Use a flexible PTE Core Write Email template, example and nine-minute workflow. Understand the current word-limit evidence and all seven scoring areas.
Product interface
Lengqishui PTE Core question-practice illustration for free Write Email practice.
An adaptable PTE Core email template and example
Illustrative example: “Dear Ms Chen, I am writing to ask whether Friday’s training session can be moved to Monday afternoon. I have a medical appointment on Friday and will be unable to attend, but I do not want to miss the safety demonstration. Monday would allow me to join the full session and complete the required assessment with the team. If Monday is unavailable, could you please send me the materials and let me know whether another session is planned? Thank you for considering my request. Kind regards, Alex.” Replace every detail with the current prompt.
Part
Adaptable function
Example language
Scoring check
Salutation
Match the recipient and relationship
Dear Ms Chen, / Hi Sam,
Is the register appropriate and is an email convention clearly present?
Purpose
State why you are writing
I am writing to ask… / I’m sorry about…
Does the opening directly address the situation?
Three prompt points
Develop each required detail logically
First… In addition… Therefore…
Are all bullet points accurate, relevant and sufficiently developed?
Action or conclusion
Make the requested outcome clear
Could you please… / I would appreciate…
Does the conclusion complete the communication goal?
Farewell
Close consistently with the tone
Kind regards, / Best wishes,
Are the conclusion and farewell appropriate for the recipient?
Final review
Check length and written accuracy
Word count, sentences, capitals, punctuation and spelling
Does the response satisfy the live instruction and use one spelling convention?
Original Write Email Practice with Point-by-Point Responses
Practise a formal complaint, a workplace request and an apology with three original fictional prompts, complete English responses, evidence for all three task points and error comparisons.
Original example 1 · Write Email
Duplicate payment: explain the problem and request a specific refund
Prompt 76 words · Reference email 98 words
A formal email to a course coordinator. Check the booking reference, duplicate amount and requested refund without turning the complaint into an accusation.
Complete English prompt
You booked one place on a Saturday photography workshop at a community centre. Your booking reference is P417. The workshop costs $40, but your bank statement shows two $40 charges. Write an email to Ms Patel, the course coordinator. In your email:
- Describe the payment problem and identify your booking.
- Explain how the duplicate charge affects you.
- Request a refund of the extra payment and written confirmation.
For this practice, write 80–120 words.
Reference email, point-by-point evidence and checks (expand or collapse)
Complete English reference email
Dear Ms Patel,
I am writing about my booking, reference P417, for Saturday's photography workshop. My bank statement shows two separate charges of $40, although I booked and paid for only one place.
The extra charge has left less money in my monthly budget for transport, so I would appreciate your help in resolving it promptly.
Could you please check the payment record, refund the additional $40, and confirm the correction by email? I can send the booking receipt and a copy of the two transactions if needed.
Thank you for looking into this.
Kind regards,
Jordan Ellis
This is one possible response, not the only answer. Check that your email addresses all three points, keeps the arrangements consistent and uses a tone suitable for the recipient.
Why this tone fits
Formal, specific and courteous. Dear Ms Patel and Kind regards suit an unfamiliar course coordinator. Could you please and factual details make the request clear without alleging that the duplicate charge was intentional.
Error comparison
Avoid this wording
Refund the full $80 immediately or I will tell everyone your centre steals money.
This asks for the full payment back while the booking is still wanted and treats an unverified duplicate charge as theft. The amount does not match the requested remedy, and the hostile tone obstructs a practical resolution.
Correction from the reference email
Could you please check the payment record, refund the additional $40, and confirm the correction by email?
Check each task requirement
Task point 1
Describe the payment problem and identify your booking.
Complete evidence from the reference email
I am writing about my booking, reference P417, for Saturday's photography workshop. My bank statement shows two separate charges of $40, although I booked and paid for only one place.
The reference P417 and workshop identify the booking. Two $40 charges for one place then define the payment problem clearly enough for the recipient to investigate.
Task point 2
Explain how the duplicate charge affects you.
Complete evidence from the reference email
The extra charge has left less money in my monthly budget for transport, so I would appreciate your help in resolving it promptly.
This explains a concrete effect on the transport budget rather than repeating that there was an extra charge. So connects that effect with the reason for requesting a prompt resolution.
Task point 3
Request a refund of the extra payment and written confirmation.
Complete evidence from the reference email
Could you please check the payment record, refund the additional $40, and confirm the correction by email?
The request covers checking the record, refunding the extra $40 and confirming the correction in writing. Additional makes clear that the refund requested is not the full $80.
Checks after writing
Have you identified booking P417, one place and two $40 charges without making the recipient guess?
Have you explained the effect of the duplicate charge and requested both a refund and email confirmation?
Have you requested only the extra $40 and used a greeting, closing and wording appropriate for a formal complaint?
Original example 2 · Write Email
Handover meeting: propose a new time without delaying the work
Prompt 81 words · Reference email 94 words
A scheduling request to a manager. The alternative time needs confirmation, while the notes are scheduled to arrive before the original meeting.
Complete English prompt
Your manager, Mr Lewis, scheduled a handover meeting for Wednesday at 3 pm. You have an earlier arrangement for a client call at that time. You can attend on Thursday at 10 am and send the notes before the original meeting. Write an email to Mr Lewis. In your email:
- Explain why you cannot attend the original meeting.
- Suggest the alternative meeting time.
- Describe how you will keep the handover on schedule.
For this practice, write 80–120 words.
Reference email, point-by-point evidence and checks (expand or collapse)
Complete English reference email
Dear Mr Lewis,
I am sorry, but I cannot attend Wednesday's handover meeting at 3 pm because it overlaps with a client call that was arranged earlier.
Would Thursday at 10 am be convenient instead? Please let me know whether that time works for you before I update the calendar invitation.
To avoid delaying the handover, I will email the completed notes by noon on Wednesday. They will include the outstanding tasks, deadlines and contact details, so you can review them before our meeting.
Thank you for considering this change.
Kind regards,
Sam Taylor
This is one possible response, not the only answer. Check that your email addresses all three points, keeps the arrangements consistent and uses a tone suitable for the recipient.
Why this tone fits
Professional and cooperative, with respect for the recipient’s schedule. The email explains the prior commitment, proposes a time for confirmation and offers a delivery plan rather than assuming control of the manager’s calendar.
Error comparison
Avoid this wording
I have moved the meeting to Thursday at 10 am. See you there.
This treats a request awaiting confirmation as a change already made. The manager may not be available then; proposing an alternative is not the same as receiving approval.
Correction from the reference email
Would Thursday at 10 am be convenient instead? Please let me know whether that time works for you before I update the calendar invitation.
Check each task requirement
Task point 1
Explain why you cannot attend the original meeting.
Complete evidence from the reference email
I am sorry, but I cannot attend Wednesday's handover meeting at 3 pm because it overlaps with a client call that was arranged earlier.
Wednesday at 3 pm identifies the original meeting, and because explains the clash with the client call. Arranged earlier refers to the call, making the reason for the conflict unambiguous.
Task point 2
Suggest the alternative meeting time.
Complete evidence from the reference email
Would Thursday at 10 am be convenient instead? Please let me know whether that time works for you before I update the calendar invitation.
Thursday at 10 am is a specific alternative. Asking for confirmation before updating the invitation keeps it a proposal rather than presenting it as an approved change.
Task point 3
Describe how you will keep the handover on schedule.
Complete evidence from the reference email
To avoid delaying the handover, I will email the completed notes by noon on Wednesday. They will include the outstanding tasks, deadlines and contact details, so you can review them before our meeting.
Noon on Wednesday is before the original 3 pm meeting. Listing outstanding tasks, deadlines and contacts gives a concrete way to keep the handover moving instead of merely promising there will be no delay.
Checks after writing
Have you identified Wednesday at 3 pm and explained the clash with the previously arranged client call?
Have you proposed Thursday at 10 am and asked for confirmation before changing the calendar?
Have you promised the notes by noon on Wednesday and described their contents rather than only saying there will be no delay?
Original example 3 · Write Email
Apologise to a friend: acknowledge the impact and offer practical help
Prompt 85 words · Reference email 98 words
An informal email to a friend. Explain why the original plan no longer works, offer specific help and ask about the remaining tasks.
Complete English prompt
You promised to help your friend Maya move boxes on Saturday morning. A family commitment until noon means you are no longer available then. You can help after 2 pm that Saturday and bring packing boxes on Friday evening. Write an email to Maya. In your email:
- Apologise and explain why you cannot help in the morning.
- Offer a specific alternative way to help.
