# PTE Essay template For Write Essay, prepare structures, not sentences. Pre-prepared essay content is treated as irrelevant and scores 0, and 0 on content or form means no points for the task. Use the four-paragraph frame below and write every sentence about the prompt in front of you, in 200 to 300 words. 20 minutes, 200-300 words ## The frame ### 1. Introduction Restate the question in your own words and give your position. - Whether ... is a question that divides opinion. - Many people now argue that... - It is often said that... ### 2. First body paragraph Your main reason, explained, with one example. - The main reason I believe this is that... - The strongest argument for this view is that... - To begin with,... ### 3. Second body paragraph A second reason, or the other side and why it is weaker. - Admittedly, some people believe that... - Another important point is that... - On the other hand,... ### 4. Conclusion Your position again, in different words, with the reason that matters most. - In conclusion,... - Overall, I believe that... - To sum up, while..., ... ## What costs marks - Over 300 words loses a form point; over 380 scores 0 for form. - Answering the topic but not the instruction (discuss both views, agree or disagree, advantages and disadvantages). - A memorised body paragraph reused across prompts. ## Worked example **Introduction:** Many students feel pressure to choose a university subject that seems likely to lead to a well-paid job. I mostly agree that they should instead choose a subject they are interested in or can achieve good grades in, although employment prospects should not be ignored entirely. **First body paragraph:** The main reason is that genuine interest leads to better performance and greater persistence. A student who enjoys history will read beyond the syllabus, take part in discussions and keep working when assignments become difficult. By contrast, someone who reluctantly studies accounting only because of job prospects may lose motivation and earn weak grades. Strong results in a subject a student loves will often impress employers more than average results in a field chosen purely for practical reasons. **Second body paragraph:** Furthermore, the job market changes so quickly that predicting which degrees will be in demand is difficult. A field that seems promising when a student enrolls may be crowded with graduates four years later. Many employers also value general skills such as writing, analysis and teamwork, which can be developed in almost any discipline. For example, graduates in literature or philosophy frequently build successful careers in marketing, law or public administration. Their degrees taught them to think and communicate clearly, which matters in many professions. **Conclusion:** In conclusion, although students should be aware of realistic career options, I largely agree that they should choose a subject that interests them or suits their abilities. Such a choice is more likely to produce motivation, good grades and, ultimately, a satisfying career. ## Questions **How should I spend the 20 minutes?** Plan for 2 minutes, write for 15, and check for 3: word count, paragraph breaks and obvious grammar slips. **Is a four-paragraph structure required?** No, but it makes structure and coherence easy to show. The scorers check development and organisation, not a set number of paragraphs. [Practise Write Essay](https://testmigo.com/pte/practice/write-essay)