pte essay marking criteria

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A Guide to PTE Essay Writing: Scoring & Structure

Table of Contents

• Video Guide

#Skill 1: Content

#skill 2: form, #skill 3: vocabulary, #skill 4: spelling, #skill 5: grammar, #skill 6: development, structure and coherence, #skill 7: general linguistic range, introduction:, main body paragraphs:.

We have all had experience writing essays in our studies and this may lead us to think that we can approach the PTE academic writing task without doing much revision or practice. If we concentrate on revising our English grammar and vocabulary, we can just turn up to the exam and produce our essay, right? WRONG! There are a few things you need to know first about the PTE essay and some practice that you will need to do before the exam.

Don’t be scared off by this, achieving a high score in the essay task is certainly possible; many have passed with flying colours and so will you. You just need to gain a good understanding of what is required of you so that you know what to expect and can put the steps in place to satisfy the scoring system. A good place to start is to develop an awareness of how to structure your essay and how it will be scored. In this section of the PTE, it is expected that you will follow an appropriate essay structure and your writing will be scored according to a certain set of criteria. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about both of these areas so that your essays will tick all the right boxes.

When approaching any exam task, it is always a good idea to get inside the mind of your assessor, or in this case, the automated assessor! This is like having some inside information that will give you the edge over other candidates, so read carefully! Often candidates may be quite happy with their essay and don’t understand why it hasn’t made the grade. It may well be a good piece of writing in some respects, but if it doesn’t satisfy the elements that the scoring system is looking for, it will not be up to scratch. As you will be aware, you are looking to achieve 70 + in your essay and you will need to meet the criteria in all the categories to reach that score.

Let’s have a look at the PTE guidelines for assessing the essay task. There are 7 key skill-sets that will be taken into account when your essay is marked.

You may have perfect grammar and a wonderful range of vocabulary, but if you go off topic, this will negatively affect your score. It is surprisingly easy to start an essay focused on the prompt and writing about the issue or question specified and then to veer off in the wrong direction later on in the essay. Ensure that you keep referring back to the question prompt and stay on topic. Noting down a short plan at the beginning can help to keep you on track.

Form in this criteria set refers to the amount of words in which you complete the essay. In the case of the PTE academic essay, the word limit is 200-300 words. Do NOT go under or over this amount as you will likely be penalised for this and the word limit is there for a reason. It is a reasonable number of words to write in the given time, allowing you to provide detail and show off your writing skills in a succinct manner.

The wider your vocabulary knowledge, the better. Repetition is a common reason that students are marked down on the vocabulary section, so having synonyms available in your mental word bank is invaluable. A varied range of vocabulary also helps to keep your writing engaging and interesting.

Some marks will be given for accuracy in the spelling of words. As you will already know, the way to improve your spelling is simply a mixture of learning and revising spelling patterns and words and using these words again and again in your writing until they stay in your brain! Be careful with words with similar spellings and become aware of the spelling patterns with which you make frequent mistakes.

There are so many different areas of grammar that will be assessed and that you need to gain a good grasp of to produce good-quality writing , that we won’t go over them all here. Some common areas for development are the use of articles and tenses. You need to become aware of your areas of weakness through feedback from teachers or online tutors so that you know which grammar points you personally need to work on.

We will discuss the structure in more detail in the next section but in short, you will need to write your essay using an appropriate essay format, presenting information in a logical order with the correct use of paragraphs, linked by cohesive devices so that your writing flows in a meaningful way.

This refers to your ability to adequately communicate your ideas, concepts and arguments with a good level of language knowledge and ability, so that you get your points across in a direct and engaging manner.

There are various formats that an essay can take. This, of course depends on the purpose, length, level and area of study. Regarding the PTE essay, we must bear in mind that the essay is fairly short (200-300 words) and is to be completed within a short time-frame (20 minutes). Thus, it makes sense to follow a basic essay format. It is really important to stick to this format as not only does it satisfy the demands of the scoring system, it helps you to present your ideas in a coherent way and avoids the essay becoming over-complicated.

If you include the following sections, you are on the right track with your essay structure.

Before putting forward your arguments and examples, you must introduce the topic. This entails giving a summary of the prompt in your own words and outlining what your essay will cover. As with all paragraphs, the introduction should link coherently to the first body paragraph.

How many body paragraphs you include is up to you and may depend on the number of points you wish to make or what has been demanded in the prompt. However, bear in mind that you only have 20 minutes, so generally stick to 2-3 paragraphs. In the body paragraphs, you will be presenting and discussing your main points and arguments related to the topic. The first body paragraph should include a topic sentence and you should also write at least one example to exemplify one of the points that you have chosen to put forward.

It is essential to finish your essay with a conclusion. It is worth noting that often, candidates scrimp on their conclusion as they may be running out of time and energy! Although you do not need a lengthy conclusion, it should summarise some of the key points and arguments and possibly give a final concluding opinion or argument depending on the requirements of the essay questions. One line is not enough!

The advice above is really important to take note of and use when you are revising and completing practice essays , as you won’t be able to remember it all when it comes to the actual exam. If you refer to the scoring and structure guidelines every time you do a piece of writing, you will soon be writing confidently and fluently, and impressing the assessors on exam day. Good luck!

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PTE marking system explained! PTE score guide 2024

The Pearson PTE test is conducted, evaluated, and marked by a computer-automated scoring system. Essentially, there is no involvement of a human in the marking process of the PTE Academic exam .

This may sound incredible, but PTE Academic has successfully been using software technology to judge test takers’ answers and automatically compute an English language proficiency score since 2009 .

Let us understand in depth about PTE marking system and what the PTE score format is in order to better prepare for the PTE Academic test .

PTE Academic Score Report

You can see the overall score of 72 in the top right corner and the score for the four sections just below it: 78 in Listening, 90 in Reading, 64 in Speaking, and 82 in Writing.

The overall score is not simply an average of the four Communicative Skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

Instead, the overall score is calculated by factoring in different language skills, including grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse.

For any purpose – university admission or visa – the overall score and the four Communicative Skills scores matter. Institutions and immigration departments set a minimum score criteria for overall as well as the four bands.

For example, to get enrolled in the MBA course of University of Sydney, you need to score a minimum of 68 overall and at least 54 in each band.

The range for each of these scores is 10 to 90, based on the Global Scale of English, which is different from the 9-band scoring system of IELTS .

If you are looking for a breakdown of the PTE exam format, click here »

PTE marking system in short

• Some questions have a single short correct answer. A correct answer gets 1 point, while an incorrect answer gets no point. This applies to questions like Answer Short Question and Fill in the Blanks.
• Some questions require a specific form of answer. For example, the Write Essay question in the Writing Section mandates that answers be within the word limit of 200 to 300 words. Partial score is given if the answer is over or under the requirement.
• Quality of response is the third factor used to score Speaking and Writing answers. The score is based on English language skills such as grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse.

Remember that the score you get in the test is not marks but a scale. Unlike traditional exams, you are not asked several questions worth 90 marks. The total number of marks for all the questions is not fixed, as the number of questions that each test taker gets is different. Your raw scores are converted into a scale of 10 to 90 by computer algorithm.

For example, if you get two Summarize written text questions and one Write essay question in the exam, the total raw score available for the Writing section will be 29. If your raw score is 20 out of available 29, it is converted into a scale of 90. To get a rough estimate, you could divide 20 by 29 and multiply by 90. In our example, the figure comes at 62 out of 90. Although actual calculation of scores is more complicated (and Pearson doesn’t share all the details), you can assume that the number is the actual score for practice purposes.

