You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organise your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200–300 words.
Some urban planners argue that upgrading informal settlements where they stand is more effective than relocating residents to new housing estates on the urban periphery. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Support your position with relevant arguments and examples.
0 words · target 200–300 · 20 minutes in the test · spell-check is off, as in the test
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organise your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200–300 words.
Read them here; log in to answer and check them.
Many governments attempt to reduce urban poverty by granting formal legal property titles to residents of informal settlements, whereas critics argue this policy leads to gentrification and displacement. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Providing essential services such as sanitation and clean water to informal settlements is a major municipal challenge. Some believe that decentralised community-managed utilities are more effective than large-scale state-run infrastructure. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Want to answer the other 2?
Log in to practise Write Essay in the BandLadder app: the full question bank, instant scoring the way Pearson marks it, and answer explanations.
Ready for the whole test?
Take a full PTE mock with every question type, the real timings and a score on Pearson's 10–90 scale the moment you finish.
Try a free PTE mock →Keep practising
Practise every PTE question type
Free account · no card
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy