PTE Write Essay: sample answers with scoring

It is often argued that modern technology, despite its convenience, has made daily life more complicated and stressful. While I accept that constant connectivity creates real pressure, I largely disagree with the claim, because technology removes far more friction from our lives than it adds.

Those who see technology as a burden point to a genuine problem: the expectation to be permanently available. Email and messaging apps follow people home from work, blurring the line between professional and personal time. Many employees now feel obliged to answer messages late at night, and this erosion of boundaries can certainly raise stress levels. In that narrow sense, technology has added a new kind of pressure that earlier generations never faced.

However, this cost is small compared with the burdens technology has lifted. Tasks that once consumed hours, such as paying bills, finding information or staying in touch with distant relatives, now take minutes. A patient in a remote town can consult a specialist online, and a student can access an entire library from a single device. These conveniences free up time and reduce the anxiety that comes from uncertainty and delay, which is the opposite of a more stressful life.

In conclusion, although technology has introduced fresh demands on our attention, the difficulties it solves far outweigh the ones it creates. The sensible response is not to reject technology but to set boundaries on how we use it, so that its benefits are enjoyed without its drawbacks.

The purpose of a university is a long-standing debate. Some insist that higher education should equip graduates with job-ready skills, whereas others maintain that its true value lies in the pursuit of knowledge itself. In my opinion, both aims matter, but a good university should pursue them together rather than choose between them.

On one hand, the case for an employment focus is strong. Degrees are expensive, and most students enrol hoping to secure better careers. Courses in fields such as engineering, nursing and computing exist precisely to meet workforce needs, and graduates who leave with practical, in-demand skills repay their investment quickly. From this perspective, a university that ignores employability fails the very people it serves.

On the other hand, treating universities purely as training centres is short-sighted. Much of what makes graduates valuable, namely critical thinking, the ability to analyse evidence and the habit of questioning assumptions, comes from studying subjects for their own sake. History, philosophy and pure science rarely lead to one specific job, yet they produce flexible minds that adapt as industries change.

In conclusion, I believe the two goals are not opposites but partners. The most effective universities teach employable skills while still cultivating broad, curious thinking, so that graduates are ready not only for their first job but for a lifetime of change.

Remote working has shifted from a rare privilege to a normal arrangement at many companies. Although working from home brings clear drawbacks, particularly around collaboration and isolation, I believe its advantages clearly outweigh them for most employees.

The most obvious benefit is the time and money saved on commuting. Workers who no longer travel for an hour or more each day can devote that time to rest, family or productive work, and they avoid the expense and stress of crowded transport. In addition, a quiet home office often allows for deeper concentration than a busy open-plan workplace, which can raise both output and job satisfaction.

There are, of course, real disadvantages. Spontaneous conversations that spark ideas are harder to replicate online, and some employees feel isolated or struggle to separate work from home life. New staff in particular may learn more slowly without a colleague nearby to ask. These problems are genuine and should not be dismissed.

Nevertheless, most of these drawbacks can be managed. Regular video meetings, occasional office days and clear working hours address collaboration and isolation without sacrificing flexibility. Because the core benefits of time, focus and autonomy are difficult to recreate in a traditional office, I am convinced that, on balance, the advantages of working from home are the greater.