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!
Want to FINALLY Pass the PTE Test And Achieve Your Goals? Get Your FREE Lume Account Today to Unlock… ✅ 10,000+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS with detailed answers ✅ FREE MOCK TESTS with fast & accurate AI scoring ✅ Get BETTER SCORES with a PERSONALIZED study plan (Limited seats available!) |
Related:
Candidates’ writing skills are assessed in the last two parts of the PTE Speaking and Listening section: Summarize Written Text and Write Essay.
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 |
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:
Related:
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.
During this time, you need to think, consider words, form structure, arrange, and rewrite to produce a good sentence.
If you still have some minutes left, use it to recheck one more time.
Ensure every punctuation is in its place.
Follow these tips to ensure you understand the text correctly before summarizing:
While writing, you should:
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
While doing your PTE writing test, ensure you avoid the following mistakes:
Abbreviations, slang, or informal expressions are not accepted.
Your language should be formal and academic.
If you don’t adhere to the limited word count (write less or more), you may lower your score.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want to FINALLY Pass the PTE Test And Achieve Your Goals? Get Your FREE Lume Account Today to Unlock… ✅ 10,000+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS with detailed answers ✅ FREE MOCK TESTS with fast & accurate AI scoring ✅ Get BETTER SCORES with a PERSONALIZED study plan (Limited seats available!) |
Share
Lume Test
Editor
Lume Test is a leading platform offering practice questions and mock tests for major English exams like PTE, IELTS, TOEIC, DET, and more. We provide up-to-date, comprehensive materials designed to help learners improve their language skills and achieve high scores. With expert-crafted tests that closely mirror real exam formats, Lume Test ensures you're fully prepared for success. Your goals are our mission!