The PTE Writing section is critical for those aspiring to study or work in English-speaking countries.

It reflects their ability to use English effectively in both academic and professional environments. Moreover, it can significantly impact your chances of success in various visa applications.

Writing is an art. Mastering writing skills can be a game-changer for a competitive edge in the PTE exam.

This post will give you a better understanding of the PTE Writing section and help you develop the necessary skills to express your ideas convincingly, eloquently, and confidently.

So, let’s embark on this journey! 

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Key Takeaways

• PTE Writing assesses a candidate’s aptitude for conveying thoughts, opinions, and information through well-structured essays.
• PTE Summarize Written Text and PTE Essay Writing are the two main tasks in the PTE writing section.
• The PTE Writing scores are determined by automated scoring algorithms that assess your responses based on predefined linguistic features and proficiency indicators.

Related:

• Check out our PTE practice tests that can improve your scores fast!
• An updated guide about the PTE full-form exam

PTE writing format

The PTE Writing is the second part of the Speaking section. Once you complete the Speaking tasks, you will be directed to the Writing test. PTE Writing assesses a candidate’s aptitude for conveying thoughts, opinions, and information through well-structured essays.

The PTE writing section consists of the following two main tasks.

Tasks	Prompt Length	Time to Answer	Task	Skills Assessed	Scoring
PTE Summarize Written Text	Text up to 300 words	10 minutes	After reading the text, write a one-sentence summary of the passage.	Reading and writing	Partial Credit
PTE Essay Writing	2–3 sentences	20 minutes	Write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.	Writing	Partial Credit

Summarize Written Text

You must summarize a passage of the text in a complete, single sentence of no more than 75 words. Comprehension is key in this task. You need to write concisely while conveying the core of the topic and the primary points.

Tips for the Summarize Written Text task

• Identify key concepts: Read the passage carefully and identify the central theme and main points. Focus on the most important information.
• Note keywords: Highlight or underline essential keywords that best determine the content. Use these keywords in your summary.
• Stick to the word limit: Be concise and to the point. Focus on the facts. Avoid including lengthy explanations, inferences, or examples.
• Use complex sentences: Incorporate complex sentence structures to show off your linguistic skills, but ensure they are grammatically correct.
• Use your voice: Use your own words by thinking of synonyms and paraphrasing. Use the third person. Avoid using “I,” “Me,” or “We”.
• Be mindful of time: Give yourself enough time to produce a summary with an effective structure: Read, plan, write, and check.

Sample: Read the passage below and summarize it using one sentence. Type your response in the box at the bottom of the screen. You have 10 minutes to finish this task. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the key points in the passage.

Skipping breakfast seems a simple way of losing weight or saving time while getting the children ready for school or rushing off to work. But it can also be a sign of an unhealthy lifestyle with potentially dangerous consequences, including a higher risk of premature death. According to a study, adults and teenagers who miss the first meal of the day are less likely to look after their health. They tend to smoke more, drink more alcohol and take less exercise than those who do eat. Those who skip food in the morning are also more likely to be fatter and less well-educated, meaning they find it harder to get a job. Researcher Dr. Anna Keski-Rahkonen said: “Smoking, infrequent exercise, a low level of education, frequent alcohol use and a high body mass index were all associated with skipping breakfast in adults and adolescents. Our findings suggest this association exists throughout adulthood. ‘Individuals who skip breakfast may care less about their health than those who eat breakfast.” Previously, experts assumed that missing breakfast — often called ‘the most important meal of the day’ — was simply the marker of a hectic life or a way to try to lose weight. But Dr. Keski-Rahkonen, who led the study at Helsinki University, said the results revealed that starting the day without food suggests an unhealthy lifestyle.

 

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Essay

You have 20 minutes to create an argumentative essay of 200–300 words. This task will assess your grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and writing skills.

Tips for the Writing Essay task

• Understand the prompt: Do not start writing immediately. Take time to carefully read the essay question and identify the type of essay: opinion/balanced argument/problem, and solution.
• Plan your writing: Always outline your essay. Organizing your ideas logically will help you save time and earn more points for the PTE Written Discourse criteria.
• Follow proper essay structure: Your essay should include a straightforward introduction, well-developed body paragraphs with supporting ideas, and a concise conclusion
• Stick to the topic: Stay focused on the given topic and avoid off-topic or unnecessary information.
• Give examples and evidence: Support your arguments with relevant examples, research, statistics, or personal experiences in the body paragraphs to strengthen your essay.
• Maintain balance in arguments: When writing essays, present a balanced viewpoint, considering both sides of an argument, especially in opinion-based prompts.
• Diversify your language: Try to use synonyms to avoid repetition of words. Ensure you use words correctly.
• Be concise and clear: Convey your ideas concisely and coherently. Avoid confusing sentences.
• Manage time wisely: Monitor the time during the exam. Allocate sufficient time for each part of your essay.
• Proofread your essay: Give yourself some time to review and make any necessary corrections before submitting.

Sample: 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 200-300 words.

Some employers involve employees in the decision-making process of products and services. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

 

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PTE Writing scoring guidelines

Scores in the PTE Writing section are determined by automated scoring algorithms that assess your responses based on predefined linguistic features and proficiency indicators. 

The scoring system will consider the following factors of the write-up in the grading process. 

• Development structure
• Coherence of the written content
• The length of responses
• General linguistic range
• Grammar usage and mechanics
• Vocabulary range
• Spelling.

