Summarise Written Text asks you to turn a passage of up to 300 words into one sentence of 5–75 words. You have 10 minutes. A PTE Academic test includes two of these items, and each one contributes to Reading and Writing. The timings, the passage length and the skills are set out on Pearson’s speaking and writing format page, and the trait scores are in the test-taker score guide (4 March 2026).
You read a passage on an academic or general topic and write one grammatical sentence that captures the essential meaning. The passage is up to 300 words. Your sentence must stay inside 5–75 words.
Task format
Topics include science, technology, history, the environment, society and culture. You distil the passage into a single sentence that stays accurate.
What stays the same:
Two items on a test
10 minutes to read, plan, write and review
One sentence of 5–75 words
Reading and Writing both receive the score
The aim: the main point, and the support the sentence has room for, without changing the passage’s meaning
The four-step strategy
Follow this four-step approach:
Step 1: Read and analyse (2–3 minutes)
Read the passage carefully to understand:
Main idea: What is the passage primarily about?
Key supporting points: What are the 2-4 most important details?
Relationship between ideas: How do the concepts connect?
Purpose: Is the passage informing, explaining, arguing, or describing?
Pro tip: The first and last sentences often contain the core idea. Pay special attention to these.
Step 2: Identify key points (1-2 minutes)
Extract the essential information:
Identify the main topic or subject
Note 2-4 key supporting points that are crucial to the passage
Ignore minor details, examples, statistics, and illustrations
Consider cause-effect relationships or contrasts presented
Step 3: Write your summary (4-5 minutes)
Construct your single sentence:
Begin with the main idea
Connect supporting points using appropriate linking words
Use complex or compound sentence structures
Paraphrase—don't copy phrases directly from the passage
Aim for 30-45 words for optimal safety margin
Step 4: Review and refine (2-3 minutes)
Check thoroughly for:
Word count (must be 5-75 words)
Single sentence with one full stop at the end
Grammar and subject-verb agreement
Spelling accuracy
Logical flow and clarity
Capital letter at the beginning
Scoring breakdown
Pearson scores four traits. The ranges below are from the score guide (4 March 2026). From the 2025 updates, Content is also reviewed by a human. Humans do not review pronunciation or fluency on speaking items, and this item is typed, so the human review here is of Content.
Trait
Score
What Pearson is looking at
Content
0–4
The main ideas, in your own words, without misrepresenting the passage. A response that misses the topic or purpose scores 0 on every trait.
Form
0–1
1 for one complete sentence within 5–75 words. 0 if it is not a single sentence, if it is outside 5–75 words, or if it is written in all capitals.
Grammar
0–2
Sentence structure that a reader can follow.
Vocabulary
0–2
Word choice that fits the passage, including sensible synonyms rather than a long copied stretch.
If Form is 0, the item is not scored. Pearson’s format page says that fewer than five words, or more than 75, means you receive no score points on any of the four traits. The same outcome applies when Form is 0 for another reason, such as more than one sentence. It is not only Grammar and Vocabulary that drop out.
Content. A strong summary includes the main ideas and leaves out your own opinion. From 2025, Content runs from 0 to 4 and is human-reviewed. Memorised or unoriginal responses can be treated as irrelevant and score 0.
Essential strategies
Reading technique mastery
Active reading approach:
First read (60-90 seconds): Skim to grasp the general topic and structure
Second read (60-90 seconds): Identify main ideas and key supporting points
Underline strategically: Mark topic sentences and key concepts (if using scratch paper)
Identifying main ideas:
Look at the first sentence—often states the topic or thesis
Check the final sentence—frequently contains conclusions or summaries
Notice repeated concepts or terms—these are usually central to the passage
Identify transition words that signal important information: "however," "therefore," "moreover"
Sentence construction excellence
Complex sentence structures:
Use subordinate clauses and conjunctions to combine ideas:
Structure 1 - Cause and Effect:
The passage discusses [main topic], explaining that [cause] leads to [effect], while also highlighting [additional point].
Structure 2 - Contrast:
Although [contrasting point], the passage argues that [main idea] because [supporting reason], which demonstrates [conclusion].
