PTE Essay Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PTE Academic essay prompt says "Discuss both views and give your own opinion." Which essay structure is most appropriate?
- Write only about one view in detail
- Present both views with roughly equal coverage, then state your position in the conclusion (Correct answer)
- Write only your personal opinion from the start
- Describe the topic without taking any position
Correct answer: Present both views with roughly equal coverage, then state your position in the conclusion
A "discuss both views" prompt requires balanced treatment of two perspectives before presenting your own reasoned opinion. Ignoring one view or failing to state a position will reduce the content and written discourse scores.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes a strong thesis statement for a PTE Academic essay?
- A vague statement like "This essay will discuss climate change."
- A clear, arguable claim that states the writer's position: "Governments must implement carbon taxes to reduce emissions." (Correct answer)
- A question such as "Is climate change a real threat?"
- A list of all the points that will be covered in the essay
Correct answer: A clear, arguable claim that states the writer's position: "Governments must implement carbon taxes to reduce emissions."
A strong thesis statement makes a clear, arguable claim that guides the essay. Vague statements, questions, and lists of topics do not constitute effective thesis statements and weaken the Written Discourse score.
Question 3: In PTE Academic essay writing, what is the function of the body paragraphs?
- Introduce the topic and state the thesis
- Develop and support the main argument with evidence and examples (Correct answer)
- Summarize the essay and restate the thesis
- Define all technical terms used in the essay
Correct answer: Develop and support the main argument with evidence and examples
Body paragraphs develop the essay's argument by presenting main points, supporting them with evidence or examples, and explaining their significance. Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea introduced by a topic sentence.
Question 4: Which sentence demonstrates the most appropriate academic register for a PTE essay?
- Lots of people think this is a great idea.
- A significant proportion of the population considers this approach beneficial. (Correct answer)
- Everybody knows this is a good thing.
- This is obviously a fantastic solution.
Correct answer: A significant proportion of the population considers this approach beneficial.
"A significant proportion of the population considers this approach beneficial" uses formal academic vocabulary and an objective tone. Colloquial phrases ("lots of people," "everybody knows") and subjective superlatives ("obviously fantastic") lower the vocabulary and written discourse scores.
Question 5: What is the correct format for citing a number at the start of a PTE Academic essay sentence?
- 42 percent of respondents agreed with the policy.
- Forty-two percent of respondents agreed with the policy. (Correct answer)
- 42% of respondents agreed with the policy.
- 42 per cent of respondents agreed with the policy.
Correct answer: Forty-two percent of respondents agreed with the policy.
Academic style requires spelling out numbers (especially percentages) at the start of a sentence: "Forty-two percent..." Numbers should not begin a sentence in digit form. Mid-sentence, "42%" or "42 percent" would be acceptable.
Question 6: In PTE Academic, which aspect of essay writing is assessed by the "Grammar" criterion?
- Organization of paragraphs and ideas
- Correct use of sentence structures, tense, and agreement (Correct answer)
- Range and accuracy of vocabulary
- Spelling and capitalization
Correct answer: Correct use of sentence structures, tense, and agreement
The Grammar criterion assesses the range and correct use of grammatical structures, including sentence types (simple, compound, complex), tense consistency, subject-verb agreement, and use of articles and prepositions.
PTE Essay Writing 2
A PTE Academic essay prompt says "Discuss both views and give your own opinion." Which essay structure is most appropriate?