For more details about raw score calculation, see below .

PTE Score Format: Understanding Enabling Skills scores

Enabling Skills highlight the ability of individuals to communicate in spoken or written English.

Grammar means your competence to apply correct language in the sentences you use in your answers. It checks grammatical structures, in relation to things like subject-verb agreement and word order, as well as the ability to use complex language.

Oral Fluency checks your delivery of speech in the Speaking section and whether it is smooth and naturally-paced.

Pronunciation is the skill to be understood while producing speech sounds. A regular user of the English language should easily understand your words. Variations in pronunciations and accents depending on location are acceptable as long as they are correctly understood.

Spelling is straightforward. Words should be written (typed, to be more exact) based on the dictionary version of either American or British English.

Vocabulary means making an appropriate choice of words and showing a range of your lexical resource. For example, the sentence “He was watching television” is more appropriate than “He was looking television.” Similarly, to show range, instead of repeating the same word over and over again in your answers, it is better to use synonyms.

Written Discourse judges your structure of answers in terms of logical development and meaning of your points or arguments.

But how does a computer give score? This is how PTE score is calculated

Pearson, the organization which created PTE Academic, has developed advanced technologies called the automated scoring engines . For PTE tests, the engines have been fed millions of sample answers from thousands of individuals from all over the world. These individuals, who participated in the research, were people from diverse backgrounds and not just native English speakers.

Therefore, the automated scoring engines of PTE are equipped with vast amounts of data to learn the pattern of human writing and speech, particularly in response to the types of questions asked in the exam.

Additionally, the automated scoring engines have been trained to evaluate the answers and assign a score based on methods used by actual human examiners. Scores given to test takers by human raters in the research are used by the software as the basis.

Think of how your phone autocorrects your messages as you type, or how Google Search completes your question before you finish, or how grammatically faulty sentences are highlighted by Microsoft Word. A similar technology is at work here.

PTE Scoring of written answers

PTE Academic uses an automated scoring engine called the Knowledge Analysis Technology (KAT) to understand the meaning of written answers. A mathematical technique called Latent Semantic Analysis, whereby a huge number of texts are analyzed, is employed by KAT to assess test takers’ answers.

The marking is done by a program known as the Intelligent Essay Assessor. This tool is capable of comprehending written discourse and finding out if the answers are going off-topic.

Sample of writing score given by PTE software

Machine score: 8.18 out of 14.

In PTE terms, this would be around 53 out of 90, which is the average level of academic English.

Machine score: 9.84 out of 14.

In PTE terms, this would be around 64 out of 90, which is the level of an independent and confident user of English.

Machine score: 13.23 out of 14.

In PTE terms, this would be around 85 out of 90, which is the level of an advanced and expert user of English.

PTE Marking System: Evaluation of speaking

Pearson’s Ordinate technology is at play in scoring the speaking portion of the PTE test. Factors such as speed and rhythm of speech, alongside voice quality, intonation, word choice, and pronunciation are taken into account by the computer.

Sample of speaking score given by PTE software

https://youtu.be/xt9jZWnOqHo (Playback on other websites has been disabled by the video owner, so you have to open this link manually.)

Machine score: 4.72 out of 15.

In PTE terms, this would be around 28 out of 90, which is a very basic level of academic English.

https://youtu.be/xSypJ-nVl-Y (Playback on other websites has been disabled by the video owner, so you have to open this link manually.)

Machine score: 9.49 out of 15.

In PTE terms, this would be around 57 out of 90, which is the level of an independent user of English.

https://youtu.be/XQs84fFhVYI (Playback on other websites has been disabled by the video owner, so you have to open this link manually.)

Machine score: 10.75 out of 15.

In PTE terms, this would be around 65 out of 90, which is the level of an independent and confident user of English.

The complete PTE Score Guide 2023 for all 20 question types in PTE

The criteria for pronunciation and oral fluency in detail, pronunciation, oral fluency.

In Describe image, Re-tell lecture, Summarize spoken text, Write essay, and Summarize written text questions, if the score for content is 0, then the overall score is also 0, regardless of other criteria.

Similarly, in Summarize spoken text, Write essay, and Summarize written text, if your Form is totally wrong, then you will not receive any further score for other areas like Grammar or Spelling.

Are all questions equally important in PTE Marking System?

Four question types: Repeat sentence, Write from dictation, Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks, and Read aloud are the most important questions in terms of marks because more than 50 percent of your total score depends on these four.

If you perform well in these questions, you can be assured to get a very good overall score. Refer to the table below to see the weightage of individual question type.

How to interpret PTE scores?

PTE result is presented in the form of a number between 10 and 90. This is based on the Global Scale of English, where 10 is the lowest score assigned for simply sitting the test without answering anything, while 90 is the maximum anyone can score .

According to the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR), a PTE score between 30 and 42 falls in the A2 level, designated to a basic user of English, who can understand and communicate in simple situations only.

A score from 43 to 58 is equivalent to the B1 level of CEFR. This means the individual can cope in academic as well as employment environments where English language is used.

Test takers who score more than 59 and under 75 are independent users of English who can understand complex technical or abstract concepts with a fair degree of fluency and spontaneity. This is the B2 level of CEFR.

The C1 level is reserved for scores from 76 to 84. People at this level can flexibly and effectively use and understand the English language in any situation.

Lastly, a PTE score upward of 84 falls under the C2 level of CEFR. These are highly proficient users of English who can easily understand almost everything in English and are skilled at communicating in fluent and precise manner.

To learn about how to convert PTE score into equivalent IELTS score, click here »

How reliable is the PTE test of English?

In statistics, a test-retest reliability score is expressed between 0 and 1, with 0 being a completely unreliable test and 1 being a totally reliable test. Values of 0.90 or higher are required for a test to be useful in human assessment.

Research has shown that the reliability coefficient of PTE test is between 0.91 and 0.97.

There is, however, a margin of error in these scores. The standard error of measurement for PTE is 2.32.

According to Pearson’s own research, in general, for the same answer, there is no difference between the score given by a human examiner and the automated PTE marking system.

What is a good PTE score?

Each immigration and education provider sets its own English language requirement. So, the chart below may not apply to specific circumstances.

46 and above for student visa for the UK and Australia

46 and above for undergraduate studies

56 and above for postgraduate studies

66 and above for technical subjects like Nursing and Engineering

84 and above for the maximum PR points in Canada and Australia

The benefits of PTE scoring system

• Since no human is involved, there is complete elimination of bias.
• Unlike IELTS, there is no one-on-one interview with the examiner, which may be stressful for some.
• Typing instead of writing suits people with bad handwriting.
• It is easy to plan your preparation according to the limited metrics used by the computer.

The downsides of PTE Marking System

• The computer does not recognize body language or contextual meaning like human examiners do.
• Developing native-like Fluency and Pronunciation, required for good scores, is extremely difficult.
• Typos are costly. Every single spelling error will reduce your score.

Still not sure about the damned computer?

Although fully understanding the PTE Marking System may be complex, and somebody not familiar with machine scoring may find the PTE score format puzzling, millions of students take the PTE test all over the world for abroad studies and immigration purposes. Rather than being mystified about how PTE score is calculated, you can simply begin lessons and try to perform your best on the test.