Related:

• PTE tips and tricks for a 79+ score

12 PTE writing practice tips for better scores

Here are 12 practical PTE writing tips to boost your scores:

Tip 1: Follow the format

Familiarize yourself with the standard essay structure (introduction, body, conclusion) and summary sentence format (single sentence).

Tip 2: Address all aspects of the prompt

Ensure you fully address all parts of the essay or summary prompt to maximize your score.

Tip 3: Keep sentences simple

Try to limit your use of lengthy, complex sentences. Ensure all of your phrases are clear and easy to understand.

Tip 4: Give a logical sequence to your ideas

In both essay and summary tasks, always stay on the topic and deliver your answer in a logical sequence.  You should repeat the text’s main points many times in your writing.

When starting with a logical explanation, always come to a reasonable conclusion about it. Your response should be specific and consistent.

Tip 5: Do not use jargon

Avoid using slang words in daily life at all costs. Remember that PTE writing requires an academic, formal tone.

Tip 6: Enhance your vocabulary

A strong vocabulary is one of the keys to success in PTE writing tasks. Therefore, you should equip yourself with an excellent vocabulary and proper use to achieve higher scores in PTE.

You can increase your vocabulary through English articles, magazines, or newspapers. However, don’t leave your new words alone. Do some examples when encountering them for better memorization.

Tip 7: Grammar practice

Focus on standard grammar rules, sentence structures, and verb tenses. Work on eliminating grammatical errors in your writing.

Tip 9: Learn from mistakes

Identify your weak points in writing. Find out which mistakes you frequently make and try to correct them by practicing.

Tip 8: Ensure coherence and cohesion

Ensure your writing flows logically and coherently. Use transitional phrases to connect ideas and create a smooth, well-structured response.

Tip 10: Practice with different topics

Challenge yourself with diverse essay and summary topics to broaden your knowledge base and adaptability.

Tip 11: Seek advice from a PTE coach

Consider getting feedback from a qualified English language tutor or teacher to receive personalized guidance.

Tip 12: Practice, practice, practice

Mastering writing skills takes time and effort. You need to put up enough practice to get your dream score.

What Not To Do In The PTE Writing Section

Not Following The Word Count Requirements

Word count matters. Test-takers must respond with between 5 and 75 words in the PTE Summarize Written Text, while the PTE Essay Writing task requires an answer of between 200 and 300 words.

Writing too few words means you might lack information, and writing too many means you struggle with accuracy. Additionally, not meeting the word count requirements will affect your clarity score, leading to a lower writing score. Applying a template in the PTE Writing section can help create a clearer and more structured answer.

Misreading The Prompt

This is another common mistake. No matter how well you write, misreading the prompt will lead to an off-topic response that will reduce your points. This often happens to test-takers who rush into writing without understanding the task.

Take a moment to read carefully. Find the key ideas and plan before you write. A straightforward response always scores better than one that fails from the start, even if it’s well-structured.

Using Complex Vocabulary

Many test-takers think complex words will impress the scoring system and them gain higher scores. However, awkward phrasing or forced word choices will affect your readability score.

Candidates with strong writing balance using advanced and simple words have higher scores than others. Their responses tend to have clear and engaging ideas.

Making Grammar Mistakes

Grammar mistakes are another issue that reduces your scores. Test-takers who make subject-verb agreement, punctuation, or spelling errors will have lower scores because they confuse the scoring system.

You can apply a grammar checker while taking the PTE Writing practice session. The more you practice, the more you understand the grammar rules and improve.

Not Answer Logically

Logic also matters in the PTE Writing tasks. A good answer needs to be well-written and have a natural flow. Your ideas will sound empty if you lack backup information and supporting examples.

Try adding facts, data, and real-life scenarios to make your writing more convincing.

Bad Time Management

Some test-takers spend too long on a single question, while others rush through questions without reviewing their answers. Both mistakes lower your scores.

The best strategy is to craft an outline first, then focus on writing to save time for reviewing your work. This method helps reduce panic and ensure better performance throughout the test.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is The PTE Writing Section Structured?

The PTE Writing Section consists of two tasks: Summarize Written Text and Essay. You must complete both tasks on the computer by typing your responses and submitting them directly to the system.

The Summarize Written Text task will show a passage on-screen and require test-takers to summarize it into a single sentence, while the Essay requires a 200–300-word response on a given topic.

What Key Writing Rules Should I Follow?

First, your subject-verb agreement must be correct. Second, articles like “a,” “an,” and “the” will define your ideas as general or specific. Third, punctuation is more than commas because it shapes meaning. Fourth, sentence structure will help your ideas flow more logically. Finally, avoid phrases like “more better” or “less easier” because they will reduce your writing clarity.

Can I Use Copy And Paste In PTE Writing?

Yes. The test allows you to use cut, copy, and paste functions to refine your answer.

What’s The Best Way To Improve PTE Writing?

Avoid common mistakes while keeping your writing balanced with both grammar and vocabulary. Additionally, don’t use complex words too frequently because your writing will sound overcomplicated and unnatural.

How Is My PTE Writing Score Calculated?

Seven factors determine your PTE Writing score. Content is the most crucial aspect since it’s worth up to three points, which can affect your score significantly. Good writing with strong structure and ideas will still receive a low score if your content score is low.

Conclusion

Have you got any additional helpful PTE writing tips? Kindly share them with us and our fellow students!

Remember that practice and perseverance are key to improving your writing skills. With dedication and effort, you will confidently conquer the PTE writing challenge and excel in expressing your ideas with flair.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need further help with your PTE writing. Best of luck!