PTE Academic Writing Section Tips and Tricks

PTE

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Priya
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Nov 2, 2022 13:36 IST

PTE Writing Tips and Tricks: PTE or Pearson Test of English is an English language test for candidates looking to apply to universities or countries abroad that use English as their primary source of communication. The PTE Writing is one of the PTE Exam sections designed to check your English writing proficiency. Throughout the test, you need to use your writing and speaking, reading, and listening skills. After completing the speaking section, you will get two tasks based on testing your writing proficiency.

The PTE-A exam is made up of the PTE Reading section, PTE Listening section, PTE Speaking section, and PTE Writing sections and in this article, we are going to focus on the PTE Writing section of the exam. Read on as we discuss PTE Writing Tips and Ticks, PTE Writing Essay Format, and PTE Writing Essay Tips.

Top 5 PTE Writing Tips

Here are the top 5 PTE Writing tips for candidates looking to ace their PTE Writing section of the PTE Exam

  1. Analyze the task presented
  2. Recognize keywords in the prompt
  3. Understand the topic presented
  4. Focus on key points in the essay
  5. Present content that clearly establishes your point of view

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PTE Writing Section Module

PTE Writing Section Format: Candidates must be aware that the PTE Writing Section of the PTE Test is combined with the PTE Speaking Section. We are going to start by showing you the PTE Writing Section topics that are covered under the PTE Speaking and Writing section:

PTE Speaking and Writing Section Question Topics

PTE Question Format 

Personal introduction

1

Read Aloud

6 - 7

Repeat sentence

10 - 12

Describe image

3 - 4

Retell lecture

1 - 2

Answer short question

5 - 6

Summarize written text

1 - 2

Write Essay

1 - 2

Total Questions

28 - 36

Time Allocation

54 - 67 minutes

Now let us talk about the top PTE Writing Tips and Tricks to ace your PTE Writing section of the PTE exam.  

Also Read: How to Ace in the Bar Graph PTE Describe Image Task?

PTE Writing Section: Summarize Written Text 

  • You will be given a paragraph and you have to summarize it in your own words.
  • Finish the summary in one sentence using more than 75 words.
  • You will have 10 minutes to read the paragraph, summarize it, and proofread it.
  • You can get a perfect score with a strong vocabulary and grammar.
  • Pay attention to punctuation.
  • Capitalize all the starting words and nouns in a sentence.
  • Write the summary in the third person form i.e. avoid the usage of I, Me, We, etc.
  • Summarize each paragraph in a single sentence.

PTE Writing Section: Write an Essay 

  • Plan the format of your essay based on whether it is an opinion essay, problem-solution, advantages-disadvantages, etc.
  • Check the spelling, grammar, and plurals after writing.
  • Use appropriate structure to write your essay i.e. first paragraph introduction, second third paragraphs body, and last paragraph conclusion.
  • In the body paragraphs, provide examples, reasons, and statistics to strengthen your arguments.
  • Keep the length between 200–300 words.
  • You have 20 minutes to write an essay on the given topic.

Read: How to Write Essay in PTE?

PTE Writing Essay Format

The PTE writing essay format includes candidates undertaking a 200 - 300 word long argumentative essay in response to a prompt. The prompt would be 2-3 sentences long and you have 20 minutes to write your essays. The Word Count feature at the bottom of the screen provides the number of words written by the candidate. PTE test takers should make sure to write a minimum of 200 words, but no more than 300 words. The candidates also get the cut, copy and paste buttons you can use while constructing your response.

  • Cut: Select text from your answer that you wish to remove and left-click “Cut”.
  • Copy: Select text from your answer that you wish to copy and left-click “Copy”.
  • Paste: Place the cursor where you wish to paste the cut/copied text and left-click “Paste”.

PTE Writing Essay Tips

The PTE Writing Essay forms the major part of the PTE writing section of the PTE Exam. We bring our readers some of the top PTE writing essay tips for them to follow to be able to ace the PTE writing essay question. Candidates should learn to analyze the task presented to them before starting their essays. Candidates should be able to recognize keywords in the prompt, understand the topic presented to them, what key points should be focused on in the essay, and last what point of view to present and discuss in the essay.

How is a PTE writing Essay Scored?

The PTE Writing Essay is scored by determining all aspects of the content. The following factors of the write-up are taken into consideration during the grading process. 

  • Development structure and coherence of the written content
  • Does the PTE Essay meet the length requirement (200-300 words)
  • General linguistic range (clarity of idea)
  • Grammar usage and mechanics
  • Vocabulary range
  • Spelling

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PTE Writing Section Exam Pattern

Candidates should note that the PTE Writing and Speaking sections are combined. PTE exam, Part 1 of the PTE test will assess your PTE Writing and Speaking skills. The total time allotted for the PTE Speaking and Writing section is between 77 - 93 Minutes. Note: If you remain silent for more than 3 seconds, the recording will stop automatically and you'll not be able to re-record.

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PTE Writing Section - Overview

PTE Module

PTE Speaking Task / Skills assessed

Time to answer 

Read aloud 

Read the provided text aloud

(Reading and Speaking)

Variesdepends on the length of the text 

Repeat sentence 

After listening to a recording, repeat the sentence

(Listening and Speaking)

15 seconds 

Describe image 

Describe the image provided in detail

(Speaking)

40 seconds 

Re-tell lecture 

After listening to a lecture, re-tell it in your own words

(Listening and Speaking)

40 seconds 

Answer short question 

After listening to a question, answer with a single word

(Listening and Speaking)

10 seconds 

Summarize written text 

After reading a text, write a one-sentence summary

(Reading and Writing) 

10 minutes

Essay

Write a 200–300-word essay on the given topic 

(Writing)

20 minutes

Key to Score 79+ in PTE Writing

The writing module is one of the most challenging tasks in the PTE Exam. Students must use well-constructed, cohesive, and legible sentence structure. There are two tasks in the writing part i.e. Summarize Written Test and Essay.