You may want to take this short quiz to see if you can handle the PTE test.

However, you could always go for the IELTS test , where human examiners check and grade your answers.

Here is an article that helps you to compare and contrast between PTE Academic and IELTS tests:

PTE vs IELTS: A complete guide to similarities and differences

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PTE Test Format Completely Explained [2024 updated]

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Thank you very much for detail explanation and score breakdown by percentage. Would you mind sharing how to calculate the weightage of individual question type?

Thanks in advance.

First you have to assign a score for individual question type on a scale of 90. Let’s suppose, you get 90 out of 90 in Repeat Sentence. You can see that this question type carries 14.39 percent of the overall score. So, 14.39 percent of 90 would be approximately 13. That means you get 13 out of 90 from this question alone. You do the same for all the questions and add them up.

I hope this helps. Mind you, the actual scoring equation that PTE uses is slightly different from this basic formula. Pearson does not disclose the actual marking scheme.

I got 90 in both speaking and listening, 79 in writing and 77 in reading. Need your advise if it is beneficial for me to have my reading rescored? Thanks

There are some question types in the PTE test which affect scores in both Reading and Writing sections. In the Reading section, it is Reading and writing: Fill in the blanks (the fill in the gaps question where the options are given in a drop-down menu). Tentatively speaking, almost a quarter of the total score in each of the Reading and the Writing section depends on this question. In the same manner, the Summarize written text question from the Writing section contributes to around 11 percent of the total score in the Writing section and the Reading section. You may have made mistakes in these question types which resulted in a lower score. Furthermore, mistakes in other questions might also affect scores.

In conclusion, your lower score might be the result of your own mistakes. Even though there are a lot of complaints from test takers about being scored unfairly in the Speaking section, I highly doubt the computer algorithm, which marks the test, made errors in calculating the score for the Writing and the Reading sections. Rescoring is fruitless in my opinion.

Thanks Gaurav for your insightful reply. Got clarity on the topic.

I am happy that I could help you John.

Hello Gaurav and John, do you have sample references that I can use for my PTE exam next week? John, well done on scoring 90 for the 2 components – care to share tips? Thank you both.

The most important tip is to practice all the past questions that have appeared in the test. Many questions will be repeated.

Still cannot figure out how section 2 general (listening dictation) is marked. In total it is 10 (5 for grammar and 5 for vocabulary), however, it is unclear when we lose marks. How wrong punctuation is marked is unaswered as well.

In Write from Dictation questions in the Listening section, which is the last question type in the PTE test, the question has as many marks as there are words.

For example, this sentence – “Professor Smith will be late for today’s lecture.” – is worth 8 marks since it has 8 words.

For every correct word you type as the answer, you will get 1 mark if the word has been spelled correctly. There is no negative marking. Inserting words which were not dictated or incorrect use of punctuation in the middle of the sentence does not affect the score.

However, the words have to appear in the correct sequence so as to get all the marks. Changing the order of words leads to a lower score. For instance, if the earlier sentence was typed as “Professor Smith be late will for today’s lecture.”, you would only receive 7 marks because the word “will” is not in the correct order.

Lastly, the initial letter of the first word of the sentence or of proper nouns has to be capitalized or else the word is identified as incorrect. Similarly, the last word of the sentence has to be accompanied by a punctuation mark.

Superb article. I finally understood PTE scoring.

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PTE Essay Writing- Scoring Pattern & Structure

" Oh, Essay Writing!!!

I have done that in my school years.  That should not be such a big of a deal. "

Many of the PTE test takers are guilty of this thought. They then practice at the very last moment and wonder why and where did they lose marks in the PTE Academic essay writing task? Writing task is not as easy as it seemed in your school years. We are not here to intimidate you but to give you a major reality check.

You have all the liberty to judge your skills when it comes to taking a particular test. But, just this while, we wanted to burst your bubble for your good. Let us first take you quickly through the requirements for this task that is "Essay Writing in PTE." In this task, you are supposed to write an essay of around 200-300 words in about 20 minutes. Yes, 20 Minutes! Seems easy? OK, let us now brief you with the scoring pattern.

The essay is scored based on essential skills. As much as we say that we do write on a daily basis or used to write flawlessly in the earlier years, in this English language proficiency exam, PTE Academic, there is a proper structure and method by which you must write. Method means the way you have answered a particular question.

Divulging deep into the scoring pattern and the structure of an essay, here are few guidelines as to how PTE essay needs to be written and its scoring model. Let us first look at what skills are you trying to prove. According to the PTE guidelines, your essay is scored on 7 enabling skills which are:

Content:  You need to write your essay to the point. Without realising, many test takers commit a mistake of writing off topic. Make sure that you write points relevant to the topic.

Form: The word limit for the Essay is clearly mentioned to be between 200-300 words.

Vocabulary:   It is always good to use a range of synonyms of words and idioms. 

Spelling: Spellings can sometimes be tricky. For example, 'affect' and 'effect', both have different meanings. Some of the words with more letters can be hard to spell. While typing there can be typos, for example, 'Continuous'.

Grammar: Grammar is the heart of the language. The general mistake that one commits is in the tenses. Also, many times the third person and first person contexts are confused. Make sure that while writing a particular type of essay, you take care of it.

Development, structure, and coherence: This is nothing but the written disclosure. The arguments of the essay must be presented in a logical manner. The ideas should be well connected using the linkers. So overall, the flow and the structure should be meaningful.

General Linguistic Range: Vaguely presented ideas will make you lose your marks. They must be well-communicated.

Now that you know about the scoring pattern i.e the skills that are fetching you marks or making you lose your marks let us see the appropriate format that works best and that we highly recommend for a 70+ score.

This essay structure is to help you produce a 200-300-word high-quality essay in 20 minutes.

The 3 main essential parts of it are:

Introduction: The introduction as it suggests, gives an outline of the topic. It is thus, a most important part of any essay. A concise and well put introduction with a connecting idea that supports the body paragraph is what you should be writing.

Body part: The body of the essay includes your main arguments related to the essay topic. To put more weight-age to your presented points, you must support it with applicable examples.

Conclusion: The conclusion majorly covers the information that you have provided as arguments in the entire essay in a summary form.

It is of utmost importance that you write the essay as per the specific format to get a better score in the Test. It is absolutely fine if you don't want to score high and not follow these tips. However, it is not every day that you will land on genuine tips that worked for numerous students. You can check it out for yourself at www.ptetuorials.com . We hope that you are now aware that you cannot just wing it when it is about practising for the PTE Exam and getting High Score in PTE .

Thus, showcasing your ideas is not the only thing that makes a good essay, you need to organise the ideas in a clear, logical and grammatically correct way. To stop yourself from getting carried away and writing complex structures and sentences, and also to help you get a better idea of what a well-written essay is like, we have compiled PTE-A Essay Essentials. In it, you will get complete and organised information as to how to write an essay, its structure and scoring patterns. Additionally, there are 15 essays that are regularly asked in the test.

For any further doubts that you might have, we do provide full support. So, Sign Up and start your preparation today!

The Complete Guide for Write Essay in PTE Writing

Navigating the intricacies of pte writing with marvelpte’s expert guidance.

"Unlock the secrets to PTE Write Essay success - where every word counts and every argument resonates with clarity and impact."

