PTE essay: Some people think that the best way to reduce traffic congestion is to make public transport free

The essay prompt

Some people think that the best way to reduce traffic congestion is to make public transport free. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

You have 20 minutes to write 200–300 words.

Essay type: Opinion (agree or disagree). Take one clear position in the introduction. Use two body paragraphs to support it (or one for, one acknowledging the other side), and repeat your view in the 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 (224 words)

Traffic congestion wastes time, increases pollution and frustrates commuters in cities around the world. Some argue that making public transport free is the best solution. While free fares could help, I disagree that this alone is the most effective approach.

There are clear benefits to free public transport. Removing fares would make trains and buses more attractive, particularly for people on low incomes, and could persuade some drivers to leave their cars at home. It would also reduce the cost and time involved in collecting fares, and it could make the city centre more accessible for students and older residents.

However, price is often not the main reason people choose to drive. In many suburbs, public transport is infrequent, slow or simply unavailable, so even a free service is not a realistic option. If services became crowded after fares were removed, the experience could worsen without new investment. Losing fare revenue might also reduce the money available for improvements.

A more effective strategy would combine better services, such as more frequent trains, dedicated bus lanes and safe cycling routes, with measures that discourage unnecessary driving, like congestion charges in city centres. Singapore and London, for instance, have used charges to cut peak-hour traffic.

In conclusion, free public transport could play a role, but improving service quality and coverage is more important for reducing congestion.

Why this essay scores well

• Content: it answers the exact question and keeps to one clear position.
• Form: 224 words, inside the 200–300 range.
• Development, structure and coherence: 5 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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