The Speaking & Writing section of the PTE Academic test includes a challenging task called “Summarize Written Text.” This task evaluates your ability to condense information and express it concisely using one single sentence. In this article, we will explore a sample “Summarize Written Text” task covering the crucial topic of Mental Health Support For Students, a growing concern across educational institutions worldwide.
The Importance of Mental Health in PTE Summarize Written Text Tasks
Mental health is a critical topic often explored in academic assessments, including PTE, because of its relevance across disciplines such as education, social science, and psychology. Understanding the intricacies of how students cope with mental health issues, as well as the availability of mental health support services, is an essential competency in modern education systems. Recognizing this, it is no surprise that such topics often appear in tasks like Summarize Written Text.
Below, we’ll discuss some examples followed by a thorough analysis and answer key based on different scoring levels.
Sample Summarize Written Text Task: Mental Health Support for Students
Task instructions: Summarize the given passage in one sentence. Your response should be between 5-75 words.
Passage:
Students today face increasing pressure, from academic workload to social challenges, significantly impacting their mental well-being. Research indicates that nearly one in five students suffer from conditions like anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, and may require mental health support services. However, the availability of these services varies greatly between schools, leading to calls for more equitable access. Educational institutions that provide mental health resources are more likely to foster an environment conducive to learning and personal growth. Consistent support not only helps students manage their mental health but also improves academic outcomes, reduces dropout rates, and promotes overall lifelong well-being.
Responses & Band Score Analysis for the Task
High-Scoring Answer (79-90 Points):
Response: Educational institutions offering comprehensive mental health support positively impact students’ overall well-being and academic performance, highlighting the importance of equitable access to these services in combating increasing mental health issues among students.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers essential points on mental health challenges, the need for support services, and the impact on academic success.
- Form: One complete sentence with 45 words, within the required range.
- Grammar: Grammatically accurate, with advanced language structures.
- Vocabulary: Use of academic language such as “comprehensive,” “positively impact,” and “equitable access.”
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Mid-Scoring Answer (65-78 Points):
Response: Schools with mental health support help students manage stress and improve academic performance, but access to these services depends on the availability in the specific institution.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers major points of the passage but does not emphasize lifelong well-being or the broader impact of mental health support.
- Form: One complete sentence with 32 words, within the word limit.
- Grammar: Correct, though sentence structure could be more complex.
- Vocabulary: Adequate, though less sophisticated than high-scoring responses.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Low-Scoring Answer (50-64 Points):
Response: Students have stress and schools can offer mental health services to help them, but not all students get it because not all schools offer it.
Analysis:
- Content: The response is too simplistic and misses key ideas such as the academic and lifelong benefits of mental health support.
- Form: One sentence, but the word count is only 24 words, which is close to being under the limit.
- Grammar: Limited sentence complexity and awkward phrasing.
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary with repetition (“offer” used twice).
- Spelling: Correct spelling but does not enhance the language quality.
Vocabulary & Grammar Insights
Here are 10 essential vocabulary words from the passage, along with their meanings and usage examples:
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Impact /ˈɪmpækt/ (noun): The effect that something has on a situation or person.
- Example: The new policy had a significant impact on student mental health.
-
Equitable /ˈɛkwɪtəbl/ (adjective): Fair or impartial.
- Example: Schools should ensure equitable access to mental health services.
-
Conducive /kənˈduːsɪv/ (adjective): Making a situation likely or possible.
- Example: A calm environment is conducive to learning.
-
Resources /ˈriːsɔːsɪz/ (noun): Available means for doing something.
- Example: Teachers and counselors are valuable resources for mental health support.
-
Well-being /ˈwɛlˌbiːɪŋ/ (noun): The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
- Example: Student well-being should be a priority in every school.
-
Manage /ˈmænɪdʒ/ (verb): To deal with or control a situation.
- Example: Mental health services can help students manage stress.
-
Lifelong /ˈlaɪf lɒŋ/ (adjective): Continuing or lasting through one’s life.
- Example: Developing coping mechanisms for stress is a lifelong skill.
-
Chronic /ˈkrɒnɪk/ (adjective): Persistent or recurring for a long time.
- Example: Many students suffer from chronic stress related to their studies.
-
Dropout /ˈdrɒpaʊt/ (noun): A person who leaves school before graduation.
- Example: Schools with better support have a lower dropout rate.
-
Anxiety /æŋˈzaɪətɪ/ (noun): A feeling of worry or unease.
- Example: Anxiety disorders are common in high-pressure academic settings.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve presented a practice Summarize Written Text task for the PTE exam based on the highly relevant theme of mental health support for students. This practice focuses on a subject that educational institutions and society are addressing more seriously. Mastering this topic not only improves your PTE score but also raises awareness of how vitally important mental health is for students’ academic performance and overall well-being.
If you’re interested in reading further about how mental health services benefit students, you can explore topics like the importance of mental health support services in schools and mental health education in schools.
Engage with the content, practice rigorously, and leave a comment below if you need clarification or further assistance with any aspect of the PTE exam!