  1. Keep it simple – Just stay on topic and summarize the meaning or purpose of the topic.
  2. Take Proper Time - Use your time to plan your tasks as you have 10 minutes to summarize written text and 20 minutes for Essay Writing.
  3. Right Format – Use the right and correct task format that suits you as it is important as the content.
  4. Write Clear Paragraphs - Practice Your Typing Speed in Writing for clear and concise descriptions. Write error-free content to increase your score.
  5. Work On Your Weaknesses - Work on your weakness in writing. Try to skip common mistakes by practicing.
  6. Improve Your Vocabulary – In PTE Academics writing tasks, you must have a good vocabulary as other skills.

We would love to hear from you. Do get in touch with us in the comments below and for assistance with university admissions request a call back from our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors

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FAQs for PTE Exam 2024

FAQs

Q. Which section is the most challenging section in PTE?

A. Without any doubt, the PTE Reading section is considered the most complicated part of the PTE exam among the three. A large number of test-takers miss most of their points in their reading proficiency.

Q. Can I score 90 in PTE writing?

A. Yes, you can score 90 in PTE, you must first know what kind of answers are required by the marking algorithm. Read Aloud, Repeat Sentences, Describe Images, Retell lecture, and Answer Short Questions.

Q. What are tips and tricks to clear the PTE?

A. The top 5 tips and tricks for PTE Exam Preparation are Knowing your target score, Knowing the PTE exam pattern, Understanding how the PTE exam is scored, Selecting your preparation material wisely, and practicing regularly.

Q. Can I crack PTE in 15 days?

A. Yes, you can crack the PTE in 15 days by following the following points i.e. know all the sections of the PTE test, Get trained by professionals, Prioritize the items & your time, and Do at least ONE PTE mock test before your test.

Q. Is it easy to get 50 in PTE?

A. To achieve a 50 in PTE, the 'one size fits all' approach will usually work. But, if you are striving for more advanced scores, you will need to master your ability to adapt to different questions and topics.

Q:   Is the PTE Academic test easy to crack?

A:

For a candidate who is well versed with the PTE syllabus and who has prepared well for the exam with total sincerity and enthusiasm would be able to crack the PTE Academic test without hurdles.

Q:   Is PTE test hard to pass?

A:

No. Candidates should note that the exam has been designed to test the candidates’ English proficiency levels. Hence, a candidate who is well prepared would qualify for the PTE Academic exam with flying colours.

Q:   What is a good PTE Academic score?

A:

There is no such thing as a good PTE Academic score. Every university would have its own score cut-off and students are required to achieve scores equal or higher than the set grade. Candidates should note that higher scores would automatically increase their chances of securing a seat in the university and also make them a front-runner for any scholarships being offered by the university.

Q:   Is 1 month enough for preparing for my PTE exam?

A:

Your PTE exam preparation depends upon how consistently you prepare for it. You need to practice daily to polish your English language skills, read articles, and immersive yourself thoroughly into the language to get a better preparation outcome before your exam.

Your total exam preparation time also depends upon your previous knowledge of the language and how good are your basics in English. Remember, good basics are the key to solving any English exam question. 

Candidates are advised to prepare for the PTE Academic exam before booking their test slot. Hence, candidates who have appeared for their PTE Academic exam before or who are well prepared for the exam can use the one month for revision and appear for the test. Others would definitely need a more substantial amount of time to be well-versed in the exam.

Q:   Is the PTE Academic test hard for first-time test-takers?

A:

No. You should understand that the test has been created to understand the English language proficiency of the student. Hence a candidate who has prepared for the PTE Academic test should not find this English exam a tough exam.

Q:   Is 75 a good PTE score?

A:

Yes. A 75 PTE score falls under the 'Very Good' category. A PTE 75 score is equivalent to IELTS 7.5 - 8.0 band score. However, candidates should note that the real determining factor is their preferred university PTE score requirements. If they are eligible to apply with their PTE scores, good or else they can always re-take the test.

Q:   How can I boost my PTE score to 90?

A:

Scoring an absolute score of 90 on the PTE test may be difficult but not impossible. Test takers need to stay persistent with their practice of the PTE sample test papers.

Candidates are also often encouraged to visit and revisit their PTE Academic syllabus and understand the PTE exam pattern thoroughly to leave minimum room for difficulty in understanding the question types in the main PTE exam. A prior knowledge of the exam pattern and the question types will help you perform faster in the exam so that you will be able to give sufficient time to the questions that require critical thinking. 

Below are a few points you must follow to ace your preparation for the PTE exam.

  1. Solve as many sample and mock test papers as possible
  2. As the PTE test is an integrated skills test, read, write, speak and listen in English every day.
  3. Work on improving your vocabulary
  4. Practice speaking and recording your speech. Listening to your recorded speech will help you learn about the key areas where you need to improve. 
  5. Prepare for a self-introduction.
  6. Some sections of the PTE exam may require you to take notes. Hence, practice making notes under timed conditions.
  7. Get help from a teacher/trainer/coach. 

Q:   What is the best way to prepare for my next PTE Academic test?

A:

The best way to prepare for any test including PTE Academic would be to have a plan in mind. The plan should include a timetable that should cover the entire syllabus and also leave ample room for solving practice papers. Extra attention should be given to topics that are difficult for the candidate while at the same time solving easy sections.

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Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert

Priya Garg is a seasoned content writer and editor. With her rich experience in content writing, teaching and research & analysis, Priya believes in providing only the correct information which is also up-to-date. H... Read Full Bio

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