In the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Speaking & Writing section, one important task is the “Summarize Written Text.” This task evaluates a candidate’s ability to comprehend and synthesize content while maintaining a structured response. Let’s explore this format further and take a deep dive into the fascinating topic of social media’s influence in shaping culture—a popular area of focus in PTE exams.
The Importance of Social Media in Today’s World and its Role in the PTE Exam
Social media has become a significant force in how cultures across the globe evolve and interact. Understanding its role is vital for PTE test-takers, specifically in the “Summarize Written Text” task, where such contemporary topics frequently appear. In this part of the exam, you are required to read a passage and summarize it in one sentence while covering all the key points.
Below, we provide a sample “Summarize Written Text” exercise on the topic of social media’s influence on culture, along with model answers categorized by scoring bands. By practicing this format, you’ll improve your skills in reading comprehension, sentence structure, and vocabulary.
Social media's widespread influence on cultural interactions globally
Sample PTE Summarize Written Text: Social Media’s Role in Shaping Culture
Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence using no more than 75 words.
The emergence of social media platforms has significantly impacted the way cultures develop in the digital age. These platforms enable instant communication and the sharing of information, wherein users from different corners of the globe interact at unprecedented rates. This has facilitated the blending of cultures, exposing individuals to new ideas, beliefs, and practices. Trends and norms that might have taken years to spread in the past can now go viral within days, shaping the behaviors and perspectives of vast populations. However, this rapid digitization of culture has also raised concerns about homogenization, where the unique qualities of local cultures may be overshadowed by dominant global narratives seen online. Social media can perpetuate both inclusive global exchanges and cultural conformity, causing local cultures to either adapt or fade.
Instructions: Summarize the text in one sentence. Your response must be between 5 and 75 words.
Model Responses & Band Scoring
5 BAND (Perfect Response)
“The rise of social media has enabled quick global communication, leading to the spread and merging of cultures, but it also raises concerns about cultural homogenization and the dominance of global trends over local traditions.”
- Content: Complete; covers both the positive and negative impacts of social media on shaping culture.
- Form: Perfect length; one sentence.
- Grammar: Grammatically sound with correct use of commas and conjunctions.
- Vocabulary: High-level vocabulary such as “homogenization,” “dominance,” and “traditions.”
- Spelling: No errors.
4 BAND
“Social media facilitates fast communication and the blending of cultures, but also threatens the uniqueness of local cultures by promoting global trends.”
- Content: Slightly less detailed but still includes the main idea of cultural merging and the issue of threatened local traditions.
- Form: Perfect structure with correct length.
- Grammar: No issues grammatically.
- Vocabulary: Good use of terms like “facilitates,” “uniqueness,” and “trends.”
- Spelling: No errors.
3 BAND
“Social media helps cultures mix, but can also make local cultures less unique by spreading global trends.”
- Content: Covers the basic points but lacks depth in explaining both sides clearly.
- Form: Clear single sentence but towards the lower end of word count.
- Grammar: Simple and correct.
- Vocabulary: Limited use of advanced vocabulary.
- Spelling: No errors.
2 BAND
“Social media changes culture quickly, but some local cultures disappear.”
- Content: Simplistic; misses key details about global communication and cultural merging.
- Form: Meets sentence length requirement but lacks complexity.
- Grammar: Simple but correct.
- Vocabulary: Basic and lacks variety.
- Spelling: No errors.
1 BAND
“Social media changes culture.”
- Content: Incomplete; does not address the major effects of social media, including cultural blending or homogenization.
- Form: Far too short.
- Grammar: Grammatically correct but lacks complexity.
- Vocabulary: Very basic.
- Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Below are ten sophisticated vocabulary words from the passage above that you can utilize in your own writing, along with their meanings and example sentences:
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Homogenization /həˌmɒdʒənaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ — (n) the process of making things uniform or similar.
- Example: The homogenization of culture through social media platforms threatens localized traditions.
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Dominance /ˈdɒmɪnəns/ — (n) power and influence over others.
- Example: Western media’s dominance on social platforms could overshadow other cultural narratives.
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Cultural conformity /ˈkʌltʃərəl kənˈfɔːmɪti/ — (n) the process of aligning one’s beliefs and behaviors with prevailing cultural norms.
- Example: Cultural conformity often results from exposure to unchanging social media trends.
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Adapt /əˈdæpt/ — (v) to adjust or modify something to suit a new condition or environment.
- Example: Many local customs adapt to globalized ideals due to the influence of social media.
The spread of global cultural norms through social media
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Blend /blɛnd/ — (v) to mix or combine together.
- Example: Social media serves as a platform where global customs blend with one another.
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Instant communication /ˈɪnstənt kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/ — (n) the immediate transfer of information across distances.
- Example: Social media encourages instant communication across various cultures.
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Trends /trɛndz/ — (n) general directions in which something is developing or changing.
- Example: Online trends quickly influence fashion and behavior across multiple societies.
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Global exchanges /ˈɡləʊbl ɪksˈʧeɪnʤɪz/ — (n) interactions between people from different parts of the world.
- Example: Social media has made global exchanges of ideas more accessible than ever.
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Perspectives /pə(r)ˈspektɪvz/ — (n) particular attitudes toward or ways of regarding something; viewpoints.
- Example: Social media often introduces multiple perspectives on a single issue.
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Digital age /ˈdɪdʒɪtl eɪdʒ/ — (n) the current era of technology where digital media is prevalent.
- Example: In the digital age, social media is the primary tool for cultural interaction.
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE exam, focusing on topics like “Social Media’s Role in Shaping Culture,” is a perfect opportunity to showcase comprehension and summarization skills. The more you practice, the more skilled you’ll become at conveying entire passages concisely without missing any key points. Continue practicing and leave any questions or feedback in the comments!
