- Read: You’ll be given a passage of 200-300 words on an academic subject (science, history, social studies, etc.). You have 10 minutes to read and understand it.
- Summarize: You must write ONE sentence summarizing the passage’s main points. Your sentence should be between 5-75 words long.
- Scoring: Your response is automatically scored based on these factors:
- Content: How accurately you identify the key themes and the relationship between the main point and supporting information.
- Form: Whether you’ve complied with the instructions of writing a single, grammatically correct sentence.
- Grammar & Vocabulary: Correctness of your grammar and the range of vocabulary used.
- Skim & Scan: Initially, read quickly to grasp the passage’s general topic. Then carefully reread to identify the main idea and supporting points.
- Notes: Jot down keywords and the most essential details to help you form your summary.
- Structure: Start your sentence with a phrase identifying the main topic, followed by the key supporting details. Example: “This article discusses [main idea] and explains how [supporting detail 1], [supporting detail 2], and [supporting detail 3] support this concept.”
- Linking Words: Use transition words to connect the ideas smoothly (e.g., furthermore, however, consequently)
- Avoid Personal Opinions: Keep your summary neutral and factual.
- PTE Practice Tests: Reputable websites offer Summarize Written Text samples and practice tests with feedback.
- Academic Articles: Practice summarizing the opening paragraphs of academic articles.
- News Summaries: Read news summaries and analyze how they condense information.
- You will usually encounter 1 or 2 Summarize Written Text tasks on the PTE exam.
- Do not copy phrases directly from the passage – rephrase the information in your own words.
- Your summary should be comprehensive, even if it reaches the maximum word count.