Common Mistakes to Avoid in PTE Writing for Better Score

The PTE test-takers find it easy to write in the exam, forgetting the scoring criteria and areas where they may find themselves vulnerable. Two question types in PTE Writing include Summarize Written Text and Writing an Essay. These tasks require critical thinking, effective reading, speed typing, error identification, developing ideas, putting thoughts into words, and many more. Although investing time in dedicated practice, there are some areas in which candidates might make mistakes, leading to low scores. One should be aware of these mistakes in advance to correct them beforehand.

The blog provides all the details about common mistakes made during the PTE Writing Tasks and how to avoid them. It also illustrates different techniques, tips, and strategies to boost your scores in the PTE Writing task and ace the PTE Exam.

PTE Writing Task 1: Summarize Written Text

The Summarized Written Text is the first question of the writing task. The passage is displayed, and the candidate has 10 minutes to summarize the passage in only one sentence within 5-75 words. This task contributes to reading and writing scores. The following are common PTE writing mistakes a candidate must not overlook before going to the exam hall.

Common Mistakes in PTE Writing Summarize Written Text

1. Writing more than 75 words and more than one full stop

Imagine the candidate is in the exam hall and writing this question type. The test-taker summarized the passage effectively, taking care of every aspect and nuance within ten minutes. While holding the result the next day, it is seen that there is a significant loss in reading and writing scores. Given that the candidate has completed all the reading and writing tasks easily and with minimum effort, the low scores can be a sign of crossing the word limit or mistakenly inputting an extra period.

How to avoid it:

In the last 1 to 2 minutes out of 10 minutes, check for the word limit not exceeding 75. The summary should be written only in one sentence. Any full point, except the ending period at the end of the summary completion, should be avoided.

2. Not utilizing the whole span of 10 minutes

The passage should be summarized in 10 minutes, and the candidates must utilize full duration to achieve a good score in this module. The best way to use this time is to divide it into three parts.

To maintain these time limits, the following tips can assist the candidate in scoring well,

• Increase the typing speed by practicing more questions.
• Regularly monitor the time to ensure proper management.
• Learning fast skimming and scanning techniques for lengthy passages. 

3. Believing that SWT has a minimal impact on the overall PTE score

One should not underestimate the Summarize Written Text module in the PTE test. Although it might seem to contribute little to the overall score, be aware that it contributes to both reading and writing scores.

Yes. You read it correctly! The choice of words and the ability to segregate the important ideas of the passage are as important as your writing skills. The ideal summary should flow from the introduction of the topic, and major content to the conclusive statement. The remaining part of the blog is about common mistakes in PTE essay writing task.

PTE Writing Task 2: Essay Writing

The PTE essay writing task is the second task in the writing module, wherein one has to write 200-300 words about the given topic. The test-taker may see one or two essays, and the candidate is supposed to complete each in 20 minutes. Many misconceptions occur due to the lack of knowledge of the marking criteria for the essay. The module includes seven criteria for checking your proficiency in writing an essay.

The following are common PTE writing mistakes that must be avoided on exam day.

Common Mistakes in PTE Essay Writing

1. Using readymade templates available in the market

One of the biggest mistakes a candidate can make while preparing for the PTE exam is using premade templates, which are easily available online. This misconception can lead to a lack of originality and plagiarism.

Tips:

• Having phrases and vocabulary in your armor is helpful while using rigid templates must be avoided.
• Prepare and practice the essay writing task with a proper introduction paragraph, one or two paragraphs in favor of or against the given topic, and one paragraph including the conclusion of the topic given.

2.  Not utilizing 20 minutes efficiently

In such a long-duration task, it is crucial to delegate the time for writing and proofreading. Keep aside at least 4 to 5 minutes to recheck for spelling, grammar, punctuation marks, appropriate use of vocabulary, or any other absurd errors. Identifying these errors calmly is as vital as writing the essay.

Tips:

• Proofread the whole essay twice.
• Complete writing the essay within 16 minutes at most.

3. Lack of idea generation

Many times, candidates forget to include details, connecting examples, advantages, and disadvantages asked in the essay. This usually occurs due to an inability to express ideas effectively, and a lack of idea generation. Contrary to this, expressing too many individual thoughts in one paragraph should also be avoided. You can use the following tips to prevent these issues and improve your writing ability.

Tips:

• Research about the topic.
• Write the main key points to write about.
• Start introducing the topic with an introductory paragraph
• Generate two or three main ideas for following paragraphs
• Write the concluding marks, supporting your viewpoint

Concluding Remarks

While the Writing module in the PTE test seems easy, there are some criteria, rules, and instructions students must be aware of before even practicing for the same. Two question types named Summarize Written Text and Essay Writing have been discussed with a specific focus on the PTE writing mistakes made by test takers and how to prevent them. The blog also provides brief ideas about different PTE writing strategies one must apply while writing both tasks.

Be ready with the tools mentioned in this blog, and apply them in your writing to boost your PTE scores to the maximum!