In the PTE exam, the “Summarize Written Text” task forms an integral part of the Speaking & Writing section. This task assesses your ability to comprehend and succinctly summarize written information into a single sentence, highlighting only the essential points without omitting key details. One common theme that frequently emerges in PTE testing is Cloud Computing And Data Security, reflecting its increasing relevance in today’s digital world.
In this guide, we’ll present carefully curated sample questions on cloud computing and data security. We’ll also provide answers across different band scores with a detailed analysis based on key PTE criteria such as content, form, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.
Sample Summarize Written Text Questions on Cloud Computing and Data Security
Question 1: Cloud Computing Encryption Protocols
Cloud computing involves delivering on-demand computing services such as storage, servers, and databases over the internet. While cloud computing offers immense flexibility and scalability, one of the biggest concerns is data security. As organizations move their data to the cloud, they face the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and regulatory compliance issues. To mitigate these threats, service providers implement encryption protocols. Encryption works by converting plain data into unreadable ciphertext, ensuring that only authorized parties can access it. There are two main types of encryption used in cloud services: symmetric and asymmetric. Symmetric encryption involves using one key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses two keys — one for encryption and another for decryption.
Your task: Summarize the passage in one sentence.
Sample Answer 1: Band Score 90
Cloud computing offers flexible and scalable services yet poses security risks, which are mitigated by encryption protocols, including symmetric encryption using one key for both encryption and decryption, and asymmetric encryption using two keys.
Analysis:
- Content: This summary captures the main idea and key supporting details (cloud computing services, security risks, encryption types).
- Form: The sentence is under 75 words, adhering to the task’s format.
- Grammar: No grammatical errors.
- Vocabulary: Words like “flexible,” “mitigated,” “symmetric,” and “asymmetric” are used correctly.
- Spelling: Accurate spelling throughout.
Sample Answer 2: Band Score 70
Although cloud computing provides flexibility, security issues like unauthorized access are addressed by encryption techniques, such as symmetric (one key) and asymmetric (two keys) encryption.
Analysis:
- Content: The answer covers the essential elements but omits finer details like “scalability” and specific roles of the encryption types.
- Form: The sentence is within the word limit.
- Grammar: Correct grammar.
- Vocabulary: Use of “addressed” demonstrates variety, but “mitigated” would have been a better fit.
- Spelling: No issues.
Sample Answer 3: Band Score 50
Cloud computing is flexible, but security problems need the use of encryption with one key or two keys.
Analysis:
- Content: Important details such as “symmetric” and “asymmetric” encryption are missing, and there is a lack of clarity.
- Form: The response is quite brief but within the word limit.
- Grammar: Simplified structure with omissions affects the sentence flow.
- Vocabulary: Lack of specific vocabulary like “encryption protocols” affects overall word choice.
- Spelling: No spelling errors, though limitations in vocabulary hinder its score.
Question 2: Cloud Security Concerns for Businesses
Businesses adopting cloud computing for cost efficiency face challenges related to data security. Despite the benefits, such as reduced hardware costs and increased collaboration, cloud systems often store sensitive data vulnerable to hacking, leading to potential financial or reputational damage. Many businesses use third-party providers, raising concerns about data sovereignty, compliance with industry regulations, and data protection laws across jurisdictions. Companies often address these challenges by adopting strict access controls, multi-factor authentication, and regular audits to strengthen security layers.
Your task: Summarize the passage in one sentence.
Sample Answer 1: Band Score 90
Although cloud computing offers businesses cost-effective solutions, they face security concerns like hacking, data sovereignty, and regulatory compliance, which are mitigated through access controls, multi-factor authentication, and regular audits.
Analysis:
- Content: Detailed and coherent, covering both benefits and challenges, including the specific security measures adopted by businesses.
- Form: Sentence keeps within the 75-word limit comfortably.
- Grammar: Grammatically correct, with a variety of sentence structures.
- Vocabulary: Utilizes advanced terms (“cost-effective,” “data sovereignty,” “multi-factor authentication”).
- Spelling: Impeccable.
Sample Answer 2: Band Score 70
While cloud computing saves costs for businesses, it also raises security and regulatory issues, which companies deal with by using multi-factor authentication and access controls.
Analysis:
- Content: Focuses on the key points but slightly oversimplifies the challenges related to “data sovereignty” and “audits.”
- Form: Sentence length is acceptable.
- Grammar: Mostly correct, with minor simplification.
- Vocabulary: Terms like “multi-factor authentication” and “access controls” indicate correctness, though other advanced words are missing.
- Spelling: No mistakes.
Sample Answer 3: Band Score 50
Cloud computing helps businesses save money but security problems like hacking and regulation compliance remain.
Analysis:
- Content: Too brief with missing information on the measures taken to address security issues.
- Form: Extremely short but formally acceptable.
- Grammar: Basic structure, with no clauses to elaborate or clarify.
- Vocabulary: Uses general rather than specific terminology, missing key phrases like “access controls” and “multi-factor authentication.”
- Spelling: No spelling issues detected, but vocabulary weakness limits expression potential.
Vocabulary and Grammar Overview
Here are some challenging words from the text, with definitions and usage examples:
-
Encryption /ɪnˈkrɪp.ʃən/ – The process of converting information into code to prevent unauthorized access.
Example: The bank uses encryption to secure customer data. -
Symmetric /sɪˈme.trɪk/ – A type of encryption using one key for both encoding and decoding.
Example: Symmetric encryption is often faster but less secure than asymmetric encryption. -
Asymmetric /ˌæ.sɪˈme.trɪk/ – Encryption that uses two different keys–one for encryption and one for decryption.
Example: Asymmetric encryption is commonly used in email security. -
Data Breach /ˈdeɪ.tə briːtʃ/ – An incident where confidential data is accessed without authorization.
Example: A data breach at the company exposed thousands of user accounts. -
Compliance /kəmˈplaɪ.əns/ – Conforming to a standard or law.
Example: Companies working with sensitive data are required to ensure compliance with various regulations. -
Access Control /ˈæk.ses kənˈtəʊl/ – A security measure that determines who can view or use resources.
Example: Strong access control strategies are essential in data-sensitive environments. -
Sovereignty /ˈsɒv.rɪn.ti/ – The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.
Example: Data sovereignty laws dictate how international data is managed. -
Audit /ˈɔː.dɪt/ – A formal examination of an organization’s accounts or operations.
Example: Regular audits are conducted to ensure the system’s security measures are maintained. -
Regulatory Compliance /ˈreɡ.jə.lə.tɔː.ri kəmˈplaɪ.əns/ – Adherence to laws and guidelines relevant to a company’s business.
Example: Businesses must follow regulatory compliance to avoid penalties. -
Multi-factor Authentication /ˌmʌl.ti ˈfæk.tər ɒˌθen.tɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ – A security process that requires multiple types of identification.
Example: Multi-factor authentication enhances the security of online accounts.
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE exam effectively evaluates how well candidates can distill complex texts into concise summaries. Topics like Cloud Computing and Data Security are extremely relevant, reflecting real-world concerns about technology and safeguarding information. Practice makes perfect, so try summarizing these passages on your own, and let us know your experience in the comments below!
