Welcome to the sixth video in the Super PTE Learning system training!

Our focus today is on Structured Responses.

As PTE is an automated test, a lot of your score depends upon how well structured your response is.

This is a very important parameter for the PTE Software.

The computer tries to understand if you really know English language and how to use it to compose a response.

It does this by looking at the structure.

The structures are useful for other reasons too.

Keeping a structure in mind means:

You don’t have to waste time thinking about how to begin the next sentence or the next paragraph.

You don’t have to put extra effort into organizing the information you are putting in your response.

It gives you guidelines on what to think about next.

For example:

The structure tells you that the first paragraph is an Introduction, so you can straightaway write an overview of the topic.

No time wasted, thinking what to write.

Having structures in mind are very useful in situations when you are thinking hard about what to write next.

I am now going to tell you how you can structure each of your response in the exam.

Use this information with the templates pack to get maximum score.

First, let’s talk about Describe Image Questions.

The structure that you should follow for this is:

Introduction

Key Point 1

Key Point 2

Key Point 3

Conclusion

In the introduction you tell what the image is about.

For example:

The bar graph shows the increase in population of African countries from the year 2004 to 2021.

Then, you talk about the first major point.

For example:

The population reached an all-time high in the year 2021.

Then, you can mention another major point.

For example:

From 2021 to 2021, the population increased at a very small rate.

Finally, if possible you put in another main point.

Ideally, this would be a comparison, a trend or other smart observation.

For example, you can say:

Due to some event, the population jumped sharply from 2021 to 2021.

In the end, always try to include a conclusion.

For example:

It can be concluded that the population growth in Africa has been rarely consistent except for a sharp increase in the last two years.

Conclusion is also useful when you just want to fill in time and don’t have much to say.

When you have no other ideas, you can make a general conclusion like:

In conclusion, the bar graph highlights major trends in African population growth.

Please note, you have access to a huge template pack.

So, use it!

Next, I am going to talk about the Re-tell Lecture questions

In this you usually hear one or two speakers.

Most lectures are accompanied with a picture, though some lectures can also be video lectures.

Structure is similar to the what you use for describe image.

First, give an introduction:

The lecturer talks about the population growth in Africa from 2004 to 2021.

Then bring in the first major point:

For example:

He highlights the fact that population reaches a peak in 2021.

After that, put in up to two more major points.

One of those points can be:

a trend
or, an observation
or, comparison.

And, finally put in your conclusion.

In conclusion, the lecture indicates a steady increase in African population over the decade.

Please, remember to look at the template pack and use those templates.

Now, we come to Summarize Spoken Text

This is similar to re-tell lecture, but instead of speaking, you have to write a short summary.

Do not begin the summary with “The speaker…” or “The lecturer…”

Start directly with the main point, just as you do in a Write summary question.

The structure is usually very simple.

It is:

Key point 1

Key point 2

Key point 3

The response is unique for each question and that is why we don’t recommend the use of a template for this question.

But, in the template pack we have included one template for this question.

Use it when you just don’t know what to write about.

Now, let us look at the Write Essay questions

Very simple structure here:

Introduction paragraph

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3, which is optional

and, Conclusion

In the Introduction you have to show two things:

First, you understand what the essay topic is, in your own words of course
and second, what you are going to write about in the essay.

For example, if it is an essay about agreement disagreement, whether you will agree or disagree or be a bit on both sides.

Next you can write two or three main paragraphs.

You can have either have one point in one paragraphs or you can also include more than one point in a paragraph.

For each point, you should write:

One statement introducing the point.

Second sentence elaborating that point.

Third sentence giving an example.

Make sure you use appropriate connecting words in the paragraphs.

Finally, we have a conclusion paragraph.

In this you kind of give a recap of what you have written.

It is similar to introduction, but instead of saying what you are going to write about, you say what you have written about.

There are a lot of essay templates in the templates pack for each type of essay.

Read them and practice a lot!

Giving your response in a structured manner, will bump up your scores significantly.

Make sure you learn the structures and stick to them in your practice and the exam.

The template pack is actually a representation of these structures in practice.

With that we come to the end of this video.

Watch these videos as many times as you have to.

Some things you won’t understand the first time, but they will become clearer the second time.

So, keep revisiting!

All the best.

I will now see you in the final 7th video of the Super PTE Learning System.

1. Always give a well structured response.
2. Go through all templates in the big templates pack and learn to use them appropriately.
3. Always begin with an introduction or overview.
4. Use conclusion as a way of filling up time, if you run out of other things to do.
5. In all practice questions, try to give a structured response and use templates.