PTE essay template for each question type
One plan for all 5 essay question types, sentence by sentence, with a model essay for each type.
Por Thanh Tran, cofundação e ensino de PTE
Atualizado em
Which question is it?
Pick the kind of question you see. Its template opens.
Blue: take it from the question, or your own idea.Bold: a linking phrase.
- Say the topic
- A statementWhether malls should replace local shops is a question many towns face.
- A trendThese days, more and more people shop in large malls.
- Give your answer
- Agree or disagreeI mostly disagree that this is a good change.
- Positive or negativeI believe this change is more negative than positive.
- Name your two reasons
- Two reasonsSmall shops give better service, and they keep money in the town.
- As two wordsMy two reasons are service and the local economy.
- Reason 1
- Name itThe main reason is the service that small shops give.
- As a sentenceFirst, small shop owners know their customers.
- Explain why
- Why it is trueBecause the owner is in the shop every day, they can give advice.
- A resultAs a result, customers get help that a big store cannot give.
- An example
- A real caseFor example, in my home town, one family has run the bakery for forty years.
- Your own lifeIn my experience, the baker in my street knows what I buy.
- Link back
- Back to your answerThis is why losing small shops is a real loss.
- Sum upSo personal service is something malls cannot replace.
- Reason 2
- Name itThe second reason is what happens to the money we spend.
- Add a sideIn addition, small shops keep money in the town.
- Explain why
- Why it is trueThe owner lives in the town, so the profit is spent there.
- A contrastIn contrast, a mall's profit often goes to another city.
- An example
- A real caseFor instance, in many British towns, the main street now has empty shops.
- A fact you knowIn my country, number small shops closed after malls opened.
- Link back
- Back to your answerClearly, the town loses more than it gains.
- Sum upFor this reason, I do not see malls as progress.
- Your answer again
- Your answerIn conclusion, I believe that this is not a positive development.
- OverallOverall, the loss is greater than the gain.
- Your reasons, in short
- Both reasonsSmall shops give better service and keep money in the town.
- What should happenSo towns should do more to protect them.
- Say the topic
- A debatePeople often disagree about whether laws can change how people behave.
- A questionCan laws change behaviour? This is an old question.
- Name both views
- Two viewsSome believe that laws control behaviour, while others think they have little effect.
- Two groupsSome people prefer X, whereas others prefer Y.
- Give your opinion
- Lean to one sideBoth views make sense, but I believe that good laws can change how people act.
- Stay in the middleIn my view, both are partly right, but laws matter more.
- View 1
- View 1On the one hand, many people believe that laws are a strong way to change behaviour.
- SupportersSupporters of laws argue that rules work.
- Why people think this
- Their reasonThis is because people do not want to pay a fine, so they follow the rules.
- Over timeAfter some years, the new behaviour becomes normal.
- An example
- A real caseFor example, Victoria in Australia made seatbelts compulsory in 1970.
- TodayToday, almost every driver wears a seatbelt without thinking.
- Sum up view 1
- Sum upIn this view, laws do not only stop bad actions but also teach new habits.
- ShortSo for these people, laws are the best tool.
- View 2
- View 2On the other hand, some people argue that laws have little effect.
- CriticsOthers say that rules alone cannot change people.
- Why people think this
- Their reasonThey point out that people break laws when nobody is watching.
- A limitThe police cannot be everywhere, so many people take the risk.
- An example
- A real caseFor instance, speeding is against the law, but many drivers still go too fast.
- Everyday lifeMillions of people still download films illegally.
- Sum up view 2
- Sum upFor these people, changing behaviour needs education, not only rules.
- ShortSo in this view, laws are not enough on their own.
- The topic again
- The topic againIn conclusion, laws cannot control every action, and education also matters.
- Both sidesIn conclusion, both laws and education have a part to play.
- Your opinion
- Your sideHowever, I believe that clear laws, used fairly, can change behaviour over time.
- Your viewOn balance, I agree more with the first view.
- Say the topic
- A policySome companies now ask their workers to help make decisions.
- A trendIn recent years, more and more people have started to work from home.
- It has both sides
- Both sidesThis policy has clear advantages, but it also has some disadvantages.
