The PTE Academic exam is a widely recognized English proficiency test that assesses the four language skills: Speaking, Writing, Listening, and Reading. One challenging task in the Speaking & Writing section is the Summarize Written Text task, in which candidates must summarize the main points of a text into one sentence of not more than 75 words.
This article provides a detailed guide on how to approach the Summarize Written Text task with a reputable, thought-provoking sample on the Benefits Of Universal Healthcare Systems. Additionally, we’ll offer answers at different levels of ability based on the PTE scoring rubrics, covering Content, Grammar, Vocabulary, and more.
Sample Summarize Written Text Task: Benefits of Universal Healthcare Systems
Task
Read the following passage about the benefits of universal healthcare systems and write a one-sentence summary. Your response should be between 5 to 75 words.
Universal healthcare systems provide medical services to all citizens regardless of income, reducing health inequities and improving overall population health. These systems are designed to ensure that costs are distributed equitably through taxation, thereby allowing individuals to access necessary treatments without facing financial ruin. Additionally, countries with universal healthcare typically experience lower mortality rates, longer life expectancies, and greater satisfaction with healthcare outcomes. Moreover, an efficient healthcare system can reduce the need for emergency care by promoting preventive services.
Write your one-sentence summary in the box below.
Example Responses by PTE Band Levels
Answer for Band 90 (High Score):
Universal healthcare systems improve population health by reducing disparities, providing equitable access to medical services, and promoting preventive care through well-distributed funding, which leads to lower mortality rates and higher satisfaction.
Content: Excellent, covers all key points including health equity, broad service access, preventive care, and positive health outcomes.
Form: Correct length and coherent sentence structure.
Grammar: Flawless grammar with proper tenses and punctuation use.
Vocabulary: Advanced, precise terms such as “equitable”, “disparities”, and “preventive care”.
Spelling: Correct.
Answer for Band 65:
Universal healthcare systems give people equal access to medical services, reduce deaths, and help prevent diseases because the costs are shared in society.
Content: Covers most key aspects but misses finer details on how the system is funded and its impact on life expectancy.
Form: Meets the word count requirement and has a logical structure.
Grammar: Good, though sentence connectors like “because” can make the sentence less formal.
Vocabulary: Uses somewhat simpler language with words like “give” instead of “provide”, and “diseases” instead of “health outcomes”.
Spelling: Correct.
Answer for Band 50:
Universal healthcare allows everyone to see a doctor and live longer by using public taxes to pay for it.
Content: Only partly reflects the passage; lacks mention of key details such as preventive services and specifically addressing health inequities.
Form: Grammatically correct but very simplistic and close to the lower word count limit.
Grammar: Basic, no grammatical mistakes but lacking complexity.
Vocabulary: Simplified; uses basic terms—e.g., “see a doctor” instead of “access medical services”, “public taxes” is understandable but could be clearer.
Spelling: Correct.
Key Factors in Summarizing Written Text
Summarizing a text effectively in the PTE is a task that requires succinctness, accuracy, and precision. Below are the five major criteria that the official PTE scorers focus on when evaluating your response:
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Content: Your sentence must encapsulate the most essential points from the passage. In this example, the key content revolves around access to healthcare services, promoting health equity, preventive measures, and positive health outcomes.
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Form: Ensure the sentence is no longer than 75 words and that it stays coherent and clear.
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Grammar: Ensure correct subject-verb agreement, proper punctuation, and appropriate complex sentence structures. This conveys a more nuanced understanding of the language.
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Vocabulary: Use a range of vocabulary that accurately reflects the complexity of the passage you are summarizing.
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Spelling: Incorrect spelling will result in losing points in both the vocabulary and spelling criteria.
Universal healthcare system providing free care to all citizens
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Below are some advanced terms from the task passage, along with pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences to help consolidate your learning.
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Universal /juːnɪˈvɜːrsəl/ (adj.): Applicable to all individuals.
Example: Universal access to healthcare ensures no one is excluded from receiving medical treatment. -
Equitable /ˈɛkwɪtəbəl/ (adj.): Fair and impartial.
Example: The system is designed to provide equitable access to healthcare for all citizens. -
Disparity /dɪˈspærɪti/ (noun): A great difference.
Example: Universal healthcare aims to reduce healthcare disparities among different socioeconomic groups. -
Preventive /prɪˈvɛntɪv/ (adj.): Intended to stop something from happening.
Example: Preventive care in a universal healthcare system helps detect diseases early. -
Mortality /mɔːrˈtælɪti/ (noun): The state of being subject to death.
Example: Countries with universal healthcare have lower mortality rates. -
Taxation /tækˈseɪʃən/ (noun): The levying of taxes.
Example: Universal healthcare systems are often funded through progressive taxation. -
Outcomes /ˈaʊtkʌmz/ (noun): The results or consequences of an action.
Example: Better health outcomes are commonly observed in nations with universal healthcare. -
Accessibility /əksɛsɪˈbɪlɪti/ (noun): The quality of being able to be reached or entered.
Example: Universal healthcare improves the accessibility of medical services. -
Financial Ruin /fɪˈnænʃəl ˈruːɪn/ (noun phrase): Complete financial failure.
Example: Citizens are protected from financial ruin in universal healthcare systems. -
Life Expectancy /laɪf ɪkˈspɛktənsi/ (noun): The average time an organism is expected to live.
Example: Life expectancy increases in countries with effective universal healthcare policies.
Conclusion
Summarizing complex topics such as the benefits of universal healthcare is a skill that can be mastered through consistent practice and a focus on critical elements: content, grammar, and vocabulary. The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section allows you to demonstrate your ability to condense information into a clear, accurate, and grammatically sound sentence. Given the broad relevance of universal healthcare to our global society, this topic is a prime example that could appear in your PTE test.
Feel free to comment below to share your responses, ask questions, or seek clarifications!
