How to prepare for the PTE essay writing task

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image - Typing
Reading time: 6 minutes

The PTE exam includes four main sections: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You will do the speaking and writing tasks together in part one of the exams. While your writing will be assessed in your answers to other tasks, there are only two specific writing tasks: summarize a written text and write an essay.   

The PTE essay writing task aims to test your grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse skills. Therefore, it’s important that you understand this section, and what’s expected before going into the exam.  

If you’re looking for some tips and guidance on how to approach this part, look no further! 

Read on to find out what the essay writing task is about, how to approach it, and what the examiners are looking for. 

Essay Writing Task Structure 

For this task, you will receive a 2 to 3 line prompt stating an opinion or statement. Prompts can be written in a number of ways.  

For example, you may have to discuss problems or solutions, or argue for or against an opinion: 

Image - Essay prompt

Similarly, you might need to discuss whether you agree or disagree with a statement:  

Image - Essay task

Following this, you must write an essay in 200-300 words answering the question. The essay should be formed of an introductory paragraph, two main paragraphs which develop an idea, and a conclusion.  

You only have 20 minutes to plan, write and check your essay. Therefore, it’s vital that you practice this task a number of times before the exam.  

Write your essay in 3 simple steps 

Now you know what the essay requires, we’re going to show you how to write it in 3 easy steps.  

1. Analyze the prompt and plan  

Before starting, we recommend that you analyze the prompt to get the important information. Make sure to check what the question is asking you to do e.g. agree or disagree with a statement.  

Moreover, check what the topic is, the key points you need to cover, and the arguments to present.  

Image- Essay structure

Following this, you need to decide which side of the argument you will write about. Then, you can create a rough plan of the content and structure you’d like your essay to follow. You may want to write a couple of ideas down about the opinion or thoughts you’d like to include.  

You may want to structure your essay in the following way:  

  • Introduction - introduce the topic and any information surrounding it 

  • Paragraph 1 - one idea supporting your argument  

  • Paragraph 2 - another idea supporting your argument / or offer a counter argument 

  • Conclusion - a short summary of your ideas that have led to your conclusion and why.  

Planning is a crucial part of the exam task - it will make writing the essay much quicker. But remember, you don’t have much time so keep it short. 

2. Write the essay 

Now you’ve got your plan ready and you know what you’re going to write, it’s time to get started.  

When approaching this task, it’s important that you show the examiners your ability to write an academic essay in English. This means you provide clear descriptions, remove any ambiguities, express subtleties in meaning and use stylistic features to communicate ideas.  

Furthermore, you should demonstrate your range of vocabulary and grammar. You are more likely to receive a higher score if you use complex sentence structures and vocabulary correctly.  

The use of idiomatic expressions or colloquialisms will help you score well, but don’t use too many as they may take away from the academic style. Remember that the best responses use academic terms and avoid repetition of words by using synonyms where appropriate.  

For example, you may want to consider these expressions or linkers when writing your essay: 

  • Useful phrases to introduce a point - In view of; in light of; considering 

  • Introducing the views of an author - According to X; X stated that; referring to the views of X 

  • Adding a point - Moreover; furthermore; in addition; 

  • Offering an opinion - In my opinion; From my point of view; My conviction is that  

  • Concluding - In summary; To sum up; In conclusion  

3. Proofread and make any necessary changes  

Before you hit ‘next’, you want to make sure that you check over your essay. In this final step, give yourself a couple of minutes to check for spelling errors, the right use of punctuation, and correct grammar.  

But that’s not all - you should also check that you’ve answered the question set out in the prompt. Make sure you have argued your opinion and come to a relevant conclusion.  

Finally, check that the general flow of your essay reads well and that the word count is somewhere between 200 and 300 words.  

You might want to consider using the following checklist to make sure you’ve covered all the major points before finishing.  

  • Have you addressed the prompt? If not, you will score zero. 

  • Have you organized the text well, used linking words, and taken a logical approach to the essay topic? 

  • Have you included four paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs each developing an idea, and a short conclusion summarizing your ideas?  

  • Have you included examples, explanations, and facts to support your point of view?   

  • Have you written between 200-300 words?  

How is the essay scored? 