- Benefits and drawbacksThis change brings benefits as well as drawbacks.
- Which side is bigger
- Advantages biggerIn my view, the advantages are greater.
- Disadvantages biggerHowever, I believe the drawbacks are greater, because they affect more people.
- The main advantage
- Name itThe main advantage is that workers know the products and the customers.
- Add oneOne clear benefit is better ideas.
- Why it helps
- Why it helpsThey talk to customers every day, so they see problems before managers do.
- A resultAs a result, the company makes better products.
- An example
- A real caseFor example, at Toyota, workers suggest small improvements every day.
- Your own lifeIn my last job, our team changed a form after a worker's idea.
- Sum up the advantages
- Sum upOverall, involving workers leads to better products and happier staff.
- ShortSo the main gain is better decisions.
- The main disadvantage
- Name itThe main disadvantage is that decisions can take longer.
- Add oneOne problem is cost.
- Why it is a problem
- Why it is a problemWhen more people are involved, there are more meetings, so it is harder to agree.
- A resultAs a result, the company may react too slowly.
- An example
- A real caseFor instance, if a price must change in one day, asking every team could take too long.
- Your own lifeIn my experience, a short meeting became three meetings.
- Sum up the disadvantages
- Sum upIn short, the main cost of this policy is time.
- ShortSo this policy does not suit every decision.
- Both sides, in short
- Both sidesIn conclusion, it can slow decisions down, but it brings better ideas.
- Weigh themIn conclusion, this policy has one clear cost and two clear gains.
- Which side is bigger
- Your viewFor this reason, I believe the advantages are greater than the disadvantages.
- The other wayOn balance, I believe the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.
- Say the problem
- The problemToday, many people throw things away after one use, and our streets are full of rubbish.
- A growing problemRubbish has become a serious problem in many countries.
- Name the main cause
- The causeThe main cause is that many products are cheap and made to be used once.
- Two causesThis happens because of cheap products and busy lives.
- Name the main solution
- The solutionThe best solution is to make throwing things away more expensive.
- Who should actGovernments and shops can fix this together.
- The main cause
- Name itThe main cause of this problem is cheap, single-use products.
- As a sentenceFirst, many products are made to be thrown away.
- How it leads to the problem
- How it leads thereBecause these items cost very little, people do not value them.
- A chainCheap items lead to less care, which leads to more waste.
- An example
- A real caseFor example, a takeaway coffee cup is used for ten minutes.
- Your own lifeIn my city, the bins are full of takeaway boxes every weekend.
- Back to the problem
- Back to the problemAs a result, more and more rubbish ends up in nature.
- ShortThis is why the problem keeps growing.
- The main solution
- Name itThe main solution is to put a small price on single-use items.
- Who actsGovernments should charge for plastic bags and cups.
- How it fixes the cause
- How it fixes the causeWhen people have to pay, they think twice and reuse what they have.
- A resultAs a result, people value these items more.
- An example
- A real caseFor instance, when Ireland put a charge on plastic bags in 2002, people used far fewer.
- A smaller caseMy university sells cheaper coffee to people who bring a cup.
- Why it will work
- Why it will workThis shows that a small cost can change a habit quickly.
- More placesThe same idea could work for bottles and packaging.
- The problem and its cause
- Problem and causeIn conclusion, we produce so much rubbish because cheap products made throwing away a habit.
- ShortIn conclusion, cheap products are the main cause of this problem.
- The best solution
- Your viewIn my view, the best solution is to charge for these items, so that people reuse them.
- Who actsIf governments act now, the problem can get smaller.
- Say the topic
- Two choicesSome people prefer life in a busy city, while others prefer the quiet of the countryside.
- One questionHow we balance work and family is an important question today.
- Your answer
- Which you preferFor me, the city is better at this stage of my life.
- How importantIn my view, this balance is very important.
- Name your two reasons
- Two reasonsIt offers more jobs and services, and it gives me more things to do.
- As two wordsMy two reasons are opportunities and social life.
- Reason 1
- Name itThe first reason is that cities offer more opportunities.
- As a sentenceFirst, cities have better services.