Structure 3 - Multiple Points:
The text examines [main topic], noting that [point 1], [point 2], and [point 3], ultimately suggesting [conclusion].
Structure 4 - Problem and Solution:
The passage addresses [problem] by proposing [solution] and emphasising [key consideration].
Linking words for coherence
For addition:
and, furthermore, moreover, additionally, while also, as well as
For contrast:
although, however, while, whereas, despite, yet, but
For cause-effect:
because, since, as, therefore, consequently, thus, resulting in
For sequence:
which, that, where, when, leading to, followed by
For elaboration:
explaining that, noting that, highlighting that, demonstrating that, suggesting that
House tip, not a scoring rule: Aim for two or three commas at most. Pearson does not publish a comma limit. A sentence that needs more than that is often trying to do too many jobs, and it is easier to lose grammar points when the structure breaks.
Word count strategy
Optimal range: 30-45 words provides the sweet spot—sufficient to capture main points while minimising grammatical errors.
What Pearson scores, and what is only a house tip:
Under 5 words, or over 75: the response is not scored. All four traits receive 0.
5–75 words, one sentence: Form can score 1. Content is still judged separately, so a very short sentence inside the limit can be grammatical and still miss the main ideas.
Around 30–50 words: a house target. It is not a Pearson band. It usually leaves enough room for the main point and one or two supports, with space to check grammar.
Tracking tip: The PTE interface includes a real-time word counter. Check it before finalising your answer.
Time management breakdown
The 10-minute allocation:
Minutes 0-3: Read passage twice and identify key points
Minutes 3-4: Plan sentence structure and key points to include
Minutes 4-8: Write your summary sentence
Minutes 8-10: Review for errors, check word count, verify it's one sentence
Pro tip: If you finish early, use the remaining time to proofread. Check for subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and spelling errors that could cost valuable points.
Sample passages with responses
Sample Passage 1: Environmental Science
Passage:
Climate change represents one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century, with rising global temperatures causing widespread environmental disruptions including melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. Scientists agree that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, are the primary drivers of this phenomenon, releasing greenhouse gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. While governments worldwide have committed to reducing carbon emissions through international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, implementation remains inconsistent, and many experts warn that current efforts are insufficient to prevent catastrophic warming. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, protecting existing forests, and developing carbon capture technologies represent crucial strategies for mitigating climate change, though success requires unprecedented global cooperation and sustained political will.
High-Scoring Response (42 words - Click to reveal)
The passage discusses climate change as a critical twenty-first-century challenge caused primarily by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, emphasising that despite international commitments, current mitigation efforts remain insufficient and require enhanced global cooperation, renewable energy adoption, and forest conservation.
Uses complex sentence structure with multiple clauses
Stays within optimal word count (42 words)
Single sentence with proper punctuation
Sample Passage 2: Technology and Society
Passage:
Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from a theoretical concept to a practical technology that permeates numerous aspects of modern life, transforming industries ranging from healthcare and finance to transportation and entertainment. Machine learning algorithms can now diagnose diseases with accuracy rivalling experienced physicians, predict financial market trends, optimise traffic flow in major cities, and personalise content recommendations for billions of users. However, this technological revolution raises significant ethical concerns about privacy, employment displacement, algorithmic bias, and the concentration of power among technology corporations. Experts argue that developing appropriate regulatory frameworks, ensuring algorithmic transparency, and investing in workforce retraining programmes are essential to harness AI's benefits while minimising potential harms to society.
High-Scoring Response (44 words - Click to reveal)
The passage explains how artificial intelligence has transformed various industries through advanced capabilities like disease diagnosis and market prediction, while also highlighting ethical concerns regarding privacy and employment, necessitating regulatory frameworks, algorithmic transparency, and workforce retraining to maximise benefits and minimise societal risks.
