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Practice Writing: Write Essay ID: #34051 Two Roles of TV
Instructions

Television has two roles: to inform and to entertain people. Explain which of these roles you see as more important. To what extent do you think that TV today performs each of these roles in an effective way? Support your point of view with details from your own experiences, observations or reading.

* Write your essay below (between 200 and 300 words)

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Model Answer Perfect answer
Television has two roles: to inform and to entertain people. Explain which of these roles you see as more important. To what extent do you think that TV today performs each of these roles in an effective way? Support your point of view with details from your own experiences, observations or reading.
Highlights
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Television traditionally serves to inform citizens and to entertain them, yet these functions are not equally vital. I consider the informative role more important because it supports informed decision-making and social cohesion. Entertainment has value, but without reliable information, audiences become passive consumers rather than engaged members of society.

The priority of information lies in its practical consequences. Regular exposure to news, documentaries and public debates helps viewers understand current affairs, health risks and civic responsibilities. For example, clear broadcasting during elections or public health emergencies enables people to evaluate options and act responsibly, demonstrating how to strengthen democratic participation when it performs this role well.

By contrast, television excels more consistently at entertainment than at information today. Streaming platforms and commercial channels invest heavily in drama, reality shows and sport, which attract large audiences and provide relaxation. However, the dominance of sensational formats and fragmented news coverage often reduces depth and balance, limiting the effectiveness of television as a trustworthy source of knowledge.

In conclusion, while both roles matter, informing the public is the more significant responsibility of television. Although modern TV entertains effectively, it fulfils its informative function unevenly. Strengthening accuracy, context and editorial responsibility would allow television to better justify its influence and meet its social purpose.

210 words
26/ 26
Perfect answerPTE Academic · Write Essay
Tap a highlighted sentence to see why it scores
PTE criteria · full marks
  • Fully addresses the prompt in depth, showing full command of the argument by reformulating the issue in the writer's own words and expanding important points with specificity.
  • The argument is supported convincingly with subsidiary points and relevant examples throughout the response.
How this answer meets itThe essay gives a clear opinion that the informing role matters more, and it backs this up with a real example about elections and health. I consider the informative role more important because it supports informed decision-making and social cohesionclear broadcasting during elections or public health emergencies
PTE criteria · full marks
  • Has an effective logical structure, flows smoothly, and can be followed with ease.
  • The argument is clear and cohesive and developed systematically at length; a well-developed introduction and conclusion are present, and ideas are organised cohesively into clear, logically sequenced paragraphs.
  • Uses a variety of connective devices effectively and consistently to convey relationships between ideas.
How this answer meets itThe ideas move in a clear order and use good linking words to connect each paragraph and each point. For exampleBy contrastHoweverIn conclusionAlthough
PTE criteria · full marks
  • A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately to formulate ideas with ease and precision throughout the response.
  • No signs of limitations restricting what can be communicated.
  • Errors in language use, if present, are rare and minor, and meaning is completely clear.
How this answer meets itThe writer uses varied and complex sentences with ease, such as a contrast clause that keeps the meaning very clear. while both roles matter, informing the public is the more significant responsibilitywhich attract large audiences and provide relaxation
PTE criteria · full marks
  • Shows consistent grammatical control of complex language. Errors are rare and difficult to spot.
How this answer meets itThe complex sentence with a linking phrase is built correctly and is hard to fault. demonstrating how to strengthen democratic participation when it performs this role well
PTE criteria · full marks
  • Good command of a broad lexical repertoire, idiomatic expressions and collocations.
How this answer meets itThe essay uses precise academic words and strong word pairs with good command. social cohesioncivic responsibilitiesdemocratic participationeditorial responsibility
PTE criteria · full marks
  • Correct spelling.
How this answer meets itThe spelling is correct all through, including the British form of fulfils. fulfilsresponsibility
PTE criteria · full marks
  • Length is within the required 200 to 300 words.
How this answer meets itThe essay has 210 words, which fits the range. It is a clear four-paragraph essay.
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