Speaking and Writing - PTE Academic / UKVI
Summarize Written Text
Summarize Written Text practice builds one-sentence summaries that preserve the passage’s main idea and grammar.
Task facts at a glance
| Appears in | PTE Academic / UKVI — Speaking & Writing part (integrated task) |
|---|---|
| Items per test | 2 |
| Passage length | Up to 300 words |
| Time to write | 10 minutes |
| Answer rule | ONE sentence of 5–75 words — more sentences or outside the range scores zero |
| Scoring | Partial credit — Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary |
| Negative marking | None |
| Skills credited | Reading and Writing |
Worked example
A ~300-word passage describes the International Space Station: its orbit, its role as a microgravity laboratory, and the five collaborating space agencies. Summarize it in ONE sentence of 5–75 words within 10 minutes. (Real bank question — shown in the player below.)
The International Space Station (ISS), a modular space station in low Earth orbit that has been continuously inhabited since 2000, is a collaborative project of five space agencies and serves as a microgravity laboratory where research has advanced medicine, materials science, and our understanding of the universe.
Why this scores well: One grammatical sentence of 47 words — inside the 5–75 word rule that Form requires.
Scoring traits to watch
ContentFormGrammarVocabulary
Key takeaways
Identify the central claim and supporting relationship.
Write one complete sentence with controlled structure.
Review form, grammar, vocabulary, and content coverage.
How to practise Summarize Written Text
This task rewards concise control. Practise building one sentence that carries the main idea without becoming overloaded.
- Find the passage’s main idea.
- Select only essential supporting information.
- Write one grammatical sentence.
Practice framework
- Find the passage’s main idea.
- Select only essential supporting information.
- Write one grammatical sentence.
- Check form and clarity before submitting.
Common mistakes
- Writing more than one sentence when one sentence is required.
- Copying phrases without showing the main relationship.
- Losing grammar control in a long sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should PTE Summarize Written Text be?
In Academic it must be one sentence of 5–75 words; writing more than one sentence or falling outside that range scores zero. PTE Core is different: 25–50 words with no single-sentence rule.
How long do I get for Summarize Written Text and how many come up?
You get 10 minutes per item, and the passage is up to 300 words. Academic has 2 items.
What is Summarize Written Text scored on?
It is scored on four traits: Content, Form, Grammar and Vocabulary. Form specifically requires a single sentence within the word limit.
This task inside EdKnot
