PTE essay: Some people believe that schools should teach practical life skills, such as managing money and cooking, instead of traditional academic subjects

The essay prompt

Some people believe that schools should teach practical life skills, such as managing money and cooking, instead of traditional academic subjects. Discuss both views and give your 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 (226 words)

Schools have limited time, so there is ongoing debate about what students should learn. Some believe practical life skills such as budgeting and cooking should replace academic subjects, while others value traditional learning. In my opinion, schools should include life skills, but not at the expense of core academic subjects.

Supporters of practical education argue that many young people leave school unable to manage everyday tasks. For instance, some graduates struggle to budget, understand a rental agreement or cook a simple, healthy meal. These gaps can lead to debt and poor health, so teaching such skills could have a direct impact on students' wellbeing and independence.

On the other hand, academic subjects provide the foundation for further study and many careers. Mathematics develops logical thinking, while history and literature teach students to analyse information and understand different perspectives. Moreover, these subjects are difficult to learn later in life, whereas cooking and budgeting can be picked up at home or through short courses.

I believe the best approach is to integrate life skills into existing subjects. Financial literacy can be taught in mathematics classes using real examples, such as comparing phone plans or calculating interest on a loan, and nutrition can be included in science.

In conclusion, practical skills are essential, but they should complement rather than replace academic subjects, which remain vital for students' future opportunities.

Why this essay scores well

• Content: it answers the exact question and keeps to one clear position.
• Form: 226 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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