PTE essay: Some people believe that children should start learning a second language in primary school, while others think it is better to wait until secondary school

The essay prompt

Some people believe that children should start learning a second language in primary school, while others think it is better to wait until secondary school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

You have 20 minutes to write 200–300 words.

Essay type: Discuss both views. Give each view its own body paragraph, with a reason and an example, then state your own opinion in the introduction and conclusion.

A 3-minute plan

1. Introduction: paraphrase the topic and give your position in one sentence.
2. Body paragraph 1: your strongest reason, with an example.
3. Body paragraph 2: a second reason, or the other side and why you still hold your view.
4. Conclusion: restate your position in new words.

Model essay (207 words)

Learning a second language has clear benefits, but there is disagreement about the best age to begin. While some argue that languages should wait until secondary school, I believe that starting in primary school is more effective.

Those who prefer a later start argue that young children should first build strong literacy in their own language. They also point out that primary schools often lack qualified language teachers, so early lessons may be poorly taught and quickly forgotten. Older students, they say, can learn grammar more efficiently because they think more analytically.

However, the advantages of an early start are significant. Young children are usually less self-conscious and more willing to imitate new sounds, which helps them develop more natural pronunciation. In addition, starting early means students accumulate many more hours of exposure by the time they finish school. For example, in countries where English is taught from the first years of primary school, students often reach a high level of fluency by the end of secondary education.

In conclusion, although concerns about teacher quality are valid, they are a reason to invest in better primary teaching rather than delay learning. Overall, I believe the benefits of beginning a second language in primary school outweigh the drawbacks.

Why this essay scores well

• Content: it answers the exact question and keeps to one clear position.
• Form: 207 words, inside the 200–300 range.
• Development, structure and coherence: 4 paragraphs, each with one main idea, linked with clear connectors.
• Grammar and vocabulary: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with topic vocabulary used accurately.
• Spelling: one consistent spelling style (Australian/British).

Now write your own

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