Runs in your browser. Your writing is never sent to us or stored.
The four criteria
| Criterion | What examiners look for | How we check it |
|---|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) | Every part of the task answered: a clear position and developed ideas (Task 2), an overview and key features (Academic Task 1), every bullet point covered (General Training letters) | Coverage of the question's key ideas, a clear position, the other side when asked, examples, an overview, figures and comparisons, letter greeting, purpose and sign-off, and length |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Logical organisation, clear paragraphs, linking used naturally | Paragraphs, introduction and conclusion, a range of linking words, and overuse of linkers |
| Lexical Resource | A range of precise vocabulary, few errors in word choice and spelling | Word variety, less common and academic words, basic and repeated words, and spelling against an 80,000-word dictionary |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A mix of complex structures, frequent error-free sentences | How often you use complex sentences, sentence variety, and common errors (agreement, articles, capitals, punctuation) |
Each criterion is worth a quarter of the task, and Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 in your writing band. Source: IELTS writing band descriptors (public version). The official descriptors are on ielts.org.
Unofficial practice. We wrote these questions to match the official PTE Academic task types and timings. They are not real exam questions, and points shown are practice feedback, not a PTE score. For an official estimate, use Pearson's scored practice tests.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the band estimate?
It's a guide, not an official score. Word count, paragraphing, linking words, spelling and common grammar errors are checked closely. Task response, vocabulary and grammar range are estimated with simple, transparent rules. Real examiners judge things software can't, like how convincing your ideas are, so we cap estimates at band 8.
Do you keep my writing?
No. The checker runs entirely in your browser. Your writing is never sent to us or stored.
Is there a penalty for writing under 250 words?
There's no fixed penalty, but short answers usually can't develop ideas fully, which lowers Task Response (or Task Achievement for Task 1). Aim for about 270–300 words in Task 2 and 170–190 in Task 1.