What does it take to excel in the 'Write Essay' item-type of the Writing Section ? This question often looms large in the minds of PTE aspirants. At MarvelPTE, led by our expert PTE Master Trainer Bhrat Brij, we offer a deep dive into the 'Write Essay' question-type, a pivotal element of the PTE Academic exam.

Embarking on the 'Write Essay' task is not just about writing; it's about articulating ideas cohesively and persuasively within a strict timeframe. With our guidance, learn how to effectively structure a 200-300 word essay, hone your argumentative skills, and seamlessly integrate complex ideas. This article is crafted to help you navigate through the nuances of PTE essay writing, offering strategies and insights that are essential for success. Join us in unraveling the essentials of the 'Write Essay' task and elevate your PTE Writing score with MarvelPTE.

The task tests a candidate's ability to construct a coherent and persuasive essay on a given topic. It challenges students to express their ideas within a structured format, adhering to the academic standards of essay writing. This task not only assesses writing skills but also evaluates the ability to think critically and articulate thoughts under time constraints.

The main purpose of discussing the 'Write Essay' question-type in this context is to provide PTE aspirants with a clear understanding of what this task entails and its significance in the PTE Academic exam. At MarvelPTE, our goal is to demystify the complexities of this task and guide students towards mastering the art of essay writing. This includes understanding the requirements of the task, such as writing a 200-300 word argumentative essay within 20 minutes, and developing skills to organize ideas logically, use appropriate vocabulary, and demonstrate a strong command of English.

Our discussion aims to highlight the importance of this question-type in the PTE Writing section and how it contributes significantly to the overall score. We want to equip our students with the knowledge and strategies necessary to approach this task confidently, ultimately enhancing their overall performance in the PTE Academic exam.

Introduction to Write Essay in PTE Writing

Definition and overview.

The Write Essay task comes after Summarize Written Text , it is designed to evaluate a candidate's ability to express ideas in written form. This task requires you to write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic, providing a platform to demonstrate your ability to structure thoughts, argue a point, and use language effectively. As an experienced PTE trainer at MarvelPTE, I've seen firsthand how this task can significantly impact a student's overall score.

Key Elements of the Write Essay Task:

• Task: Write a 200–300 word essay on a given topic.
• Prompt Length: 2–3 sentences.
• Skills Assessed: Writing.
• Time to Answer: 20 minutes.

Importance in PTE Academic Exam

The Write Essay task holds medium importance in the PTE Academic exam. It's not just a test of writing; it's a comprehensive assessment of your ability to organize ideas, present arguments, and showcase your command of the English language. This task directly influences the writing score and indirectly affects other skills like reading and critical thinking. At MarvelPTE, we emphasize this task's importance in our coaching, ensuring students are well-prepared to tackle this challenge.

Objective of the Write Essay Task

The primary objective of the Write Essay task is to assess a candidate's proficiency in composing a well-structured, clear, and coherent essay. This involves:

• Developing a Thesis: Formulating a central idea or argument.
• Organizing Ideas: Structuring the essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Presenting Arguments: Supporting the thesis with relevant examples and reasoning.
• Language Proficiency: Demonstrating a good command of vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.

Our approach at MarvelPTE integrates these elements into our teaching methodology, ensuring our students are adept at not only understanding the task but excelling in it. By focusing on these aspects, we prepare students to confidently approach the Write Essay task, significantly improving their chances of achieving a high score in the PTE Academic exam.

Understanding the Write Essay Task

Task description and requirements, writing a 200–300 word essay.

The 'Write Essay' task in PTE Writing involves crafting an essay between 200 to 300 words on a provided topic. This requirement tests not only the ability to argue a point but also to express it concisely and effectively within a limited word count. At MarvelPTE, we emphasize precision in language and clarity of thought, guiding students to express complex ideas within this word limit.

Time Allocation: 20 Minutes

Time management is crucial in the Write Essay task. With only 20 minutes allotted, candidates must efficiently plan, write, and revise their essays. This constraint tests the ability to organize thoughts quickly and write effectively under pressure. Our training at MarvelPTE includes exercises to enhance time management skills, ensuring students can comfortably meet this time requirement.

Skills Assessed in Write Essay

• Crafting a clear and coherent essay structure.
• Demonstrating a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
• Presenting ideas logically and coherently.
• Developing and supporting arguments.
• Analyzing and evaluating different perspectives.
• Demonstrating critical thinking through well-structured arguments.

Real-World Example:

Consider a topic like 'The impact of technology on education'. A well-written essay would not only discuss the positive aspects, such as increased accessibility to resources but also critically analyze potential drawbacks, such as the digital divide.

Key Components of a Strong PTE Essay

Components of a Strong PTE Essay

Structure and organization, logical flow and coherence.

A strong PTE essay is marked by its logical flow and coherence. Each paragraph should seamlessly transition to the next, maintaining a clear thread of thought throughout the essay. At MarvelPTE, we teach students to structure their essays with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, ensuring that each part contributes to the overall argument or narrative.

Content Development

Developing content in a PTE essay involves more than just answering the prompt. It's about presenting a well-thought-out argument with supporting details and examples. Here's how we approach it:

• Understanding the question's requirements.
• Covering all aspects of the topic.
• Providing concrete examples to illustrate points.
• Utilizing relevant data and quotations to strengthen arguments.

Essential Elements of Essay Structure

Real-world application:.

Consider a topic like 'The Role of Globalization in Economic Growth'. A well-structured essay would introduce the concept of globalization, discuss its various impacts on economies with examples, and conclude with an evaluation of its overall effect.

• Crafting Coherent Paragraphs: Each paragraph should have a clear purpose, contributing to the overall argument of the essay. This includes:
• Topic Sentences: Introducing the main idea of the paragraph.
• Supporting Sentences: Expanding the idea with details, examples, or arguments.
• Concluding Sentences: Summarizing the paragraph and linking it to the next.

By focusing on these components, MarvelPTE ensures that students not only understand what makes a strong essay but also how to apply these principles in their writing. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of effective communication and equips students with the skills necessary for academic and professional success.

Formal Aspects of Write Essay

Length requirements: 200-300 words.

The 'Write Essay' task in PTE Writing demands a precise word count of 200 to 300 words. This requirement tests a student's ability to succinctly express complex ideas within a confined space. At MarvelPTE, we emphasize the importance of brevity and clarity, training our students to articulate their thoughts within this word limit effectively.

Linguistic Range and Vocabulary

Using Appropriate and Varied Vocabulary:

• Choice of words: Selecting vocabulary that is both appropriate and varied is crucial. It reflects a student's proficiency in English and their ability to convey nuanced ideas.
• Adapting to the topic: The ability to use jargon or technical terms relevant to the essay topic is a key skill assessed.

Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation

Importance of Accuracy and Consistency:

• Grammar: Correct grammatical structures are essential for conveying clear and precise meaning. Errors can distract from the argument and reduce the impact of the essay.
• Spelling: Consistent and correct spelling is a basic requirement, showing attention to detail and mastery of language.
• Punctuation: Proper use of punctuation aids in the flow and readability of the essay, guiding the reader through the argument.

Checklist for Formal Aspects of Write Essay

Real life example:.

In an essay about 'Environmental Sustainability', the use of specific terminology like 'renewable energy', 'carbon footprint', and 'sustainable practices' showcases linguistic range. Ensuring the essay is grammatically sound, with correct spelling and punctuation, enhances its overall quality and effectiveness.