The PTE Academic Write Essay task tests your ability to write an argumentative essay and shows that you can think critically and link ideas in a logical way.  

It is scored on seven traits, each representing a separate aspect of essay quality. The seven traits are:  

  • Content (Max score 3) 

  • Formal Requirement (Max score 2) 

  • Development, Structure, and Coherence (Max score 2) 

  • Grammar (Max score 2) 

  • General Linguistic Range (Max score 2) 

  • Vocabulary Range (Max score 2) 

  • Spelling (Max score 2). 

The most important trait is ‘Content’, which has the highest maximum score. If your answer is irrelevant to the prompt, you will receive a score of zero for this trait. Consequently, the whole essay will receive a zero. This is because the examiners see that no attempt has been made to do the task as required.  

Similar cases in which a test-taker will be awarded zero include the following:  

  • The response is not in English 

  • You write a very short or very long essay 

  • You don’t use punctuation  

  • You use bullet points or very short sentences 

  • The response is written in capitals 

  • There is no written response.  

Remember, practice your PTE essay writing task as much as possible before you go into the exam, and keep this guide near you to help when studying - we’re sure you’ll do great! 

Find out more about the PTE Academic speaking and writing sections or take a scored practice test to find out if you are ready to get the score you need!

Related Content

  • Group of nurses standing together in a hospital and clapping.
    Growing demand for international nurses in Canada
    By PTE Author

    An ongoing nursing shortage means well-trained international nurses are in high demand with many job openings to pick from.

    There’s no one cause of the nursing shortage in Canada; a combination of several factors mean the supply of nursing staff isn’t enough to meet demand:

    1. Aging population

    Canada's population is aging rapidly, with seniors projected to make up to 25% of the population by 2036. This demographic shift is increasing the demand for healthcare services, including nursing care.

    2. Retiring workforce

    A substantial portion of Canada's nursing workforce is nearing retirement age. According to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, a third of registered nurses providing direct care were over 50 years old in 2020, meaning a wave of retirements is on the horizon.

    3. Burnout

    The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of as many as 83% of registered nurses in Ontario, with 34% considering leaving the profession as a result.

    4. Limited training capacity

    Despite growing demand, Canadian nursing schools have limited capacity to train new nurses. This bottleneck in education contributes to the ongoing shortage.

    The Canadian government has made a commitment to address the nursing shortage, allocating $2.8 million CAD to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing to develop a National Nurse Residency program.

    How many nursing job openings are there in Canada?

    Nurses are in high demand across Canada’s ten provinces and three territories, with significant numbers of job openings across the country.

    That demand is increasing, with the number of job vacancies for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses increasing by almost 10% in the third quarter of 2023.

    To help address the shortage, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allocated $115 million CAD over the next five years, and $57 million CAD ongoing for expanding Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program, helping international nurses get their qualifications recognized by the Canadian government.

    Which Canadian provinces and territories have the highest demand for nurses?

    The biggest Canadian province is also the hungriest for nurses. In 2023, the Ontario Nurses Association reported a shortage of about 24,000 nurses, and the province has held the dubious honor of having the lowest nurse-to-population ratio for almost a decade.

    French-speaking Quebec isn’t far behind in the nursing need department. Canadian think tank MEI projected a shortage of about 10,000 nurses in 2021. French is the official language of the province, so you’ll need to have professional level French or be willing to learn.

    With an increasing number of residents over the age of 65, prairie province, Alberta, is facing its own nursing crunch. The provincial government even announced a Health Workforce Strategy with a pillar dedicated to attracting international healthcare workers.

    Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are also worth highlighting as they’ve recently introduced an accelerated license process for international nurses.

    Where do international nurses come from?

    According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, about 8.9% of registered nurses in Canada in 2021 were internationally educated, highlighting the significant contribution of foreign-trained professionals to Canada's healthcare system.

    Nurses relocate to Canada from the Philippines and India, with many coming from the southern state of Kerala, known for its nursing education programs. More recently, there’s a growing trend of Nigerian, Jamaican, and Chinese nurses moving to call Canada home.

    From getting ahead in their careers to feeling welcome, here are eight key reasons why international nurses are drawn to Canada.

    What’s next?

