PTE model answers
PTE sample answers with real band scores.
Every sample below is a worked example: the prompt, the response verbatim, the trait-level scores against Pearson's official rubric, and a side-by-side of what separates the band-79 answer from a weaker one at the same task. Written for the current PTE Academic format (post August 2025 rules), verified against the July 2025 Score Guide.
Last verified 10 July 2026 · Reviewed against Pearson's PTE Academic Test Taker Score Guide (July 2025).
Write Essay
Full band-79 essay (200 to 300 words) with trait scores across all 7 essay traits and a band-65 comparison showing what a Development-marked essay looks like.
See the sample →Describe Image
Model 40-second response for a line chart, complete with the 5-part frame (overview → key point → trend → comparison → wrap), spoken timing marks, and a shorter weaker version.
See the sample →Summarize Written Text
Model one-sentence SWT (35 to 55 words), the source passage that produced it, the Form/Grammar/Vocabulary/Content trait scores, and two failure modes: too short and paraphrasing loss.
See the sample →Read Aloud
Model Read Aloud delivery — the passage, chunk markers, stress cues, pace target and rubric breakdown against Content, Oral Fluency and Pronunciation.
See the sample →How to use sample answers
Study the structure, not the words.
Pearson's AI can flag memorised responses — a response that fits any prompt and ignores the actual prompt in front of you can lose up to 7 points on Content. The value of a sample answer is the reusable structure: the 4-paragraph essay frame, the 5-part Describe Image opener, the one-sentence SWT skeleton. Every band-79 sample below is a skeleton to fill, not a script to recite.
- Read the prompt first. Understand what is actually being asked. Every sample is written for a specific prompt — a different prompt needs a different response inside the same structure.
- Score the sample against the traits. Use the trait breakdown to see what earned each band. Your own responses need to hit those same traits.
- Compare the band-79 to the weaker version. The delta between them is the delta you need to close in your own writing or speaking.
- Write a new response. Reuse the structure with entirely different nouns, examples and phrasing. If your response could be pasted onto a different prompt it will get flagged.
FAQ
Sample answers, answered.
What is a PTE sample answer?
A PTE sample answer is a worked example of a task response labeled with the band it earned and broken down against the exact scoring traits Pearson uses. Each sample on this page shows the prompt, the response verbatim, the trait-level scores and what separates it from a weaker attempt at the same task.
What band is a good PTE sample answer?
Aim to study responses at your target band and one band above. Band 65 to 79 is the Competent to Proficient range where most study-abroad and skilled-visa applicants sit. Band 90 examples show you what a perfect response looks like, but the shorter distance is 65 to 79 — that is where the majority of practical gains happen.
Do sample answers help you actually score higher?
Yes, if you study them structurally rather than memorising them. Pearson penalises memorised or template-dumped responses by up to 7 points on Content. The value of a sample answer is the reusable structure — the 4-paragraph essay frame, the 5-part Describe Image opener, the one-sentence SWT skeleton — not the words. Study the moves, then write your own content into them.
Are these samples aligned with the 2026 PTE format?
Yes. Every sample on this page is written for the current PTE Academic format (post 7 August 2025 rules) and cross-checked against Pearson's July 2025 Test Taker Score Guide. When Pearson changes the format we update these pages, not the other way around.
Where do the trait scores in the breakdown come from?
The trait scores use Pearson's published scoring traits for each task type. Essay has 7 traits (Content, Form, Development / Structure / Coherence, Grammar, General Linguistic Range, Vocabulary Range, Spelling). SWT has 4 (Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary). Describe Image and Retell Lecture use Content + speaking-level traits (Oral Fluency, Pronunciation). We only score against Pearson's official rubric — no invented sub-scores.
See how you would score.
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