Are you one of those people who think scoring 79+ in PTE is hard? Well! I don’t say scoring 79+ on the PTE (Pearson’s Test of English) is easy. But it is certainly not as difficult as most people think it is. Scoring a good total in PTE is achievable with the right strategy and a bit of practice. If you know how you are going to be evaluated, you can practice that and perform much better. In this article, I’ll walk you through expert tips and tricks to understand what matters for PTE writing and how to manage that.
🔍 Understand the Scoring System to Target Your Practice
If you are here reading about scoring 79+ in PTE, you must already know there are various types of PTE exams: Academic, Core, UKVI, Home etc. We are talking about PTE Academic here as that’s the most popular PTE out there. This test is composed of 20 different question types that evaluate your four communication skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Each skill is scored from 10 to 90, and then an overall score is given based on the score of each skill. Remember, the overall score is not the average of all the skill scores.
My focus is going to be on PTE writing skills in this article. You can get an overview of all the skills here, “What is the PTE Exam?”
So, as of writing, its 90 points are divided in the following way:
- Content: It is the relevancy of your response against the prompt.
- Form: It is how you have presented your response: structure and number of words.
- Language: Your vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure fall under language.
- General linguistic range: It is the overall language use and coherency of your response.
Your writing skills will be judged on these four aspects. So, you have to work on these aspects for the writing section. Yes! The writing section or module is further divided into two sections: summary and essay.
⏰ Time Management for Each Section
You will get a total of 30 minutes to write the whole writing section, considering if you get 1 of each question type to attempt. Which is divided in this way:
-
10 minutes to summarize passages in 1 sentence of 5 to 75 words each
- 20 minutes to write one essay of 200 to 300 words
It seems very tough to write that much in such a short time. But people manage this section and score 79+. It is all about time management.
I will tell you how to use that time efficiently. You will have to divide that time like this:
📄 For Summary
- Reading → 2 minutes
- Planning → 1 minute
- Writing → 5 minutes
- Review → 2 minutes
And that will be your time for this part. There is a time display on the screen layout, so you can keep track of time.
📖 For essay
- Understanding topic → 2 minutes
- Planning → 3 minute
- Writing → 12 minutes
- Review → 3 minutes
If you follow the above timeline, you will have only about 12 minutes to write a 200 to 300 words essay. So, you have to improve your typing speed. Yes! Typing speed not writing, because PTE is an online exam. Practice typing with the typing master to get your typing speed up to 30 words per minute. That would be enough. If you can write 30 words in a minute, you will be able to type 300 words within 10 minutes and you will have 2 extra minutes to review your response.
💡 Tips and Tricks to Score 79+ in PTE Writing!
Now I am going to tell you what to practice so you can complete all your writing tasks within 30 minutes.
➡️ Keep it simple and to the point
Your aim in PTE writing is not to show off complex sentence structures or advanced vocabulary. They are going to score you based on clear, concise, and coherent responses.
You have to be concise for the summary part, but I recommend you practice that for essays as well. Not as concise as in summary but keep it to the point.
Stick to only one idea per paragraph and avoid elaborating on stuff. You have to write from 200 to 300 words. So, do not write above 300. The more you write, the more mistakes you can make.
But do not overdo it, you cannot write below 120 words. It will be a zero for you. The key is to show that you understand the topic and can write on it. Stick to that and it will be a high-scoring response.
➡️ Do not just start writing, plan your points first
The order of tasks in the PTE Writing section is always fixed, which allows you to plan and manage your time effectively. Here’s how you can make the most of it:
📚 Summarize Written Text (SWT):
• Spend 2 minutes carefully reading the passage to understand the context.
• Use the notepad provided by the PTE staff to jot down key points or main ideas from the passage. Aim to complete this in 1 minute.
• Use your notes to craft a concise summary in one sentence, ensuring it captures the essence of the passage.
📝 Write Essay:
Before you start writing, take about 3 minutes to plan your essay structure. Decide on the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Organize your ideas logically—decide what comes first, what follows, and how to end effectively.
A clear plan will make it easier to write a coherent and well-structured essay within the time limit.
