Common Mistakes to Avoid in PTE Write Essay

Write Essay is one of the two question types in the writing section of the PTE exam. While 1 such essay topic appears in the exam, you may get even 2 if it’s your luck or unlucky day, depending on your writing skills of course!

Getting a good score in the PTE Academic Write Essay task involves more than just showing good English writing skills. You need to understand the task clearly, plan well, and execute it precisely. Even with hard work, many test-takers miss out on points because of simple mistakes that can be avoided. This guide will help you improve your writing skills and provide practical tips to succeed in the PTE Write Essay task.

For additional tips and example essays, check out our complete guide on PTE Sample Essays.

Common PTE Essay Mistakes and Easy Ways to Avoid Them

Writing a PTE essay doesn’t have to be hard, but some common mistakes can lower your score. Here’s how to avoid them in simple words.

1. Not Understanding the Question Topic

You might write about the wrong topic if you don’t fully understand the essay question. This can cost you points, especially in the Content trait of the PTE Writing Assessment Criteria.

Solution:

  • Read the writing topic carefully and underline important words.
  • Take 2 minutes to think about your main ideas before you start writing.

2. Disorganized Essay

An essay without a clear structure is hard to follow and can confuse the reader. There are special scores

Solution:

  • Use a simple format: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
  • Make sure each paragraph talks about one idea.

3. Grammar and Spelling Mistakes

Even small grammar or spelling errors can hurt your score and make your essay harder to read. There are strict rules for Grammar (2 marks) and Spelling (2 marks max) traits. For instance, you will get 0 marks in the spelling trait if you have more than 1 spelling error.

Solution:

  • Practice grammar exercises to improve your skills.
  • Save a few minutes to check your work and fix mistakes, especially those typos which one makes under time pressure.
PTE Practice

4. Writing Too Casually or Going Off-Topic

PTE essays need formal writing. Using casual words like slang or adding unrelated ideas can make your essay look unprofessional. This will affect your scores in multiple traits, such as grammar, spelling and vocabulary range.

Solution:

  • Write in a formal style and avoid using short forms like “can’t” or “won’t.”
  • Make sure every point you write answers the essay question.

5. Using Difficult Words Incorrectly

Trying to use big words can sometimes make your essay harder to understand, especially if you use them the wrong way. Your Vocabulary trait will be severely affected for using words, which might seem impressive, but are not relevant in the context. AI assessment is getting really advanced and can catch such words fairly easily.

Solution:

  • Use simple words that you know well.
  • Use words that fit in the context.
  • Focus on making your ideas clear instead of using fancy vocabulary.

6. Writing Too Much

Writing a long essay doesn’t mean you’ll get a higher score. Repeating ideas or adding extra information can hurt your writing. You will lose scores in the Form trait for writing a very long or short essay. Remember, if Form is 0, traits, such as Grammar, spelling and so on, automatically become 0.

Solution:

  • Keep your essay between 200-300 words.
  • Be clear, and don’t repeat the same points.

7. Running Out of Time

If you don’t manage your time well, you might not finish your essay or have time to check it. Traits including, but not limited to, Content, Form and General LInguistic Range, are involved here.

Solution:

  • Use your time wisely: 2 minutes for planning, 15 minutes for writing, and 3 minutes for checking.
  • Make sure you finish your essay.
  • Practice writing essays with a timer to get faster.

By following these simple tips, you can write a clear and strong  PTE essay. Practice often, stay focused, and don’t forget to proofread!

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