The Summarize Written Text section in the PTE Speaking & Writing module is primarily designed to assess your ability to comprehend, condense, and express written information in a concise format. One of the most prevalent topics in this exam is the Effects Of Social Media On Mental Health, an issue regularly discussed given its increasing relevance in today’s digital era.
In this article, we’ll explore some sample prompts related to the topic and provide example responses spanning various PTE score bands. These exercises will not only enhance your writing skills but will also equip you with techniques to address similar tasks in actual exams. For more on similar topics, you might consider delving into Social media’s influence on mental health to understand how these effects play out in real-world scenarios.
Example Summarize Written Text Prompt on Social Media and Mental Health
Prompt:
Social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become an integral part of daily life, particularly for young adults. These platforms allow users to connect and share their lives in real-time. However, research reveals both positive and negative effects on mental health. They facilitate social interaction, give a voice to marginalized communities, and foster learning and collaboration. However, excessive use of social media has been linked to heightened feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and cyberbullying. Studies have shown that comparing oneself with others on social media often leads to feelings of inadequacy and diminished self-worth, particularly when it comes to physical appearance and achievements. Thus, the impact of social media on mental health can be both harmful and beneficial, depending largely on usage patterns and the intent behind engagement.
Summarize the text in one sentence (between 5 and 75 words).
Sample Responses for Different PTE Scoring Bands
High Band (79-90):
Social media offers both benefits, such as facilitating communication and supporting marginalized communities, and negative consequences, including increased feelings of loneliness, depression, and self-comparison issues, with overall impact depending on usage patterns.
Analysis:
- Content: This summary captures the critical points regarding both the positive and negative effects of social media.
- Form: The correct format is applied, and the response is within the word limit.
- Grammar: Accurate grammar usage with well-structured sentences.
- Vocabulary: Utilizes higher-level vocabulary such as “facilitating,” “marginalized,” and “self-comparison issues.”
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Mid Band (65-78):
Social media can positively foster social interaction and learning, but excessive use can lead to mental health issues like loneliness, depression, and self-esteem problems.
Analysis:
- Content: Captures the essential points but omits the idea of cyberbullying and user intent.
- Form: Adheres to the word limit.
- Grammar: Accurate but less complex sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Adequate word choice like “foster” and “self-esteem,” though more variability could elevate the response.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Lower Band (50-64):
While social media helps people connect, it also causes mental problems such as loneliness and depression.
Analysis:
- Content: A basic outline of the negative points is given but lacks information about the positive effects of social media, cyberbullying, or usage dependency.
- Form: Suitable within the word limit.
- Grammar: Simplistic grammar with shorter sentence length.
- Vocabulary: Basic words like “helps people connect” are used; could benefit from more advanced terms.
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Basic Band (Below 50):
Social media is good but sometimes bad for people’s mental health.
Analysis:
- Content: Extremely limited in detail, missing critical points like types of mental health impacts, the social media platforms involved, and the conditions under which social media is harmful or beneficial.
- Form: Within word limit but too simplistic.
- Grammar: Incomplete sentence structure and lacks sophistication.
- Vocabulary: Overly basic vocabulary with no usage of key terms such as “loneliness” or “depression.”
- Spelling: No errors, but overall content is too elementary.
Vocabulary and Grammar Insights
Below are 10 advanced vocabulary words that appear in the prompt and responses, which are highly relevant to the topic of mental health in relation to social media:
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Facilitate /fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/ (v): To make something easier or less difficult.
- Example: “Social media platforms facilitate interactions between users worldwide.”
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Marginalized /ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪzd/ (adj): Treated as insignificant or peripheral.
- Example: “Social media gives a voice to marginalized groups in society.”
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Excessive /ɪkˈsɛsɪv/ (adj): More than necessary, normal, or desirable.
- Example: “Excessive use of social media often results in mental health issues.”
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Inadequacy /ɪnˈædɪkwəsi/ (n): The feeling of not being enough.
- Example: “Social media can foster a sense of inadequacy when users compare themselves to others.”
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Cyberbullying /ˈsaɪbərbʊliɪŋ/ (n): The act of harassing someone online by sending or posting mean messages.
- Example: “Cyberbullying on social media platforms has become a serious mental health concern.”
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Anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ (n): The state of being nervous, worried, or fearful.
- Example: “Many people develop anxiety due to the pressure of maintaining a social media presence.”
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Self-esteem /ˌsɛlfɪˈstiːm/ (n): Confidence in one’s own worth or abilities.
- Example: “Constant comparison on social media can cause a decline in self-esteem.”
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Foster /ˈfɑːstər/ (v): To promote grown or development.
- Example: “Social media can foster collaboration among users.”
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Loneliness /ˈloʊnlinɪs/ (n): The feeling of being isolated despite being surrounded by others.
- Example: “Ironically, using social media often leads to increased feelings of loneliness.”
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Diminished /dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/ (adj): Reduced or lessened in magnitude.
- Example: “Constant exposure to other people’s accomplishments on social media leads to diminished self-worth.”
Conclusion
The effects of social media on mental health are an increasingly important issue in today’s society, making this a popular topic in the Summarize Written Text section of the PTE exam. This task’s practice is essential for achieving high scores, allowing you to deliver concise yet effective responses. We encourage you to apply the strategies and tips shared here to better prepare for your exam. Additionally, learning more from articles like the one on Cyberbullying’s impact on mental health can offer further insights into how these issues manifest in real life.
