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PTE essay | An overview
PTE, similar to TOEFL, IELTS, or any other English language exam, is divided into four main sections- reading, writing, speaking, and listening. PTE has combined the speaking and writing tasks.
However, the writing section is something that has been elaborated on. One exciting part about the exams is that the PTE examiners will assess your responses to other tasks per your writing skills. Therefore, it is all the more imperative that you improve your writing skills.
The PTE writing section includes two writing tasks – one where you will be required to summarize a written text and another where you are required to write an essay. The PTE essay questions gauge your English language skills in grammar, vocabulary, written discourse skills, and spelling.
Read on to discover more about what PTE essay writing entails, how you may approach it and how to meet the examiner’s expectations.
What does PTE essay writing entail?
PTE essay writing will present you with two to three lines of prompt. This prompt will either include an opinion about a relevant topic or a statement. While the purpose of a prompt remains unchanged, it can be presented to you in several ways. You may get problems, solutions, or an argument and expect to counter-argue it.
Once you provide your response to the statement or opinion, you must follow it up with a 200 to 300-word answer. A good PTE essay will consist of a systematic structure, such as the following –
- First paragraph- This paragraph will include an introductory sentence. The best way to tackle this is by discussing the topic and presenting your opinion concisely.
- Second and third paragraph- You must use this opportunity to provide explanations and supporting statements. Your idea must be backed by facts and other real-life examples of why you have a particular type of belief.
- Last paragraph- The last paragraph should consist of your concluding statements. We recommend ending the essay with a bang. For example, you could include a quote from an influential personality.
Key things to remember to score well!
- You only have roughly twenty minutes to attempt the PTE essay writing question.
- This time includes the time you take to read and understand your essay. It also consists of the time you take to proofread and double-check your responses.
- The word limit on the PTE essay question is anywhere between 200 to 300 words. You must stick to this word limit as it reflects your ability to understand and follow instructions from the examiner and creates a good impression.
- Lastly, clearly state an idea and communicate whether or not you agree with it.
Three steps to writing an effective PTE essay
Getting familiar with the structure of the PTE essay is just the first step. Now that you know what the essay requires let us look at how we may go about writing an effective PTE essay. Follow the steps below–
Step 1 | Take time to understand the prompt and make mental notes
An excellent way to ensure you follow a good structure is by taking quality time to understand the prompt well. Analyze the given topic and make mental notes of all the essential details. Don’t forget to double-check what precisely the question is asking of you. For instance – is it an agree and disagree statement, or is it explicitly addressing an issue or concern? Keep an eye out for the critical points that the question needs you to cover and the arguments you are required to present.
Step 2 | Write the essay
Once you understand what idea you will be following, clarify which side of the argument you are willing to write. Upon making this decision, you can create a rough plan of the details, examples, and concluding statements you need to put together. Once you are through with your planning, kick off your writing process. Remember, it is vital to highlight your ability to write an academic essay – not an ordinary one. An academic essay involves writing clear descriptions. In other words, you need to eliminate fluff-style writing that involves ambiguities.
Step 3 | Always save time for proofreading
You will be surprised just how many times one finds mistakes upon proofreading. Do not hit ‘next’ yet. Ensure you save enough time to read through your essay at least once before signing off. Just a few minutes is all you need to read through your write-up carefully. Keep an eye out for spelling errors and your use of punctuation to ensure you are following exemplary grammar.
How is the PTE essay marked?
The PTE essay judges your ability against some skill sets. They have published seven characteristics on their official website, informing us of what they are looking for. The characteristics are listed below-
- You will be judged for the quality of the content. The maximum score is 3.
- Development, coherence, and how well you present the structure will hold a maximum of 2 marks.
- Grammar, General linguistic abilities, vocabulary ranges, and spellings hold a maximum score of 2 marks each.
Key takeaways
- The PTE writing section includes two writing tasks – one includes summarizing a written text, while another includes writing an essay.
- PTE essay writing will present you with two to three lines of prompt. This prompt will either include an opinion about a relevant topic or a statement.
- Practice the PTE essay section by attempting various mock tests and analyzing them. This will help you know your strengths and weaknesses and be better prepared for D-day.
We hope you found this blog on the PTE essay informative. If you have any questions/suggestions, reach out to us or drop a comment.
Liked this blog? Read next: PTE score chart – pass your PTE with a high score
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum score for vocabulary?
Answer- The maximum you can score for vocabulary is 2 marks.
Q2. How many writing tasks will I be required to attempt?
Answer- You will be required to attempt two writing tasks.
Q3. How much time will I receive to attempt PTE essay writing?
Answer- You will get 20 minutes to attempt PTE essay writing.
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