Summarize Written Text in PTE: Urban Poverty and Social Inclusion Policies

Sample Summarize Written Text Prompts

The topic of “Urban Poverty and Social Inclusion Policies” appears in various forms in the PTE exam, given its relevance in modern society. Below are practice prompts and band-score-specific responses to help guide your preparation.

Prompt 1: Urban Poverty and Housing Policies

In several cities around the world, urban poverty is rising due to a lack of affordable housing, limited access to quality education, and rising unemployment. This issue is exacerbated by lax social inclusion policies, which fail to provide for vulnerable urban populations. Governments often prioritize infrastructure projects over social welfare initiatives, resulting in a growing inequality gap. Many urban residents are forced into informal settlements, where poor living conditions further diminish their economic opportunities. Research has shown that fostering strong social inclusion frameworks, alongside housing subsidies and educational reforms, can significantly reduce urban poverty rates. International organizations have also called for equitable access to public services to ensure that cities remain inclusive to all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status.

In one sentence, summarize the main idea of the passage.

Example Answers

Sample Response (High Band: 90-79)

The passage discusses the increase in urban poverty caused by insufficient social inclusion policies, rising unemployment, and lack of affordable housing, advocating for government reforms, such as housing subsidies and improved access to education, as well as stronger social frameworks to reduce inequality.

Analysis:

• Content: Fully addresses the key points of the passage, including the causes and proposed solutions to urban poverty.
• Form: Controlled within the single sentence limit.
• Grammar: No grammatical errors; exhibits a complex, yet coherent sentence structure.
• Vocabulary: Advanced word choices such as “advocating,” “subsidies,” and “inequality.”
• Spelling: No spelling errors.

Urban poor residents in informal settlements due to lack of policies

Sample Response (Medium Band: 78-65)

Urban poverty is rising because of inadequate housing, unemployment, and lack of proper policies, and governments need to focus on fixing this through housing reforms and better access to education.

Analysis:

• Content: Covers most of the key points, though mentions of international organizations and social frameworks are missing.
• Form: One sentence, as required.
• Grammar: Generally correct; however, “fix” is a less formal choice.
• Vocabulary: Adequate; phrases like “better access” are simpler, though correct.
• Spelling: No spelling errors.

Sample Response (Low Band: 64-50)

Many countries have increasing urban poor people because they don’t have good houses or jobs, and governments need to help them by building more houses and supporting those people.

Analysis:

• Content: Misses key points, such as the issue of social inclusion policies and other solutions proposed in the text.
• Form: Correct single sentence.
• Grammar: Basic errors, such as “urban poor people” (awkward phrasing) and lack of variety in sentence structure.
• Vocabulary: Limited; repetition of “people” and “houses” shows minimal lexical range.
• Spelling: Correct spelling.

Prompt 2: Social Inclusion and Education

Social inclusion is a critical component in alleviating the wider issues of urban poverty. It involves giving marginalized individuals the opportunity to participate fully in economic, social, and cultural life. Schools play a significant role in fostering inclusivity by providing accessible education and equal opportunities for children from all socio-economic backgrounds. However, education systems that exclude disadvantaged groups fail to give them the tools they need to escape poverty. Research indicates that countries with inclusive education policies tend to have lower levels of poverty and crime, showing that addressing educational inequalities can have a profound impact on urban poverty levels. Governments are urged to adopt more inclusive educational reforms that target underprivileged areas.

In one sentence, summarize the main idea of the passage.

Example Answers

Sample Response (High Band: 90-79)

The passage emphasizes the crucial role inclusive education plays in reducing urban poverty, arguing that countries with inclusive policies experience lower poverty and crime rates, and calling for governments to reform education systems to better serve disadvantaged populations.

Analysis:

• Content: Thoroughly addresses all essential points, including education’s role, inclusive policies, and statistical effects on poverty and crime.
• Form: Single, well-controlled sentence.
• Grammar: Grammatically accurate and complex.
• Vocabulary: Advanced wording such as “emphasizes,” “disadvantaged populations,” and “reforms.”
• Spelling: No errors.

Inclusive policies and educational reforms for reducing urban poverty

Sample Response (Medium Band: 78-65)

Inclusive education is important for reducing poverty, and governments need to make changes so that poorer areas have better access to schools.

Analysis:

• Content: Identifies that education and policies need reform, though lacks detail on crime rates and inclusivity specifics.
• Form: Correct structure.
• Grammar: No major issues, but could have combined ideas better instead of making statements feel disjointed.
• Vocabulary: Adequate; “making changes” is somewhat vague.
• Spelling: Spelling is correct.

Sample Response (Low Band: 64-50)

The passage talks about how education can help poor people, and how the government should make schools more accessible for them.

Analysis:

• Content: Lacks depth, omitting essential points about inclusivity and the broader implications of educational reforms.
• Form: Meets the sentence requirement.
• Grammar: Basic grammar; sentence structure is too simple and the tone informal.
• Vocabulary: Limited; “help poor people” is generic and does not match the complexity of the prompt.
• Spelling: No errors.

Key Vocabulary and Definitions

Here are 10 high-level vocabulary words found in the prompts with definitions and usage examples:

1. Marginalized /ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪzd/ – Treated as insignificant or peripheral.

   • Example: Many marginalized communities lack access to basic healthcare.

2. Framework /ˈfreɪmwɜːrk/ – A basic structure underlying a system or concept.

   • Example: Effective policy frameworks are essential in promoting urban development.

3. Subsidy /ˈsʌbsɪdi/ – A sum of money granted by the government to help reduce costs.

   • Example: Housing subsidies can make living in urban areas more affordable for low-income individuals.

4. Alleviate /əˈliːvieɪt/ – To make something less severe.

   • Example: The government introduced policies to alleviate poverty in urban centers.

5. Equitable /ˈɛkwɪtəbl/ – Fair and impartial.

   • Example: Equitable access to education ensures all children have the same opportunities.

6. Disadvantaged /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒd/ – Deprived of advantages or basic resources.

   • Example: Disadvantaged neighborhoods often have limited access to high-quality schools.

7. Inclusivity /ˌɪnkluːˈsɪvɪti/ – Including all types of people and treating them fairly and equally.

   • Example: Inclusivity should be the foundation of every education policy.

8. Inequality /ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti/ – The state of being unequal, especially in terms of rights or opportunities.

   • Example: Widening economic inequalities are a significant issue in today’s cities.

9. Socio-economic /ˈsoʊsioʊ ikəˈnɒmɪk/ – Relating to social and economic factors.

   • Example: Socio-economic disparities contribute to unequal access to education.

10. Informal settlements /ɪnˈfɔːrməl ˈsɛtəlmənts/ – Poorly planned urban areas with limited infrastructure.

    • Example: Many cities struggle with the expansion of informal settlements lacking basic services.

Conclusion

The Summarize Written Text section of the PTE exam requires systematic practice and attention to detail. The topic “Urban Poverty and Social Inclusion Policies” is highly relevant and commonly featured. By thoroughly preparing for such topics, test-takers can improve their performance significantly. Writing concise summaries while adhering to grammatical rules is key. Practice consistently, and feel free to share your answers in the comments for feedback!