At MarvelPTE, we recognize these formal aspects as fundamental in essay writing. Our teaching methods are designed to instill these skills in our students, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the PTE Academic's rigorous standards. Our focus on these details not only prepares students for the PTE exam but also for their future academic and professional writing endeavors.

Scoring Criteria for Write Essay

Explanation of scoring factors.

The scoring of the Write Essay task in PTE Writing is based on several critical factors. At MarvelPTE, we ensure our students understand these factors to optimize their performance in the exam.

• The essay must address all aspects of the given topic.
• The use of relevant details, examples, and explanations to support the argument is essential.
• The essay should be well-organized with a logical flow.
• It should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Coherence in connecting ideas and paragraphs is vital.
• Accurate use of grammar is crucial for clear communication.
• Proper sentence structure, punctuation, and capitalization are essential for a high score.
• A broad range of vocabulary appropriate for the academic context.
• Correct spelling is mandatory, and consistent use of a single spelling convention is required.

PTE Write Essay Scoring Criteria

Real-life example:.

Consider an essay topic like 'Impact of Social Media on Society'. A high-scoring essay would comprehensively cover aspects like communication ease and misinformation risks, structured coherently with strong grammar and a rich vocabulary.

At MarvelPTE, we focus on these scoring criteria in our coaching sessions, providing students with the knowledge and practice needed to excel in the Write Essay task. We equip our students with the skills to not only meet but exceed these scoring parameters, ensuring their success in the PTE Academic exam.

Strategies for Effective Essay Writing

Analyzing the essay type.

Understanding Different Types of Topics In the Write Essay task, topics can vary widely, encompassing everything from social issues to technological advancements. At MarvelPTE, we train students to identify the type of essay required – be it argumentative, expository, or reflective – and tailor their approach accordingly.

Strategies for Developing Ideas

Brainstorming Key Points:

• Identifying main ideas and supporting details relevant to the topic.
• Developing a thesis statement that guides the essay's direction.

Time Management Techniques

Balancing Planning, Writing, and Revision

• Allocating time for each phase of essay writing.
• Ensuring enough time for reviewing and refining the final essay.

Utilizing Templates and Tricks

Benefits and Limitations of Using Templates:

• Just like in Summarize Spoken Text , here too templates can provide a basic structure, aiding in quick organization of thoughts.
• However, over-reliance on templates may hinder the demonstration of original thinking and creativity.

Effective Essay Writing Strategies

Real-Life Application: For an essay on 'The Effects of Global Warming', students might brainstorm points on causes, consequences, and mitigation measures, plan their essay structure, write the essay with clear arguments, and revise it for coherence and grammar.

At MarvelPTE, our focus is on empowering students with these effective writing strategies. We provide guidance on how to best analyze essay prompts, develop well-thought-out ideas, manage time efficiently, and use templates judiciously, all while maintaining originality and creativity. This comprehensive approach ensures our students are well-prepared not just for the PTE Write Essay task but for academic writing in general.

Common Mistakes in PTE Essay Writing and How to Avoid Them

Going off-topic.

One of the frequent errors in PTE essay writing is straying from the assigned topic. At MarvelPTE, we emphasize the importance of staying focused on the prompt. Our strategy involves:

• Careful Analysis of the Prompt: Before writing, thoroughly understand what the question asks.
• Sticking to the Thesis: Continuously refer back to your thesis statement to ensure relevance.

Inadequate Development of Ideas

Developing ideas is crucial in essay writing. Weak or underdeveloped arguments can significantly lower the essay's effectiveness. To counter this, we teach:

• Brainstorming Before Writing: Jot down key points and examples in the planning stage.
• Elaborating on Points: Ensure each argument is well-supported with examples or evidence.

Errors in Grammar and Spelling

Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes can detract from the essay's quality. At MarvelPTE, our coaching focuses on:

• Regular Practice: Enhancing grammar and spelling skills through consistent practice.
• Proofreading: Encouraging students to allocate time for revising and correcting their essays.

Strategies to Avoid Common Essay Writing Mistakes

Real-life application:.

For example, in an essay about 'The Role of Education in Society', staying on topic would involve discussing education's impact on societal development and avoiding unrelated areas like political systems.

At MarvelPTE, our unique blend of expert coaching and innovative online tools equips students with the skills to avoid these common mistakes. We ensure that our students not only understand these pitfalls but also have the strategies to write high-quality, compelling essays. Our approach is designed to elevate their learning outcomes, making MarvelPTE's coaching and online software indispensable tools in their PTE preparation journey.

Actionable Tips for PTE Write Essay Success:

• Understand the Essay Prompt: Read and re-read the prompt to grasp the core topic and requirements.
• Effective Brainstorming: Spend a few minutes brainstorming ideas and organizing your thoughts.
• Balanced Argumentation: Present balanced viewpoints if the topic requires, but ensure to have a clear stance.
• Practice Typing: Since PTE is a computer-based test, improve your typing speed and accuracy.
• Regular Review and Feedback: Write practice essays and seek feedback from experts at MarvelPTE.

Mastering the Write Essay task in the PTE Academic exam requires a blend of clear understanding, strategic planning, and effective execution. By focusing on the core aspects of the task – understanding the prompt, developing ideas, maintaining logical flow, and adhering to grammatical accuracy – students can significantly enhance their essay writing skills. After the essay question type, you progress to the Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks task of the next section, which is considered a very important task.

At MarvelPTE, we pride ourselves on providing comprehensive coaching and state-of-the-art online tools to help students excel in the Write Essay task. Our approach is tailored to address the individual needs of each student, ensuring they gain the necessary skills and confidence to perform exceptionally in the PTE Academic exam.

Embark on your journey to PTE success with MarvelPTE. Join us for expert guidance, personalized coaching, and access to our innovative online platform. Enhance your essay writing skills and unlock your full potential in the PTE Academic exam. Contact us to start your preparation today!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Content relevance and completeness.
• Logical development and structure.
• Grammar, usage, and mechanics.
• Vocabulary range and spelling.

Bhrat Brij, a distinguished PTE Master Trainer at MarvelPTE, boasts a streak of 90-point scores on PTE. His expertise, fused with a fervor for teaching, positions him as an unparalleled authority in PTE prep. Using cutting-edge AI-driven approach, Bhrat sets students on a path to PTE success.

• PTE SCORING
• PTE VOUCHER
• REPEAT SENTENCE
• DESCRIBE IMAGE
• RETELL LECTURE
• SUMMARIZE WRITTEN TEXT
• FILL IN THE BLANKS
• REORDER PARAGRAPH
• SUMMARIZE SPOKEN TEXT
• LISTENING TASKS
• READING-WRITING FIBS
• READING FIBS
• ADELAIDE MARKETS
• SA ATTRACTIONS

PTE Scoring Structure for all sections based on each task

Before preparing for the test , we should have a look at the scoring system of PTE Academic. Though we are working hard to get 79+ in each section, it is difficult to crack if we don’t understand the scoring structure. We must understand which task carries more marks and which ones we have to prioritize. Let us see how the score is calculated and why it is important to know. Machine based score using PTE Academic’s automated scoring system. Here, no manual correction as it is completely system based and the result will be obtained within 1 to 5 business days.

Unlike IELTS, the marks are shared between each sections. In IELTS each section has its own scoring. Say for example, in reading section the marks will be given only to that section, similarly for other sections the points will be given only to those particular sections. However, in PTE the marks will be shared between all modules. We will see them below in detail.

