A university education is necessary to succeed in a career…

How to answer: structure and key points

Essay outline

1. Introduction: restate the question in your own words and give your position.
2. Body paragraph 1: your main reason, with an example.
3. Body paragraph 2: a second reason, or the other side and why it is weaker.
4. Conclusion: restate your position in one or two sentences.
5. Stay on the topic: a response that misses the topic scores zero on every trait.

An outline for this prompt

• The question: Do people need a university degree to do well at work? Say how far you agree.
• Position: I partly agree: a degree helps in many professions, but it is not the only path to success.
• Paragraph 1: Some fields, such as medicine, law or engineering, require formal qualifications. Example: a doctor who cannot practise without a degree.
• Paragraph 2: Many people succeed through skills, training or experience, such as trades or business owners who learned on the job.
• Conclusion: Conclude that skills and effort matter most, and a degree is one useful route among several.

These are key points and a structure written by RealPTE, not a script to memorise: say or write it in your own words.

Questions about this question