PTE Writing Test Format: Everything You Need to Know

PTE writing is a section in the Speaking and Writing module.

Though there are only 2 question types assessing candidates’ writing skills, they can’t be under-evaluated.

Besides vocabulary and grammar, you have more things to focus on during the sections to ensure a high writing score.

Let’s explore the topic with the LUME Test right now!

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Key Takeaways

• PTE writing sections include Summarize Written Text and Write Essay.
• Candidates will have 10 minutes to finish the former PTE writing task and 20 minutes to finish the latter one.
• You should pay attention to word count limits, vocabulary, grammar, and more.
• Tips for each PTE writing section are included below.

Related:

• PTE FREE mock tests
• How to study for your next PTE test
• PTE Writing tips
• PTE Writing practice questions

Tasks Assess Writing Skills And Scoring Guides

Candidates’ writing skills are assessed in the last two parts of the PTE Speaking and Listening section:  Summarize Written Text and Write Essay.

Summarize Written Text

This section combines writing and reading skills.

You need to read a passage on a specific topic and have 10 minutes to summarize the content in ONE sentence. 

There will be 1-2 items in this part, with each prompt length up to 300 words.

You will be scored based on the following criteria:

Points	Content	Form	Grammar	Vocabulary
2	Good summary that contains all the main points	–	Grammar structures are used properly.	Candidates use appropriate words.
1	Fair summary that contains the most important points	Content meets the requirement of 1 single sentence.	Candidates use reasonable grammar but with a few mistakes.	Inappropriate word use, but it’s possible to understand the content.
0	Poor summary with few important points	Content is written in more than 1 sentence.	Poor grammar, causing misunderstanding sometimes	Inappropriate words, and hard-to-understand content

Write Essay

This PTE writing task requires candidates to write an essay on a given topic.

The topic will be written in 1-2 lines, and your essay needs to be around 200-300 words.

You’ll have 20 minutes to complete the task.

Your score will be based on:

• Content (maximum 6 points): The answer should not go off-topic with unrelated sentences.
• Formal requirements (maximum 2 points): The essay should be within the word limit.
• Grammar (maximum 2 points): Appropriate grammar should be used to avoid your score being decreased.
• General linguistic range (maximum 6 points): This criterion refers to your knowledge and ability to communicate your ideas adequately.
• Vocabulary (maximum 2 points): The wider range of vocabulary, the better.
• No spelling mistakes (maximum 2 points): You’ll get some scores for spelling the words correctly.

Related:

• PTE essay format
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• How to raise your PTE Written Discourse score

PTE Writing Tips For Higher Scores in Summarize Written Text 

Tips On Time Management

Though it may sound rushed to finish this PTE writing section within 10 minutes, it’s possible if you know how to manage time. 

Mastering time management will let you use the short given time effectively, especially when sitting in the tension of an exam.

• First, you should spend 2-3 minutes reading and understanding the given paragraph. 
• Then, spend 4-5 minutes writing a summarized sentence. 

During this time, you need to think, consider words, form structure, arrange, and rewrite to produce a good sentence.

• Lastly, after writing, double-check for vocabulary, spelling, and grammatical mistakes.

If you still have some minutes left, use it to recheck one more time. 

Ensure every punctuation is in its place. 

Tips On Reading 

Follow these tips to ensure you understand the text correctly before summarizing:

• Identify the main idea and then search for its supporting points.
• Details are not important, but keywords are.
• Combining the central idea of each paragraph to have a completed summary. 

Tips On Writing

While writing, you should:

• Use third person
• Write your answer in 35-50 words; otherwise, more mistakes will be exposed if you write longer. 
• Don’t miss important information, and don’t include irrelevant ones
• Use transitional words
• Don’t use words that you’re not familiar with
• Don’t add your personal ideas
• Ensure what you write is understandable
• Recheck and edit if needed

Related:

• PTE Writing Summarize Written Text practice questions

PTE Writing – 3 Steps To Write Your Essay 

In this task, a 2-3 line prompt will state an opinion or statement.

