Write Essay – Writing Section
Write essay
- You’ll need to write a 200-300 word essay on a given topic.
- In this section test takers complete between 1-2 items in total.
In this task, you are given a prompt, usually a statement on a particular issue, and asked to write an argumentative essay of 200-300 words in response. Your essay should have a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You will have 20 minutes to complete each task of this type.
Essay Types
Argumentative and Persuasive Essay
The Write Essay section of the PTE evaluates your ability to produce written English in an academic environment. It requires you to write an essay, typically in response to a statement or question. You are evaluated on your ability to present your views in a clear, logical, and coherent manner while appropriately using language and structure. You will need to use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
An Argumentative Essay aims to persuade the reader to accept the author’s point of view. It presents a clear thesis in the introduction, supports it with logically structured arguments in the body paragraphs, and wraps up with a strong conclusion. The use of evidence, such as facts, statistics, expert opinions, and examples, is crucial to support the arguments.
On the other hand, a Persuasive Essay aims to convince the reader to take a specific action or adopt a particular way of thinking. It also uses a clear thesis, logical arguments, and a strong conclusion. However, a persuasive essay often relies more heavily on emotional appeals, personal anecdotes, or appealing stories to persuade the reader.
Here are some tips:
- Understand the topic: Make sure you understand what the essay prompt is asking for before you start writing.
- Plan your essay: Before you start writing, take a few minutes to plan your essay. Write down your main points, supporting details, and conclusion.
- Structure your essay: Make sure your essay has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should introduce your topic and state your thesis. The body should provide support for your thesis. The conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis.
- Use clear and concise language: Avoid using complicated words or phrases that could confuse the reader. Instead, use clear and straightforward language.
- Edit and proofread: After you’ve finished writing, take the time to edit and proofread your essay. Look for any errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Also, make sure your essay flows well and is coherent.
Key Points
- Respond to a question
- Take one of two sides in an argument
- Agree or disagree with a particular point of view
- Write about the advantages or disadvantages of a particular opinion
Here’s a brief example of how you might respond to a “Write Essay” prompt:
Note: The essay example provided here is rather brief and simplified. In the actual PTE Academic Writing test, you will need to provide more detailed arguments and examples in your essay. Additionally, correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and coherence of ideas will be key to achieving a high score in this section. It’s recommended to practice your essay writing skills regularly to become familiar with the structure and time management required for this task.
Evaluation Criteria: These tasks will be evaluated based on content, form, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and coherence. The ‘form’ refers to how well you follow the instructions of the task (e.g., staying within the word limit)
After watching the video on the “Write Essay “ section of the PTE, the student will be able to:
- Understand the task: Students will be well-versed in the structure of the task, which is to write an essay of 200-300 words on a given topic within 20 minutes.
- Structure the essay: The video offers guidance on structuring an essay into three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should introduce the topic and present the thesis statement, the body should provide arguments or points that support the thesis, and the conclusion should summarize the points and restate the thesis in light of the arguments made.
- Develop a thesis statement: Students will learn how to form a clear, concise thesis statement that states the main argument or point of the essay.
- Provide supporting points: The video emphasizes the importance of providing supporting points for each part of the argument in the body of the essay.
- Use linking words: The video explains how using linking words or phrases can help to create a cohesive essay and enhance the flow of ideas.
- Understand the importance of time management: It’s crucial to manage the allotted 20 minutes effectively to plan, write, and review the essay.
- Proofread the essay: The video emphasizes the importance of proofreading the final essay to check for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and overall coherence.
- Practice: Finally, the video encourages students to practice writing essays on various topics to enhance their writing skills and to become comfortable with the format and time constraint of the task.
Remember that each task has a strict time limit. For example, for the “write essay” task, you have 20 minutes to complete it.
In conclusion, the “Write Essay” section of the PTE requires a clear understanding of essay structure, formulation of a concise thesis statement, development of relevant supporting points, usage of linking words for cohesion, and effective time management. The section emphasizes the importance of proofreading for errors and coherence. Continuous practice of writing on diverse topics within the given time constraint can significantly enhance performance. Remember, a well-structured, coherent essay that effectively addresses the prompt is key to scoring well in this section.