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Practise free

5 PTE Summarize Written Text tips

You read a passage and write a one-sentence summary of it.

Tips

  1. 1

    Find the main idea first

    It's usually in the first or last sentence of the passage.

  2. 2

    Link with one or two connectors

    While, because, which and so let you join three ideas in one sentence.

  3. 3

    Check for one full stop

    Before you move on, check there's exactly one full stop, at the end.

  4. 4

    Avoid lists

    Joining ideas with and, and, and reads poorly. Use a contrast or a cause instead.

  5. 5

    Spell carefully

    Grammar and vocabulary are marked; copy key terms from the passage correctly.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Writing two sentences, which scores zero for form.
  • Copying long phrases without connecting them grammatically.