How should a PTE essay be written?

Out of the four sections that PTE includes [reading, speaking, writing and listening], writing can certainly be categorized as a herculean task for some. One of the most difficult questions in the writing section can be the essay writing for students as you have to write an essay of around 200-300 words in just 20 minutes and along with that keep a check-on grammar, punctuation, tenses, linkers and content generation. 

To make this process easier, let’s go around some points and evaluate the most effective PTE essay writing template that students can use to write effectively in the given time. This essay writing template is highly recommended by PTE instructors.

Step 1: How to generate content for PTE Essay 

A major mistake that students make is not giving importance to the content generation part and straight away start with writing the essay. This method might look like a speedy one but it is definitely not. What actually happens is you start writing your essay and frame sentence with a point you have in your mind and then you take a pause again to think about your next point and the circle carries on and you finish writing your essay. In the end, you might come across a point which you could have beautifully structured and included in the beginning. So, instead of generating ideas and writing them at the same time in a haphazard manner, we should write all our ideas and pointers in the beginning while brainstorming the pointers. Keep 3-4 minutes in the beginning for your content generation and write down all the points which you have in your mind. Then, organize them in the correct order in which you want to present them in your answer. Give a sequence to your pointers and mark down the point in which you are going to present the example as well. 

Here are some topics which frequently appear in PTE essay prompts.

• The Impact of Technology on Education
• Climate Change and Environmental Conservation
• Artificial Intelligence and its Effects on the Workforce
• The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
• Social Media and its Influence on Society
• Globalization and Cultural Diversity
• Healthcare Reforms and Universal Coverage
• Online Learning vs. Traditional Education
• The Role of Women in Leadership Positions
• Ethical Considerations in Scientific Research

Step 2: How to write an essay for the PTE Exam 

Understand the given question and the requirement and build the structure following a set template that includes the following sections:

Write an introduction

Start with an introduction paragraph, introduce the topic by paraphrasing the question statement and mention the requirement of the essay [opinion, agreement, disagreement etc according to the instructions given in the prompt]. You can do this easily by adding an introduction to your ideas in a sentence to give the reader a heads up about the content of your essay.

Give your essay the right structure

Have a clear format in your mind for the essay structure. It can be categorized as following:

• Paragraph 1 - paraphrasing of statement + brief introduction
• Para 2 - view points according to the instruction 
• Para 3 - additional view points according to the instructions
• Para 4 - conclusion for the essay 

Support your answer with supporting statements

Write supporting statements in your paragraph 2 and 3. These are sentences which add on to your view and support your answers. Also, try to form a complex sentence in these extended explanations by incorporating conjunctions and relative pronouns in your sentences. Some examples of complex sentence are as follows:

The government should inculcate strict laws not only to decrease this problem but also to make sure that it never happens again.

Social media is one of the boons to mankind because it allows one to be open and share one’s art by just one tap, which might not have been possible otherwise. 

Write a conclusion

Including an effective summarisation of your essay can be really beneficial for your essay and also gives an organized structure to your sentences. Wrap up your essay by giving a conclusion in around 30 - 40 words and surround the conclusion around the main point that you discussed in the essay.  

Key points to check while writing your essay

Here are some key points to keep a check on while writing an essay in your examination:

Remember to leave a line after you are done with the introduction paragraph. Why is it necessary? It’s essential because we need to give our essay a particular format. All the fragments of sentences should be categorized in desired paragraphs. Secondly, one paragraph should be about one particular idea or theme. If you mix two kinds of views or perspectives in the same paragraph, it will confuse the reader and hinder your overall score as well. 

The next thing you need to take care of is connecting the fragments of your sentence and for that we have to incorporate the use of connectors and linkers in the essay. So, here is a list of the most effective linkers which you can use in your essay:

Moreover, in addition, furthermore, firstly, secondly, hence, on the one hand, on the other hand, in contrast, in comparison, to conclude etc. 

Another point which is overlooked is the use of linkers while adding an example. Some of the best linkers that can enhance the support of your examples are: For instance, for illustration, to illustrate, to exemplify, to elaborate etc.

Grammar and punctuation is one of the sections where a lot of students face deductions. It can be a criteria which can bring your overall score down. To ensure that you don't make any grammatical mistake:

1. Make sure that you are using the correct tense. 
2. Be familiar with all the tenses and their rules.
3. Keep a check on subject - verb agreement. 
4. Learn the correct use of commas, full stops and semicolons.
5. Make sure you are following the correct sentence construction. 

Step 3: Re-check your essay:

A last minute revision plays an indispensable role as any minor spelling mistake that you overlooked can be corrected at the last moment. Any phrase or sentence which was not written correctly can be altered and you can be saved from a huge deduction for your grammar mistake. You can correct not only any repeated words but also any punctuation error in your essay. Having said that, keep aside 1-2 minutes in the end to have a scan of the essay that you just wrote and modify it in whichever way required. 

Lastly, practice with a timer so that you can keep a check on your pace and try to finish writing the essay in 15-17 minutes so that you can have some time to review it. 

Note: Revise using expert written PTE Essay sample essay question and answers. For personal coaching, book a demo for PTE Academic Live Classes.