Write Essay

There are 5 different types of essay prompts you may be asked to write in the PTE Exam. Each may have a different approach but, generally, you can always follow this paragraph outline with little variation to answer any prompt.

NOTE: There are only 13 sentences that need to be written for this essay. If you follow the form of the paragraph structure, the Write Essay on the PTE becomes easy because you are using almost the same form with every prompt.

(the trick: make up your own assumptions and then answer to them with evidence)

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 element so f standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.

¶ Write Essay procedure

The PTE Write Essay wants you to show an understanding of argumentative, persuasive, or opinion essays that come in these different forms: ‘Double Question’, ‘Advantages and Disadvantages’, ‘Discuss’, ‘Problem and Solution’, and the ‘Opinion’ or ‘Agree or Disagree’ or ‘To what extent do you Agree or Disagree’.

Write Essay is easy if you follow the 13-line procedure and know what to look out for in the different prompts. Each of the 13 lines has a specific purpose but also a specific sentence structure marker that, if we speculate for a moment, is built into the algorithm. It is my belief that Pearson will not pass anyone if they cannot complete the 3^rd sentence, or the thesis statement, of the introductory paragraph correctly. Likewise, the algorithm ‘will notice’ if you repeat any phrase or word from the prompt or from your own writing on that particular essay.

Remember: Because you are timed at 20 minutes to write this essay, you do not have time to write more than 13 sentences. By writing 13 sentences, you will ‘buy yourself time’ so that you can edit any errors in your text in the final 2 or 3 minutes. Also, 13 sentences easily move you over the 200-word limit.

Essay Outline

Introduction: 3 sentences

Line 1: Objective/neutral statement about the subject/ topic of the essay

Line 2: A concession (rewrite the prompt)

Line 3: Thesis + opinion (no opinion usually used in Problem/Solution or Double Question)

Paragraph 1:

Line 4: Topic sentence:

Line 5: Support sentence:

Line 6: Detail/Example:

Line 7: Conclusion sentence:

Paragraph 2:

Line 8: Topic sentence:

Line 9: Support sentence:

Line 10: Detail/Example:

Line 11: Conclusion sentence:

Conclusion:

Line 12: Restate your thesis statement (In conclusion, this essay has discussed …)

Line 13: Add your opinion (In my opinion, …)

• Notice: As you develop an understanding of the different prompts on the PTE, the topic sentences of your 2 body paragraphs will change (see chart below)