    If you’re eyeing up a move North, you’ll need to submit your nursing credentials, take the NCLEX-RN to qualify for a Canadian nursing license if needed, and show you’ve got the necessary language skills.

    Get your move off to a stress-free start with the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

    With no additional speaking exam, PTE covers all four skills in one test using computer-based assessments to remove bias. It’s the faster, fairer, simpler way to evidence your English skills and start your next chapter.

  • Woman sitting in a classroom at a desk, holding a pen and looking up.
    Introducing Smart Prep: the new way to prep like a pro for PTE
    By PTE Author

    Are you gearing up to take an English language test, and feeling a bit overwhelmed? You’re not alone – many test takers share the same initial anxieties. But don’t worry, we are here to help!

    We’ve now launched Smart Prep, so that you can be test ready with one less worry. Smart Prep is a one-stop preparation portal to get you test ready for PTE Academic, PTE Core and PTE Home tests.

    It’s based on feedback from real test takers — we recently conducted a survey of 243 students preparing for PTE and learned:

    • 82% wanted to prepare skill-by-skill. For example, they might want to focus on speaking first, then writing, reading, and listening

    • Many expressed a need for free preparation resources, especially at the beginning of their journey

    • 82% preferred having all preparation materials in one place, organized logically in a step-by-step manner

    Why Smart Prep?

    • Smart Prep combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track

    • It’s 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. Note: the available resources depend on your chosen PTE test, please check Smart Prep in myPTE or visit the test preparation page for more details.

    Ready to get started?

    Create or sign in to your myPTE account

  • [Asset] Why more nurses choose Canada
    Why international nurses are choosing Canada: a growing trend
    By PTE Author

    Known for beautiful snowy landscapes and hot maple syrup on pancakes, Canada has become a popular destination for international nurses seeking new opportunities and a better quality of life.

    Discover eight key reasons why international nurses are drawn to Canada:

    1. Growing demand for nurses

    An ongoing nursing shortage means well-trained international nurses are in high demand with many job openings to pick from. That demand is increasing, with the number of job vacancies for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses increasing by almost 10% in the third quarter of 2023.

    To help address the shortage, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allocated $115 million CAD over the next five years, and $57 million CAD ongoing for expanding Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program, helping international nurses get their qualifications recognized by the Canadian government.

    2. High quality of life

    Canada consistently ranks high in global quality of life indices. In 2023, Canada ranked 13th in the World Happiness Report, offering international nurses a stable, safe, and prosperous environment to live and work.

    3. Competitive salaries

    Canadian nurses enjoy competitive salaries. According to Canadian recruitment site ca.talent.com, the average annual salary for a registered nurse in Canada is approximately CAD 73,000 in 2024, varying by province and experience level.

    4. Universal healthcare system

    Canada's universal healthcare system is attractive to many international nurses. It offers the opportunity to work in a well-structured, publicly funded system that prioritizes patient care over profit.

    5. Professional development opportunities

    Canada offers numerous opportunities for career advancement and specialization. Many provinces have programs to support continuing education and professional development for nurses, and the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario offers up to $1,500 CAD per year in education grants

    6. Multicultural society

    Canada's diverse and inclusive society makes it easier for international nurses to integrate. According to the 2021 census, over 23% of Canada's population are immigrants, creating a welcoming environment for newcomers, and the country consistently ranks as one of the top ten friendliest places to live.

    7. Pathway to permanent residency

    Many international nurses view working in Canada as a stepping stone to permanent residency. Programs like Express Entry often favor skilled healthcare workers, making it easier for nurses to transition from temporary to permanent status.

    8. Work-life balance

    Canadian workplaces generally prioritize work-life balance. Nurses in Canada typically work 37.5-hour weeks, with overtime pay for additional hours, allowing for a better quality of life outside of work.

    What next?

    If you’re eyeing up a move north, you’ll need to submit your nursing credentials, take the NCLEX-RN to qualify for a Canadian nursing license if needed, and show you’ve got the necessary language skills.

    Get your move off to a stress-free start with the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

    With no additional speaking exam, PTE covers all four skills in one test using computer-based assessments to remove bias. It’s the faster, fairer, simpler way to evidence your English skills and start your next chapter.