The Summarize Written Text task is an essential part of the Speaking & Writing section of the PTE exam. In this task, you are provided with a text of up to 300 words that you must summarize in one sentence. Key skills tested include your ability to identify the main idea of the text and condense it while maintaining grammatical accuracy. One prominent and contemporary topic that often appears in this section is the environmental impact of many industries, notably the fast fashion industry. This topic serves as both a timely and relevant subject for PTE test takers to familiarize themselves with.
Below, we have provided some sample Summarize Written Text questions and model answers based on the theme of the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry.
1. Sample Task #1: Environmental Consequences of Fast Fashion
Prompt: Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence. You have 10 minutes to write your summary.
The fast fashion industry has seen rapid global growth due to its ability to deliver constantly updated clothing collections and trends at a low price. However, this business model comes at an extensive environmental cost. Processes like cotton farming consume vast amounts of water, while synthetic fabrics made from petroleum products contribute to pollution. Additionally, the industry’s reliance on low-cost manufacturing often results in factories with poor waste management practices, leading to the contamination of nearby water bodies. At the same time, millions of garments are discarded after only a few wears, leading to massive amounts of textile waste that either ends up incinerated or in landfills, where fibers can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Your task:
- Summarize the text in one sentence.
Model Answers:
Band 90 (High scoring answer):
The fast fashion industry’s reliance on resource-intensive materials and poor manufacturing practices leads to significant environmental harm, including excessive water consumption, pollution, and vast amounts of non-biodegradable textile waste in landfills.
- Content: High accuracy in encapsulating the main idea.
- Form: Correctly summarized in one sentence.
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling: Exceptional use of vocabulary and accurate punctuation.
Band 65 (Moderate scoring answer):
Fast fashion causes a lot of pollution because it uses too much water and oil-based fabrics and creates a lot of waste.
- Content: Contains the essential points, but lacks depth.
- Form: One sentence, although somewhat simplistic.
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling: Adequate but lacks sophisticated vocabulary and structures.
Band 50 (Low scoring answer):
The fashion industry uses a lot of resources and creates environmental problems.
- Content: Misses some specific details, such as textile waste.
- Form: Short and lacks complexity.
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling: Minimal vocabulary, sentence could be expanded for clarity.
2. Sample Task #2: Fast Fashion’s Carbon Footprint
Prompt: Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence. You have 10 minutes to write your summary.
The fast fashion industry creates a high carbon footprint due to its production and transportation demands. Producing garments often involves energy-intensive processes such as dyeing and bleaching, which release greenhouse gases. In addition, the shipping of millions of garments from production centers in Asia to markets around the world burns large quantities of fossil fuels. This globalized supply chain, driven by the need to keep costs low, ensures that fast fashion remains a significant contributor to climate change. Furthermore, textile waste, when decomposing in landfills, releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Your task:
- Summarize the text in one sentence.
Model Answers:
Band 90 (High scoring answer):
Due to energy-intensive manufacturing, transportation across international borders, and textile waste in landfills, fast fashion significantly contributes to carbon emissions and climate change.
- Content: Comprehensive encapsulation of the main idea with detailed reasons provided.
- Form: Correctly summarized in one sentence.
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling: Excellent use of advanced vocabulary and precise grammar.
Fast fashion carbon footprint with global supply chain involvement
Band 65 (Moderate scoring answer):
Fast fashion increases carbon emissions through production, shipping, and waste in landfills.
- Content: Covers key points but lacks detailed explanations about how fast fashion contributes to the carbon footprint.
- Form: One sentence but minimal elaboration.
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling: Satisfactory use of grammar and vocabulary.
Band 50 (Low scoring answer):
Fast fashion makes climate change worse by releasing greenhouse gases.
- Content: Lacks specific details such as shipping or textile waste.
- Form: Simplistic and very limited in scope.
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling: Basic vocabulary and sentence structures.
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Here are 10 advanced words from the above texts that are essential for expanding your vocabulary and improving your PTE writing skills:
-
Vast /væst/ – extremely large or expansive.
E.g., The fashion industry requires vast amounts of water and energy. -
Synthetic /sɪnˈθɛtɪk/ – made from artificial materials.
E.g., Synthetic fabrics are widely used in fast fashion for their low cost. -
Incinerated /ɪnˈsɪnəreɪtɪd/ – to burn something completely.
E.g., Large quantities of discarded clothing are incinerated each year. -
Decompose /diːkəmˈpoʊz/ – to break down or decay naturally.
E.g., Non-biodegradable fabrics take hundreds of years to decompose. -
Carbon footprint /ˈkɑːrbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ – the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity.
E.g., The carbon footprint of the fast fashion industry is increasingly concerning. -
Methane /ˈmiːθeɪn/ – a greenhouse gas produced by organic matter decomposition.
E.g., Textile waste releases methane, contributing to climate change. -
Bleaching /bliːʧɪŋ/ – chemical treatment used to whiten or lighten fabrics.
E.g., Bleaching processes in textile production are energy-intensive. -
Contamination /kənˌtamɪˈneɪʃn/ – the presence of harmful substances in the environment.
E.g., Improper waste disposal leads to water contamination in production areas. -
Non-biodegradable /nɒn-baɪoʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/ – materials that do not break down naturally.
E.g., Synthetic fibers are non-biodegradable and remain in landfills for centuries. -
Greenhouse gases /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ˈɡæsɪz/ – gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
E.g., Fast fashion significantly raises the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Conclusion
The growing environmental impact of the fast fashion industry makes it a prevalent topic in academic discussions and standardized English exams like PTE. Practicing summarization tasks with subjects like fast fashion can prepare you well for Summarize Written Text tasks in PTE, enhancing your speed and accuracy in summarizing complex texts.
By practicing often and analyzing your responses, you will improve in identifying main ideas, using appropriate vocabulary, and ensuring that grammar and sentence structure remain accurate. For more practice on fast fashion’s broader impacts, refer to our article on fast fashion’s social and environmental costs, and continue developing your skills for PTE success.
Feel free to drop any questions below and share your experiences practicing Summarize Written Text. Happy studying!
