5 famous Canadian authors and where they went to university

PTE Author
PTE Author
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Reading time: 6 minutes

Are you thinking about moving to Canada to study? Get inspired by these talented Canadian authors and discover the universities they attended. Find out which Canadian universities accept PTE Academic now! 

Canada inspires good writing. The northern country is home to many talented literary figures and authors whose works have been celebrated worldwide for decades. From old classics like Anne of Green Gables to newer works like Women Talking and The English Patient, Canadian literature has really made a mark.  

But who are the masterminds behind these incredible stories? More importantly, where in Canada did they study?  

Here, we take a look at some of Canada’s most talented writers and learn where they earned their university degrees. 

This list includes reputable institutions from the scenic east coast, to the quiet prairies to highly-regarded schools in Ontario. And if you have yet to read these writers’ books, add them to your reading list! 

1. Lucy Maud Montgomery  

Lucy Maud Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables in 1908. It became one of Canada’s most famous books. The story is set in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island which is where the author was born.  

The fictional story is about a red-haired, impulsive orphan growing up in a small eastern Canadian town. Though it was rejected by many publishers at first, the novel went on to sell more than 50 million copies. It has also been translated into 36 languages.  

More recently, it was developed into a TV series called Anne With An E, which can be streamed on Netflix.  

Education: Dalhousie University 

Lucy Maud Montgomery studied at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She started her studies there at age 21 in 1895. At the time, it wasn’t common for women to be seen on campus. During her time at Dalhousie, she argued that more women should seek a university education.  

Feeling inspired to study at Dalhousie University? The good news is that they accept PTE as proof of your English level.  

2. Joseph Boyden  

Joseph Boyden is a Canadian novelist and short-story writer. Boyden is best known for writing about First Nations culture. He is best known for his books Three Day Road, Through The Black Spruce, and The Orenda. In his writing career, Boyden has collected many Canadian literary prizes. These include Canada Reads, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, The Governor General’s Award for fiction, and the Canadian Booksellers Association Fiction Book of the Year. Boyden grew up in North York, Ontario.  

Education: York University  

He studied creative writing at York University where he was admired by a professor for his intensity and determination. He also has honorary degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University, Trent University, Nipissing University, and Algoma University.  

Do you want to follow in Boyden’s footsteps? York University accepts PTE. 

3. Alice Munro 

Alice Munro is one of the best authors to have ever come out of Canada. In 2013, she won the Nobel Prize in Literature. She is known and praised as being the master of the short story. Her books include Dear Life, Dance of the Happy Shades, The Lives of Girls and Women, Who Do You Think You Are and The Love of a Good Woman. When she won the Nobel Prize, she was quoted saying that she didn’t expect to win.  

Education: Western University  

As for her education, Munro studied English at Western University. She started at the university in 1949. She actually published her first-ever work at the university’s campus literary magazine called Folio. Munro is one of Western University’s most famous alumni.  

If you’ve bookmarked Western University as a place to study, it also accepts PTE.  

4. Miriam Toews 

Miriam Toews is a bestselling author of Women Talking, All My Puny Sorrows, and A Complicated Kindness. Toews has collected many literary awards in Canada. Her major awards are the Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction, Canada Reads, and the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Her novel Women Talking is a fictional story based on a Mennonite colony in Bolivia. It became a bestseller and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award. Toews lives in Toronto.  

Education: University of Manitoba 

She earned her first degree at the University of Manitoba where she studied film studies and earned a bachelor of arts degree.  

Check out the University of Manitoba for yourself, the highly regarded institution also accepts PTE. 

5. Michael Ondaatje 

Michael Ondaatje is considered one of Canada’s most important contemporary writers. His novels and poetry are required reading in many Canadian schools and universities. Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka but moved to Canada in 1962 and stayed. His most famous book is The English Patient. It’s a war-era love story set in Italy. Not only did it win the Man Booker Prize, but it was also turned into an award-winning movie in 1996. Ondaatje also wrote In The Skin Of A Lion, The Cat’s Table, and Anil’s Ghost. In addition to the Booker Prize, Ondaatje has also won Governor General’s Awards and the Giller Prize. He is also a member of the Order of Canada. Before becoming the famous author that he’s known as today,  

Education: Queen’s University 

Ondaatje studied ag Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1967. He’s one of the university’s most celebrated past students. Currently, he lives in Toronto.  

Queen’s University is a great choice for international students and accepts PTE. 

