Climate change is a pressing global issue, and its effects on agriculture have been widely discussed, making it a frequent subject in the PTE’s Summarize Written Text section. Students are often asked to condense complex content into one sentence while preserving key details, which mirrors the real-world task of summarizing dense academic material. Below, I’ve created a sample Summarize Written Text question with model answers for different PTE score bands.
Example Summarize Written Text Task: Climate Change Effects on Agriculture
Task Prompt:
Agriculture is largely dependent on stable weather conditions, yet climate change is drastically altering temperature, precipitation patterns, and the frequency of extreme weather events. These disruptions lead to decreased crop yields, soil degradation, and increased water scarcity, putting food security at risk for millions. Farmers, especially in developing countries, need to adapt by implementing climate-resilient practices, such as diversified cropping methods, improved water management techniques, and the use of drought-resistant crops.
Summarize the text in one sentence. Your response must not exceed 75 words.
Model Answers
Band 90 (High Scorer)
Climate change has severe effects on agriculture, including reduced crop yields and food security risks due to altered temperatures and precipitation, which requires farmers to adapt by using drought-resistant crops and improved water management techniques.
Content: Excellent coverage of all major points, showing a clear understanding of the passage.
Form: Correct word limit of 47 words.
Grammar: Complex sentence structures used correctly.
Vocabulary: Advanced vocabulary and appropriate word choices.
Spelling: No errors.
Farmers adapting to climate change using resilient practices
Band 79 (Proficient)
Climate change is affecting agriculture by reducing yields and causing more challenges for farmers, who must now adopt new methods like crop diversification and better water management.
Content: Covers most key ideas, but the explanation of climate events is slightly less detailed.
Form: Correct word limit of 33 words.
Grammar: Solid sentence structure, but slightly less complex.
Vocabulary: Appropriate but less varied vocabulary than the Band 90 response.
Spelling: No errors.
Band 65 (Competent)
Climate change is altering weather patterns and farmers need new methods to prevent low yields and water shortages.
Content: Some key details such as food security risks are missing, leading to a lack of depth.
Form: Correct word limit of 21 words.
Grammar: Basic sentence construction; simple sentence.
Vocabulary: Limited expression with basic vocabulary.
Spelling: No errors.
By practicing with these sample questions and reviewing model answers at different scoring levels, you can start identifying areas where you need to improve, and apply strategies to boost your overall PTE score.
Relevant Resources for Climate Change and Agriculture
If you want to explore more about how climate change affects agricultural practices, I recommend checking out our related content: Economic impacts of climate change, a detailed analysis that discusses how shifts in the environment lead to economic challenges for rural communities.
Economic challenges imposed by climate change on rural farmers
Key Vocabulary From the Text
Here are some challenging words from the sample text above. Knowing these could enhance your vocabulary and improve your chances of producing a high-band SWT response:
-
Precipitation /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən/: moisture released from the atmosphere, such as rain or snow.
E.g: Changes in precipitation affect crop growth across different regions.* -
Degradation /ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən/: the process of wearing down or deteriorating.
E.g: Soil degradation caused by poor farming practices exacerbates the challenges imposed by climate change.* -
Resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/: able to recover or withstand difficult conditions.
E.g: Farmers need resilient crops to endure harsher climate conditions.* -
Food security /fuːd sɪˈkjʊərɪti/: the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
E.g: Changing climate patterns threaten food security in developing nations.* -
Diversified /dɪˈvɜːsɪfaɪd/: varied forms or types implemented as preventive measures.
E.g: Diversified farming helps safeguard against the unpredictability of climate change.* -
Scarcity /ˈskeəsəti/: insufficiency or short supply of resources.
E.g: Water scarcity is a growing problem amid increasing droughts caused by climate change.* -
Adapt /əˈdæpt/: to make adjustments according to new conditions.
E.g: Farmers around the world must adapt their techniques to survive changing weather patterns.* -
Mitigation /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/: actions taken to reduce the severity or seriousness of a problem.
E.g: Governments are investing in climate change mitigation strategies for the agriculture sector.* -
Drought-resistant /draʊt rɪˈzɪstənt/: able to survive with little water.
E.g: Farmers may need to switch to drought-resistant crops to maintain output.* -
Yield /jiːld/: the output or amount produced from agriculture or farming.
E.g: Climate conditions are pushing down the yield of many important crops.*
Key agricultural vocabulary related to climate change
Conclusion
Climate change continues to have a profound effect on global agriculture, making it a critical topic in the PTE Summarize Written Text section. With these sample questions and model answers, you now have a clearer understanding of how to structure a high-scoring response. Remember, regular practice is key to improving your performance, so consider reviewing relevant topics such as Drought management in agriculture and Climate change mitigation strategies to broaden your knowledge for future tests.
