PTE Academic Write Essay

PTE essay topics 2026: 400+ practice topics with sample answers

These PTE essay topics are 400+ of BandLadder's own Write Essay practice prompts, grouped by category, each with a plan, a sample answer, its vocabulary and what the scoring traits reward. In the real test you get 20 minutes to write 200 to 300 words. They are practice prompts, not recalled exam questions.Updated October 2026 · rules checked on pearsonpte.com on 12 October 2026
  • Opinion (agree or disagree) · 150+
  • Discussion (both views) · 60+
  • Advantages and disadvantages · 100+
  • Problem and solution · 100+

Overview

PTE essay topics by category

Structure

A PTE essay structure that scores well

Pearson rewards essays with a clear introduction, body and conclusion, ideas that connect, and support from details or examples. A fixed four-paragraph plan gives you that every time and lands at about 250 words, comfortably inside the 200–300 limit.

  1. 1. Introduction · 40–50 words

    One sentence that restates the topic in your own words, then one that gives your position and names your two reasons.

  2. 2. Body paragraph 1 · 80–90 words

    Topic sentence with your first reason, a sentence that explains it, a specific example, and a closing sentence that ties it back to the question.

  3. 3. Body paragraph 2 · 80–90 words

    The same shape for your second reason. In a discussion essay, use this paragraph for the other side and say why it does not change your view.

  4. 4. Conclusion · 30–40 words

    Your position again in fresh words and a one-line summary of both reasons. No new argument here.

What the body paragraphs do for each essay type

  • Opinion (agree or disagree): Two reasons for your position, one per paragraph.
  • Discussion (both views): Body 1 gives the view you reject and why people hold it; body 2 gives your view and why it is stronger.
  • Advantages and disadvantages: Body 1 covers the advantages, body 2 the disadvantages; the introduction and conclusion say which outweighs the other if the prompt asks.
  • Problem and solution: Body 1 explains the causes or effects of the problem; body 2 proposes a solution and shows how it addresses them.

Linking phrases, by job

Giving your view

I would argue that… · On balance, I believe… · In my view, the stronger case is…

Adding a point

Moreover, · Beyond this, · A further reason is that…

Giving an example

For instance, · A clear example is… · This can be seen in…

Conceding, then answering

Admittedly, · While it is true that…, · Even so,

Cause and result

As a result, · This means that… · Consequently,

Concluding

In conclusion, · Overall, · To sum up,

Spending the 20 minutes

About 3 minutes to pick a position and one example for each body paragraph, 14 minutes to write, and 3 minutes to check: the word count on screen, one spelling convention throughout (British or American, not both), and subject–verb agreement. Keep the plan fixed but the sentences your own. Pearson gives no credit to an unoriginal response, so a memorised paragraph is a risk, not a shortcut.

80+ topics

Society essay topics

70+ topics

Education essay topics

70+ topics

Environment essay topics

40+ topics

Health essay topics

40+ topics

Technology essay topics

30+ topics

Economy and money essay topics

30+ topics

Work and careers essay topics

20+ topics

Science and research essay topics

10+ topics

Culture and tradition essay topics

8 topics

Family essay topics

6 topics

Government and policy essay topics

5 topics

Media and advertising essay topics

FAQ

PTE essay questions

How many words should a PTE essay be?+

Between 200 and 300 words, per Pearson. Essays under 120 or over 380 words score zero, so aim for about 250 and leave time to check.

How much time do you get for PTE Write Essay?+

20 minutes for one essay, in the Speaking and Writing part of PTE Academic.

How many essays are in the PTE Academic exam?+

One. Pearson's PTE Academic Score Guide lists a single Write Essay task, in Part 1 (Speaking and Writing).

Does PTE Core have essay writing?+

No. PTE Core has no Write Essay task. Its writing tasks are Summarize Written Text and Write Email, according to Pearson's PTE Core Score Guide.

How is the PTE essay scored?+

On seven traits: Content; Development, structure and coherence; Form; General linguistic range; Grammar usage and mechanics; Vocabulary range; and Spelling. Form is the word count, so an essay outside the limits loses far more than one trait. Content is checked by a human expert as well as the scoring engine, as are structure and linguistic range.

How do I structure a PTE essay?+

Four paragraphs: a short introduction that states your position, two body paragraphs that each develop one reason with an example, and a short conclusion. That plan lands at roughly 250 words, inside the 200–300 limit.

Do PTE essay templates still work in 2026?+

Not as memorised text. Pearson's format page says an unoriginal response gets no credit and you must use your own words, and Write Essay content is reviewed by a human. Use a fixed paragraph plan and a short list of linking phrases, but write every sentence for the topic in front of you.

What are the most repeated PTE essay topics?+

Pearson does not publish a list. The themes that come up again and again are education, technology, the environment, health, work and society, which is why this page groups its practice topics by category. Practise planning across categories rather than memorising answers.

Are these PTE essay topics real exam questions?+

No. They are BandLadder's own practice prompts written in the style of the task, not recalled exam questions. Use them to practise planning and timing, then write your own answer to each.

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