PTE Academic Write Essay · Opinion (agree or disagree)

Should Students Plant Trees at School

A high-scoring sample essay with the plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it, and what the scoring traits reward.
  • 255 words
  • Opinion (agree or disagree)
  • beginner
  • 20 minutes

The prompt

Some schools ask each student to plant and care for a small tree during the school year. Do you think this is a good learning activity for children?

20 minutes. Write 200 to 300 words. A BandLadder practice prompt, not a recalled exam question.

Opinion (agree or disagree)

Plan before you write

  1. 1

    Position

    Integrating tree cultivation into the school curriculum is a highly beneficial educational initiative that fosters environmental stewardship and personal responsibility.

  2. 2

    Paragraph 2

    Caring for a living organism cultivates a sense of accountability and patience in young students.

  3. 3

    Paragraph 3

    This practical activity provides tangible insights into biological processes and ecological conservation.

  • →State a clear position in the last sentence of the introduction and keep it to the end.
  • →Two body paragraphs that each give one reason for that position, with an example.
  • →A partial position is fine if it is stated precisely; a position that drifts is what caps task response at 6.

Model answer

Sample essay

High-scoring sample255 words. Use the structure and vocabulary, not the sentences: PTE flags memorised templates.

Integrating tree cultivation into the school curriculum is a highly beneficial educational initiative that fosters environmental stewardship and personal responsibility. By engaging directly with the natural world, students transition from passive observers to active participants in environmental preservation.

First, the responsibility of caring for a living organism cultivates accountability and patience. When children are tasked with monitoring the growth of a sapling, they learn that consistent effort is required to sustain life. For instance, a primary school student who diligently waters and prunes a tree learns to appreciate the direct correlation between their actions and the plant’s health. This hands-on experience serves as a practical lesson in long-term commitment, a trait that is essential for academic and personal success.

Second, this activity provides tangible insights into biological processes and ecological conservation. Rather than relying solely on theoretical textbook knowledge, students observe firsthand how environmental factors like sunlight, soil quality, and hydration influence growth. For example, a class project involving native tree species allows students to witness the importance of biodiversity in their local ecosystem. Such experiential learning anchors scientific concepts in reality, making the subject matter significantly more memorable and impactful for young learners than rote memorization.

In conclusion, asking students to plant and nurture a tree is an excellent pedagogical tool. It not only instills a sense of duty toward the environment but also enhances the understanding of complex biological systems. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, schools can effectively nurture both academic excellence and a deeper respect for the natural world.

Scoring traits

Why this scores well

This essay achieves high scores in linguistic range and development by using precise vocabulary and logical transitions to connect specific examples to the thesis. A common error on this prompt is failing to address the educational value of the activity, instead focusing exclusively on environmental benefits without linking them to the student experience.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the essay

  • stewardship

    the responsibility of protecting and managing something

  • cultivates

    promotes or improves the development of something

  • tangible

    clear and definite enough to be touched

  • correlation

    a mutual relationship or connection between things

  • biodiversity

    the variety of life in a particular habitat

  • experiential

    involving or based on experience and observation

  • pedagogical

    related to the methods and practice of teaching

  • rote

    mechanical repetition without full understanding of meaning

See also the Write Essay guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a PTE essay be?+

Between 200 and 300 words; outside that range the form score drops to zero. This sample is 255 words, written for the 20-minute limit.

What type of essay is this?+

Opinion (agree or disagree). State a clear position in the last sentence of the introduction and keep it to the end.

What does PTE reward in the essay?+

This essay achieves high scores in linguistic range and development by using precise vocabulary and logical transitions to connect specific examples to the thesis. A common error on this prompt is failing to address the educational value of the activity, instead focusing exclusively on environmental benefits without linking them to the student experience.

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