PTE Academic Write Essay · Opinion (agree or disagree)

Water Management Strategies and Modern Society Opinion Essay

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

The prompt

Some people believe that water management brings more benefits than drawbacks to modern society. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

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

    I strongly agree that effective water management provides substantial benefits that far outweigh any potential drawbacks.

  2. 2

    Paragraph 2

    Strategic water management ensures reliable access to clean resources and promotes agricultural stability.

  3. 3

    Paragraph 3

    Advanced infrastructure helps mitigate the catastrophic risks associated with extreme weather events like floods and droughts.

  • →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 sample234 words. Use the structure and vocabulary, not the sentences: PTE flags memorised templates.

Water resource management has become a critical pillar of infrastructure in contemporary nations. While some critics argue that large-scale interventions can disrupt natural ecosystems, I maintain that proactive water regulation offers indispensable advantages for societal development and security.

Primarily, systematic water management is essential for sustaining growing populations and agricultural productivity. By constructing dams, reservoirs, and sophisticated irrigation systems, governments can store water during periods of abundance to combat scarcity during dry seasons. For instance, the expansion of the Central Valley Project in California has enabled the transformation of arid regions into highly productive agricultural zones, ensuring consistent food supplies and economic stability despite natural rainfall irregularities.

Furthermore, modern water infrastructure serves as a vital safeguard against climate-related disasters. Engineered flood control mechanisms and sustainable drainage systems significantly reduce the risk of infrastructure damage and loss of life during severe weather. A prominent example is the Netherlands' Delta Works, a massive engineering project that protects low-lying areas from inundation. This sophisticated network demonstrates how human intervention can successfully mitigate environmental threats, transforming vulnerable landscapes into secure, habitable, and prosperous regions.

In conclusion, the benefits of comprehensive water management, ranging from agricultural security to disaster mitigation, far surpass the associated environmental costs. By investing in sustainable technological solutions, societies can effectively balance human requirements with ecological preservation. Therefore, prioritizing the development of water infrastructure is a necessary strategy for ensuring long-term global stability and resilience.

Scoring traits

Why this scores well

This essay scores highly on linguistic range and formal register by utilizing advanced vocabulary and complex, cohesive sentence structures. A common mistake that costs marks is failing to provide specific, real-world examples, which leads to weak development and a lower content score.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the essay

  • indispensable

    absolutely necessary and cannot be done without

  • proactive

    creating change rather than reacting to events

  • mitigate

    to make something less severe or harmful

  • inundation

    the state of being flooded with water

  • resilience

    the ability to recover quickly from difficulties

  • contemporary

    belonging to or occurring in the present

  • irregularities

    instances of not being consistent or normal

  • infrastructure

    basic physical and organizational structures and facilities

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 234 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 scores highly on linguistic range and formal register by utilizing advanced vocabulary and complex, cohesive sentence structures. A common mistake that costs marks is failing to provide specific, real-world examples, which leads to weak development and a lower content score.

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