Write Essay Questions in PTE Writing
Learn how to answer Write essay questions in PTE writing with an overview, recommended approach and practice questions.
by Tim Martyn
Overview
Write essay questions test your ability to write a persuasive or argumentative essay.
Here are some key points about Write essay questions:
- They assess your writing skills, as well as your grammar, vocabulary, spelling and written discourse.
- You’ll be presented with an essay question and have 20 minutes to write your essay.
- You need to write between 200 and 300 words.
- You’ll answer 1–2 Write essay questions in the writing test.
Example question
Here’s an example Write essay question.
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
‘Governments should provide everyone with free healthcare.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? Provide reasons and/or examples to support your ideas.
This particular question is asking the extent to which you agree with the statement given. According to the official information about the PTE, in Write essay questions, you could be asked to:
- agree or disagree with a statement;
- argue for or against an opinion;
- discuss advantages and/or disadvantages; or
- discuss problems and solutions.
However, this isn’t exactly an official list of Write essay question types, so you need to be prepared to answer any question you may be asked on test day.
Recommended approach
Here’s my recommended approach for answering Write essay questions. We’ll use the example question to go through the steps you need to take.
IMPORTANT:
The overall approach is the same for all Write essay questions (i.e. not just ones that ask whether you agree or disagree with a statement).
This is important because, on test day, you could get a question that asks you something you weren’t expecting. However, if you learn and practise applying the overall approach, you should be able to respond flexibly to any question you’re presented with.
Step 1 > Analyse the question
The first step is to analyse the question. This is crucial – if you don’t take the time to analyse the question properly, you may misunderstand what it’s asking you or fail to respond to key parts of the question.
Here’s our question prompt again.
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
‘Governments should provide everyone with free healthcare.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? Provide reasons and/or examples to support your ideas.
You can see that we’ve been presented with a fairly straightforward opinion (i.e. that governments should provide everyone with free healthcare), and we’re being asked the extent to which we agree.
IMPORTANT:
Write essay questions can be worded in different ways. For example, here’s a couple of different ways that a question asking you to agree or disagree with a statement could be worded:
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
How far do you agree with this statement?
Step 2 > Make a quick plan
Once you fully understand the question and what you’re required to do, the next step is to make a quick plan for your essay. You’re only given 20 minutes for each Write essay question, which includes planning, writing and revising, so I recommend only spending 1–2 minutes making a plan. During the planning stage, all you really need to come up with is two ideas (i.e. one for each body paragraph).
For the example question, we need to think of two reasons why we agree or two reasons why we disagree. Notice that the question asks To what extent we agree with the statement. This makes it perfectly acceptable to choose a middle position (i.e. partly agree and partly disagree), but this makes the essay much harder to write, so I recommend just choosing one side. Choose the side that you can think of the clearest arguments for.
If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, try asking yourself these questions:
- What are the most obvious ideas?
- If you asked 100 people for their ideas, what do you think most of them would say?
All you really need to include in your plan is your overall position and the ideas for your body paragraphs. You can write down any examples or details that come to mind easily, but don’t worry if they don’t. Given the very limited time available for Write essay questions, it simply isn’t possible to write a detailed plan.
Our plan for the example question might look something like this.
| Position | completely agree |
| Body 1 | creates more social equality – e.g. in USA, poorer people don’t seek medical care because of cost |
| Body 2 | improves health of general population – when ppl. need to pay, delay treatment or don’t get treated at all |
For the example question, we had to think of two reasons. However, the type of ideas you need to come up with will depend on the specific question you’re asked.
Here are some common question types and the kind of ideas you’d need to come up with for each one.
| Question type | What you need to think of |
|---|---|
| To what extent do you agree with this statement? | Two reasons why you agree (or two reasons why you disagree) |
| Explain where your opinion lies between these points of view. | Two reasons why you agree with the first point of view (or two reasons why you agree with the second point of view) |
| What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages? | At least one advantage and at least one disadvantage (need to write about both sides) |
Step 3 > Write the introduction
Now that we’ve thought of ideas for our essay and made a plan, it’s time to write the introduction.
PTE doesn’t specify what you need to include in your introduction – and what you include will inevitably depend on the specific question you’re being asked – but for an essay question like in our example, I recommend that you include:
- a paraphrase of the statement given in the question;
- a statement about whether you agree or disagree, including an outline of your reasons.
Let’s look at each of these parts one by one.
1. A paraphrase of the statement given in the question
An easy and effective way to start your introduction is to paraphrase the statement given in the question. At this stage, don’t state whether you agree or disagree – we’ll do that in the second part of the introduction.
Keep in mind that you mustn’t copy the exact wording used in the question. Instead, you need to use synonyms and other forms of paraphrasing. You won’t be able find synonyms for everything. In fact, some words shouldn’t be replaced because doing so would change the meaning.
