In the Pearson Test of English (PTE), the Summarize Written Text task in the Speaking & Writing section is an essential part where candidates are required to condense information from a longer text into a single sentence. Today, we will focus on a critical and prevalent topic in PTE exams: Fast food and public health concerns.
Overview of the Summarize Written Text Task in the PTE
In this task, you will read a passage of around 150-400 words and then summarize it in a single sentence consisting of between 5 to 75 words. The summary is expected to be grammatically correct, coherent, and comprehensive enough to capture the critical message of the given text.
“PTE Online” provides candidates with practice tests that simulate real exam conditions. One such highly popular topic in PTE exams is ‘Fast Food and Public Health.’ Let’s explore a sample task.
Sample Summarize Written Text Task on Fast Food and Public Health Concerns
Sample Test Prompt
Fast food has become increasingly ubiquitous in modern societies, driven by lifestyle shifts and convenience factors. However, the rise in fast food consumption correlates with growing public health concerns, particularly obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Fast food is often high in sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium, all of which can increase the risk of chronic illnesses. Governments and health organizations around the world are urging for more regulations on fast food marketing and nutritional transparency to help reduce these public health risks. Studies have shown that individuals relying on fast food as a primary source of meals are more likely to develop serious long-term health conditions.
Your task is to summarize the text in one sentence.
Model Answers
Band 80+ Answer:
The increasing consumption of fast food is associated with significant health risks, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, due to high levels of harmful nutrients, which has prompted governments to call for stricter regulations and greater nutritional transparency.
Content: Full, concise representation of key ideas in the text, accurately capturing the correlation between fast food consumption and public health.
Form: Sentence is within the required 5-75 word count.
Grammar: Complex sentence with correct use of clauses and transitions.
Vocabulary and Spelling: Advanced vocabulary such as “significant,” “associated with,” and “transparency” used accurately.
Band 65-79 Answer:
Fast food consumption is linked to health risks like obesity and diabetes, and experts are calling for more regulation of the food industry.
Content: Includes the main points but lacks depth about specific nutrients and long-term effects.
Form: The sentence is of appropriate length and structure.
Grammar: Good, although simpler than a top band response.
Vocabulary and Spelling: Correct but less sophisticated in comparison with a top band answer.
Band 50-64 Answer:
Fast food causes health problems like obesity and some government officials want to control fast food more.
Content: Covers basic ideas, but lacks explicit mention of key health risks (e.g., diabetes), specifics on unhealthy components, and the role of nutritional transparency.
Form: Word count is acceptable but uses a basic structure.
Grammar: The sentence is grammatically correct but overly simple.
Vocabulary and Spelling: Basic vocabulary with some redundancy. Lacks the nuance of higher scoring responses.
Vocabulary and Grammar Analysis
Here are ten vocabulary words/phrases from the provided text that may appear unfamiliar to candidates, along with their phonetic transcription and meanings:
-
Ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ — present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society. -
Correlates /ˈkɒrɪleɪts/ — shows a connection or relationship between two or more things.
Example: The rise in temperatures correlates with an increase in electricity consumption. -
Obesity /əʊˈbiːsɪti/ — the condition of being grossly overweight.
Example: Obesity has become a global health challenge. -
Sodium /ˈsəʊdiəm/ — a chemical element found in table salt that, when consumed in excess, may raise blood pressure.
Example: Most canned foods have high sodium levels. -
Nutritional Transparency /njuːˈtrɪʃənl trænsˈpærənsi/ — being clear and open about the nutritional content of food.
Example: Nutritional transparency is critical in helping consumers make informed food choices. -
Chronic Illnesses /ˈkrɒnɪk ˈɪlnəs/ — long-lasting diseases or conditions.
Example: Managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes requires lifestyle changes. -
Regulations /ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/ — rules or directives made and maintained by an authority.
Example: Governments introduce regulations to ensure public health and safety. -
Convenience /kənˈviːniəns/ — the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty.
Example: The convenience of fast food is one reason for its popularity. -
Heart Disease /hɑːt dɪˈziːz/ — a range of conditions that affect the heart’s function.
Example: Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. -
Relying on /rɪˈlaɪɪŋ ɔn/ — depending on someone or something to function properly.
Example: Many people are relying on fast food for their meals, though it may affect their health negatively.
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE exam challenges test-takers to distill complex information into a clear and concise summary. Today’s topic on fast food and public health concerns is highly relevant, both in tested content and real-world relevance. Mastering this type of task requires you to practice regularly, focusing on maintaining clear grammar, precise vocabulary, and fully capturing the essence of the given text. Use the sample questions above as guides to form effective answers.
Don’t hesitate to comment below if you’d like more sample tasks, or to share your own summaries for feedback!
