How do you Summarise a Written Text in PTE

Out of the four sections that PTE includes [reading, speaking, writing and listening], writing can certainly be categorised as a herculean task for some. One of the most difficult questions in the writing section can be summarising a written text. Students have to write a short description of the written text which is provided to you in the question. The idea is to write an in depth summary while keeping a check-on grammar, punctuation, tenses, linkers and content generation. 

To make this process easier, let’s go around some key points and evaluate the most effective method to summarise the given text in the given time. 

What to expect in this question?

In this question, you are provided with a text of around 200-300 words and you are required to construct a single sentence which presents the main idea of the written text in front of you. There can be 2 questions of this type in the written section of PTE and you are given ten minutes to finish this task. An important aspect over here is the word length of your answer. Your answer needs to be compiled in a single sentence and the word count of the single sentence should be between 5-75 words. If your word count is less than 5 or more than 75, then your score would be regarded as zero in this task. In order to help the students keep a track of the word length, a word counter is provided below the answer box. Simultaneously, a timer is also present on the top of the computer screen.

Let’s understand using an example!

The written text : 

Supplies of olive oil, risotto rice and passata are under threat as northern Italy suffers its worst drought in 70 years, stirring up the cost of living crisis further. Specialist importers are preparing for price rises of as much as 50% or more for rice and tomatoes and are considering looking for new sources of supply, after growers in the Po valley, the home of arborio rice used in risotto, warned of a "significant reduction" in crop yields this year. Kyle Holland, an analyst at market research group Mintec, said some market sources suggest Italian production of olive oil could be between 20% and 30% down on last year.

Sample answer : 

As a  result of a  drastic  drought, Northern Italy is  facing a  threat  of not only a  shortage of supply  of  olive oil, risotto rice and Passata but also a rise in prices by 50%  for rice and tomatoes, which is why  people in Italy  are considering  new sources of supply. 

Below are the steps you should follow to summarise the text-

Step 1: Skim through the text quickly to understand the context of the written passage in front of you.

The main idea here is to simplify the text into one meaningful sentence, which is why it is integral to read the whole text and familiarise yourself with the topic. In addition, a good practice would be to not read the whole passage word by word, as it may take you longer to read the entire text. Instead of that, read chunks of words together by paying attention to the keywords to read the text quickly. 

Some important tips for speed reading are:

1. Move the cursor along the lines as you read as it will keep you focused, and decrease the probability of you losing track of the text you are reading. 
2. To incorporate speed reading, read the text in one go and avoid going back again and again to the text that you have already read.
3. Do a silent reading of the text to increase your concentration. Do not read aloud using your lips or in your mind.
4. Paraphrase the adjectives and keywords to get a deeper understanding of the text, this will also help you to grasp the main idea of the written text presented to you. 

Step 2: Analyse the main points and include only them in your summarised text. 

Most of the time one can get confused in deciding which information to keep and which information to disregard. There may be numerous figures or facts present in the text such as the name of people, places, years/timeline etc. You do not have to include all these facts in your summary. You have to include the main idea which is being presented in the text. You can make a note of the important points and write them in the answer box and then add the other details 

Step 3: Structure a single complex sentence to present the main idea of the text.

The important point to take care of is to compile the summary in one single sentence. To achieve this, we can incorporate the use of conjunctions to join the ideas together. Some of the common conjunctions which can be used to join ideas are: and, because, along with, although, however, not only..but also, even if, since, as, for etc. Remember to present the main features of the written text in a way that the reader can understand the context of the passage. After writing the main features in the answer box, you can add the supporting details to complete your answer. Make sure that you present relevant information in your answer and even if you add some other words, ensure that the spellings are accurate.

Tip: You can use the cut, copy and paste options to ensure all of your spellings are accurate. 

Step 4: Check the grammar and punctuation of your sentence. 

Grammar and punctuation are two sections where a lot of students face deductions. It is that one important marking criteria which can bring your overall score down. To ensure that you don't make any grammatical mistakes, follow the tips given below:

1. Make sure that you are using the correct linker while adding the supporting statements and incorporate the correct punctuation associated with it.
2. Complex sentences are made with the incorporation of the main clause and a subordinate clause/clauses, your sentence should have a subject and verb in each clause.
3. Check your subject-verb agreement after you have written the sentence to make sure that the singular subjects are adjoined with singular verbs and vice versa. 
4. Use commas and semicolons as required and ensure that you are using full stop only at the end of the sentence as you have to compile your answer in a single sentence.
5. Try to incorporate synonyms of some of the words to portray your vocabulary.
6. Check the word length with the help of a word counter to make sure your answer is within 5-75 words. 
7. Ensure that you are using the correct sentence construction and tense throughout your answer. 

Finally, a last-minute revision plays an indispensable role as any minor spelling mistake that you overlooked before can be corrected at the last moment. Any phrase or linker which is not written correctly can be altered and you can be saved from a huge deduction for your grammar mistake. You can correct not only any incorrect words but also any punctuation errors in your answer. Having said that, keep aside 1-2 minutes in the end to have a scan of the answer that you just wrote and modify it in whichever way it is required. 

A very important component to include in your practice sessions is to practice with a timer of 10 minutes so that you can keep a check on your pace and try to finish your summary of the text in time.