PTE essay template and practice
You get 20 minutes to write 200 to 300 words. Pearson marks seven traits, and a memorised template can score zero.
By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated
Part 1 of 3: Speaking and writing
Write your answer in the box.
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200 to 300 words.
Some people think universities should focus on research. Others think teaching matters more. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Universities are expected to create new knowledge and to teach their students well. Both jobs matter, but I believe teaching should come first, because most students go to university to learn.
31 words200 to 300 words
Key facts
Time
Length
Prompt
In a test
Skills scored
Scores zero if
Questions to practise
What it is worth
7%of your overall score
- Writing
- 31% of the skill score
How it's scored
In Pearson's rules, an essay that's off the topic, built from memorised sentences, under 120 words or over 380 scores zero on all seven traits.
Leap Exam scores the same seven traits and marks corrections on your own essay.
Your first writing score is free.
Writing, Write Essay
Question 4 of 10
18 / 26
- Content
- 5 / 6
- Form
- 2 / 2
- Development, structure and coherence
- 4 / 6
- Grammar
- 1 / 2
- General linguistic range
- 4 / 6
- Vocabulary range
- 1 / 2
- Spelling
- 1 / 2
How fully you answer the prompt, with reasons and examples.
200 to 300 words for 2, and 120 to 199 or 301 to 380 for 1.
A clear introduction, body and conclusion, with linked ideas.
Control of complex sentences, with few mistakes.
How clearly and precisely your language carries your ideas.
A broad range of academic words, used well.
One mistake costs a point, and two or more cost both.
An example grade: one spelling mistake cost one of the two spelling points.
Essay structure
A structure is a plan that you fill with ideas for the prompt in front of you.
Pearson's own guide suggests four paragraphs, and the steps below follow it.
Read the prompt twice and note what it asks: agree or disagree, both views, or problems and solutions.
Choose your position and plan two main ideas in a few words each.
Introduction: say the topic in your own words and give your position.
First body paragraph: your strongest idea, explained, with an example.
Second body paragraph: a second idea, or the other view and why you disagree with it.
Conclusion: sum up your position in one or two sentences.
Keep the last few minutes to check your spelling, the word count and that you answered every part.
An opening written for one prompt
Prompt: Some people think universities should focus on research. Others think teaching matters more. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Opening: Universities are expected to create new knowledge and to teach their students well. Both jobs matter, but I believe teaching should come first, because most students go to university to learn.
Common mistakes
Memorised sentences
Too few or too many words
Answering half the question
If the prompt asks for both views and your opinion, cover all three.More than one spelling mistake
Choose British, American, Australian or Canadian spelling, and use it in the whole essay.Capitals, bullet points or no punctuation
Any of these, or very short sentences, gets zero for form, and the whole essay scores zero.
常见问题
Are templates allowed in the PTE essay?
How many words should a PTE essay be?
How long do you get for the PTE essay?
What topics come up in the PTE essay?
Where can I see a PTE essay sample?
Is the PTE essay marked by a computer?
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