PTE Write Essay: Structure, Templates, and Common Topics

PTE essay prompts generally fall into a few recurring categories. The most common are agree/disagree prompts, where you are given a statement and asked whether you agree or disagree with it. For example: 'Some people believe that technology has made our lives more complicated rather than simpler. Do you agree or disagree?' Another common type is the discussion prompt, which asks you to discuss both sides of an issue and give your opinion. For example: 'Some people think that governments should invest in public transportation rather than building more roads. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.' Other prompt types include advantage/disadvantage essays, problem/solution essays, and cause/effect essays. Regardless of the prompt type, the fundamental requirements remain the same: take a clear position, organize your ideas logically, provide supporting evidence or examples, and conclude effectively. Familiarizing yourself with these prompt types in advance means you will not waste precious time figuring out how to approach the topic on exam day.

PTE essays are scored on seven criteria: content, development structure and coherence, form, general linguistic range, grammar usage and mechanics, vocabulary range, and spelling. Content evaluates whether your essay addresses the topic appropriately. A completely off-topic essay receives zero for content, which zeroes out all other criteria as well. Development, structure, and coherence assess how well your ideas are organized, whether your argument flows logically, and whether you use appropriate linking devices to connect your sentences and paragraphs. Form checks that your essay falls within the required word count of 200 to 300 words. Essays that are too short or too long receive a reduced form score. General linguistic range and vocabulary range evaluate the sophistication and variety of your language, while grammar and spelling are assessed for accuracy. Understanding these criteria helps you prioritize during writing — a well-structured essay with simple but accurate language often scores higher than an ambitious essay full of complex sentences and grammatical errors.

For agree/disagree essays, use a four-paragraph structure. The introduction should paraphrase the topic statement, acknowledge that the issue is debated, and clearly state your position. For example: 'The question of whether [topic] has been widely discussed. While some people believe [opposing view], I strongly agree/disagree with this statement because [reason 1] and [reason 2].' The first body paragraph develops your primary reason with a topic sentence, explanation, and specific example. Start with 'The primary reason for my position is that...' and provide a concrete example from everyday life, current events, or general knowledge. The second body paragraph follows the same structure with your second reason. Begin with 'Furthermore, ...' or 'Another compelling reason is that...' and again support your point with an example or evidence. The conclusion summarizes your argument without introducing new ideas. A strong conclusion might read: 'In conclusion, while there are valid perspectives on both sides of this debate, I maintain that [your position] because [brief restatement of reasons]. It is clear that [final thought on the topic].' This template reliably produces essays of 220 to 260 words, fitting comfortably within the required range.

Discussion essays require you to present both sides of an argument before giving your own opinion. Use a four or five-paragraph structure. The introduction paraphrases the topic and indicates that you will discuss both perspectives: 'The issue of [topic] has generated considerable debate. Some people argue that [view 1], while others contend that [view 2]. This essay will examine both viewpoints before presenting my own perspective.' The first body paragraph presents the arguments for one side. Start with 'On one hand, proponents of [view 1] argue that...' and present two or three supporting points with brief examples. The second body paragraph presents the opposing side: 'On the other hand, those who support [view 2] maintain that...' and similarly provide supporting arguments. Be fair and balanced in presenting both sides. The third body paragraph or the conclusion is where you state your personal opinion: 'Having considered both perspectives, I believe that [your position] is more convincing because [key reason].' Then wrap up with a concluding sentence that ties together the discussion. This structure demonstrates your ability to consider multiple perspectives while still taking a clear position, which is exactly what the scoring criteria reward.

Not every essay prompt fits neatly into agree/disagree or discussion categories. For problem/solution essays, modify the body paragraphs to first describe the problems and then propose solutions. For advantage/disadvantage essays, dedicate one paragraph to advantages and another to disadvantages before giving your overall assessment. The key is flexibility. Learn the templates as frameworks, not as rigid scripts. Practice adapting them to various prompts so that you can quickly identify the most appropriate structure for any topic you encounter. During your preparation, write at least 15 to 20 practice essays covering different prompt types. This builds the muscle memory and mental flexibility needed to produce a well-structured essay under time pressure. Reviewing your practice essays against the scoring criteria will help you identify and address recurring weaknesses.

