Mastering PTE Summarize Written Text: Writing Tips & Strategies

Here are some PTE summarize task tips to enable you to write precise, high-scoring summaries:

1. Read the Paragraph Twice

Start by reading the entire passage as a whole quickly to get the overall sense of it. Then, read it again, marking or underlining main points: the primary idea, secondary details, and opposing ideas.

Don’t get hung up on unknown words—instead, concern yourself with the message.

2. Identify Key Points

Your summary will include:

The primary argument or topic

Important facts or results

Contrast or cause-and-effect connections

Leave out examples, statistics, and filler words unless they contribute to the thesis.

3. Employ Effective Connectors

Using connectors to summarise written material makes your sentence flow better and is more logical. Some useful connectors are:

Moreover, furthermore, in addition – to add information

Although, despite, however – to indicate contrast

Therefore, as a result, consequently – for cause-and-effect

While, whereas, even though – for comparisons

Example:

“Although renewable energy is increasing, fossil fuels are still the dominant source, thus undermining climate ambitions.”

4. Keep One Single Sentence

One of the most frequent errors is writing more than one sentence. This will automatically score zero. To prevent this:

Use commas, conjunctions, and relative clauses to link ideas.

Don’t use semicolons (;) since they’re usually considered as sentence separators.

5. Under 75 Words

Always double-check your word count at the end. Exceeding 75 words will lose you marks.

35–65 words is a good range. If you’re below 30, you may be leaving out key details. If it’s above 70, you probably need to make the sentence simpler.

6. Check for Mistakes

Use the last 30–45 seconds to:

Make sure there are no grammar and spelling mistakes

Make sure your sentence logically makes sense

Double-check that you didn’t subconsciously write two sentences