PTE Academic, Listening
PTE Summarize Spoken Text
You listen to a short lecture and write a summary within a word limit.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Listening |
|---|---|
| Time | 10 minutes |
| Word count | 50 to 70 words |
| How it's scored | Scored on content, form (word limit), grammar, vocabulary and spelling. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 16% of your listening score |
How to answer Summarize Spoken Text
- 1Note the topic, main points and conclusion while listening.
- 2Write: topic sentence, two or three key points, a closing sentence.
- 3Check word count and spelling.
Common mistakes
- Writing outside the word limit.
- Listing details without the main point.
Sample question
The hidden costs of light pollution
This is a listening question: open it in the app to hear the recording.
Show a model answer (90 / 90)
The lecture explained that artificial light at night is expanding by about two per cent annually. Beyond hiding the stars, it disorients wildlife such as sea turtles and night-flying insects, reducing pollination, and disrupts human sleep by suppressing melatonin. However, the speaker stressed that it is easily reversed by shielding fittings, using warmer colours and dimming lights, which also saves energy.