Summarize Written Text in PTE: Water Scarcity Solutions in Agriculture

The PTE Speaking and Writing segment contains a challenging task called Summarize Written Text. This task evaluates the candidate’s ability to understand the key points of a text and summarize it concisely in one sentence. A common topic for this section is related to environmental concerns such as “Water Scarcity Solutions In Agriculture.”

As water shortages are a growing concern worldwide, this is a critical topic to understand, and candidates may encounter passages about water management in agriculture. In this post, we will provide practice for the Summarize Written Text task with a focus on solutions for water scarcity in farming. We will also give analysis for answers with different scoring, providing insights into how to achieve a high score in the PTE exam.

Sample Summarize Written Text Question: Water Scarcity in Agriculture

Question:

Read the following passage. You have 10 minutes to read and write a summary in one sentence.

The agricultural sector is both the largest consumer and a significant contributor to water scarcity. Sustainable water management in agriculture has become crucial to overcoming periods of drought and ensuring food security. Practices such as efficient irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, and soil moisture retention techniques can significantly reduce water usage. Furthermore, technologies like drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to plant roots, prevent water loss through evaporation. By implementing proper water management systems and integrating innovative irrigation technologies, farmers can drastically reduce water consumption while maintaining high crop yields, contributing actively to alleviating the global water crisis.

Write one single sentence summarizing the passage.

Sample Scores and Responses

1. Band Score: 90 (High)

Efficient water management techniques, such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, are essential in reducing water consumption in agriculture, thereby helping to alleviate global water shortages.

Analysis:

• Content: The summary accurately captures the main points of the passage—focused on water-saving techniques and their impact on solving water scarcity in agriculture.
• Form: The answer is a single sentence, well-structured, and does not exceed 75 words.
• Grammar: Complex sentence structure is used effectively with no grammatical errors.
• Vocabulary: Appropriate use of formal and precise vocabulary (e.g., “alleviate,” “consumption”).
• Spelling: No spelling mistakes.

2. Band Score: 70 (Average)

Farmers need to implement water-saving technologies like drip irrigation to reduce consumption and address the issue of water scarcity.

Analysis:

• Content: Covers the key ideas about using technologies like drip irrigation but lacks mention of rainwater harvesting and other strategies.
• Form: The sentence is clear, concise, and follows the format.
• Grammar: Simple sentence structure with no grammatical errors, but could benefit from added complexity.
• Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary is used correctly, though it is less varied than higher-scoring responses.
• Spelling: No spelling issues.

3. Band Score: 50 (Low)

There is water scarcity in agriculture, and irrigation is needed for plants.

Analysis:

• Content: This answer fails to fully address the topic of reducing water usage or mention water-saving methods like drip irrigation or rainwater harvesting.
• Form: Although the answer is one sentence, it is too simplistic and lacks depth.
• Grammar: Basic sentence structure; more complex constructions would enhance the score.
• Vocabulary: Limited range of vocabulary with very basic terms.
• Spelling: No spelling issues, but this does not compensate for other weaknesses.

Key PTE Evaluation Criteria for Summarize Written Text

1. Content: The answer should capture all essential ideas from the text. High-scoring responses are comprehensive, while lower-scoring ones miss key points.
2. Form: The summary must be a single, correct sentence (under 75 words). Higher scores are given to those who follow this strictly.
3. Grammar: Crucial for high scores. Answers with complex but correct grammatical structures will score higher.
4. Vocabulary: Demonstrating a wide range of vocabulary differentiates top answers from average to low-scoring ones.
5. Spelling: High accuracy in spelling is a small, yet important element of the scoring process.

Vocabulary from the Passage

Here are 10 challenging words from the passage, with phonetic pronunciation, meanings, and example sentences:

1. Scarcity | /ˈskersɪti/ | (n) A lack of something | The scarcity of water is a growing concern in many regions.
2. Sustainable | /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ | (adj) Able to be maintained at a certain level | Sustainable farming practices help preserve essential resources.
3. Irrigation | /ˌɪrɪˈɡeɪʃən/ | (n) The supply of water to help grow crops | Drip irrigation is an effective method to save water.
4. Harvesting | /ˈhɑrvəstɪŋ/ | (n) The process of collecting resources | Rainwater harvesting is a strategy to mitigate water shortages.
5. Evaporation | /ɪˌvæpəˈreɪʃən/ | (n) The process of liquid turning into gas | Drip irrigation prevents unnecessary evaporation of water.
6. Retention | /rɪˈtɛnʃən/ | (n) The act of holding something back | Soil moisture retention is critical during droughts.
7. Alleviate | /əˈliːvieɪt/ | (v) To make a difficult situation less severe | New techniques can alleviate the effects of water scarcity.
8. Consumption | /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ | (n) The act of using up resources | Water consumption must decrease in order to meet future demands.
9. Techniques | /tɛkˈniːks/ | (n) Methods to accomplish a task | Various techniques, like drip irrigation, can improve efficiency.
10. Yield | /jiːld/ | (n) The amount produced | Innovative methods help maintain high crop yields despite reduced water usage.

Conclusion: Practice and Mastery

The Summarize Written Text section is a vital part of the PTE Speaking and Writing section, often posing topics such as water management and agricultural challenges. Summarizing effectively requires a firm understanding of the content and concise expression. Familiarizing yourself with complex topics, like those discussed, and practicing regularly will significantly improve your chances of achieving a high score. Try integrating strategies discussed in this guide and review sample summaries to sharpen your technique.

For more about agricultural water management techniques, check our related post on Water management in agriculture or learn about the global water crisis and conservation efforts to expand your knowledge on this crucial topic.