Summarize Written Text is a short-answer writing item type that integrates writing and reading skills. It requires you to understand, analyze and extract information from a reading passage and summarize the key points in one sentence.
The Writing Module of PTE Academic consists of two tasks namely, Write Essay and Summarize written text. The latter is performed by writing a one-sentence summary of a passage. Only ten minutes is given to finish the task and the summary must contain 5 to 75 words. If a summary does not meet the word limit, it will lose points for improper form.
When it is time for this task, the computer will show a screen with a short passage, a blank box and a word counter at the bottom. There are also cut, copy and paste buttons for easy organization of words.
The biggest hurdles for this task are finding the main idea, identifying the writer’s purpose and incorporating all the relevant supporting details.
| Number of items | 2-3 |
| Time allowed | 20-30 minutes |
| Scoring | Partial credit |
| Communicative skills, enabling skills and other traits scored | Reading and writing Grammar, vocabulary Content, form |
| Subskills tested | Reading: Reading a passage under timed conditions; identifying a writer’s purpose, style, tone or attitude; comprehending explicit and implicit information; comprehending concrete and abstract information. Writing: Writing a summary; writing under timed conditions; taking notes while reading a text; synthesizing information; writing to meet strict length requirements; communicating the main points of a reading in writing; using words and phrases appropriate to the context; using correct grammar. |
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