For PTE Core Writing, scores of 88–89 correspond to CLB 9; 90 corresponds to CLB 10. That is a skill score from the test, not a mark you can establish from one email. This plan gives you two original writing drills and a repeatable method for finding errors before your next attempt.
The score mapping comes from IRCC's language conversion tables, checked on 17 September 2026. Check each of your other skills separately when planning for a Canadian immigration language target.
Enter your four skill scores in the PTE Core to CLB calculator to see each skill’s level and the points still needed for your target. Then use the writing drills below to plan your next practice session.
Start with the task instructions
Pearson's PTE Core Speaking and Writing format gives nine minutes for Write Email, with an instructed length of 80–120 words. Summarize Written Text allows ten minutes and asks for 25–50 words. Use those task targets when practising. The exercises below are original BandLadder material, not recalled test questions or officially scored responses.
For an interactive first attempt, open the PTE Core email workbench. It provides its own prompt, timer and feedback flow. Use the original exercises on this page for separate writing and self-review.
Drill 1: a workplace email with three clear jobs
You are taking part in a workplace training session, but the scheduled time clashes with an appointment. Write to the training coordinator. Explain the clash, ask whether another session is available, and offer a way to catch up before the next team meeting.
Write your answer before opening the sample. Aim for 80–120 words and leave time to check all three requests.
See an original sample email and commentary
Dear Ms Patel,
I am writing about the customer service training scheduled for Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, I have a medical appointment at the same time, which I arranged several weeks ago.
Could I attend another session next week? If that is not possible, I would be happy to watch a recording and complete any related exercises over the weekend. I could then send you a short summary of what I learned before our Monday team meeting.
Please let me know which option would work best. I apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your help.
Kind regards,
Alex
Why this is useful: the opening identifies the event and the clash; the middle asks for an alternative and proposes a catch-up arrangement; the ending gives the coordinator a clear next action. The tone stays polite without a long ceremonial introduction. This commentary is a writing explanation, not a predicted PTE score.
Drill 2: summarise a community notice
Read this original notice, then write a 25–50-word summary. Preserve the main change, the reason and the practical arrangement without copying every detail.
The Riverside community library is introducing a booking system for its quiet study rooms from next month. Staff say that demand has increased during evening hours, and some visitors have been unable to find a space even when rooms appeared empty. Under the new system, members can reserve a room online for up to two hours. A booking will be released if the visitor has not checked in within fifteen minutes of the starting time. One room will remain available without a reservation for people who need a short study session or cannot use the online service. The library will review feedback after six weeks before deciding whether to keep the arrangement. Ordinary reading tables will continue to be available without booking.
See a sample summary and what it preserves
Riverside library will introduce study room reservations to manage evening demand, release bookings when visitors arrive late, and retain a room for walk-in use. Staff will review the arrangement after six weeks, while ordinary reading tables remain unreserved.
The summary keeps the purpose, the new reservation system, access without booking and the review. It does not invent a fee, claim every room requires booking, or confuse study rooms with ordinary reading tables. Compare those distinctions with your own response before changing individual words.
If you also use Academic preparation materials, compare the Academic and Core summary instructions first. The Core word range and sentence requirements differ; continue with the Core exercise here.
A seven-day practice cycle
- Day 1: collect a baseline. Write the email without consulting the sample. Save your first version and record whether you covered all three points within the task limit.
- Day 2: repair the highest-impact problem. If a point is missing, repair the content before replacing ordinary words with complicated vocabulary.
- Day 3: compress accurately. Complete the summary. Underline every claim and locate its support in the notice. Remove anything you inferred without evidence.
- Day 4: change the audience. Adapt the email situation for a colleague you know well. Keep the same essential information but adjust the greeting and request naturally.
- Day 5: practise a fresh prompt. Use the email workbench. Inspect its feedback, then write down one correction you can apply independently.
- Day 6: repeat under time pressure. Use a different situation and reserve a final checking pass for missing points, sentence boundaries and word count.
- Day 7: compare error patterns. Review your first and latest attempts. Choose the next week's focus from recurring errors rather than the highest practice score.
What should you check before submitting?
Read once for the reader's needs: is the purpose obvious, are all requested points present, and is the next action clear? Read again for sentence construction: check verbs, plurals, missing words and punctuation. Finally, inspect the word count. These separate passes make it easier to notice a specific problem than repeatedly reading the answer without a question in mind.
There is no fixed number of emails that guarantees CLB 9. When you need more examples, compare the different audiences in our four explained PTE Core email responses. Then attempt a fresh prompt and review the feedback. Create an account from that practice flow when you want to continue in the PTE Core question bank, checking the current free limits and paid access before subscribing.
