In the PTE (Pearson Test of English) exam’s Speaking & Writing section, the “Summarize Written Text” task is integral. It evaluates your ability to understand, condense, and clearly present important ideas. This challenging task often involves topics from various fields, including the ever-popular theme of Renewable Energy Innovations For Homes — a subject increasingly relevant to real-world applications.
This article provides a detailed overview of a PTE “Summarize Written Text” practice question on renewable energy innovations. You will find a sample task, an analysis of answers across various score bands, and additional helpful resources to improve your PTE score.
Sample Summarize Written Text – Renewable Energy Innovations
Task:
You have 10 minutes to summarize the text below. Your response should be in one sentence.
With the increasing need for cleaner energy sources to combat climate change, a range of renewable energy innovations is being developed for home use. Solar power is one of the most popular solutions, with advances in photovoltaic technology making solar panels more efficient and affordable. Wind energy is another accessible solution, thanks to smaller, residential-sized turbines that allow homeowners in windy areas to harness this clean power. Additionally, geothermal and hydropower systems are being developed for households, providing energy from the Earth and water respectively. These innovations not only help reduce the carbon footprint of individual homes, but they also contribute to a more sustainable future.
Model Answers and Band Score Analysis
Band 90 (High Score):
Recent renewable energy innovations for homes, including advanced solar panels, residential wind turbines, geothermal systems, and hydropower technologies, are improving energy efficiency and sustainability, contributing significantly to reducing individual carbon footprints.
Content: This answer maintains strong content coverage by summarizing all the key information from the original text. It accurately mentions specific innovations (solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal, and hydropower) and their benefits (efficiency, sustainability).
Form: The response is a well-structured single sentence within the 5-75 word limit.
Grammar: Grammatically flawless, with correct use of punctuation.
Vocabulary: Uses appropriate academic vocabulary like “sustainability” and “innovations.”
Spelling: No errors detected.
Band 75:
Renewable energy innovations for homes, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and hydropower, help reduce carbon emissions by making energy sources more efficient and sustainable.
Content: This response covers most of the essential points but omits the mention of geothermal energy. Nonetheless, it still addresses renewable energy’s impact on carbon reduction and sustainability.
Form: Well-organized, concise sentence within the required word limit.
Grammar: Correct sentence structure and punctuation.
Vocabulary: Adequate, with varying word choices like “efficient” and “sustainable.”
Spelling: No errors.
Band 60:
Modern inventions such as solar panels and wind turbines produce more energy efficiently and help homes reduce their environmental impact.
Content: This answer only covers solar panels and wind turbines, missing out on geothermal and hydropower. It touches on efficiency and environmental impact but lacks the depth of specific actions for sustainability.
Form: Proper structure, but leans toward an overly simplistic sentence and is shorter than advisable.
Grammar: Slightly basic in terms of sentence complexity.
Vocabulary: Limited word variation; “help homes” could be replaced by more formal language.
Spelling: No errors, but less academic tone.
Band 50:
Renewable energy helps homes use energy and lessen pollution.
Content: The response is too generic and lacks mention of key innovations discussed in the text. It also misses details about how these innovations work.
Form: The sentence is underdeveloped and below the word minimum, making it incomplete.
Grammar: Very basic structure leads to a simplistic response.
Vocabulary: Limited and basic vocabulary.
Spelling: No errors detected, but overall clarity is compromised.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Here are 10 must-know words and phrases from the given text with their meanings and examples:
-
Photovoltaic (/ˌfoʊtəʊvɒlˈteɪɪk/): Adjective – relating to the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect.
Example: The cost of installing photovoltaic panels has decreased significantly. -
Geothermal (/ˌdʒiːəʊˈθɜːməl/): Adjective – pertaining to energy derived from the heat in the Earth’s interior.
Example: Many homes in Iceland rely heavily on geothermal power. -
Hydropower (/ˈhaɪdrəʊˌpaʊə/): Noun – the production of electricity using the energy of moving water.
Example: Hydropower is a clean energy source that can power multiple homes. -
Carbon footprint (/ˈkɑːrbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/): Noun – the total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere due to a particular human activity.
Example: Reducing the carbon footprint of homes is key to combating global warming. -
Turbine (/ˈtɜːrbaɪn/): Noun – a machine for generating power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of air, water, steam, or other fluid.
Example: Installing a wind turbine at home can dramatically reduce reliance on the grid. -
Innovations (/ˌɪn.əˈveɪ.ʃənz/): Noun – new methods, ideas, or devices that bring better solutions to existing problems.
Example: Innovations in energy technology are vital for a sustainable future. -
Sustainability (/səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/): Noun – the ability to maintain ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
Example: Solar energy is a key component of sustainability efforts. -
Efficiency (/ɪˈfɪʃnsi/): Noun – the ability to accomplish something with minimal waste of time, money, or energy.
Example: Modern solar panels boast increased efficiency compared to earlier models. -
Residential (/ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl/): Adjective – relating to an area where people live, primarily homes rather than businesses.
Example: Residential wind turbines are becoming popular in rural areas. -
Combat (/ˈkɒmbæt/): Verb – to fight or take action to reduce or eliminate something harmful.
Example: Renewable energy is crucial to combat climate change.
Conclusion
The PTE “Summarize Written Text” task challenges candidates to efficiently summarize complex ideas, such as those around renewable energy innovations for homes, into one well-formed, concise sentence. Mastering the skill of summarization, expanding your vocabulary, and understanding important grammar principles are crucial for success.
Practice consistently and review model answers with detailed feedback. With regular learning, this could be your ticket to mastering similar tasks in the actual PTE exam.