Includes solutions: regulation, transparency, retraining
Complex sentence with cause-effect relationship
Appropriate word count (44 words)
Grammatically correct with varied vocabulary
Sample Passage 3: Education and Development
Passage:
Early childhood education programmes have demonstrated remarkable long-term benefits for participants, with research showing that children who attend quality preschool programmes exhibit better academic performance, higher graduation rates, and improved social skills compared to those without such experiences. These programmes provide structured learning environments where young children develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills, learn to interact cooperatively with peers, and build emotional regulation capabilities essential for future success. Despite compelling evidence supporting early education investment, many countries struggle to provide universal access due to funding constraints, workforce shortages, and political priorities that favour other spending areas. Economists argue that early childhood education represents one of the highest-return public investments, generating benefits that far exceed costs through reduced special education needs, lower crime rates, and increased lifetime earnings for participants.
High-Scoring Response (46 words - Click to reveal)
The passage examines early childhood education's significant long-term benefits, including improved academic performance and social skills, while noting that despite strong economic evidence supporting such programmes as high-return public investments, many countries face implementation challenges related to funding limitations, workforce shortages, and competing political priorities.
Original: "Scientists agree that human activities are the primary drivers"
Paraphrased: "Human activities primarily drive this phenomenon, according to scientific consensus"
Pro tip: Don't paraphrase every single word—maintain clarity and natural language flow. Paraphrase key concepts while using appropriate academic vocabulary.
Common mistakes to avoid
Content Mistakes ❌
Missing main ideas from the passage
Including minor details or specific examples instead of main points
Adding your own opinions or interpretations
Misrepresenting the passage's meaning
Focusing only on the first or last paragraph
Form Mistakes ❌
Writing multiple sentences (using more than one full stop)
Exceeding 75 words or writing fewer than 5 words
Using semicolons to create effectively separate sentences
Not starting with a capital letter
Missing the final full stop
Grammar mistakes
Subject-verb agreement errors
Incorrect use of semicolons or colons
Run-on sentences without a conjunction
Inconsistent verb tenses
House tips, not published criteria. In academic writing, "data" is often a plural, so "the data show" is the safer agreement. And a sentence with more than two or three commas is often too tangled to check quickly. Neither point is a line in the score guide.
Vocabulary Mistakes ❌
Copying phrases directly from the passage
Using informal or casual language
Misusing complex vocabulary
Repetitive word choice
Inappropriate or imprecise terminology
Strategy Mistakes ❌
Starting to write immediately without reading fully
Not planning the sentence structure
Spending too much time on perfect word choice
Failing to proofread before submitting
Not checking word count
Using templates rigidly without adapting to the passage
Memorised or unoriginal responses can be treated as irrelevant and score 0. Use a sentence shape if it helps you join ideas, and write the content from the passage on the screen.
What to do with that:
Include the main ideas. Content is now the widest trait on this item.
Paraphrase enough that the sentence is yours. Vocabulary still looks at word choice and synonyms.
Keep the sentence grammatical. A wide Content scale does not make grammar optional.
Change the sentence to fit the passage. A memorised line that does not match can score 0.
Self-evaluation checklist
After each practice summary, ask yourself:
Content:
Did I identify all main ideas from the passage?
Have I included the 2-4 most important supporting points?
Did I exclude minor details and specific examples?
Does my summary accurately represent the passage's meaning?
Have I avoided adding my own opinions or interpretations?
Form:
Is my response exactly one sentence?
Does it start with a capital letter and end with one full stop?
Is the word count between 5-75 words (ideally 30-45)?
Have I avoided using semicolons inappropriately?
Grammar:
Is my sentence grammatically correct?
Does it use a complex or compound structure I can control?
Are the subject and verb in agreement?
Are the verb tenses consistent?
Is punctuation used correctly?
Vocabulary:
Have I paraphrased rather than copied directly?
Is my word choice appropriate and precise?
Have I avoided repetition?
Is the vocabulary level academic and formal?
Have I used linking words effectively?
Content is now 0–4 and human-reviewed. The sentence still has to be one sentence, inside 5–75 words, or the item is not scored.
Frequently asked questions
Practise the sentence
Read for the main claim first, then the one or two reasons that support it. Write one sentence inside 5–75 words, and spend the last minute on the full stop, the word counter and subject-verb agreement.
A useful sentence shape is not a memorised summary. The content still has to come from the passage on the screen.
— LearnPTE
Write a one-sentence summary on LearnPTE and compare it with the passage. Try a free question.
