PTE Writing Changes July 2024

visionlanguage

14 Aug, 2024

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Recent changes to PTE writing section can be challenging to understand, especially for those who relied on the old template. Update emphasizes relevance of content, making it necessary to adjust strategies to meet the new standards. Success in PTE now requires a thorough understanding of how to develop summaries and essays that directly respond to the tasks.

July-2024, marked a significant shift in how PTE assesses writing. Students who once relied on old templates found themselves struggling, with some even scoring zero. These templates, which previously guaranteed success, are no longer sufficient under the new PTE standards. However, there is no need to panic. By understanding the changes and adjusting your approach, you can still achieve top scores.

Changes in PTE Writing

PTE recent updates primarily focus on content relevance and specificity. Gone are the days when a generic template could secure high marks. Now, PTE is placing more emphasis on the actual content, evaluating how well your responses align with the questions.

Summarize Written Text Task

One of the areas most affected by these changes is "Summarize Written Text" task. Many students have been losing marks because they continue to rely on outdated strategies—such as picking random sentences from the text without considering their relevance to the main topic.

What is changed?

• Content Relevance: PTE now requires students to choose sentences that are directly linked to the main topic of the passage.
• Avoiding Examples: Previously, students could include examples and references in their summaries, but now these are less valued. PTE expects more statement-oriented sentences that contribute to a clear and concise summary of the main idea.

New Approach

To succeed in the Summarize Written Text task, you need to focus on paraphrasing the main ideas of the text. Avoid examples and references, and instead, concentrate on crafting sentences that clearly explain the core concepts of the passage.

Here is quick example of how to approach this-

• Identify Main Idea: Determine what the passage is primarily about—whether it is a discussion on language acquisition or another topic.
• Paraphrase Key Sentences: Instead of copying sentences verbatim, rephrase them to show your understanding.
• Link Sentences Effectively: Ensure that each sentence you choose is logically connected to the main idea and flows well with the others.

Essay Writing Task

Essay writing has also seen significant changes. PTE now expects students to provide more specific and relevant content in Essay Writing task, aligned with the exact question being asked.

What is changed?

• Keyword Relevance: Students must focus on the keywords in essay. If the question asks about problems and solutions, your essay must address these directly, rather than discussing unrelated advantages or disadvantages.
• Template Adaptation: Generic templates that worked for various essay types are now less effective. You need to adapt template to fit the specific essay question, ensuring it aligns with the topic and requirements.

New Approach-

When writing essay, start by carefully analyzing the question. Identify whether it is asking for advantages and disadvantages, steps, problems and solutions, or another specific response. Your essay should then be structured to address these elements directly.

For example, if essay asks about the advantages and disadvantages of employers considering workers' opinions in product development:

Introduction: Start with a brief introduction that paraphrases the essay prompt and outlines the main points you will discuss.

Body Paragraphs:

• Advantages: Discuss how considering workers' opinions can increase motivation and enhance productivity.
• Disadvantages: Address potential drawbacks, such as the possibility of unfocused workers leading to poor decisions.
• Conclusion: Summarize the main points and emphasize how the discussion ties in with the essay.

How to adapt to these changes?

• By focusing on the relevance of the content in both summarizing the written text and essay writing assignments, you can overcome new challenges and achieve the desired marks.
• PTE is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay informed about the latest updates and adapt your preparation accordingly.
• Ensure that every sentence you include in summary or essay is directly related to the main topic. Avoid unnecessary examples or references.
• Instead of copying sentences from the text, paraphrase them to demonstrate your understanding of the content.
• Customize essay template to fit the specific question being asked. Address directly and avoid straying from the topic.
• Practice Regularly: The more you practice with the new strategies, the more comfortable you will become with the updated PTE writing tasks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vishal Kapoor

(PTE & NAATI Expert)

Vishal Kapoor is having 6+ years of expertise in instructing PTE and NAATI, both in Australia and internationally, with an impressive 100% success rate among students. As a certified expert by Pearson in PTE and NAATI, Vishal Kapoor has developed a comprehensive teaching approach derived from extensive research and a wealth of teaching experience. Tailoring coaching techniques to individual skill levels and target scores, Vishal's guidance has proven instrumental in helping numerous aspirants attain their desired scores. With a commitment to personalized tips and solutions, Vishal Kapoor is dedicated to facilitating the success of those preparing for PTE and NAATI examinations.

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