Summarize Written Text at a glance
How Summarize Written Text works
- You read an academic passage of up to 300 words.
- You have 10 minutes to write one complete sentence of no more than 75 words.
- The response must contain 5-75 words and remain a single sentence to satisfy form.
What your response is scored on
The sentence should capture the main idea and essential supporting points without misrepresenting the passage.
A response outside 5-75 words, or one that is not a single sentence, can receive zero across all traits.
The sentence needs a sound basic structure, usually linking a main clause with subordinate information.
Word choice should fit the passage and an academic context, with accurate use of paraphrase where appropriate.
Pearson does not publish the complete scoring algorithm or raw-to-scale conversion. PrepEx feedback and 10-90 scores are practice estimates, not official PTE results.
Sample-style passage
Remote work has widened access to jobs for people who live far from major cities and for some workers with mobility constraints. However, researchers note that remote arrangements can weaken informal learning when organisations do not create deliberate opportunities for collaboration, mentoring and social connection.
This is an original PrepEx example designed to demonstrate the response format. It is not an official Pearson test item.
How to improve at Summarize Written Text
- Identify the passage topic, central claim and only the support needed to preserve meaning.
- Build one controlled compound or complex sentence instead of joining many clauses loosely.
- Check sentence count, word count, grammar and whether any detail changes the author's meaning.
Learn the strategy here, then practise filtered Summarize Written Text items in the Practice Hub.
A 15-minute Summarize Written Text practice loop
Preview the rules
Re-read the timing, scoring traits and common mistakes on this guide before opening practice.
Run focused attempts
Open the filtered Practice Hub view and complete several Summarize Written Text attempts without switching task types.
Review and repeat
Use your activity history and target plan to decide whether to repeat this task or move to the next weak family.
Stay on this task for a short focused set, then review whether it should remain your priority.
Common mistakes
- Writing more than one sentence
- Copying details without stating the main point
- Creating a long sentence with broken clause structure
- Falling outside the 5-75 word form range
Checked against Pearson's current format
Task format, timing and published scoring traits were checked against Pearson's current PTE Academic test-format guidance on June 23, 2026. Pearson remains the final authority and may update the test.
Primary source: Pearson PTE Academic test format.