To score 79+, it is enough to concentrate on certain tasks instead of practicing all tasks. This is why it is important to understand the scoring structure. Though we need to attend all the tasks, some of them are not much important. For example, Multiple Choice Questions, Highlight Correct Summary and Select Missing Words carry less marks. We have to spend less time for these sections. In that way, we will find more time for attending other tasks, which carry more marks.

Please watch the below video to have a complete understanding on PTE scoring system .

Two types of scoring in PTE Academic

Correct or incorrect In reading and listening sections, MCQs and FIBs have either correct or incorrect scoring. In addition to that, we do have negative marks for MCQs multiple answers and HIW. For example, in multiple choice multiple answers, if the answers are A and B but if we select A, B and C we will get 1 for each correct answer and -1 for the wrong answer, which is C. Finally, we will get 2-1, that is 1 mark given to that question. Similarly, if the answers are A and B, but if we select C and D, we won’t get -2, instead we will get zero marks, because the minimum mark for each question is zero.

Partial scoring Marks will be given based on the keywords that we use, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, content, fluency and pronunciation. For example, in speaking section, a maximum of 5 marks each, will be given to content, fluency and pronunciation. The marks will be reduced from 5 to 0 based on the content that we deliver. Suppose if the content is irrelevant, then zero mark will be given for content but if the fluency is too good, then 5 marks will be given to fluency.

We will see more details in speaking section.

PTE Scoring – Speaking

Speaking is the only section, which does not scored from other sections.

The below are the tasks in speaking section:

It carries equal marks to speaking and reading. If we maintain smooth fluency and 50% pronunciation, we will get more than 79 marks in speaking section as the content is not important in speaking section. However, for reading and listening, it is very important to maintain content and pronunciation as well.

Repeat sentence

32 marks for speaking and around 20 for listening. This task contributes highest marks to PTE.

Describe image

Since it is scored only for speaking section, we can concentrate only on fluency to get more marks in speaking section.

Retell Lecture

11 marks for speaking section and 9.9 marks for listening section. For both describe image and retell lecture we can follow the template to avoid fumbling while speaking. We can follow any template, but we should capture proper phrases from the inputs provided and include them in the template. You can find the templates that I have shared in the speaking section.

Answer short Questions

Only 2.4 marks for speaking section and 6.6 marks for listening section. It is completely based on the general knowledge and we have lot of questions in the internet. For ASQ, if we don’t know the answer, just repeat the question as it is evaluating your listening skills and not the general knowledge.

PTE Scoring – Writing

Although we have only two tasks in writing section, which carries only 20 marks, the tasks from reading and listening sections provide more marks. Summarize written text contributes 10 marks for reading section.

PTE Scoring – Reading

Fill in the blanks (drag and drop) – This is scored only for reading.

Fill in the blanks (drop-down) – It carries approximately equal marks for reading and writing.

Reorder paragraph is scored only for reading section.

MCQs – Both single answer and multiple answer multiple choice questions have only less marks. This is what I have mentioned earlier. We can give more priority to other tasks and give less importance to these two tasks. Since reading section is time consuming, overall we can spend only a maximum of 2 minutes for each question of these two tasks and can concentrate on other tasks. The remaining marks will be contributed by the other three sections.

PTE Scoring – Listening

And the final section is listening, which has more tasks. However, we can prioritize the tasks by allocating less time for the sections, which carries less marks.

Here, summarize spoken text, fill in the blanks and write from dictation are important for writing as well. Similarly, Highlight incorrect words is important for reading section. Other sections have very less marks. Therefore, we can allocate time based on the provided time.

Normally, we will spend more time for highlight correct summary and may miss 1 or 2 WFD. But, the points provided for HCS is only 1.3 for listening section and 1.5 for reading section. Therefore, we need to complete this task as quick as possible. Whereas, WFD has more marks for listening and writing sections, therefore, we have to allocate atleast 4 minutes for this task, because sometimes we will get 4 questions in WFD. As a result, try to complete the tasks as soon as possible, which is less important and spend more time on other tasks.

The below screenshot shows the detailed points structure of all the tasks.

Based on this scoring system, identify your weak areas in high priority tasks and spend more time on them. Practice well and do your best. Hope this information helps!

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Understanding the PTE Academic Marking System: A Comprehensive Guide

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Introduction

In the realm of English proficiency exams, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) holds a significant place. It’s widely recognized and accepted by universities, colleges, and governments around the world as a reliable measure of English language proficiency. However, understanding how PTE Academic is marked can be crucial for test-takers aiming to achieve their desired scores. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of the PTE Academic marking system , shedding light on its components, criteria, and tips for success.

The Structure of PTE Academic

Before diving into the marking system, let’s briefly outline the structure of the PTE Academic exam. The test comprises four main sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, Listening, and the PTE Academic Enabling Skills. Each section evaluates different aspects of English proficiency, providing a holistic assessment of the test-taker’s language skills.

Speaking and Writing

The Speaking and Writing section of PTE Academic assesses a candidate’s ability to effectively communicate in English. It includes tasks such as reading aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Images, Re-Tell Lectures, Answer Short Questions, Summarize Written Text, and Writing Essays. Each task is scored based on specific criteria, including content, pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.

The Reading section evaluates the test-taker’s ability to comprehend written English. It consists of various tasks such as Multiple-Choice, Re-order Paragraphs, Fill in the Blanks, and Multiple-Choice, Choosing a Single Answer. Test-takers are assessed on their comprehension skills, understanding of vocabulary and grammar, and ability to identify key information.

In the Listening section, candidates are assessed on their ability to understand spoken English. Tasks include Summarize Spoken Text, Multiple-Choice, Choose Multiple Answers, Fill in the Blanks, highlighting correct Summary, Multiple-Choice, Choosing Single Answer, and Select Missing Word. Proficiency in listening for key information, understanding context, and comprehending accents are crucial for success in this section.

PTE Academic Enabling Skills

Apart from the main sections, PTE Academic also evaluates Enabling Skills, which include Oral Fluency, Pronunciation, Spelling, Vocabulary Range, Grammar, and Written Discourse. These skills are assessed throughout the exam and contribute to the overall scoring.

The Marking System

Now, let’s delve into the specifics of the PTE Academic marking system. Each task in the exam is scored using an automated scoring system, which ensures fairness and consistency in evaluation. The scoring is based on predefined criteria for each task, with points allocated for different aspects of language proficiency.

The scoring scale for PTE Academic ranges from 10 to 90, with increments of 1 point. Test-takers receive separate scores for each section of the exam, as well as an overall score, which reflects their overall English proficiency.

Scoring Criteria

The scoring criteria for each task in PTE Academic are carefully designed to assess specific aspects of language proficiency. Here’s a brief overview of the criteria for the Speaking and Writing section:

• Content: The relevance and completeness of the response to the task prompt.
• Pronunciation: The accuracy and clarity of pronunciation, including intonation and stress.
• Fluency: The smoothness and naturalness of speech, without hesitations or pauses.
• Vocabulary: The range and accuracy of vocabulary used in the response.
• Grammar: The correctness and complexity of grammatical structures employed.
• Spelling: The accuracy of spelling in written responses.

Similarly, the Reading and Listening sections are scored based on criteria such as comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and oral fluency.