- Ask which remaining tasks would be most useful for you to do.
For this practice, write 80–120 words.
Reference email, point-by-point evidence and checks (expand or collapse)
Complete English reference email
Hi Maya,
I am really sorry, but I cannot help with the boxes on Saturday morning as I promised. A family commitment will keep me busy until noon.
I know changing plans now makes your move harder, and I should have told you as soon as I found out.
I can come over after 2 pm on Saturday to carry boxes and help unpack. I can also bring spare packing boxes on Friday evening.
Which jobs will still need doing on Saturday afternoon? Let me know what would help most, and I will plan around that.
Best,
Alex
This is one possible response, not the only answer. Check that your email addresses all three points, keeps the arrangements consistent and uses a tone suitable for the recipient.
Why this tone fits
Friendly and accountable rather than dismissive. Hi Maya and Best suit a friend. Acknowledging the inconvenience and offering clear times and actions makes the apology more useful than an excuse alone.
Error comparison
Avoid this wording
You will be fine without me, so just ask someone else.
This pushes the problem back onto the friend and assumes the cancellation has no impact. It offers none of the alternative help requested by the prompt and undermines the apology.
Correction from the reference email
I can come over after 2 pm on Saturday to carry boxes and help unpack. I can also bring spare packing boxes on Friday evening.
Check each task requirement
Task point 1
Apologise and explain why you cannot help in the morning.
Complete evidence from the reference email
I am really sorry, but I cannot help with the boxes on Saturday morning as I promised. A family commitment will keep me busy until noon.
Really sorry gives a direct apology, while as I promised acknowledges the commitment. The next sentence explains the reason and the period of unavailability rather than leaving the friend to guess.
Task point 2
Offer a specific alternative way to help.
Complete evidence from the reference email
I can come over after 2 pm on Saturday to carry boxes and help unpack. I can also bring spare packing boxes on Friday evening.
The remedy names carrying and unpacking boxes after 2 pm that Saturday, plus bringing packing boxes the evening before. The times match the prompt and offer practical help rather than a vague promise for another day.
Task point 3
Ask which remaining tasks would be most useful for you to do.
Complete evidence from the reference email
Which jobs will still need doing on Saturday afternoon? Let me know what would help most, and I will plan around that.
This asks directly which jobs remain on Saturday afternoon and offers to prioritise the friend’s needs. It does not assume that a particular remedy will automatically suit the move.
Checks after writing
Have you apologised, explained the morning conflict and acknowledged the original promise?
Have you offered concrete help after 2 pm on Saturday and on Friday evening without promising an unavailable time?
Have you asked about the remaining tasks and the most useful help rather than deciding for your friend?
PTE Core Write Email format, time and question count
Pearson’s January 2026 Score Guide lists 2–3 partial-credit Write Email questions. Each prompt can contain up to 100 words, gives nine minutes and requires the purpose and all three bullet points to be addressed.
Use a prompt-specific template and the safest word target
Build salutation, purpose, three prompt points, action and farewell from the current task. Pearson’s task copy says 80–120 words while its scoring copy gives full Form credit at 50–120; follow the live instruction and use 80–120 as the safest current practice target.
Content and Form gate the remaining scoring traits
Check Content, Form, Email Conventions, Organization, Vocabulary, Grammar and Spelling. Irrelevant memorised material or zero Form can prevent the remaining traits from being scored.
Analyse the recipient, purpose and three bullet points
Underline who receives the email, why you are writing and the three required details. Decide whether the tone should be formal, neutral or informal before drafting.
Create a six-part outline
Use salutation, purpose, point one, point two, point three and closing. Add one useful prompt-specific detail to each body point instead of copying a long universal paragraph.
Draft the purpose and body first
Write direct sentences that complete the communication task. Keep related information together and use transitions only when they make the order easier to follow.
Add appropriate email conventions
Use a salutation, introduction, conclusion and farewell that match the recipient. Avoid a formal opening followed by slang or an informal sign-off to a manager.
Check the live word counter
Follow the instruction displayed in the test. For current practice, 80–120 words is the safest overlap between Pearson’s task wording and the full-credit Form range in its 2026 Score Guide.
Run a final seven-trait review
Confirm Content and Form first, then Email Conventions, Organization, Vocabulary, Grammar and Spelling. Correct obvious errors instead of rewriting the whole response at the end.
