The four tasks behind your writing score
Your PTE writing score (10–90) comes from these tasks. Three of them also count towards another skill, so practising them lifts two scores at once.
- Write EssayPick a topic, write for 20 minutes, then get an estimated score for all 7 PTE traits, with your spelling,…
- Essay topicsReal-style PTE essay prompts, each with a model answer you can learn from. Read the model, then write your…
- Summarize Written TextRead a text of up to 300 words and summarise it in a single sentence, in 10…
- Writing practice testAll four tasks that make up your PTE writing score, in one timed test: Summarize Written Text, Write Essay,…
Common myth: Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks doesn't count towards writing. In Pearson's current score guide it counts for reading only. Listening: Fill in the Blanks counts for listening only.
How each task is marked
| Task | What's scored (maximum points) | Scores zero if… |
|---|---|---|
| Write Essay | Content (6), Development, structure & coherence (6), General linguistic range (6), Form (2), Grammar (2), Vocabulary range (2), Spelling (2) = 26 | under 120 or over 380 words, all capitals, no punctuation, only bullet points, or off-topic |
| Summarize Written Text | Content (4), Form (1), Grammar (2), Vocabulary (2) = 9 | not one sentence, under 5 or over 75 words, all capitals, or shows no understanding of the text |
| Summarize Spoken Text | Content (4), Form (2), Grammar (2), Vocabulary (2), Spelling (2) = 12 | under 40 or over 100 words, all capitals, no punctuation, bullet points, or misses the main points |
| Write from Dictation | 1 point for each correct, correctly spelled word | (partial credit, so every word counts) |
Content and form are "gatekeeper" traits. If either scores zero, the whole response scores zero, however good your grammar is. That's why our marker checks those first.
What the top scores need, in plain English
- Content: answer every part of the question. For summaries, include the main idea and the key supporting points, and leave out the small details.
- Form: stay inside the word range. The safe zones are 230–270 words for the essay and 55–65 words for Summarize Spoken Text.
- Development, structure and coherence (essay): use an introduction with your position, two body paragraphs that each have a reason and an example, and a conclusion, joined with linking words.
- Grammar: use a mix of simple and complex sentences with few errors. One broken long sentence can cost more than two correct short ones.
- Vocabulary and range: use precise, varied words, not "very good thing". Repeating the same words lowers your score.
- Spelling: one mistake costs a point, and two or more cost both points. US, UK and Australian spelling are all accepted, but be consistent.
Source: Pearson's PTE Academic score guide (2025 edition). Pearson may update its scoring at any time, so its guide is the final word.
Practise with instant marking
- Write Essay practice: a new topic each time, a 20-minute timer and an estimated score for all 7 traits.
- Summarize Written Text practice: a one-sentence summary, checked for form and key ideas.
- Summarize Spoken Text practice: listen, then summarise. Checked for form, key ideas and spelling.
- Full PTE writing practice test: all four writing tasks, timed, with a results report.
- Free PTE essay checker: paste any essay or summary, including your teacher's topics, and get feedback.
What our marker checks (and what it can't)
Everything runs in your browser. Your writing is never sent to us or stored.
- Checked closely: word count and form rules, spelling (against an 80,000-word dictionary with Australian, British and American spellings), mixed spelling styles, and paragraphs and linking words.
- Estimated: content (do you cover the prompt's key ideas, take a position and give examples?), grammar (common errors like subject–verb agreement, a/an and capitals), and range (word variety, academic words and sentence variety).
- Not possible automatically: judging how convincing your argument is, or catching every grammar error. Treat the estimate as a coach's quick check, not an official score.
Free writing tools
- PTE word counter: warns you before a length mistake costs marks.
- Spelling consistency checker: catches mixed Australian and American spelling.
- Typing speed test: PTE is typed, so slow typing eats into your planning time.
Frequently asked questions
Does Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks count towards my writing score?
Not any more. In Pearson's current score guide, both reading Fill in the Blanks tasks count towards reading only. Your writing score comes from Write Essay, Summarize Written Text, Summarize Spoken Text and Write from Dictation.
Which writing task matters most?
Write from Dictation appears several times and gives a point for every correctly spelled word, so it's very efficient to practise. Write Essay has the most traits, and it's the only task scored on writing alone.
Is your writing score the same as Pearson's?
No. Our marker gives an estimate using Pearson's published traits. Form, word count and spelling are checked closely, while content and range are rough guides. Only Pearson gives official scores.