Our paraphrase could be something like this: Some people argue that governments should be responsible for covering their citizens’ healthcare costs.
2. A statement about whether you agree or disagree, including an outline of your reasons
In the second part of the introduction, you should clearly state whether you agree or disagree and give your two reasons for holding this view. You can usually do this in a single sentence. Remember that the question is asking for your opinion, so don’t be afraid to use personal language such as I agree or I think. An easy way to introduce your reasons is to use because.
For our question, we could write something like this: I wholeheartedly agree with this view because free healthcare makes society more equal and improves health outcomes.
If we put the two parts of the introduction together, this is what we have.
Some people argue that governments should be responsible for covering their citizens’ healthcare costs. I wholeheartedly agree with this view because free healthcare makes society more equal and improves health outcomes.
Step 4 > Write the body paragraphs
The next step is to write the body paragraphs. The first body paragraph should be about your first reason and the second body paragraph should be about your second reason. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states the reason that is the focus of that paragraph.
Here are some possible body paragraphs for our example.
Some people argue that governments should be responsible for covering their citizens’ healthcare costs. I wholeheartedly agree with this view because free healthcare makes society more equal and improves health outcomes.
First of all, universal healthcare creates more social equality. In countries without universal healthcare, such as the United States, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds often avoid seeking medical care due to the prohibitive costs involved. This makes society unequal. However, when financial barriers to healthcare services are removed, individuals gain equal access to quality healthcare regardless of their financial status. This ensures that the most vulnerable members of society are able to receive essential medical attention and preventive care, which is a basic human right.
Free healthcare also improves the health of the general population. When people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have to pay for healthcare services, they are more likely to delay treatment or not seek treatment at all. In contrast, when healthcare is provided free by governments, people are more willing to make appointments with their doctor. These appointments may uncover the existence of health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which can then be properly treated by the doctor. By enabling the early detection of such chronic conditions through free healthcare, governments improve the general health of their citizens, which can even lower the costs of the healthcare system over time as fewer and fewer people require ongoing care for chronic conditions.
Step 5 > Write the conclusion
The next step is to write the conclusion. All you need to do here is restate your opinion and your two reasons (or whatever you covered in the body paragraphs). Don’t just copy the words you used in other parts of the essay – use synonyms and paraphrasing as much as you can. Start your conclusion with In conclusion or To conclude.
Here’s a possible conclusion for our example.
Some people argue that governments should be responsible for covering their citizens’ healthcare costs. I wholeheartedly agree with this view because free healthcare makes society more equal and improves health outcomes.
First of all, universal healthcare creates more social equality. In countries without universal healthcare, such as the United States, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds often avoid seeking medical care due to the prohibitive costs involved. This makes society unequal. However, when financial barriers to healthcare services are removed, individuals gain equal access to quality healthcare regardless of their financial status. This ensures that the most vulnerable members of society are able to receive essential medical attention and preventive care, which is a basic human right.
Free healthcare also improves the health of the general population. When people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have to pay for healthcare services, they are more likely to delay treatment or not seek treatment at all. In contrast, when healthcare is provided free by governments, people are more willing to make appointments with their doctor. These appointments may uncover the existence of health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which can then be properly treated by the doctor. By enabling the early detection of such chronic conditions through free healthcare, governments improve the general health of their citizens, which can even lower the costs of the healthcare system over time as fewer and fewer people require ongoing care for chronic conditions.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that governments should ensure that all of their citizens have access to free healthcare. It creates more equality in society and leads to better health outcomes at the population level.
Step 6 > Check your work
The final step is to check your work. At this stage, you won’t have time to make any major changes, but it’s still an important step.
Things to check for:
- whether you’ve used an adequate range of grammar and vocabulary;
- spelling;
- your word count.
Scoring criteria
There are seven scoring criteria for Write essay questions.
| Criterion | What does this mean? |
|---|---|
| Content | Does your essay answer the question? |
| Development, structure and coherence | Is your essay logically organised with good development of ideas? |
| Form | Is your essay between 200 and 300 words? |
| General linguistic range | Does the language you’ve used in your essay help you to express your ideas accurately? |
| Grammar usage and mechanics | Have you used grammar correctly? |
| Vocabulary range | Do you use a wide range of vocabulary appropriately? |
| Spelling | Do you use a single spelling convention (e.g. UK English) correctly and consistently in your essay? |
NOTE: US, UK, Canadian and Australian spelling conventions are all recognised, but you need to use your chosen convention consistently in your response.
Practice questions
Now it’s your turn to practise. Try the Write essay questions below using the approach outlined above.
Question 1
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
‘There should be a special tax on sugary drinks to make them more expensive and discourage people from consuming them.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? Provide reasons and/or examples to support your ideas.
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Some people believe that sugary drinks should be subject to a special tax in order to reduce their consumption. I agree with this approach because it would improve health outcomes and generate additional revenue, which could then be spent on health-related initiatives.
Firstly, implementing a special tax on sugary drinks would benefit the health of the general population. High sugar intake from these drinks has been unequivocally linked to health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental problems. By raising the cost of these beverages through taxation, consumption and therefore sugar intake would decrease. Over time, this reduced consumption would lower the prevalence of chronic health conditions in the population. This would of course benefit individuals, but it would also gradually reduce the cost of the healthcare system as fewer and fewer people would require ongoing care for such conditions.
Not only would a special tax on sugary drinks lead to health benefits at the individual and population levels, but it would also generate additional revenue for the government. This newfound revenue could be used for a range purposes, including to upgrade hospital facilities and improve healthcare systems more generally. It could also be used to fund health promotion campaigns. For example, with the revenue raised from sugary drinks, the government could develop advertisements for television and social media to inform the public about the detrimental health effects of excessive sugar consumption.
In conclusion, I fully support a special tax on sugary drinks. It would improve the health of the community and would give the government an additional revenue stream, allowing it to support people’s health in other ways.Question 2
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
Some people believe that homework is an important part of children’s education. Others say that children should not be given homework. Explain where your opinion lies between these points of view, giving reasons and/or examples as justification.
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Despite homework being a common component of children’s education, not everyone agrees on its value. While some people believe that children should not be required to do homework, I generally side with those who support its use because it reinforces classroom learning and teaches children discipline.
Firstly, homework serves as a crucial extension of classroom learning, offering children the opportunity to reinforce and apply the knowledge acquired at school. Through the completion of homework assignments, children can actively engage with academic material, turning theoretical concepts into practical understanding. For example, if they have been introduced to a scientific concept in class, their homework might involve conducting a hands-on experiment at home. This not only cements their comprehension of the subject matter, but also fosters a deeper connection with the material, creating a more holistic learning experience.
Regular completion of homework also helps instil discipline. As children learn to manage their time effectively and meet deadlines, they develop key skills that can be applied later in life. The discipline cultivated through consistent homework completion not only prepares children for the rigorous demands of future studies, but also equips them with a strong work ethic that will prove beneficial in their future careers. In this way, homework serves as a training ground for the responsibilities and expectations that they will encounter beyond the classroom.
In conclusion, as long as the homework given to children is meaningful, I believe it should form part of their education because it strengthens their understanding of what they learn in class and also helps them develop discipline.Question 3
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
Some people choose to be self-employed rather than work for an employer. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed?
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The vast majority of people work as employees in a company, but a growing number of people are making the decision to work for themselves. While being self-employed has its benefits, there are also significant drawbacks.
There are clear advantages to being self-employed. First of all, those who run their own businesses are usually free to set their own schedules. Unlike employees, there is no requirement for them to work 9 to 5, so those who are more productive in the afternoon, for example, can simply start their workday later. In addition, the self-employed can pick and choose the projects they want to work on and the clients they want to work with. For instance, if a client is fussy or otherwise difficult to work with, business owners can opt not to work with them again. This can give self-employed people a sense of control over their work lives.
However, the disadvantages cannot be ignored. A significant drawback is the fact that people who work for themselves tend to have irregular income. This can have a detrimental impact on many aspects of their lives, including their ability to make long-term plans and apply for a mortgage. In addition, those who run their own businesses are not entitled to annual leave and sick pay. Even though self-employed people can take time off if they wish to, in practice they rarely do because of fear of losing clients and income. This situation can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.
In conclusion, even though there are no doubt advantages of being self-employed, I believe that the significant disadvantages make traditional employment the right choice for most people.Question 4
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
In many countries, it has become difficult for young people to afford to buy their own home. Why is this the case and what can be done about this problem?
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In many parts of the world, it has become very challenging for younger generations to be able to purchase a home of their own. There is a variety of reasons for this, but steps can certainly be taken to tackle the issue.
Several factors are to blame for the financial difficulty young people face when trying to buy a home. Firstly, population growth in many countries has led to greater competition among buyers, which drives up prices. In parallel, there is often too little construction taking place, which makes the situation worse as supply cannot keep up with demand. As prices have increased, it has become increasingly difficult for younger buyers to save for a deposit, which effectively locks them out of the housing market.
There are ways that this issue could be addressed. One solution is for governments to offer young people grants to help them afford their first home. Governments could place conditions on any such grant. For example, they could require that the property be a newly constructed one or that the money only be used to purchase a property in a regional area. Another way to deal with this issue is for governments to release more land for residential construction and offer builders financial incentives. This would help with the supply side of the equation. If there were more properties available, prices would inevitably come down.
In conclusion, young people find it difficult to afford their own home primarily due to supply and demand factors. Unless governments take action by offering grants to young buyers or by releasing more land for new homes, the problem is unlikely to go away.