By following these steps, you can approach the Writing section with confidence and maximize your performance.
➡️ Write a concise and relevant summary
In the summary writing task, your goal is to showcase your ability to understand the words and the context of the passage given to you.
A single sentence of 5 to 75 words is enough to do that. Aim for the most relevant points and avoid including unnecessary details.
A good range of vocabulary helps a lot here. Some words in the dictionary can replace many words. Like for the sentence “He is so important for the organization that without him, we cannot function properly,” we can just write “He is irreplaceable in the organization.”
Improve your vocabulary and practice summarizing as much as possible.
➡️ Structure your essay properly
While planning for the essay, keep the word limit in mind; It’s 200 to 300 words. You have to write only this much. So, plan it like that.
A well-structured essay in PTE is straightforward. Start with an introduction, develop your ideas in the body, and finish with a conclusion. Keep one narrative to one paragraph only. There is no need to unnecessarily elaborate things.
Make each paragraph have a clear purpose—whether it’s introducing, expanding, or concluding your argument. This helps the evaluator follow your points easily and shows that you’re organized in your thinking.
➡️ Showcase your vocabulary range to the examiner
Using a variety of vocabulary is important in scoring well on the “language” aspect. So, impress the examiner by demonstrating a diverse vocabulary.
Replace common words with more advanced alternatives, such as:
- Good → beneficial, advantageous
- Bad → detrimental, adverse
- Important → crucial, essential
- Change → transform, evolve
Practice with synonyms and try substituting everyday words with slightly more descriptive ones. Like the ones I have written above. However, it doesn’t mean you should use obscure words; words that are not used commonly. Just focus on showing a range of words that are appropriate to the topic.
➡️ Avoid grammatical mistakes
Grammatical accuracy is non-negotiable in PTE writing. If you make mistakes in your writing, your score is going down.
So, note down common grammatical rules in a notebook and revise them from time to time. The most important grammatical rules for that would be:
- Subject-verb agreement
- Verb tense consistency
- Punctuation
- Use of articles
You are aiming to write simple kinds of sentences in the essay, and these rules are necessary for that also. So, keep them in your mind.
➡️ Make your ideas flow naturally
Smooth transitions between paragraphs make a well-written essay. It is one of the easiest ways to improve readability. If the examiner can read and understand your ideas easily, you are surely getting good marks.
For this, use connecting words and phrases to guide the reader through your points. Like:
🔹 To add information
Furthermore, moreover, additionally
🔹 To show contrast
However, nevertheless, on the contrary
🔹To give examples
For instance, for example
🔹 To conclude
In conclusion, to summarize
These words make transitions between points smooth and cohesive, which demonstrates your grasp of the general linguistic range. Remember the fourth aspect of the writing part?
➡️ Practice these tips and tricks
Consistent practice is the key to mastering PTE writing. Practicing daily so writing summaries and essays feels natural during the exam.
To enhance your preparation, consider using tools like a paragraph generator to create practice content and sharpen your summarizing skills regularly.
Additionally, an essay extender can help you improve the essay by adding more examples and details while maintaining the quality of your essay.
These tools are also valuable for essay writing practice, as they allow you to test your approach by generating specific paragraphs and checking if you are thinking the right way.
➡️ Proofread your writings before submission
Lastly, always make time for a final review. Don't overlook the importance of proofreading. Dedicate 2-3 minutes at the end to thoroughly review your work.
Proofreading allows you to check:
- Relevancy
- Minor errors
- Word choice
- Sentence flow
- Overall coherence
In the exam, use the last few minutes to read through your work, correcting any overlooked mistakes. Make sure you submit your best possible work.
✍️ Finally
So, there you have it! Scoring 79+ in PTE Writing is an achievable goal with the right strategy and consistent practice. Remember, the key lies in understanding the scoring criteria, managing your time effectively, and applying the tips and tricks outlined in this guide. The more you practice each of these skills, the more natural they’ll feel, and that confidence will make all the difference. Are you ready to put these strategies into action? Start practicing today and watch your writing score. Wishing you all the best in your PTE journey!
