Simple PTE Essay Template (“Do You Think…?” – Opinion Based)

This template is designed to answer questions that ask for your opinion on a certain topic and require you to provide reasons and examples.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

• Sentence 1: Hook/Background Statement: Start with a broad, relevant statement related to the topic of the question. This sets the stage and shows context.
• Sentence 2: State Your Opinion Directly: Clearly and unequivocally state your opinion (“Yes, I believe…” or “No, I do not believe…”) in response to the question. This is your thesis statement.
• Sentence 3: Outline Reasons (Optional but Recommended): Briefly mention the main reasons why you hold this opinion. This gives a roadmap for the essay.

Paragraph 2: Reason 1 (Body Paragraph 1)

• Sentence 1: Topic Sentence – State Reason 1: Clearly present your first reason supporting your opinion. Use topic sentence starters like “Firstly…”, “One key reason is…”, “To begin with…”
• Sentence 2 & 3: Elaboration & Explanation: Explain why this is a valid reason. Provide details, reasoning, and further explanation.
• Sentence 3 (or Sentence 4): Example (Personal or General Knowledge): Provide a specific example (from personal experience, general knowledge, or even a hypothetical but realistic scenario) to illustrate your point and make it more concrete.

Paragraph 3: Reason 2 (Body Paragraph 2)

• Sentence 1: Topic Sentence – State Reason 2: Present your second reason supporting your opinion. Use transition words or phrases like “Secondly…”, “Another important reason is…”, “Furthermore…”
• Sentence 2 & 3: Elaboration & Explanation: Explain why this second reason is also valid. Provide details and reasoning.
• Sentence 3 (or Sentence 4): Example (Personal or General Knowledge): Give another example (different from the first, if possible) to reinforce this second point.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

• Sentence 1: Summarize Reasons: Briefly restate or summarize the main reasons you’ve discussed.
• Sentence 2: Reiterate Opinion/Concluding Statement: Re-emphasize your overall opinion in a slightly different way or offer a final thought that reinforces your stance. You can reiterate the impact or significance of your opinion.

Why this template is effective for “Do You Think…?” PTE essays:

• Clear Stance: Immediately establishes your position, answering the core question directly.
• Logical Flow: Provides a structured way to present reasons and supporting evidence.
• Persuasive Approach: Focuses on building a case for your opinion with logical points and examples.
• Addresses all parts of the prompt: Specifically asks for reasons and examples, which are directly incorporated into the template.
• Time-efficient and easy to follow: The Simple structure helps in organizing thoughts quickly under timed conditions.

Sample Answer using the Template: Customer Reviews and Purchase Decisions

Essay Question: Customer reviews provide potential clients with the information they want from sources they trust – namely, people who have previously purchased the product. Do you think that customer reviews can influence purchase decisions? Give reasons for your answer and provide any specific examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Sample Answer:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

• Sentence 1 (Hook): In the contemporary digital age, online shopping has become increasingly prevalent, transforming the way consumers interact with businesses and make purchasing choices.
• Sentence 2 (State Opinion): I firmly believe that customer reviews wield a significant influence on purchase decisions in this online environment.
• Sentence 3 (Outline Reasons): This influence stems primarily from the trustworthiness and practical insights that these reviews offer to potential buyers.

Paragraph 2: Reason 1 – Trustworthiness

• Sentence 1 (Topic Sentence – Reason 1): Firstly, the trustworthiness of customer reviews is a crucial factor in their impact on purchase decisions.
• Sentence 2 (Elaboration): Unlike marketing materials created by companies, which are inherently designed to promote products in a positive light, reviews come from individuals who have actually used the product or service.
• Sentence 3 (Elaboration): This peer-to-peer perspective is often perceived as more authentic and less biased, leading potential customers to place greater faith in the opinions expressed in reviews.
• Sentence 4 (Example): For instance, when I was recently looking to buy a new laptop online, I found myself paying far more attention to user reviews about battery life and performance than to the manufacturer’s specifications, as I trusted the experiences of other users more.

Paragraph 3: Reason 2 – Practical Insights

• Sentence 1 (Topic Sentence – Reason 2): Secondly, customer reviews offer practical insights into product usage that are often absent from official product descriptions.
• Sentence 2 (Elaboration): Reviews often delve into the real-world application of a product, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses from a user’s perspective.
• Sentence 3 (Elaboration): This includes details about ease of use, durability, customer service experiences, and even unforeseen issues that might not be apparent from the product’s advertised features.
• Sentence 4 (Example): I recall reading reviews for a coffee maker where customers detailed not only its brewing quality but also aspects like how easy it was to clean and how noisy it was during operation – details that were invaluable in my decision-making process, yet were not mentioned in the product description.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

• Sentence 1 (Summarize Reasons): In conclusion, the impact of customer reviews on purchase decisions is largely attributed to their perceived trustworthiness and the practical, user-centric information they provide.
• Sentence 2 (Reiterate Opinion): Therefore, it is undeniable that in today’s information-rich online marketplace, customer reviews serve as a vital and influential resource, significantly shaping how consumers choose to spend their money.