Travel to study in Canada 

Thinking of studying in Canada? With so many incredible universities, Canada is an obvious pick for many international students. In order to secure a spot at a Canadian university though, students coming from abroad must prove English proficiency.  

PTE Academic can help make your dreams of studying in Canada come true. The English language test is recognized worldwide. Many top Canadian universities including the ones mentioned above accept PTE scores as part of their application process.  

Check out PTE test centers and view prices in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, or Burnaby to take the first step towards your Canadian university career.

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    Part 2: Reading test introduction
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Part 2 of PTE Academic will take 32-41 minutes and will test your reading skills. This single-timed section contains 15-20 questions that test both independent and integrated skills.

    The sections within part 2 are designed to test your ability to read and write in English. PTE Academic is an integrated skills test, therefore, one question type in this part of the test also assesses writing skills.

    There are five questions types in the reading section. Below, we will break down each part of this section of the test.

    Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer

    For the first question type, you will need to complete is Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer question, which is designed to test your reading skills.

    You will be shown a text prompt for this assessment that will be up to 300 words. Possible response options will be given, with only one being correct.

    For this question, you need to read the text and answer a multiple-choice question by selecting one response based on the content or tone of the text.

    In this question type, you will earn 1 point for correct answers and 0 points for incorrect answers.

    Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answer

    The second question type will be similar to the previous. Multiple-Choice, Choose Multiple Answer will test your reading skills.

    In this question type, you will be given a text prompt of up to 300 words. Like the previous questions, you will need to answer the question by selecting the most suitable responses from the list of options, based on the content or tone of the text.

    For each correct answer you will earn 1 point, however, you will lose -1 point for each incorrect answer. Don’t worry, you cannot score below 0 in this assessment.

    Re-order Paragraphs

    The third question type to test reading skills will be to re-order paragraphs.

    You will be provided with a text prompt of up to 50 words and will be shown some text boxes on the screen in a random order.

    To complete the question, read the paragraph, then drag and drop or click the arrows on the screen to put your chosen responses in the correct order.

    You will earn 1 point for every pair of sentences that you place in the correct order and receive full marks if the whole paragraph is in the correct order.

    Reading: Fill in the Blanks

    Your reading skills will be tested in the fourth question type, Reading: Fill in the Blanks. You will do 4-5 of these questions.

    For this question, you will be provided with a text prompt of up to 80 words. There will be 3-5 missing words from the text.

    You will need to select a single correct answer from the 6-8 words given to fill the blanks. Not all words in the box will be used.

    You will earn 1 point for every blank that is filled in correctly for this question.

    Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks

    The last question type will test your reading and writing skills. Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks is an integrated skills question type.

    You will be shown a text prompt of up to 80 words with up to five blank spaces.

    To complete the question, select one of the five options in each drop-down list to fill in the blank spaces.

    You will earn 1 point for every blank space that is filled in correctly.

    To do well in the reading test there are many core skills you will need to learn to ensure a good score.

    If you have already attempted PTE Academic, were not happy with your score, and would like to improve, we recommend reviewing your test performance to see where you can improve.

    What's next?

    You can also read more about Part 3: Listening Test Introduction to learn everything you need for PTE Academic.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Plus, explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

    Ready to get started?

  • Image- Writing journal 1080px
    Writing: Self-improvement
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    As part of the PTE Academic, you must demonstrate a certain set of core English skills to maximize your score.

    To help you do your best in Part 1: Writing we’ve put together some tips.

    Summarize Written Text

    In the Summarize Written Text question type, you will be scored based on the content, formal requirements, grammar, and vocabulary.

    When completing this question type you should first quickly scan read the text prompt given to make sure you understand what it is about. If you are unsure what it is about, make a guess based on the context.

    You should try to take notes on the Erasable Noteboard Booklet or on the screen as you read. If you do use the screen, remember to delete your notes before clicking ‘next’ or time runs out.

    Some quick ways to pick up points include:

    • Stick to the topic or purpose of the text. Key points in the text will usually be repeated, developed, and highlighted – try to include these in your writing. If you do not summarize the meaning or purpose you will score zero points.

    • Do not include examples or supporting evidence in your summary.

    • Use words from the text but try to use synonyms where possible.

    • Use noun phrases where possible to show that you can use certain features of academic vocabulary in your writing.

    When completing the question type, make sure you write only one sentence. If you write more, points will be lost.

    A good sentence for this question type is 20-35 words long. If you write a short sentence, it will not capture all the meaning. Remember to check the word count in the box below your answer.

