Why Mental Health Education and Public Awareness Matter in PTE
When it comes to modern-day test topics, mental health education and public awareness are increasingly important. These topics are not only highly relevant in real-world scenarios but also form a significant part of public health education in schools. Campaigns centered around mental health awareness capture some of the most common theme ideas that appear in PTE exams, making them indispensable for preparation.
Let’s dive into some practice test prompts based on this theme, along with sample answers across different bands.
Summarize Written Text Sample 1: Incorporating Mental Health Education in Schools
Prompt:
Across the globe, concerns about mental health are mounting, notably in educational institutions. Many educators and experts argue that students face unprecedented pressures, exacerbating existing mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and isolation. Some schools have successfully implemented mental health programs that foster emotional well-being and educate students about coping mechanisms. However, access remains inconsistent, particularly among students in under-resourced areas. To effectively address these concerns, experts urge the integration of comprehensive mental health education alongside traditional curricula.
Write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
Answer for 65-75 Band (High)
Integrating mental health education into schools is necessary to help students manage mental health challenges like anxiety and isolation, but access remains uneven across different regions, with particular disadvantages noted in under-resourced areas.
Analysis:
- Content: The summary encapsulates all key points, including the benefits of mental health education and the issue of unequal access.
- Form: The sentence complies with the word limit, condensing multiple aspects into one meaningful sentence.
- Grammar: The sentence correctly uses complex structures to convey relationships and contrasts between ideas.
- Vocabulary: Appropriately uses higher-level terms such as “integration,” “uneven,” and “under-resourced.”
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Answer for 50-65 Band (Medium)
Mental health education in schools helps students cope with problems like anxiety and depression, but it is not available equally for all.
Analysis:
- Content: Important ideas about mental health and unequal access are mentioned but lack depth.
- Form: Condensed into one meaningful sentence, though fewer details are present.
- Grammar: Simpler structures, no errors.
- Vocabulary: Basic, clear language but lacks variety and some critical terminology.
- Spelling: No mistakes.
Answer for Below 50 Band (Low)
Schools should teach students how to deal with mental health problems, but not enough students have access to them.
Analysis:
- Content: Too vague and lacks details about mental health challenges, emotional well-being, and under-resourced areas.
- Form: The sentence is short, lacks critical components of the original text, and does not effectively condense ideas.
- Grammar: Simple, error-free grammar, but no complex structures.
- Vocabulary: Basic word choices, missing important terms like “education,” “access,” etc.
- Spelling: Correct.
Summarize Written Text Sample 2: Public Awareness Campaigns for Mental Health
Prompt:
Mental health awareness campaigns have played a pivotal role in reshaping public attitudes toward mental health issues. These campaigns seek to combat the stigma that still surrounds conditions like depression and anxiety, primarily through education and open dialogue. Through multimedia efforts, such as social media platforms and partnerships with motivational speakers, public awareness is growing. However, despite these efforts, many people still face discrimination and feel reluctant to seek help, limiting the campaigns’ overall effectiveness.
Write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
Answer for 65-75 Band (High)
Mental health awareness campaigns aim to reduce stigma surrounding mental health by promoting discussions and educational efforts, but public reluctance to seek help due to ongoing discrimination continues to present challenges.
Analysis:
- Content: The summary effectively captures the goals of the awareness campaigns and their limitations.
- Form: One concise, grammatically correct sentence.
- Grammar: Uses complex structures effectively to convey the relationship between points.
- Vocabulary: Advanced terms like “reluctance,” “stigma,” and “discrimination” enhance the text.
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Answer for 50-65 Band (Medium)
Mental health campaigns work to reduce stigma, but people are still hesitant to seek help because of discrimination.
Analysis:
- Content: Captures the gist, though simplifications make it less informative.
- Form: The summary follows instructions, but the link between concepts is weaker.
- Grammar: Correct though lacks complexity.
- Vocabulary: Basic but acceptable terms.
- Spelling: No issues.
Answer for Below 50 Band (Low)
Campaigns are meant to reduce mental health stigma, but people still face problems when it comes to seeking help.
Analysis:
- Content: Lacks specificity regarding the discrimination aspect and explanation of multimedia efforts.
- Form: Word count appropriate but oversimplified.
- Grammar: Simple sentence, grammatically correct but lacks detail.
- Vocabulary: Extremely basic; misses key words relevant to the passage.
- Spelling: No mistakes.
Vocabulary and Grammar for Summarize Written Text Section
Here are ten key vocabulary words that frequently appear when discussing mental health education and public awareness. Employing a richer vocabulary will certainly boost your band score in the test:
-
Stigma /ˈstɪɡ.mə/
(n.) A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
E.g., “The stigma attached to mental health issues must be eradicated through public awareness.” -
Reluctance /rɪˈlʌk.təns/
(n.) Unwillingness or disinclination to do something.
E.g., “Despite numerous campaigns, reluctance to seek help persists.” -
Implementation /ˌɪm.plɪ.menˈteɪ.ʃən/
(n.) The process of putting a decision or plan into effect.
E.g., “The implementation of mental health education across schools has shown varied success.” -
Discrimination /dɪˌskrɪm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
(n.) Unfair treatment based on prejudice.
E.g., “Public campaigns are targeted to end the discrimination faced by those with mental illnesses.”
Read more about mental health awareness campaigns and impact here.
-
Anxiety /æŋˈzaɪ.ə.ti/
(n.) A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.
E.g., “Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems among students globally.” -
Under-resourced /ˌʌn.də.rɪˈzɔːst/
(adj.) Lacking sufficient funding or resources.
E.g., “Many under-resourced schools struggle to offer proper mental health support services.” -
Combat /ˈkɒm.bæt/
(v.) To take action to reduce or prevent something bad from happening.
E.g., “Awareness campaigns combat the stigma associated with mental health issues.” -
Emotional well-being /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən.əl ˌwelˈbiː.ɪŋ/
(n.) A positive mindset and good mental state.
E.g., “Schools need to cultivate an environment that fosters emotional well-being.” -
Coping mechanisms /ˈkoʊ.pɪŋ ˈmek.ə.nɪz.əmz/
(n.) Methods a person uses to deal with stressful situations.
E.g., “Teaching coping mechanisms as part of mental health education is critical.” -
Perception /pəˈsɛp.ʃən/
(n.) The way in which something is regarded or understood.
E.g., “Public perception of mental health has improved due to increased awareness efforts.”
Read more on the importance of mental health support services in schools.
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text section in the PTE exam often includes topics related to mental health education and public awareness, making practice in these areas essential. Familiarizing yourself with sample texts like the ones provided above is a critical part of preparation. Remember, developing strong summaries requires mastering key skills such as summarizing concisely while maintaining content accuracy.
We encourage continued practice through our platform, and feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!