to write the essay, making everything relevant and meeting the word count.

Then take some of the last minutes to proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

If you follow this timeline, then you will be able to avoid rushing the essay and let the essay rest to shine.

No matter how strong an argument you present, no matter how perfect your sentences, errors of grammar or poor choice of words can count down your score. That is why it becomes necessary to devote a few minutes to essay proofreading. Pay special attention to the usual mistakes like subject-verb agreement, wrongly used verb tense, punctuation errors, etc.

First, observe sentence structure to ensure that you maintain a balance of short and complex sentences that keep your writing interesting. Refrain from repetition through the use of synonyms, thus showing a mastery of vocabulary. Pay attention to homophones-that the words “there” and “their” are easy to confuse. Lastly, assess punctuation so that you use your commas, periods, and quotation marks correctly for clarity.

The best approach to scoring high in PTE Writing is through strong practice, especially with attention to detail upon duly understanding essay structures. First and foremost, you need to understand the task you are dealing with, then organize ideas, support arguments with proper examples, and afterward do proofreading in terms of grammar and vocabulary. It will help you prepare for PTE, and you can practice all these writing tips and techniques to become an improved writer and a better test taker.