The most commonly tested themes include education (online learning, university education, role of teachers), technology (social media impact, artificial intelligence, internet privacy), environment (climate change, pollution, renewable energy), health (public health policies, exercise, mental health), government and society (government spending priorities, crime prevention, immigration), and work (remote work, work-life balance, automation and employment). For each theme, prepare two or three general arguments that can be adapted to specific prompts. For example, for technology essays, you might prepare arguments about increased connectivity, information access, and potential for social isolation. These arguments can be applied whether the specific prompt is about social media, smartphones, or online education. Also prepare two or three concrete examples for each theme — real-world examples make your essay more convincing and demonstrate a breadth of knowledge that impresses the scoring algorithm.

Academic vocabulary is essential for scoring well on the vocabulary range criterion. For each common theme, learn and practice using 10 to 15 topic-specific academic words. For education: 'curriculum, pedagogy, literacy, enrollment, academic achievement.' For environment: 'sustainability, biodiversity, emissions, conservation, ecological footprint.' For technology: 'innovation, digital literacy, automation, algorithm, cybersecurity.' Also develop a bank of general academic linking words and phrases that you can use across any topic: 'furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, in contrast, specifically, for instance, in light of, with regard to.' These transitions improve the coherence of your essay and demonstrate a strong command of academic English. Practice incorporating these words naturally into your writing — forced or awkward use of advanced vocabulary can actually hurt your score by reducing clarity.

Allocate your 20 minutes as follows: 2 minutes for planning, 15 minutes for writing, and 3 minutes for reviewing. During the planning phase, read the prompt carefully, identify the essay type, decide on your position, and jot down your two or three main points with brief examples. This planning prevents writer's block and ensures you have a clear direction before you start typing. During the 15-minute writing phase, follow your template and write steadily. Do not stop to perfect individual sentences — get your ideas down first. Aim for a pace of about 15 to 17 words per minute, which will produce a 225 to 255 word essay. If you find yourself running long, cut your third body paragraph short rather than sacrificing your conclusion. A complete essay with a conclusion always scores better than an incomplete essay that stops mid-paragraph. The final 3 minutes are for review. Read through your essay once, checking for obvious spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and missing words. Pay special attention to subject-verb agreement, article usage, and verb tense consistency — these are the most common grammatical errors in PTE essays. Even fixing two or three small errors during review can meaningfully improve your grammar and spelling scores.

If you encounter a topic you know nothing about, do not panic. Remember that the essay does not require specialized knowledge — you can construct valid arguments using common sense and general examples. Ask yourself: 'What would a reasonable person think about this?' and 'Can I think of any everyday example related to this topic?' Almost any topic can be discussed using basic logical reasoning. If you are stuck on a specific sentence, skip it and move on to the next idea. You can always return to fill in gaps during your review time. The worst thing you can do is freeze and waste several minutes staring at the screen. Keep writing, even if the quality is not perfect — a complete essay with some weak sentences scores much higher than an incomplete essay with a few brilliant ones. As discussed in our PTE scoring system guide, the essay scoring rewards completeness and coherence over occasional flashes of brilliance.

The content criterion requires you to address the specific topic given. Writing a generic essay about education when the prompt asks specifically about the value of university degrees will hurt your content score. Always return to the prompt to ensure each paragraph directly addresses the question asked. Use keywords from the prompt in your essay to signal relevance to the scoring algorithm. Equally problematic is being too vague. Statements like 'Technology is very important in today's world' or 'Education plays a vital role in society' are so general that they convey no meaningful information. Support every claim with a specific reason or example. Instead of 'Technology has changed communication,' write 'Smartphones and social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram have enabled people to maintain relationships across continents, with video calls replacing what were once expensive international phone calls.' Specific details demonstrate genuine engagement with the topic and score higher on development and coherence.

Staying within the 200 to 300 word count is a scoring requirement, not a suggestion. Essays below 200 words receive a reduced score for form, and essays above 300 words may also be penalized. During practice, develop a feel for how many words your typical paragraph contains so you can gauge your length without counting every word. As for formatting, the PTE essay should be written in clear paragraphs with a blank line between them. Do not write your entire essay as a single block of text — this hurts your structure and coherence score. Similarly, do not break your essay into too many tiny paragraphs. Four to five well-developed paragraphs is the ideal structure. Each paragraph should contain a clear topic sentence followed by supporting details. This formatting signals to the scoring algorithm that your essay has a deliberate organizational structure. For more strategies on managing your overall PTE performance across all sections, including writing, review our comprehensive guide on how to achieve PTE scores of 65 to 79, which covers balanced preparation across all four skill areas.