Tips for Success

Achieving a high score in PTE Academic requires thorough preparation and a strategic approach. Here are some tips to enhance your performance:

• Familiarize yourself with the test format and instructions.
• Practice regularly using official PTE Academic preparation materials and sample tests.
• Focus on improving your English language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and fluency.
• Pay attention to time management during the exam to ensure you complete all tasks within the allotted time.
• Review and analyze your performance in practice tests to identify areas for improvement.
• Utilize resources such as online courses, study guides, and tutoring to supplement your preparation.

The PTE Academic marking system is designed to provide a fair and accurate assessment of English language proficiency. By understanding the structure, scoring criteria, and tips for success, test-takers can effectively prepare for the exam and strive to achieve their desired scores. With dedication, practice, and the right approach, success in PTE Academic is within reach.

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PTE EXAM PREPARATION

PTE Academic Exam Practice Material

PTE Essay Writing (Content & Form) Scoring Criteria & Weightage of Marks

PTE Essay Writing (Content & Form) Scoring Criteria, Weightage of Marks

In essay writing the marks are given based on the “content”. This is the first subsection of the essay writing scorer.

A) Three Marks –  Three marks are awarded if the person adequately deals with the “prompt” of the topic, which is given to you.

B) Two Marks –  Two marks are awarded, if the person deals with the prompt, but does not deal with “One Minor Aspect”.

C) One Mark – One mark is given if the person deals with the prompt, but omits a major aspect or more than one minor aspect.

D) No Mark – is given if the person does not deal properly with the prompt.

PTE academic essay questions and ideas

A) Two Marks – Form marks are given if the length is between 200 and 300 words you will be given with two marks.

Any of the following should never be done. Doesn’t matter how vast the topic is.

B) One Mark – If the length is between 120 and 199 or between 301 and 380 words you’ll be given one mark.

C) Zero Mark – Zero is given if the length is less than 120 or more than 380 words. If the essay is written in capital letters and contain no punctuation or only consists of bullet points or very short sentences.

Do’s and Don’ts for PTE Content

So technically last two points we are never gonna do – keep in mind it doesn’t matter how vast the topic is, doesn’t matter how much elaboration it needs, doesn’t matter at all. You are never gonna write “one mark or zero marks” example.

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Marking Criteria For PTE

The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is an international computer-based English language test providing a measure of the test taker’s language ability to assist education institutions and professional/ government organizations that ask for a standard of academic English language proficiency for admission procedures.

PTE Academic scoring is done against the Global Scale of English, a thermometer-style scale giving an accurate overview of your skills.

The PTE Academic reports an overall score, communicative skills scores and enabling skills scores.

The Overall Score

The Overall Score is recorded based on the performance in all test items (consisting of instructions, questions or prompts, answer opportunities and scoring rules). Each test taker answers between 71 and 83 items in any given test and there are 20 different item types. The score provided for each item adds to the overall score. 10-90 points is the Score range.

Note: The overall score is not an average calculation of the communicative scores.

Communicative Skills Score

Listening, reading, speaking and writing are the communicative skills that are measured. Many specific sub skills are also tested by these items, testing the communicative skills. The items that require integrated skills (those assessing reading and speaking, listening and speaking, reading and writing, listening and writing, or listening and reading) their item score contributes to the score for the communicative skills that the item assesses.

For each skill, the score range is 10–90 points.Confident businessman wearing spectacles and giving a presentation in office. Leader briefing his creative business team with annual goals. Mid adult business man training multiethnic businesspeople in conference room.

Enabling skills scores

The reporting of Enabling skills is done to make the test-takers understand the areas of strength and areas for improvement in their language ability. Enabling skills include grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and written discourse.

Enabling skill scores are basically the summary of a test taker’s performance on various aspects of language scored in different item types. The scoring of some speaking and writing items is done against the criteria relating to traits in the spoken or written responses. Traits are characteristics of the response relating to features of language ability. The traits contributing to enabling skills scores, as well as to overall and communicative skills scores are listed in the table below

For Content, some speaking and writing items are also scored. The Content scores help in identifying how accurately the content of a spoken or written response addresses the item promptly. For Form, some writing items are scored. These Form Scores are based on formal characteristics of the response like the number of words etc. Content and Form scores contribute to overall and communicative skills scores only.

Item Scoring:

In PTE Academic, all items are machine scored. For some item types, the scores are based only on correctness, while rest are based on correctness, formal aspects and the quality of the response.

Formal aspects mean the form of the response: like, whether it is over or under the word limit for a particular item type.

The enabling skills represent the quality of the response. For example, in the Re-tell lecture item type, the response is scored on enabling skills such as oral fluency and pronunciation. Scores are generated by automated scoring systems for item types assessing speaking and writing skills. The two types of scoring are:

Correct or Incorrect

Scoring of some item types is done as either correct or incorrect. 1 score point will be given for the correct response and no score points are given if the response is incorrect.

Partial credit

The scoring for other item types is done as correct, partially correct or incorrect. The maximum score points available for each item type will be awarded when the responses are correct. If the responses are partly correct, some score points will be given, but those score points will be less than the maximum available for the item type. No score points are awarded in case of incorrect responses.

Scoring of all 20 item types

Let’s give you an overview of how the 20 item types in the three parts of PTE Academic (Part 1 Speaking and Writing, Part 2 Reading, Listening) are scored.

Under Item type Read Aloud, the communicative skills scored are Reading and Writing, and content, pronunciation and oral fluency are the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of partial credits and time allowed is 30-35minutes for 6-7 items.

Scoring of Traits

Content: Each replacement, omission or insertion of a word counts as one error. Maximum score: depends on the length of the item prompt.

• Pronunciation: 5 Native-like 4 Advanced 3 Good 2 Intermediate 1 Intrusive 0 Non-English
• Oral fluency: 5 Native-like 4 Advanced 3 Good 2 Intermediate 1 Limited 0 Disfluent

Under item type Repeat Sentence, the communicative skills scored are Listening and Speaking, and content, pronunciation and oral fluency are the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of partial credits for 10-12 items.

Scoring of Traits:

Content: Errors = replacements, omissions and insertions only Hesitations, filled or unfilled pauses, leading or trailing material are ignored in the scoring of content

• 3 All words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
• 2 At least 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
• 1 Less than 50% of words in the response from the prompt in the correct sequence
• 0 Almost nothing from the prompt in the response

Pronunciation:

• 5 Native-like 4 Advanced 3 Good 2 Intermediate 1 Intrusive 0 Non-English

Under item type Describe Image, the communicative skill scored is Speaking, and content, pronunciation and oral fluency are the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of partial credits for 6-7 items.

• Content: 5 Describes all elements of the image and their relationships, possible development and conclusion or implications
• 4 Describes all the key elements of the image and their relations, referring to their implications or conclusions
• 3 Deals with most key elements of the image and refers to their implications or conclusions
• 2 Deals with only one key element in the image and refers to an implication or conclusion. Shows basic understanding of several core elements of the image
• 1 Describes some basic elements of the image, but does not make clear their interrelations or implications
• 0 Mentions some disjointed elements of the presentation

Under item type Re-tell lecture, the communicative skills scored are Listening and Speaking, and pronunciation and oral fluency are the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of partial credits for 3-4 items.