    As you write the sentence, try to think about:

    • Have I summarized the key points?

    • Does my sentence start with a capital letter and end with a full stop? If you spell everything in capital letters or all of the words are in lower case, you will score zero.

    • Did I use run-on sentences? If you have, change them to a compound or complex sentence.

    Make sure to use grammatical structures that you feel you can write correctly. Usually, a complex structure is required for summarizing text.

    Don’t forget, always take time to check your grammar and vocabulary before clicking “next” or the 10 minutes is up.

    When checking your answer, look for articles, especially ‘the’, prepositions, tenses, plurals, and subject-verb agreement as well as your own common errors. Check that you have not written a run-on sentence. If so, turn it into a compound or complex sentence.

    Write Essay

    The second part of the Writing section contains the Write Essay question type.

    This question type will test grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse skills. It is important to manage time, as you will need enough time to plan, write and proofread the essay, all within 20 minutes.

    You will be scored on the content and formal requirements of the question, as well as your grammar, general linguistic range, vocabulary range, and spelling.

    Overall your essay should:

    • Address the prompt. If not, you will score zero.

    • Be well-planned and organized.

    • Demonstrate critical thinking to show a logical approach to the essay topic.

    • Include 4 paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs each developing an idea, and a short conclusion summarizing your ideas.

    • Include examples, explanations, and facts to support the point of view you are expressing.

    • Be between 200-300 words long. Try to write just over 200 words and use the time to check the quality of your writing. If you write less than 200 or more than 380 words, you will score zero.

    Use the same method of taking notes as the Summarize Written Text question type.

    Your introduction can be linked to the body paragraphs with an overview. Then, the first body paragraph can be linked to the second body paragraph with a cohesive device.

    More information on cohesive devices can be found at the below links:

    Then for a conclusion, link it by writing In conclusion, To conclude.. etc.

    In your writing, try to use complex sentences as you will score more points. Make sure to vary language by using synonyms, antonyms, and academic vocabulary.

    The use of appropriate idiomatic expressions or colloquialisms will help you score well, but do not use too many as your writing will not be entirely academic.

    Lastly, when it comes to spelling, make sure to spell each word correctly. Making more than 1 spelling mistake will mean you will score zero for this question.

    Always remember to proofread your writing to make sure there are no errors before clicking next.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

    Ready to get started?

  • Image- A guy on headset and using laptop- 1800px
    Strategies to Improve English Listening Skills
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Part 3: Listening in PTE Academic requires many hours of practice to maximize your score. Whilst practicing other parts of the test you would have learned certain core English skills that are needed in Part 3 that you can further improve.

    To do well in the listening questions set a daily goal of listening regularly to authentic English texts. The more you listen, the better you will do in the test.

    When choosing recordings to listen to, do not choose examples that are too difficult. Start at a level you are comfortable with and build up to a higher level example as you improve.

    If you find the recording too difficult, try to just listen for the content words, such as nouns, adjectives, and verbs so that you can pick up the meaning of the recording.

    Always try to listen as many times as you need to fully understand the content. Try to go back and listen to the same recording a few days later to help you remember the content, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

    Use an Online Tone Generator tool to help slow down recordings and keep the original pitch of the speaker. Try not to slow it down so much that you translate the meaning into your own language as this will not help improve your listening skills.

    Don’t forget to be an active listener and focus on what you are hearing.

    What should I listen to?

    As the speakers in PTE Academic have various accents, we recommend listening to a wide range of speakers from different backgrounds to learn the different pronunciations used.

    Try to listen to speakers from Britain, America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as second language speakers from India, China, and Europe.

    Some of the below podcasts will help:

    You can also listen to radio around the world at Live Online Radio.

    When listening keep a listening diary to write down the titles of recordings along with notes. Listen for stressed words in the recordings as these are usually the most important.

    The easiest way to take notes will be to use abbreviations and/or symbols as you will not have enough time in the test to write full words.

    From your notes, you should be able to answer the following questions:

    • What was the topic and main ideas?

    • What accent did the speaker/s use?

    • Was it interesting?

    • What did you learn from it?

    • What vocabulary did you learn?

    • Do you want to listen to more texts from that site?

    • Did you need to slow the text down? If so, what speed?

    • How many times did you listen to the text? Do you want to listen again?

    • Do you feel your listening skills are improving?

    What's next?

    To learn more about how to apply listening skills and improve test results, view our self-improvement strategies: