PTE Academic, Speaking and writing
PTE Summarize Written Text
You read a passage and write a one-sentence summary of it.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Writing |
|---|---|
| Time | 10 minutes |
| Word count | 5 to 75 words |
| How it's scored | Scored on content, form (one sentence within the word limit), grammar and vocabulary. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 12% of your writing score |
How to answer Summarize Written Text
- 1Find the main idea and two supporting points.
- 2Join them in one sentence with linkers such as while, because, and, which.
- 3Check that you wrote exactly one sentence ending in a full stop.
Summarize Written Text template
- 1Main idea of the passage, linker: while / because / as key supporting point, linker: which / so result or conclusion.
Common mistakes
- Writing two sentences, which scores zero for form.
- Copying long phrases without connecting them grammatically.
Sample question
Urban heat islands
Cities are typically warmer than the surrounding countryside, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. The difference is most pronounced at night, when the concrete, asphalt and brick that absorbed solar energy during the day slowly release it back into the air. In large metropolitan areas, night-time temperatures can be as much as seven degrees higher than in nearby rural districts. Several features of urban design intensify the problem. Dark roofs and roads absorb far more radiation than vegetation, tall buildings trap warm air in narrow streets, and air-conditioning units, vehicles and factories add waste heat of their own. The consequences extend well beyond discomfort. Higher temperatures increase electricity demand for cooling, which in turn raises emissions, and they worsen air quality by accelerating the formation of ground-level ozone. Most seriously, prolonged heat …
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.
Show a model answer (90 / 90)
Cities are considerably warmer than rural areas, especially at night, because dark surfaces, dense buildings and waste heat trap energy, which raises electricity demand, worsens air quality and endangers vulnerable residents, although combining measures such as street trees, reflective roofs and green corridors, particularly in the most vulnerable districts, can substantially reduce the effect.