John Fennell Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Hi Guys, I about to sit my PTE test for the visa I need the full 20 points from it so 79 in each category. I've done the 2 marked mock tests and get full 90 marks for Reading, Listening and Speaking. But have scored 71 then 75 on writing. My problem appears to be spelling and written discourse both being around 45-50. Can anybody give any advice on how to improve the written discourse, or explain what it is? I think my spelling is never going to improve, I look at words and know that they're wrong but just can't work out why! If I can get the written discourse up a bit and get lucky on the day with the spelling I think I can just scrape through. Any advice would be welcome, Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetBlast Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 (edited) Written disclosure is the style of writing I believe. If you write in a more formal way you will get more marks. I have attached a writing template that will help. TIP: In your essay include a couple of these Idioms, you will pickup a couple more marks in the writing section. http://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html Idioms such as "Hot Potato", "Think Outside of The Box" & "Each To Their Own" could be easily slotted into the style of essays in the PTE exams. This score guide will help see how you can pickup extra marks to get you over the hump. - http://pearsonpte.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PTEA_Score_Guide.pdf Don't loose marks on silly mistakes and typos. Check for capital letters and full stops. I have the same problem as you. I got 90, 90, 85 and 75 in my writing. Just those few points short! PTE-Essay-Writing-Template1_Steven-Fernandes.pdf PTE-Essay-Writing-Template1_Steven-Fernandes.pdf Edited July 6, 2016 by JetBlast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Fennell Posted July 12, 2016 Author Share Posted July 12, 2016 Thanks for the information, I've been doing some revision off the links you posted. The idiom usage is a big help, I was purposely avoiding them thinking it would be considered inappropriate in a formal essay. I've got my test tomorrow so am hoping I've done enough to boost those last few points! When do you have your test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetBlast Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 This is handy as well. - http://pearsonpte.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PTEA_Score_Guide.pdf My test is also tomorrow in Manchester. Don't suppose you will be there as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Fennell Posted July 12, 2016 Author Share Posted July 12, 2016 I'm in the sheffield test centre, so not far off! Good luck for tomorrow hope it goes well for you! which visa are you going for? I'm doing a 190 as a sheet metal worker, this is my last hurdle before the EOI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetBlast Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 I'm in the sheffield test centre, so not far off! Good luck for tomorrow hope it goes well for you! which visa are you going for? I'm doing a 190 as a sheet metal worker, this is my last hurdle before the EOI I am going for the 189 under Computer Network andSystems Engineer. Also my last hurdle before the EOI. Thanks, also best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Fennell Posted July 14, 2016 Author Share Posted July 14, 2016 How did you test go mate? I got my results today 90,90,90,84 so really happy! I ended up with 90 on the written discourse but got lucky as I only had to do one of the essay questions. It seems the spelling isn't to much of an issue as I only managed 45 despite a lot of practice. Good luck with your results. hope you got something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetBlast Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 (edited) 90 90 88 and got 74 again on written! argh!! I scored low on the written discourse, but spelling and grammar improved, no idea whats going on! Edited July 14, 2016 by JetBlast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Fennell Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 Ah gutted for you mate, thats so frustrating with the written discourse. I got 90 but didn't really feel I'd written any differently from the test in which I got 45, the main differences I made were stating my belief in the opening paragraph and adding the colloquium "In some circles" but that can't make that much difference. It seems a lot of it might be to do with the points of arguments, where if you don't give the arguments it thinks is on topic you may get marked down. I found this list of repeated questions just before I went in on wednesday morning, (I got there at 7am thinking city traffic would delay me) http://allinfi.com/pte-academic-most-repeated-essay-types-with-short-cut-points/ I got lucky having an easy topic (although it wasn't on that list) and only one at that. Good luck on your next test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetBlast Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Thanks, I have a friend who is a GCSE and A-Level teacher. She said she will tutor me in exchange for tea and biscuits. But unfortunately she has gone on holiday for the summer holidays. I might take a gamble and go for it again. Thanks for the link. Im so close but so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minaedward Posted October 29, 2017 Share Posted October 29, 2017 Hi I too suffer from the writing discourse as I got 45 in the last mock test I did. If only someone could state the points that can raise this score to me then I will be grateful. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaibhav08 Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Hi Guys I am also stuggling to get 79 in each section in PTE. In first attempt I got 78 in written discourse whereas in second attempt it dropped to 55. I am not sure what happened suddenly. I am really tensed can someone please help me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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