PTE Write Email
In PTE Write Email (PTE Core) you are given a everyday situation and must write an appropriate email of 80 to 120 words in 9 minutes. It is scored on content, form, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and — crucially — organisation and register: the email must open with a greeting, cover every point the prompt asks for, and close with a sign-off in the right tone.
- Timing
- 9 minutes, 80–120 words.
- Contributes to
- Writing score
How PTE Write Email is scored
- Content
- Form (word count)
- Organisation and register
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Spelling
How to score higher in Write Email
- 1
Cover every bullet in the prompt. Missing one is the most common way to lose content marks.
- 2
Always include a greeting ('Dear Ms Chen,') and a sign-off ('Kind regards, Alex'). Their absence is a direct deduction.
- 3
Match the register to the recipient — formal for a manager or company, semi-formal for a colleague.
- 4
State your purpose in the first sentence, then use one short paragraph per point.
- 5
Stay within 80–120 words and check spelling; both are separately scored.
PTE Write Email template
A standard email structure covers the content, form and organisation criteria for PTE Core Write Email within the 80–120 word limit.
Greeting
Open appropriately: “Dear [name / Sir or Madam],”
Purpose
State why you are writing in the first line.
Details
Give the necessary details, requests or information in one or two short paragraphs.
Close
End with a polite closing and sign-off, keeping the whole email 80–120 words.
Cover every point the situation asks for and match the register. Staying inside 80–120 words protects the form score.
Common mistakes in Write Email
- Answering only two of the three points the prompt asked for.
- Omitting the greeting or the sign-off.
- Writing in a casual tone to a formal recipient.
- Running over the word limit and losing form marks.
Write Email — frequently asked questions
How many words should a PTE Core email be?
Between 80 and 120 words, written in 9 minutes. Falling outside that range costs you form marks.
How is PTE Write Email scored?
On content (did you address every point in the prompt), form (word count), organisation and register (greeting, structure, sign-off and appropriate tone), grammar, vocabulary and spelling.
Practise Write Email with real exam questions
Get AI scoring in seconds, and see exactly which words cost you marks.
Start practicing