FREE PTE Summarize Written Text Practice

The PTE Summarize Written Text task requires test-takers to read a text of up to 300 words and write a single sentence summary no longer than 75 words. Candidates have 10 minutes to write their summaries.

This task includes a word counter to help track your summary length. You can use the cut, copy, and paste functions to optimise your writing.

Sample: Read the passage below and summarize it using one sentence. Type your response in the box at the bottom of the screen. You have 10 minutes to finish this task. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the key points in the passage.

The origins of writing are largely unclear. Writing systems were created independently all over the world. The earliest we know of were developed in the Middle East around 5,000 years ago. But other scripts were invented in India, Egypt, China and Central America. It has been suggested that some of these systems may have influenced others, but this has not been proved. These forms of writing look completely different, follow different rules and are often read in completely different ways. But they all perform the same basic function. They are all a visual means of recording language. Knowledge of some early scripts invented in certain regions was picked up by peoples living in surrounding areas. They would then adopt and adapt them to their own needs and language. Chinese, for example, was adopted in Japan and Korea, though it had to be altered to apply to the languages spoken there. Methods of recording information have varied over time and place. Not all sophisticated societies have developed writing systems and not all methods of recording information require writing. The Inca empire of South America was at its height in the sixteenth century AD and held power over a huge area that stretched from modern Equador and Peru, to areas of Bolivia and Chile. It was a complex civilisation, but did not develop a writing system.

 

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5 Common Mistakes To Avoid in The PTE Summarize Written Text

Many test-takers think writing a one-sentence summary is simple, but ignoring these mistakes will easily take away your marks. Here are the top 5 common issues that candidates often encounter in the PTE Summarize Written Text task:

• Exceeding 75 words: The task’s instructions require your summary to stay between 5 and 75 words. Writing more than 75 words will cause you to receive zero points in this task because you didn’t follow the requirements. Even with well-structured answers, you’ll still lose scores if your summary length doesn’t stay within this limit.
• Forgetting to add a full stop: Test-takers must write a complete sentence, meaning you must use correct punctuation. The test will mark your answer as incorrect and give you a zero if your summary ends without a full stop, no matter how good your grammar is.
• Writing more than one sentence: Many test-takers failed this task because their summary contained more than one sentence. The scoring system will automatically spot multiple-sentence answers and mark them as incorrect, so pay attention to structuring your response correctly.
• Putting the wrong capitalization: Another common mistake is having capitalization errors in your answer. Some test-takers use random capitalization, which leads to low Grammar scores. Start your sentence with a capital letter and apply capitalization to words in this list:

Days of the week. For example, Monday, Tuesday, etc.

Months such as January, February, etc.

Countries. For example: Australia, Canada, etc.

Languages. For example: English, Spanish, etc.

Names. For example Emma, Daniel, etc.

The pronoun ‘I’

• Skipping the proofreading step: Proofreading is crucial in the PTE Summarize Written Text task. You might miss spelling errors, grammar mistakes, or missing words in your response, which can lower your score. Take a few minutes to review your answer before moving to the next question.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Summarize Written Text In PTE?

The task requires candidates to summarise the key points in the text into a single sentence. The word limit for the PTE Academic test is 75, exceeding this limit will result in losing your score.

You only have 10 minutes to read, prepare, and write your response. A good summary captures the key idea without adding unrelated details, with clarity and correct grammar.

How To Get 90 In Summarize Written Text PTE?

Reading actively is the first step to achieving high scores in the Summarize Written Text task, not skimming. You must identify the key points in the text to understand its main theme and context.

Additionally, don’t list ideas separately. Paraphrasing the text to keep the meaning while showing your understanding of the content will help you achieve the top score in this PTE task.

How Many Words Do We Have To Write In Summarize Written Text?

Responses in the Summarize Written Text task are scored based on content, form, vocabulary, and grammar. Your response form must be correct, meaning it must be a sentence between 5 and 75 words.

How Can I Improve My Summarize Written Text In PTE?

Good note-taking is the first step to creating a clear response. You can list the key ideas in each paragraph in bullet points for easier tracking. Then, start forming a sentence based on these points, ensuring the word length stays within the required range.

Can We Copy And Paste In Summarize Written Text PTE?

In PTE Core Summarize Written Text, test-takers can use cut, copy, and paste functions to optimise their responses and arrange their sentence structure more easily.

Conclusion

Mastering this task requires good reading skills to quickly identify the key points and turn them into correct answers. PTE Magic recommends taking PTE Summarize Written Text practice tasks frequently to enhance your performance on exam day. Cheers!

Last updated on 01/06/2025