Writing: core English skills part 1

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- writing 1080px
Reading time: 4 minutes

Part 1 of PTE Academic includes a variety of speaking and writing question types. For writing questions, you may need to improve your skills, such as grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.

To help practice these skills, we’ve put together some tips on how to improve for this part of the test.

Grammar

To help improve grammar, get into the habit of reading something in English every day.

Create a reading plan and a reading goal to improve your grammar. Start by reading for at least 30 minutes a day.

It’s recommended that you read a range of texts that you find interesting. Also read news articles on English news sites such as:

It is hard to use correct grammar in long sentences, so try to keep sentences short: about 18 to 30 words. You should also practice with a variety of short and long sentences.

Always remember to:

  • End sentences with a full stop (period)

  • Use uppercase and lowercase correctly

Try to avoid run-on sentences. These are sentences which should be cut to make a shorter sentence, or properly joined to make a grammatically correct sentence.

You can avoid run-on sentences by using compound and complex sentences, which will also help improve your score. Use commas when writing complex sentences. Some examples of the compound and complex sentences can be found through the British Council’s Learn English website.

To perform well, learn to proofread your writing so that you can complete the question types as correctly as possible.

If you can identify areas that you often get wrong, you should work on improving these areas. Ask your English teacher for help, or if you don’t have an English teacher, you can look up your common errors on the internet.

Spelling

PTE Academic recognizes and accepts US, UK, Australian and Canadian spelling. However, you should be careful with your spelling. Once you have chosen a spelling convention for one question, keep using it within that question. You can change the spelling format in answers to other questions if you like.

Vocabulary

To do well in the writing test, you need to have a broad vocabulary. You should have a good dictionary to help you. A good dictionary will have the meaning, related forms of the word, and example sentences.

Longman Dictionaries are a great resource to help you improve your vocabulary.

You should expose yourself to new words at least ten times a day to expand your vocabulary. To learn a new word you should read it, write it and listen to it many times over a couple of days so you can understand the word and use the correct pronunciation.

Another way to expand your vocabulary is to learn the word forms of words you already know.

For example, climate (noun), acclimatization (noun), climatic (adjective), acclimatize (verb) etc.

Each of the above word forms mean something slightly different, so try to learn all the meanings of each word.

In PTE Academic you will score higher points for vocabulary if by using academic words in your writing. Try to learn some of the most frequent academic words used in writing.

Also, think about using synonyms in your writing to avoid repetition of words. A thesaurus can help you find synonyms for common academic words.

The other elements of your vocabulary to consider are correct common prefixes and suffixes, which are added to the base words. Prefixes can change the meaning of a word, for example, expensive and inexpensive.

Adding a suffix, however, can change the part of speech of the word. A common suffix used is ly, which can change an adjective into an adverb (quick/quickly), ment can change a verb into a noun (entertain/entertainment).

There are also collocations, which help you use the right word combinations, as some English words just don’t work well together. To identify collocations, read the PTE Academic collocation list.

PTE Academic is not very strict about accepting only academic vocabulary. You will not lose points for the use of personal pronouns. You will, however, score more points by using higher-level academic vocabulary in the correct way.

You should try to keep a notebook of new words you learn, their meanings, synonyms, and all the parts of vocabulary that may help you in the test.

The last core skill required for the writing test is written discourse.

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?

Sign up for Smart Prep

Related Content

  • Higher-Education-Students-in-the-UK
    New DHA visa requirements for PTE Academic
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    The Australian Department for Home Affairs (DHA) recently updated their score requirements for all accepted tests of language proficiency. The new score requirements take effect from 7 August 2025.

    What are the new score requirements? 

    From 7 August, anyone who takes the test for DHA visa purposes will need to meet updated score requirements.

    The table below shows the old and new score requirements for each score.

    We have also created a more accessible version of this table at the end of this article.

  • PTE changes 2025: everything you need to know
    By PTE Author

    We’ve made a few updates to the PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI tests. To make sure you’ve got the facts, we’ve created a short video that walks you through everything you need to know.

    Hosted by Jarrad, one of our product managers, this video covers what’s being updated, what’s staying the same, and how it all benefits you as a test taker.

    What’s covered in the video? 

    • The original 20 question types are still in the test.

    • We are adding two new speaking question types to give you even more chance to demonstrate your skills.  

    • Tips on how to prepare for the new speaking question types.

    • There are no changes to pricing, ID requirements, or score delivery time.

    • There are no changes to the way the test is taken (including the Speaking section).

  • [Asset] On test day during the test - 800 x 451 - for article use
    Busting the myths about English test centers
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 mins

    By: Dan Doyle, Vice President, Assessments & Certifications, Pearson English Language Learning

    Every day, English tests help decide whether someone can start a new life abroad.

    For those taking a language test as part of a visa or migration process, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These are moments that decide futures, whether it’s studying at university, reuniting with family, or landing a first job overseas. That’s why, for tests like PTE Academic and PTE Core, test centers offer a secure, accurate, and trusted experience that governments can rely upon.

    But a few myths still persist, so let’s set the record straight.

    Myth one: “Test centers aren’t that secure”

    Reality: a test center environment provides security that starts before the test begins:

    • Biometric ID checks. Every test taker must show valid ID (like a passport) and confirm their identity with photos, palm-vein scans, and digital signatures.

    • Physical security checks. Trained staff check clothing and personal items before entry, stopping hidden notes or unauthorised materials from getting in.

    Once the test has begun, test centers combine secure-by-design exams with digital and human supervision to create a secure, fair environment:

    • Unique exams. Every PTE test is different. No two test takers get the same questions, and proctors can’t access the content.

    • Secure systems. The test runs on software and hardware fully controlled by Pearson, so it can’t be tampered with.

    • Multiple cameras, full visibility. Test centers use wide-angle CCTV to monitor the entire room.

    • Proctors in the room. Trained staff can spot hidden notes, off-screen help, and respond to anything suspicious straight away.

    Myth two: “Test centers rely on human proctors”

    Reality: human proctors play a key role, but they’re just one piece of what makes test centers secure.

    Test centers provide multiple types of security and supervision, all managed by the testing body — not the student — making them the most secure testing environment.

    As well as cameras, test centers can provide identity verification, physical checks, and in-person supervision needed for a high-stakes test.

    This real-time, multi-layered monitoring means if anything suspicious is flagged, a full investigation can be carried out centrally by Pearson, using CCTV footage, audio, AI checks, and human review.

    Myth three: “Test centers can’t detect cheating afterwards”

    Reality: Pearson carefully analyses every single test result using a combination of AI and trained human experts.

    After the test is completed, it goes through fraud analytics to identify unusual patterns or behaviours. If anything looks suspicious, the result is placed on hold and reviewed in detail by our security experts before it’s released.

    A quick summary: how test centers support high-stakes English testing

    • Biometric checks to confirm identity

    • Physical security checks to ensure no materials enter the test

    • Randomised computer-based test content for every candidate

    • Multiple cameras and full-room visibility

    • Real-time supervision by trained staff

    • AI and human experts working together to spot unusual patterns

    • A consistent environment and equipment for all test takers

    These measures make sure that every candidate has the same opportunity to succeed, and every institution can rely on the result. Behind every test is someone with a dream of a new life abroad, and PTE has the great privilege of helping them get there.

    Want to know more?

    Take a look at our latest PTE security whitepaper.