Managing mental health effectively in professional settings can improve productivity, foster a healthier workplace, and increase overall employee satisfaction. In this article, we will review a sample PTE Summarize Written Text topic on mental health support, provide various model answers, and break down their scoring according to Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling.
This topic addresses the need for understanding and implementing mental health education in workplaces, a critical issue in modern professional environments.
Sample Summarize Written Text Test: Mental Health Support in Workplaces
Task:
Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence. You will have 10 minutes to finish this task.
With increasing awareness of mental health issues, organizations are recognizing the necessity of providing psychological support to employees to maintain a healthy work environment. Stress, anxiety, and depression have become more common due to the pressures of modern work life, and poor mental health can lead to higher rates of absenteeism, reduced productivity, and decreased morale. Employers are encouraged to implement mental health programs that focus on prevention, support, and recovery. Such initiatives include stress management workshops, counseling services, and mental wellness training, which can significantly impact both individual well-being and organizational success. By creating a supportive culture and providing access to tailored mental health resources, companies can reduce employee burnout and improve overall job retention rates.
Model Answers for Summarize Written Text
Band 90 Response (Maximum Score)
Organizations are increasingly providing mental health support to their employees through programs like counseling and stress management training to reduce absenteeism, enhance productivity, and improve job retention rates.
Breakdown:
- Content: Fully captures all key points: the importance of mental health support, the types of programs offered, and their effects on absenteeism, productivity, and retention.
- Form: Meets length requirements and is logically structured.
- Grammar: Grammar use is flawless, with accurate complex sentence structures and punctuation.
- Vocabulary: Advanced and varied, using terms like “absenteeism” and “job retention rates” correctly.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band 79 Response (High Score)
Mental health support programs in workplaces are essential for managing modern work-life pressures and improving overall productivity and employee retention by preventing burnout.
Breakdown:
- Content: Captures most of the important details but slightly underemphasizes the types of mental health programs available.
- Form: The sentence is within the required word limit but is slightly less detailed than the 90 Band response.
- Grammar: Good grammar with proper sentence structuring, though simple compared with the higher band answer.
- Vocabulary: Precise but could be expanded with more specific keywords from the passage (e.g., “counseling”).
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 65 Response (Moderate Score)
Employers are offering mental health support to stop stress and depression, which helps with productivity and staying at work.
Breakdown:
- Content: Covers the general idea but misses some specifics about the types of programs offered (like counseling and training), and the language is less formal.
- Form: Follows the length requirements but lacks complexity.
- Grammar: Basic grammar structures are used correctly, but the sentence could be more complex.
- Vocabulary: Fair but basic, with terms like “stop” instead of “prevent” and “stay at work” instead of “job retention.”
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes, but room for improvement in word choice.
Band 50 Response (Low Score)
Workers get help for mental health, and it makes them work better.
Breakdown:
- Content: This response doesn’t capture enough key points. It oversimplifies the issue and misses critical elements like absenteeism, burnout prevention, or specific mental health programs.
- Form: The sentence is too short and lacks sufficient detail.
- Grammar: Correct but very basic grammar, with no complexity.
- Vocabulary: Simple and somewhat vague vocabulary; terms like “work better” could be replaced with more formal expressions like “improved productivity.”
- Spelling: No errors but very simplistic language.
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Improving your vocabulary and understanding difficult words is essential for success in the PTE. Here are ten words from the passage that you might find useful:
-
Absenteeism /ˌæbsənˈtiːɪzəm/ (n.): The practice of regularly staying away from work or school without a good reason.
Example: High absenteeism in companies is often caused by poor mental health support. -
Morale /məˈrɑːl/ (n.): The confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group.
Example: A supportive work culture improves employee morale significantly. -
Burnout /ˈbɜːrnaʊt/ (n.): Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or excessive stress.
Example: Adequate mental health resources are crucial in preventing employee burnout. -
Counseling /ˈkaʊnsəlɪŋ/ (n.): Professional advice on resolving personal or psychological problems.
Example: Counseling services in the workplace promote emotional wellness. -
Well-being /ˈwɛlˌbiːɪŋ/ (n.): The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
Example: Mental health support initiatives contribute to overall employee well-being. -
Productivity /ˌproʊdəkˈtɪvɪti/ (n.): The effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry.
Example: Mental health support correlates with increased workplace productivity. -
Tailored /ˈteɪlərd/ (adj.): Made or changed to suit a particular need or situation.
Example: Tailored mental health programs meet the specific needs of employees. -
Retention /rɪˈtɛnʃən/ (n.): The continued possession, use, or control of something.
Example: Better mental health support contributes to higher job retention rates. -
Anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ (n.): A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.
Example: Anxiety in a workplace can be minimized through stress management workshops. -
Prevention /prɪˈvɛnʃən/ (n.): The act of stopping something from happening.
Example: Prevention of mental health issues is more effective than treating them afterward.
Conclusion
Incorporating mental health support in workplaces is increasingly essential due to the stressful modern environment. Practicing Summarize Written Text tasks like the ones provided here can help learners understand the core concepts of extracting and condensing information effectively, a valuable skill for the PTE exam. To enhance your preparation, consider reviewing related resources such as The importance of mental health awareness in contemporary society, which further delves into the broader impact of mental health education.
With structured practice and a focus on developing your English skills in these areas, you can achieve a higher score and greater fluency in the PTE Summarize Written Text section.
