Why Tenses Matter in PTE & IELTS

Incorrect tense use is one of the most penalised errors in both PTE Write Essay and IELTS Writing Task 2. In speaking, tense errors reduce the Grammar score. Mastering tense choice is therefore high-value work.

The Core Tenses

Tense	Form	Use	Example
Simple Present	V / V+s	Facts, habits, general truths	“Water boils at 100°C.”
Present Continuous	am/is/are + V-ing	Actions happening now; current trends	“Global temperatures are rising.”
Present Perfect	have/has + past participle	Recent past with present relevance	“Research has shown that…”
Simple Past	V-ed / irregular	Completed past actions at a definite time	“In 2010, emissions fell sharply.”
Past Perfect	had + past participle	Earlier of two past events	“By the time the law passed, the damage had been done.”
Simple Future	will + V	Predictions, decisions	“Automation will transform the workforce.”

Tense Consistency

Stay in the same tense within a paragraph unless there is a clear reason to shift. A common PTE error is mixing simple past with present:

• ❌ “The government introduced the policy in 2015. This creates new challenges…”
• ✓ “The government introduced the policy in 2015. This created new challenges…” (if discussing the past)
• ✓ “…This policy creates challenges…” (if discussing its current relevance)

Aspect: Simple vs Perfect vs Continuous

• Simple — the action as a whole fact: “I studied.”
• Perfect — the action’s relevance to another time: “I have studied” (relevant now).
• Continuous — the action in progress: “I was studying” (at that moment).

Quick Self-Test

Correct the errors in these sentences:

1. “Scientists discover a new species last year.” → ___
2. “By 2050, sea levels rise by two metres.” → ___
3. “She has went to the conference yesterday.” → ___

Answers: 1. discovered | 2. will have risen | 3. went