PTE summarize written text is a part of the PTE writing section.
Compared with the other one – essay writing, it is not that much challenging.
However, it would take time if you don’t know how to optimize it. Consequently, you might not have enough time to accomplish the essay part in the most ideal way.
So how to upgrade your PTE Summarize Written Text?
Let’s find the answers in this blog by PTE Magic, exploring all about PTE Summarize Written Text part, and some effective tips to improve its score. In the PTE Summarize Written Text task, it is crucial to craft a clear and concise answer that accurately summarizes the main ideas and supporting details within a single sentence.
If you are struggling or have limited English skills, using the above template as a structured example can help you organize your answer more effectively.
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Key Takeaways
- PTE Summarize Written Text is a task in the PTE Academic test that evaluates your reading and writing skills.
- PTE Summarize Written Text scores based on three main criteria: content, form, and grammar.
- Applying the right strategies and tips can help you achieve high scores in the PTE Summarize Written Text task.
- Practicing with full length mock tests is essential to build confidence, simulate real test conditions, and improve your performance.
- Scroll down to see what you should and shouldn’t do in this test. You will also find our five tips to get a higher PTE Summarize Written Text score at the end of this blog.
Related:
- These PTE online courses can elevate your scores quickly!
- PTE scoring guide – Everything you need to know
- How to prepare for PTE – A practical guide
Introduction to PTE Academic
PTE Academic is a computer-based English language test that has become an increasingly popular choice for individuals pursuing academic or professional opportunities abroad.
The exam is designed to assess your proficiency in four key skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. One of the most important components of the writing section is the PTE Summarize Written Text task. In this task, test takers are required to read a passage and condense it into a single, grammatically correct sentence that captures the main idea and key points.
Mastering this task is essential, as it demonstrates your ability to understand and summarize complex information—an important skill for both academic and professional settings.
To excel, it’s highly recommended to use a written text template, which provides a clear structure for organizing your thoughts and ensures that your summary is both concise and effective.
By practicing with a text template, you can approach the Summarize Written Text task with confidence and clarity, increasing your chances of success in the PTE Academic exam.
PTE Core Skills
Achieving a high score in the PTE Academic test requires strong core skills, especially when it comes to the Summarize Written Text task.
The PTE core skills include reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but for this specific task, reading comprehension, writing clarity, and grammar accuracy are particularly important.
Test takers must be able to quickly read and understand the passage, identify the main idea and key points, and then write a single, cohesive sentence that summarizes the entire passage.
Using a PTE Summarize Written Text template can help you develop these core skills by providing a structured approach to the task.
This not only helps you organize your thoughts but also ensures that your summary is clear, concise, and grammatically correct.
By focusing on these essential skills and practicing with a summarize written text template, you can improve your performance and boost your writing score in the PTE Academic exam.
What is PTE summarize written text?
First of all, you need to understand this part thoroughly.
PTE Summarize Written Text is a task in the PTE Academic test that evaluates your reading and writing skills.
In this section, it will provide 1 to 3 passages, each of which is usually between 50-70 words in length. The passage you receive is referred to as the given text, and your task is to summarize the given text into one single sentence within 10 minutes. Usually, each sentence would contain about 5-75 words depending on the respective passage.
Remember that you have to write your summary in a single sentence only for each paragraph. To end every sentence, you must use a full stop. Your summary must contain only one full stop to meet the task requirements; if you miss it, it can not be considered as a sentence, and you could receive zero for this part.
When summarizing, focus on identifying and summarizing the main topic of the given text to ensure your response is clear and relevant.
Otherwise, 10 minutes for this part seems quite enough but it’s totally not if you don’t know the right way to deal with it.
Therefore, continue scrolling down and don’t miss out on the rest of this blog to find some useful strategies.
How is it scored?
Before diving into 5 tips for PTE Summarize Written Text, you need to know how it is scored.
Scoring in PTE Summarize Written Text is based on three main criteria: content, form, and grammar. To receive a high score, you need to focus on these aspects. Identifying the central idea and main points of the passage is crucial for scoring well, as your summary should accurately reflect the most important information.
For content, make sure your summary includes at least one key point and an important detail from the passage. This demonstrates your understanding of the main points and your ability to condense the text effectively.
Avoid going off topic, as including irrelevant information can negatively impact your score.
Content
Content is the first factor affecting your score. It also is the most important one in the score frame.
Your summary must accurately convey the main ideas and key details of the original text. It should be relevant, meaningful, and free from any irrelevant information. If your summary rambles, and does not reflect the main idea of the passage, you even can receive a zero.
When deciding what to include in your summary, focus on a specific aspect of the passage to avoid being too general. Maintaining clarity and coherence is essential; highlighting important detail ensures your summary is comprehensive and addresses the core message.
For example, if the passage discusses environmental policies, you might summarize by mentioning a specific aspect such as the impact of recycling programs, and provide examples to illustrate how these programs benefit communities.
Form
The structure and organization of your response are crucial. Your summary should be in one sentence, ideally between 5 and 75 words. To create a strong answer, make sure to include important keywords from the passage, as this ensures your summary is both relevant and complete. You might not gain any points if:
- You write more than one sentence for each paragraph.
- Your response contains less than 5 words or more than 75 words.
You have to remember this taboo to ensure this part’s score. Don’t forget a full stop after every sentence to complete the response.
Grammar and vocabulary
Last but not least, grammar and vocabulary are the next factors you need to notice.
It can be assessed by how complicated structures you use. It is better to apply compound sentences or linking words to connect every idea.
Paraphrasing is not essential in this part. You have to paraphrase but retaining the original meaning is more crucial. Understanding the meaning of the passage and the words you use is essential to ensure your paraphrasing is accurate.
It is not wise if you replace the main keywords with others you are not sure about.
In case the replacement’s meaning is not 100% the same as the originals, the score could be reduced.
Don’t forget to care about spelling. With only small mistakes, you might lose your points.
Skills developed in PTE essay writing, such as organizing your response and expanding your vocabulary, can also help improve your grammar and vocabulary for the Summarize Written Text task.
What you should and shouldn’t do in PTE SWT?
After getting the score range of PTE summarize written text, there are some brief things you should and shouldn’t do you need to know.
Dos:
- Carefully read the passage to fully understand its main ideas and details.
- Use your own words while ensuring that the essence of the text is preserved.
- Maintain proper grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
- Revise your response carefully before submitting it to find existing errors (if any).
- Apply complex structures and compound sentences to get a higher score.
- Use linking words to connect sentences smoothly.
- Recognize the important role of time management and clear structure in achieving a high score.
Don’ts:
- Do not contain any irrelevant information in your response.
- Don’t write less or more than the mentioned range (from 5-75 words). This is the most important thing you need to grasp.
- Avoid using an informal tone when writing, only apply formal words.
- Do not copy verbatim text from the original paragraph.
- Do not include any additional information that is not present in the original passage.
Benefits of Using Templates
Incorporating templates into your preparation for the PTE Summarize Written Text task offers a range of benefits that can make a significant difference in your performance.
A well-designed written text template provides a structured approach to summarizing the passage, ensuring that you consistently cover all key points and maintain focus on the main idea.
Templates help you organize your thoughts logically, making it easier to write a clear and concise summary sentence that meets the requirements of the task.
By using a text template, you can avoid getting distracted by unnecessary details and instead highlight the essential information and supporting ideas.
Practicing with templates also helps you manage time pressure during the exam, as you become more efficient at identifying the main idea and structuring your response.
Ultimately, using templates can lead to higher scores in the PTE Summarize Written Text task by improving your writing speed, accuracy, and overall confidence.
5 tips for higher scores in PTE summarize written text
Identify main ideas
Identifying the main ideas of the passage is the priority of this task. It’s indispensable to understand the paragraph thoroughly. Recognizing the central idea and main topic of the passage is crucial, as this forms the foundation for effective comprehension and summarization.
Before starting to summarize, you need to read the passage carefully. Try to grasp keywords to quickly catch the main ideas, the central idea, and the overall message of the text.
It’s essential to get into the context and purpose of the passage, as this will guide your summarization process.
You can highlight or mentally note them to guide your summary, making sure to focus on at least one key point from the passage. The main ideas are usually found in the topic sentences of the paragraph. It also can be repeated in the passage.
Focusing on these key elements will ensure that your summary captures the essence of the paragraph.
Paraphrase effectively
One of the most critical skills in PTE Summarize Written Text is the ability to paraphrase, which involves expressing the same idea using different words. When paraphrasing, ensure you do not lose any important detail from the original passage.
This not only helps in fitting within the word limit but also reflects your language proficiency. Being good at paraphrasing would upgrade your results.
However, remember that don’t replace keywords or express the ideas randomly. Make sure that your response keeps the same meaning as the passage and focuses on a specific aspect to maintain clarity and relevance in your summary.
To master this skill, you can practice it by taking a sentence from a text and rewriting it in several ways. It could help you adapt better to PTE Summarize Written tasks.
Using appropriate grammar and vocabulary
It’s crucial to use a wide range of grammar and vocabulary in this part. PTE is an academic test, therefore, you should use informal words and a writing tone.
To ensure your summary is accurate and meets the task requirements, make sure to identify and include important keywords from the passage. Understanding how to use grammar and vocabulary effectively will help you write a more precise and impactful summary.
Your summary might not be highly evaluated if it contains too simple vocabulary and grammar.
Don’t forget to use linking words to joint ideas as well as create a coherent and well-structured summary.
Some phrases such as “Moreover”, “Furthermore”, “As a result”, etc. can help you smoothly transition from one idea to another. These connectors also enhance the overall logic flow of your response.
In addition, you should avoid using vague expressions to maintain clarity of passage. Your summary should be more easy to understand.
Revise after writing
It would be better if you take time for revision and editing after writing.
Let’s check for grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and clarity issues carefully to preserve your score. Only tiny mistakes can reduce the result.
Practice regularly
Practice makes perfect.
Regular practice of summarizing different types of texts will improve your skills over time. Make sure to cover a wide range of topics and writing styles to prepare for anything you might encounter in the exam.
To best simulate real exam conditions and accurately gauge your readiness, incorporate full length mock tests into your preparation routine. These comprehensive practice exams help build confidence and improve performance by mirroring the actual test environment.
Otherwise, to practice most closely to the actual test, you should use official PTE practice materials and online resources to find a variety of texts to practice on.
These materials are invaluable for PTE preparation. It will help you more familiar with the format of the task.
Analyzing Sample Questions
Analyzing sample questions is a crucial step in preparing for the PTE Summarize Written Text task.
By reviewing a variety of sample passages and their corresponding summary sentences, you can gain valuable insight into the types of texts you may encounter and the level of complexity involved.
Sample questions help you practice identifying the main idea, highlighting key points, and using correct grammar—all essential skills for this text task.
They also allow you to observe different approaches to summarizing written text, helping you refine your own technique.
By regularly working with sample questions, you can develop your ability to write clear, concise, and grammatically correct sentences that effectively summarize the entire passage.
Additionally, analyzing sample questions can boost your critical thinking skills and build your confidence, ensuring you are well-prepared for the Summarize Written Text task on test day.
Using Online Resources
Leveraging online resources is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the PTE Summarize Written Text task.
There are numerous websites that offer free mock tests, sample questions, and written text templates, all designed to help you practice and improve your skills.
Many of these platforms provide AI-powered scoring, giving you instant feedback on your writing accuracy, grammar, and overall performance.
Online resources also include forums and discussion groups where you can connect with other test takers, share tips, and learn from their experiences.
By utilizing these tools, you can access a wealth of information and support, making your preparation more efficient and targeted.
Whether you are looking to practice under time pressure, refine your use of templates, or simply gain more exposure to different types of passages, online resources can help you score high in the PTE Summarize Written Text task and achieve your academic or professional goals.
Conclusion
Mastering PTE Summarize Written Text is a significant step towards achieving your desired score in the PTE Academic test. If you are also looking to improve your performance in PTE Summarize Spoken Text, check out our comprehensive guide.
With regular practice and great strategies, you can improve your results gradually.
Remember that PTE Summarize Written Text evaluates not only your writing skills but also your reading comprehension, making it a complex challenge.
Stay focused, practice every day, and apply the tips provided in this guide to increase your chances of success on test day.
How to FINALLY Pass the PTE and Achieve Your Dreams
Stop guessing! Start using proven methods that guarantee results!
✅ Master Every Section: Discover INSIDER SECRETS that secure HIGH SCORES. ✅ Save Time & Effort: Study SMARTER with proven strategies for FAST results. ✅ Real Practice, Real Confidence: Practice with TEST-LIKE questions to feel FULLY PREPARED.
START YOUR PTE SUCCESS JOURNEY TODAY
|
Last updated on 03/10/2025

My name is Moni, and I am a seasoned PTE teacher with over 6 years of experience. I have helped thousands of students overcome their struggles and achieve their desired scores. My passion for teaching and dedication to my student’s success drives me to continually improve my teaching methods and provide the best possible support. Join me on this journey toward PTE success!
I am a firm believer that the best teachers educate with their hearts not just their minds.
Moni | PTE MAGIC International Founder
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