PTE Core Writing has exactly two tasks: Summarize Written Text and Write Email. Writing has no timer of its own — it sits inside Part 1, the Speaking and Writing section, which runs 50–65 minutes. This page covers the on-screen instructions, official word limits, scoring traits, worked examples, template traps and the CLB bands for Writing.
PTE Core Writing tasks at a glance
| Task | What you do | Word limit | Time | Traits scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summarize Written Text | Read a passage of up to 200 words and summarise it in one sentence. | 25–50 words | 10 minutes | Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary |
| Write Email | Read a situation of up to 100 words and write an email to the person or organisation named. | 50–120 words | 9 minutes | Content, Email Conventions, Form, Organization, Vocabulary, Grammar, Spelling |
Prompt lengths, timings and traits are Pearson's published PTE Core test-format and Score Guide criteria. Each test has 1–2 Summarize Written Text items and 2–3 Write Email items.
Each test: SWT·1 + WE·2 (3 Q total). All AI-graded — scored in one batch call on submit.
Write Email
Read a real Canadian workplace situation and write a 50–120 word email. AI scores 7 traits and estimates your CLB level.
Summarize Written Text
Read a passage and write a summary in 25–50 words. Must cover the main idea. AI evaluates content, grammar, and vocabulary.
📊 How PTE Core Writing is scored — partial credit per trait
Write Email — 7 traits. A response scoring 0 for both Content and Form is not marked at all.
Summarize Written Text — 4 traits. Counts towards both Reading and Writing.
Both tasks are marked by Pearson's automated engine, which judges meaning rather than keywords, so a memorised opening earns nothing. Guides that mention “written discourse” mean the traits Pearson reports as Organization and Email Conventions, plus Content, Form, Grammar and Vocabulary.
Summarize Written Text: one sentence, 25–50 words
The on-screen instruction reads: “Read the passage below. Write a one-sentence summary of the key information in 25–50 words. Your response must be a single sentence (one full stop only).” Pearson adds that the passage can run to 200 words, that you have 10 minutes, and that the task counts towards both Reading and Writing.
Form is decided by word count and punctuation. 25–50 words scores 2; 5–24 or 51–60 words scores 1; fewer than 5 or more than 60 words scores 0. All-capitals text, no punctuation, or bullet points also scores 0 on Form. Find the main claim, ignore examples, pick two supporting points, then join them in one sentence of 35–42 words.
Why it scores: it names the change, folds in the two strongest supporting points, stays inside 25–50 words and holds everything in one grammatical sentence.
Write Email: 50–120 words in the right register
The on-screen instruction reads: “Read the situation below. Write an email to the person or organisation mentioned. Your email should be 50–120 words and use the appropriate register (formal, semi-formal, or informal).” Pearson adds that the situation can run to 100 words and that you have 9 minutes. Write Email exists only in PTE Core — PTE Academic has no email task — and it is scored for Writing only.
Register is marked, not decorative: under Email Conventions, a response that is “too brief or inappropriate register” drops from 2 to 1. Use formal language for an employer, university or government office, semi-formal for a company's customer service or an unfamiliar colleague, and informal for a friend; mixing them is the classic template tell.
Form follows word count: 50–120 words scores 2, 30–49 or 121–140 words scores 1, and fewer than 30 or more than 140 words scores 0. Aim for about 95–110 words: greet the recipient by name or role, state your purpose in the first sentence, cover every point, ask for the next step, then sign off.
Why it scores: a semi-formal salutation, purpose and order number in the first line, the 48-hour policy addressed directly, and a close that asks for the next step. At 101 words it sits inside 50–120, so Form is 2.
Phrases that get flagged as memorised templates
Pearson publishes no banned-phrase list, but its Score Guide says a response may score 0 for Content when it “may not deal properly with the prompt due to significant amounts of pre-prepared/memorized material” — filler that would fit any email ever written. These are the ones that come up most.
| Template phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| “I am writing to inform you that …” | Name the subject: “I am writing about order #NW45892, delivered yesterday.” |
| “I hope this email finds you well.” | Delete it and state your purpose. |
| “I would like to take this opportunity to …” | Make the request directly: “Please …” |
| “Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.” | “Let me know if you need the delivery photographs.” |
| “In today's fast-paced world …” | Cut it and start with the fact the reader needs. |
| “I am looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.” | “I look forward to your reply by Friday.” |
| “Dear Sir or Madam” when the prompt names the recipient | Use the given name or role: “Dear Ms Okafor”. |
If a sentence would still make sense pasted into a different task, it is filler. Replace it with a detail only this situation contains.
PTE Core Writing scores and CLB (Express Entry)
IRCC accepts PTE Core for Express Entry, and Writing maps to a CLB level on its own — it is not averaged with your other three skills.
| CLB | PTE Core Writing | Express Entry points |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 69–78 | 4 |
| 8 | 79–87 | 5 |
| 9 | 88–89 | 6 |
| 10+ | 90 or above | 6 |
For a second official language, Writing 51–90 (CLB 5 or above, with the other three skills also at CLB 5+) adds a flat 4 points. Results stay valid for two years.
Bands are IRCC's published PTE Core ↔ CLB alignment for Express Entry. The CLB guide has the full four-skill table and how CLB becomes CRS points.
PTE Core Writing: frequently asked questions
How many tasks are in PTE Core Writing?
Two: Summarize Written Text and Write Email. Both sit in Part 1; each test has 1–2 summarising items and 2–3 email items.
How many words is PTE Core Write Email?
50–120 words earns full marks for Form. A response of 30–49 or 121–140 words scores 1, and fewer than 30 or more than 140 words scores 0.
How many words is PTE Core Summarize Written Text?
25–50 words. A response of 5–24 or 51–60 words scores 1 on Form, and fewer than 5 or more than 60 words scores 0.
How long do you get for PTE Core Writing?
There is no separate Writing timer — Writing sits in Part 1 with Speaking, which lasts 50–65 minutes. Summarize Written Text allows 10 minutes and Write Email 9 minutes.
Does PTE Core Writing penalise memorised templates?
Pearson does not publish a banned list, but its Score Guide warns that pre-prepared or memorised material can score 0 for Content. Filler openers such as ‘I hope this email finds you well’ are the usual culprits.
What CLB do you need in Writing for Express Entry?
PTE Core Writing of 69–78 is CLB 7, 79–87 is CLB 8, 88–89 is CLB 9 and 90 or above is CLB 10+. Requirements differ by program — Federal Skilled Worker needs CLB 7 in all four abilities.
Practise and go deeper
Every point above is exercised by the free tools below.