- Explain why
- Why it is trueMost universities and hospitals are in cities, so people do not travel far.
- A resultAs a result, young people can study and work in one place.
- An example
- Your own lifeFor example, I take a train to work in twenty minutes.
- A comparisonMy cousin in the countryside drives an hour each way, while I walk.
- Link back
- Back to your answerThis is why the city suits someone building a career.
- ShortSo the city is the practical choice for me.
- Reason 2
- Name itThe second reason is the social life.
- Add a sideIn addition, cities are more lively.
- Explain why
- Why it is trueCities have people from many backgrounds, and there is always something to do.
- A resultBecause of this, it is easy to meet new people.
- An example
- Your own lifeFor instance, last month I joined a weekend football team.
- A comparisonIn a small village, this would be much harder.
- Link back
- Back to your answerBecause of this, I never feel bored or alone in the city.
- ShortSo my free time is better in the city.
- Your answer again
- Your answerIn conclusion, I prefer to live in the city at this point in my life.
- How importantIn conclusion, this balance matters because it affects health and family.
- Your reasons, in short
- Both reasonsIt gives me better jobs and services and a better social life.
- Keep it openHowever, the countryside may suit me when I am older.
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How to use it
Read the question twice. Find its type in the table below.
Plan for 3 minutes: your answer and two different reasons, a few words each.
Write the four paragraphs. Pick one option for each sentence, and fill every blue gap from the question or your own idea.
Aim for 250 to 280 words. Over 300 costs a Form mark.
Learn the shape, not the sentences. An essay learned by heart scores 0 for Content.
Keep the last 5 minutes for the five checks.
An example answer
The agree or disagree template, used on a real question. The PDF has an example answer for all 5 templates.
1In many towns and cities, large shopping malls are slowly taking the place of small local shops. 2Some people see this as progress, but I mostly disagree. 3Small shops give a more personal service, and they help to keep money in the local area. 4The main reason is the kind of service that small shops offer. 5Because the owner is often in the shop every day, they get to know their customers and can give advice that a busy chain store cannot give. 6For example, the baker in my street remembers what I usually buy, and she tells me when fresh bread is coming out of the oven. 7This is why many people feel more welcome in a small shop than in a crowded mall, and why losing these shops is a real loss. 8The second reason is what happens to the money we spend. 9When we buy from a local shop, the owner usually lives in the same town, so the profit is spent there, in other local businesses, and it pays for local jobs. 10For instance, in many British towns the main shopping street now has empty shops, because people drive to a mall outside the town instead. 11Clearly, when small shops close, the whole town loses more than it gains, and the streets become quieter and less friendly. 12In conclusion, I do not believe that malls replacing local shops is a positive development. 13Small shops offer better service, and they keep money and jobs in the community, so towns should do more to protect them.
Also in the PDFThe 20 minutesOne shape for every essayWords and the Form markTwo ways to score 0Where your opinion goesLinking wordsPunctuation follows the linking wordFive linking mistakesThe five checks
PTE Write Essay: tempo e correçãoPosso usar templates no PTE?
Perguntas frequentes
Are templates allowed in PTE Write Essay?
Pearson tells you not to use memorised answers or templated sentences, and an answer learned by heart can score 0 for content. The cheat sheet gives you sentence plans with gaps, and you fill every gap from the question or your own idea. Learn the shape, not the sentences, and every answer you give is about the question in front of you.
How many words should a PTE essay be?
Between 200 and 300 words. Aim for 250 to 280. An essay under 120 or over 380 words scores 0 for form, and then the whole essay scores 0.
How should I use the 20 minutes?
Plan for 3 minutes: pick a side and two different reasons. Write for 12 minutes, four paragraphs of about 270 words. Keep the last 5 minutes to check your essay.
Which essay types does it cover?
All five: agree or disagree, discuss both views, advantages and disadvantages, causes and solutions, and a direct question.
Is the PDF free?
Yes. Enter your email and it downloads at once. Your email also opens a free Leap English Pathways account, where you can practise with real exam questions. Every PDF on this site is open to that account. Pro adds feedback on every speaking and writing answer.
Baixe o PDF: Write Essay template