A useful PTE Core email answers the situation, covers every requested point and sounds appropriate for its reader. Start with the four original examples below, then write your own response before reading the commentary.
Pearson currently specifies 80–120 words in 9 minutes for Write Email. Follow the instructions on your actual test screen. These are BandLadder practice examples, not recalled exam questions or officially scored responses. Source: Pearson’s PTE Core format.
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1. A formal request: replace a damaged item
Your task: You ordered a desk lamp from an online shop. It arrived with a broken switch. Write to customer support. Explain the problem, describe the evidence you can provide, and request a suitable solution.
Dear Customer Support,
I am writing about the desk lamp delivered to my home yesterday. Although the packaging looked intact, the switch was broken and the lamp would not turn on. I have not tried to repair it because I do not want to damage it further.
I can send photographs of the switch, the packaging and my order confirmation. Please let me know where to upload these files.
Could you arrange a replacement and explain how I should return the faulty lamp? I would appreciate a prepaid return label, since the item arrived damaged.
Kind regards,
Alex
Why the response works
- Problem: the broken switch explains why the product cannot be used. “The product is bad” would be less useful.
- Evidence: the writer names relevant photographs and the order confirmation without inventing a long order number.
- Solution: the request is a replacement plus return instructions. The reader knows what action to take.
- Tone: the email is firm and polite. It does not threaten the shop or turn into an essay about customer service.
Try a change: Rewrite the final paragraph to request a refund instead. Keep the reason consistent with the original problem.
2. A workplace email: change a training session
Your task: A work training session overlaps with an appointment you cannot move. Write to your manager. Explain the clash, propose an alternative, and say how you will catch up.
Dear Morgan,
I am scheduled to attend the software training on Tuesday afternoon, but it overlaps with a hospital appointment that I cannot move. I am sorry that I did not notice the clash when I accepted the invitation.
Would it be possible for me to join the Thursday morning session instead? I have checked my calendar and can attend the whole session without interruption.
If that group is full, I could watch the recording and complete the exercises before Friday. I would then ask a colleague to check my work so that I am ready to use the software next week.
Kind regards,
Alex
Why the response works
The first paragraph gives a short explanation. The next proposes a workable date. The final paragraph offers a fallback and a catch-up plan. Notice that the writer speaks directly to the manager; they do not describe the situation to an examiner.
Try a change: Replace the appointment with an urgent work responsibility. Change only the details needed to make the request believable.
3. An informal email: help a friend plan a visit
Your task: A friend is visiting your town for a weekend. Write an email suggesting a place to stay, recommending an activity, and explaining when you can meet.
Hi Jamie,
It is lovely to hear that you are coming next weekend. You could stay at the small guesthouse opposite the station. It is close to the town centre, and you would not need a taxi when you arrive.
On Saturday, I suggest visiting the riverside market. There are local food stalls and a walking path nearby, so we could have lunch and explore the area afterwards.
I finish work at eleven that morning and can meet you outside the station at noon. Send me your arrival time when you book your ticket, and I will help you plan the rest.
Best wishes,
Alex
Why the response works
The message gives three practical pieces of information rather than a general description of the town. The greeting suits a friend, but the sentences remain clear and complete. Informal does not mean careless spelling or text-message abbreviations.
Try a change: Your friend dislikes busy places. Replace the market recommendation and explain why the new activity suits them.
4. A community suggestion: improve a shared space
Your task: The study room in your apartment building has become noisy. Email the building manager. Describe the problem, explain its effect, and suggest a change.
Dear Building Manager,
I am writing about the shared study room on the ground floor. During the past week, several residents have taken long phone calls there in the evening. The conversations can be heard throughout the room, even when people speak quietly.
This makes it difficult for other residents to concentrate on their reading or online coursework. Yesterday, I had to leave before finishing an assignment.
Could you introduce a rule asking residents to take calls in the lobby? A clear notice near the entrance would help everyone understand the expectation while keeping the room available for quiet study.
Thank you,
Alex
Why the response works
The writer separates the observable issue from its effect, then suggests a proportionate change. There is no need to attack the residents or demand that the room close. A focused request makes the intended outcome clear.
A flexible planning method
Before writing, make a three-line plan: reader and purpose; details required; next action. For the damaged lamp, that becomes “customer support; broken switch and photos; replacement with return label.” This is a planning aid, not text to paste into every answer.
One possible practice split is 1 minute to plan, 6 minutes to write and 2 minutes to check. Adjust it to your typing speed. During the final check, find the sentence that addresses each requested point. If one is missing, add the information and shorten a less useful sentence.
Common mistakes, with quick repairs
- Empty opening: “This email is about an important situation.” Replace it with the actual purpose: “I am writing about the damaged lamp delivered yesterday.”
- Wrong audience: “The person should tell the manager…” Speak to the manager directly.
- Missing request: a complaint describes a problem but never asks for a remedy. Add the next action you want.
- Unnecessary background: several sentences about your shopping habits use space needed for the prompt.
- Template mismatch: “I sincerely apologise” does not fit every request. Choose language that matches your responsibility and the relationship.
Questions learners ask
Do I need to exceed 100 words?
Pearson’s current task page gives an 80–120-word range. Do not treat a competitor’s “at least 100” advice as the official minimum. Aim for a complete response inside the specified range and follow your test instructions.
Are these guaranteed high-score emails?
No. They illustrate purpose, organisation and appropriate tone. They have no official Pearson score and do not guarantee your exam result.
Can I use the same opening every time?
A familiar greeting can help, but the purpose and body need to answer the specific prompt. Practise adapting your message instead of memorising one email.
Write your own, then review one weakness
Try a new prompt with the free timer and word counter. Then use PTE Core writing practice with an account for platform questions and AI feedback. The free account currently includes 2 PTE writing AI evaluations per day, resetting at midnight India time. These are practice allowances; paid plans offer additional access. See current plans.
For the wider task overview, see PTE Write Email format and strategy. For exam preparation across skills, use PTE Core practice options.
