The PTE Speaking and Writing section tests your ability to concisely summarize written content. Among the various topics that test-takers often encounter, Mental Health Support In Remote Learning has become increasingly relevant due to the global adoption of remote education post-pandemic. In this article, you’ll find sample “Summarize Written Text” questions on this topic, along with tips and example answers to help you practice and improve.
The Importance of Mental Health Support in Remote Learning
Remote learning has deeply transformed education, offering flexibility and convenience but also presenting challenges to mental health. The absence of face-to-face interaction, increased screen time, and lack of social support contribute to a rise in stress and anxiety levels among students. Thus, there is growing discussion around the need for measures to ensure mental health safety while students continue their education from home.
Students facing mental health challenges during remote learning due to isolation and screen time
Remote learning also exposes issues of educational equity, which you can read more about here.
To prepare you for the PTE Summarize Written Text section, below are some sample questions along this theme.
Sample PTE “Summarize Written Text” Question on Mental Health Support in Remote Learning
Review the passage below and summarize it into one sentence. Keep your response between 5 to 75 words. The aim is to include the main idea of the text in a concise manner.
Sample Question 1
The growing shift towards remote learning has brought new mental health challenges to the forefront. Multiple studies suggest that learning from home can lead to isolation, a lack of motivation, and a decline in general mental wellbeing. This is exacerbated by the increased demand for students to remain focused for prolonged periods in front of screens without the social support that traditional schooling provides.
Summarize the paragraph in one sentence.
Answers and Explanations:
Band 90 (High-level)
Remote learning can negatively impact students’ mental health by causing feelings of isolation and decreasing motivation due to a lack of social support and extended screen time.
- Content: Excellent coverage of the key points, including isolation, motivation, and the role of social support.
- Form: The sentence is within the 5-75 word requirement.
- Grammar: Complex sentence structure with appropriate conjunctions.
- Vocabulary: Accurate and precise word choices such as “negatively impact” and “decreasing motivation”.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 70 (Mid-level)
Remote schooling affects mental health by increasing isolation and decreasing motivation, partly because of long hours on screens without support.
- Content: Fairly comprehensive, covering the main issues of mental health and isolation.
- Form: Word count is appropriate.
- Grammar: Simple but correct sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Slightly less formal and less varied in word choices, though still adequate.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 (Low-level)
Remote learning is bad for mental health because students spend too much time on computers alone.
- Content: Too simplistic; fails to mention the lack of social support and motivating factors.
- Form: The sentence is short and less detailed within the word limit.
- Grammar: Basic sentence lacking complexity.
- Vocabulary: The word choice is mundane, and lacks precision in explaining the issue fully.
- Spelling: No errors.
Sample Question 2
As the reliance on online education grows, so too does the recognition that mental health support systems need to be integrated into remote learning environments. Without doing so, the increased potential for stress, anxiety, and depression among students, largely due to the isolation from peers and overwhelming academic demands, can significantly hinder their academic success and personal well-being.
Summarize the paragraph in one sentence.
Answers and Explanations:
Band 90 (High-level)
Incorporating mental health support into remote learning is crucial to prevent stress, anxiety, and depression caused by isolation and academic pressure, which negatively affect both students’ well-being and academic performance.
- Content: Captures the necessity of mental health support and its importance in combating academic and social stress.
- Form: Meets the length requirement.
- Grammar: Correct usage of clauses to explain cause and effect.
- Vocabulary: Wide range of vocabulary, including terms like “incorporating”, “crucial”, and “academic performance”.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 70 (Mid-level)
Without mental health support, the isolation and pressure of remote learning can lead to stress and hurt academic results.
- Content: Covers the main points but lacks detail about mental health integration.
- Form: Word count is appropriate.
- Grammar: Correct but lacks complex sentence structures.
- Vocabulary: Acceptable but does not include higher-level terms.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 (Low-level)
Isolation in remote education is bad for mental health and hurts learning.
- Content: Very vague and does not clearly express the broader issue.
- Form: Sentence is shorter than needed and overly simplistic.
- Grammar: Minimalist structure with little complexity.
- Vocabulary: Extremely limited.
- Spelling: No errors.
For insights into how technology has reshaped care systems, particularly as it relates to emotional well-being, check our detailed article on Mental health in the digital age.
Vocabulary and Grammar Tips for Summarize Written Text
Below are some key words from the passages above, with definitions and usage examples, to help you build your vocabulary:
-
Isolation /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/ (n.): The state of being separated from other people.
Example: The feeling of isolation caused by remote learning has affected many students. -
Depression /dɪˈprɛʃən/ (n.): A mental health disorder marked by feelings of sadness, despair, and discouragement.
Example: Prolonged isolation can lead to depression in students.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety in remote students being displayed online -
Incorporating /ɪnˈkɔːrpəreɪtɪŋ/ (v.): To include as part of a larger whole.
Example: Incorporating physical breaks during lessons can improve student concentration. -
Anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ (n.): A feeling of worry or unease, typically about an upcoming event or uncertainty.
Example: Many students experience anxiety due to high academic expectations in online learning. -
Academic success /ækəˈdɛmɪk səkˈsɛs/ (n.): Achievement in schoolwork, often marked by good grades.
Example: Mental health problems can undermine a student’s academic success. -
Peer support /pɪər səˈpɔrt/ (n.): Assistance and encouragement provided by individuals of the same status or age.
Example: Peer support is crucial in easing the mental strain associated with remote education. -
Prolonged /prəˈlɔːŋd/ (adj.): Extended for an unusually long time.
Example: Prolonged exposure to screens can lead to headaches and fatigue. -
Negatively impact /ˈnɛɡətɪvli ˈɪmpækt/ (phrasal verb): To have a harmful effect on something.
Example: Extended isolation negatively impacts students’ mental health. -
Motivation /ˌmoʊtɪˈveɪʃən/ (n.): The reason or enthusiasm someone has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
Example: A lack of motivation is a common outcome of remote learning without social interaction. -
Screen time /skriːn taɪm/ (n.): The amount of time spent looking at a digital screen, such as a computer or phone.
Example: Too much screen time can harm students’ mental well-being.
Extended screen time effects on students' well-being in remote learning
Conclusion
In the Summarize Written Text task, it is crucial to convey the core message of the given passage concisely while maintaining clarity and accuracy. Topics like Mental Health Support in Remote Learning are common in real PTE exams. Regular practice on various issues, such as online education and its mental health implications, will improve your language skills and overall performance on the exam. Feel free to leave a comment with your example summaries to receive feedback!