Explanation of the Sample Answer with the Template

Let’s break down how each part of the sample answer aligns with our template:

Paragraph 1: Introduction – Explained

• “In the contemporary digital age, online shopping has become increasingly prevalent, transforming the way consumers interact with businesses and make purchasing choices.” – Hook/Background Statement: This sentence sets a broad context, acknowledging the rise of online shopping and its impact on consumer behavior. It’s a relevant and engaging opening.
• “I firmly believe that customer reviews wield a significant influence on purchase decisions in this online environment.” – State Opinion Directly: This sentence clearly and directly states the writer’s opinion (“I firmly believe…significant influence”). It directly answers the “Do you think…?” question.
• “This influence stems primarily from the trustworthiness and practical insights that these reviews offer to potential buyers.” – Outline Reasons: This sentence briefly previews the two main reasons that will be discussed in the body paragraphs: trustworthiness and practical insights. It provides a roadmap for the reader.

Paragraph 2: Reason 1 – Trustworthiness – Explained

• “Firstly, the trustworthiness of customer reviews is a crucial factor in their impact on purchase decisions.” – Topic Sentence – Reason 1: This sentence clearly introduces the first reason – trustworthiness – and uses a topic sentence starter “Firstly,”.
• “Unlike marketing materials created by companies, which are inherently designed to promote products in a positive light, reviews come from individuals who have actually used the product or service.” – Elaboration & Explanation: This sentence explains why trustworthiness is important. It contrasts reviews with company marketing and highlights the peer-to-peer nature of reviews.
• “This peer-to-peer perspective is often perceived as more authentic and less biased, leading potential customers to place greater faith in the opinions expressed in reviews.” – Elaboration & Explanation: Further explain the impact of peer perspective – authenticity and reduced bias – and its effect on customer trust.
• “For instance, when I was recently looking to buy a new laptop online, I found myself paying far more attention to user reviews about battery life and performance than to the manufacturer’s specifications, as I trusted the experiences of other users more.” – Example: This sentence provides a personal example to illustrate the point about trustworthiness. The laptop example and focus on user experiences about battery life are relatable and effective in demonstrating the reason.

Paragraph 3: Reason 2 – Practical Insights – Explained

• “Secondly, customer reviews offer practical insights into product usage that are often absent from official product descriptions.” – Topic Sentence – Reason 2: Introduces the second reason – practical insights – using a transition “Secondly,”.
• “Reviews often delve into the real-world application of a product, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses from a user’s perspective.” – Elaboration & Explanation: Explains what “practical insights” means – real-world application, strengths and weaknesses from a user’s view.
• “This includes details about ease of use, durability, customer service experiences, and even unforeseen issues that might not be apparent from the product’s advertised features.” – Elaboration & Explanation: Provides specific examples of the types of practical insights reviews offer (ease of use, durability, customer service, unforeseen issues), making the reason more concrete.
• “I recall reading reviews for a coffee maker where customers detailed not only its brewing quality but also aspects like how easy it was to clean and how noisy it was during operation – details that were invaluable in my decision-making process, yet were not mentioned in the product description.” – Example: Provides another personal example using a coffee maker. This example highlights details not found in product descriptions and emphasizes the value of these details in decision-making.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion – Explained

• “In conclusion, the impact of customer reviews on purchase decisions is largely attributed to their perceived trustworthiness and the practical, user-centric information they provide.” – Summarize Reasons: This sentence summarizes the two main reasons discussed: trustworthiness and practical information. It reiterates the core arguments.
• “Therefore, it is undeniable that in today’s information-rich online marketplace, customer reviews serve as a vital and influential resource, significantly shaping how consumers choose to spend their money.” – Reiterate Opinion/Concluding Statement: This sentence restates the overall opinion (“undeniable…vital and influential resource”) and emphasizes the broader impact of customer reviews in the online marketplace and on consumer spending. It provides a strong and conclusive ending.

In summary, the sample answer effectively utilizes the “Do You Think…?” template by:

• Clearly state an opinion in the introduction.
• Provide two distinct and well-explained reasons to support the opinion in separate body paragraphs.
• Use relevant examples (personal experiences) to strengthen each reason.
• Summarize the reasons and reiterate the opinion in the conclusion.
• Maintaining a formal and persuasive tone throughout.
• Address all parts of the essay question in a structured and organized way.

This template and sample answer provide a solid framework for tackling “Do you think…?” type PTE essay questions. Remember to practice using this template with different topics to improve your speed and fluency in PTE writing.

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