Candidates need to write whether they agree or disagree with that statement and give supporting points.

Sometimes, they need to discuss a solution to a problem.

Here’s what the prompt may look like:

You’ll only have 20 minutes to write your answer. 

The below 3 steps will show you how to excel in this task successfully.

Step 1. Analyzing

First, you need to spend some minutes reading and analyzing the prompt.

Identify what the prompt is asking you to do (agree or disagree, give a solution, etc.), the topic, key points, and arguments to discuss.

Then, decide which side of the argument you support, and note down some ideas you want to write about. 

Let’s take the prompt about tobacco mentioned above as an example and analyze it!

Here you have:

• Topics: Tobacco and smoking
• Key points to cover: Health costs, health care costs, lost productivity 
• Points of view to present: Wider community/ citizens, government, individual 

Quickly planning out what your essay will include will help you save time later. 

So, you should follow a proper PTE writing format to ensure your answer is completed with the main points mentioned. 

The classic typical structure will look like this:

• Introduction: Start with a sentence about the topic and relevant information.
• Paragraph 1: First idea to support your opinion
• Paragraph 2: Second idea to support your opinion
• Conclusion: Shortly summarize your ideas and explain why they lead to your conclusion

Step 2. Writing

This PTE writing section assesses your writing ability in an academic way. 

It requires candidates to express their opinions clearly without ambiguities and communicate their ideas effectively through stylistic features. 

Moreover, your essay should display diverse vocabulary (avoid word repetition but use appropriate synonyms) and grammar without mistakes. 

Using vocabulary and complex sentences correctly will likely increase your score.

Yet, if you’re unsure how to use them, you’d better not.

Because the more you write, the more mistakes will be revealed. 

Furthermore, idioms or colloquialisms can also help you gain a higher score, yet don’t use them too often as they may affect the academic writing style.

Here’s a list of helpful linkers to use in your essay:

• To introduce an author’s point of view: According to A; Referring to the view of A; A stated that
• To introduce a point: Considering, In light of; In view of
• To add a point: Furthermore; Moreover; In addition
• Offer an opinion: In my opinion, From my point of view
• To conclude: In conclusion, In summary, To sum up

Step 3. Proofreading

Before clicking “Next” to move forward to the next section, ensure you spend your last minutes double-checking the essay.

First, ensure you’ve answered according to the topic, provide supporting points for your opinion, and have a relevant conclusion.

Then, look for any spelling errors, incorrect grammar, and inappropriate punctuation.

Lastly, if the flow of your essay is generally good, ensure your word count is around 200-300.

The checklist below can help you proofread faster and more effectively:

• Have you written according to the prompt?
• Has your essay included 4 paragraphs, including an introduction and conclusion?
• Have you given explanations, examples, or facts to support your idea?
• Have you used linking words and organized your essay logically?
• Has your essay consisted of 200-300 words?

Mistake To Avoid 

While doing your PTE writing test, ensure you avoid the following mistakes:

• Using jargon

Abbreviations, slang, or informal expressions are not accepted. 

Your language should be formal and academic.

• Neglecting the word limits

If you don’t adhere to the limited word count (write less or more), you may lower your score.

• Misreading the prompt

It’s a serious mistake making all your effort come to zero.

Once you misunderstand or neglect any aspect of the prompt, you may go off-topic.

Thus, candidates should analyze their work carefully before writing to avoid missing important information.

• Spelling and mistyping

No matter the reason you get a wrong spelling word, your score will be lower.

Therefore, it’s always a must to proofread your answer.

• Grammatical mistakes

If you don’t want your score to be hindered, avoid grammatical mistakes such as tense misuse or subject and verb agreement errors.

Again, double-checking is essential. 

Conclusion 

PTE writing requires academic style, well-structured format, clear expression, and a wide range of vocabulary and grammar.

Keep practicing until you master the structure, use words and grammar accurately, and manage time effectively to ensure a good performance.

Remember to double-check your answer before moving to the next section.

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