Oral fluency:

• 5 Native-like 4 Advanced 3 Good 2 Intermediate 1 Limited 0 Disfluent
• 5 Re-tells all points of the presentation and describes characters, aspects and actions, their relationships, the underlying development, implications and conclusions
• 4 Describes all key points of the presentation and their relations, referring to their implications and conclusions
• 3 Deals with most points in the presentation and refers to their implications and conclusions
• 2 Deals with only one key point and refers to an implication or conclusion. Shows basic understanding of several core elements of the presentation
• 1 Describes some basic elements of the presentation but does not make clear their interrelations or implications

Under item type Answer short question, the communicative skills scored are Listening and Speaking, and vocabulary is the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of correct/incorrect for 10-12 items.

Vocabulary:

• 1 Appropriate word choice in response
• 0 Inappropriate word choice in response

Under item type Summarize written text, the communicative skills scored are Reading and writing, and form, grammar and vocabulary are the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of partial credits and time allowed is 20-30 minutes for 10-12 items.

• Form: 1 Is written in one, single, complete sentence
• 0 Not written in one single, complete sentence or contains fewer than 5 or more than 75 words. Summary is written in capital letters.
• 2 Provides a good summary of the text. All relevant aspects mentioned
• 1 Provides a fair summary of the text but misses one or two aspects
• 0 Omits or misrepresents the main aspects of the text
• 2 Has correct grammatical structure
• 1 Contains grammatical errors but with no hindrance to communication
• 0 Has defective grammatical structure which could hinder communication
• 2 Has appropriate choice of words
• 1 Contains lexical errors but with no hindrances to communication
• 0 Has defective word choice which could hinder communication

Under item type Write essay, the communicative skills scored is Writing, and Content; form; development, structure, coherence; grammar; general linguistic range; vocabulary range; spellings are the traits scored. Scoring is done in the form of partial credits and time allowed is 20-40 minutes for 1-2 items.

• 3 Adequately deals with the prompt
• 2 Deals with the prompt but does not deal with one minor aspect
• 1 Deals with the prompt but omits a major aspect or more than one minor aspect
• 0 Does not deal properly with the prompt
• 2 Length is between 200 and 300 words
• 1 Length is between 120 and 199 or between 301 and 380 words
• 0 Length is less than 120 or more than 380 words.

Essay is written in capital letters, contains no punctuation or only consists of bullet points or very short sentences.

Development, structure and coherence:

• 2 Shows good development and logical structure
• 1 Is incidentally less well structured, and some elements or paragraphs are poorly linked 0 Lacks coherence and mainly consists of lists or loose elements

Grammar: 2 Shows consistent grammatical control of complex language. Errors are rare and difficult to spot.

• 1 Shows a relatively high degree of grammatical control. No mistakes which would lead to misunderstandings
• 0 Contains mainly simple structures and/or several basic mistakes

General linguistic range: 2 Exhibits smooth mastery of a wide range of language to formulate thoughts precisely, give emphasis, differentiate and eliminate ambiguity. No sign that the test taker is restricted in what they want to communicate

• 1 Sufficient range of language to provide clear descriptions, express viewpoints and develop arguments
• 0 Contains mainly basic language and lacks precision

Vocabulary range: 2 Good command of a broad lexical repertoire, idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms

• 1 Shows a good range of vocabulary for matters connected to general academic topics. Lexical shortcomings lead to circumlocution or some imprecision
• 0 Contains mainly basic vocabulary insufficient to deal with the topic at the required level

Spelling: 2 Correct spelling 1 One spelling error 0 More than one spelling error

Part 2: Reading (approximately 31-41 minutes)

Under item type, Reading and Writing: Fill in the blanks, the communicative skills scored are Reading and Writing and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each correctly completed blank) for 5-6 items.

Reading and writing: 1 Each correctly completed blank 0 Minimum score

Under item type, Multiple-Choice, choose multiple answers, the communicative skill scored is Reading and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each correct response, points deducted for incorrect options chosen) for 2-3 items.

Reading: 1 Each correct response – 1 Each incorrect response 0 Minimum score

Under item type, Re-order paragraphs, the communicative skill scored is Reading and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each correctly ordered, adjacent pair) for 2-3 items.

Reading: 1 Each pair of correct adjacent textboxes 0 Minimum score

Under item type, Reading: Fill in the blanks, the communicative skill scored is Reading and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each correctly completed blank) for 4-5 items.

Reading: 1 Each correctly completed blank 0 Minimum score

Under item type, Multiple-choice, Choose single answer, the communicative skill scored is Reading and the scoring is done in the form of correct/incorrect for 2-3 items. Part 3

Under item type, Summarize Spoken type, the communicative skills scored are Listening and Writing and the traits scored are Content, form, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and scoring is done in the form of partial credits for 2-3 items and time allowed is 20-30 minutes.

• 2 Provides a good summary of the text. All relevant aspects are mentioned.
• 1 Provides a fair summary of the text, but one or two aspects are missing
• 0 Omits or misrepresents the main aspects
• 2 Contains 50-70 words
• 1 Contains 40-49 words or 71-100 words
• 0 Contains less than 40 words or more than 100 words. Summary is written in capital letters, contains no punctuation or consists only of bullet points or very short sentences.
• 2 Correct grammatical structures
• 1 Contains grammatical errors with no hindrance to communication
• 0 Defective grammatical structure which could hinder communications
• 2 Appropriate choice of words
• 1 Some lexical errors but with no hindrance to communication
• 0 Defective word choice which could hinder communication
• 2 Correct spelling
• 1 One spelling error
• 0 More than one spelling errors

Under item type, Multiple-Choice, choose multiple answers, the communicative skill scored is Listening and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each correct response, points deducted for incorrect options chosen) and time allowed is 23-28 minutes for 2-3 items.

Listening: 1 Each correct response – 1 Each incorrect response 0 Minimum score

Under item type, Fill in the blanks, the communicative skills scored are Listening and writing and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each correct work spelled correctly) for 2-3 items.

Listening and writing:

• 1 Each correct word spelled correctly
• 0 Minimum score

Under item type, Highlight correct summary, the communicative skills scored are Listening and writing and the scoring is done in the form of correct/incorrect for 2-3 items.

Listening and reading:

• 1 Correct response
• 0 Incorrect response

Under item type, Multiple-choice, choose single answer, the communicative skill scored is Listening and the scoring is done in the form of correct/incorrect for 2-3 items.

Under item type, Select missing word, the communicative skill scored is Listening and the scoring is done in the form of correct/incorrect for 2-3 items.

Under item type, Highlight incorrect words, the communicative skills scored are Listening and reading and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each word, points deducted for incorrect options chosen) for 2-3 items.

• 1 Each correct word – 1 Each incorrect word

Under item type, Write from dictation, the communicative skills scored are Listening and writing and the scoring is done in the form of partial credits (for each word spelled correctly) for 3-4 items.

Listening and writing: 1 Each correct word spelled correctly 0 Each incorrect or misspelled word

dartboard and dart on wood floor

Scoring criteria for Pronunciation and Oral fluency

The scoring criteria applied to the speaking item types that are scored on pronunciation and oral fluency in PTE Academic is as follows:

• Oral fluency: 5 Native–like 4 Advanced 3 Good 2 Intermediate 1 Limited 0 Disfluent

Note: The total timings do not include the maximum and minimum timings indicated for the sections of each part of the test. This is so because the different versions of the test are balanced for total length. No test taker gets the indicated maximum or minimum times.

Now that you have got a fair idea about the marking criteria for PTE, we hope the above information will help you in preparing for your PTE Exam in a much-advanced way! If you’re looking for expert guidance and a foolproof way to crack the test, get in touch with English WIse.

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