Summarize Written Text: Enhancing Mental Health Support in Remote Areas for the PTE Exam

The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section requires candidates to read a passage of 1 to 3 paragraphs and summarize the main points in a single sentence. This task evaluates …

Mental healthcare infrastructure in remote areas

The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section requires candidates to read a passage of 1 to 3 paragraphs and summarize the main points in a single sentence. This task evaluates your reading comprehension and writing skills, and it often covers contemporary social and cultural topics. One of the increasingly common themes in this section is Mental Health Support In Remote Areas.

Below, we’ll create practice summaries on this topic to help you improve your skills, along with sample answers, analysis, vocabulary, and tips for success.


## Practice Task: Summarize Written Text on Mental Health Support in Remote Areas

Reading Passage:

Access to mental health services is a crucial issue in remote and rural areas across many regions. Limited access to transportation, lack of healthcare infrastructure, and shortage of trained mental health professionals leave many residents without proper support. Telemedicine and digital tools have emerged as viable solutions to bridge this gap. Although these services show promise, challenges remain in terms of internet accessibility, digital literacy, and the personalization of care. Consequently, there is a growing call for governments and organizations to invest in more infrastructure and educational programs to ensure people in remote areas receive equal access to mental health services.

Summarize the text in one sentence.

Sample Answers:

  • Band 90:
    Access to mental health services is limited in remote areas due to insufficient infrastructure and healthcare personnel, although telemedicine offers potential solutions, but the challenges of internet access and personalization require further investment from governments and organizations.
    Analysis:
    • Content: Fully encompasses all key details of the passage.
    • Form: One complex sentence without exceeding the 75-word limit.
    • Grammar: Correct use of clauses with no grammatical errors.
    • Vocabulary: Advanced vocabulary like “insufficient,” “telemedicine,” and “investment.”
    • Spelling: No spelling mistakes.

Mental healthcare infrastructure in remote areasMental healthcare infrastructure in remote areas

  • Band 80:
    Although telemedicine is a promising solution to the lack of mental health services in remote areas, further investment is needed to address issues like internet access and healthcare infrastructure.
    Analysis:

    • Content: Covers most of the essential points, but doesn’t mention the shortage of professionals or digital literacy.
    • Form: A single, concise sentence within the word limit.
    • Grammar: Grammatically sound with correct complex construction.
    • Vocabulary: Good use of words like “promising,” “address,” and “infrastructure.”
    • Spelling: No errors.
  • Band 70:
    Telemedicine is a solution to improve mental health support in remote areas, but poor internet access remains a major challenge.
    Analysis:

    • Content: Misses some key aspects such as the role of governments and organizations or lack of mental health professionals.
    • Form: Single sentence, straightforward but within limits.
    • Grammar: Simple but coherent.
    • Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary, lacks sophistication.
    • Spelling: No mistakes.

Telemedicine providing mental healthcare to rural populationTelemedicine providing mental healthcare to rural population

  • Band 60:
    Mental health services in remote areas are not enough, but technology like telemedicine can help.
    Analysis:
    • Content: Oversimplified; the response does not mention infrastructure, investment, or internet issues.
    • Form: Short sentence, but doesn’t provide sufficient detail.
    • Grammar: Grammatically correct but lacks complexity in sentence structure.
    • Vocabulary: Simple words with no advanced expressions.
    • Spelling: Correct spelling.

Vocabulary and Grammar Focus:

Here are ten key words from the passage along with their meanings and usage to help enrich your vocabulary:

  1. Infrastructure /ˌɪnfrəˈstrʌkʧər/ (n) – The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of services.
    Example: Better infrastructure is needed to provide healthcare in remote regions.

  2. Personnel /ˌpɜrsəˈnɛl/ (n) – People employed in an organization or engaged in an organized undertaking.
    Example: There is a shortage of healthcare personnel in rural areas.

  3. Telemedicine /ˈtɛliˌmɛdəsɪn/ (n) – The practice of seeing patients and providing healthcare at a distance using technology.
    Example: Telemedicine has become critical for delivering mental health services to remote areas.

  4. Viable /ˈvaɪəbl/ (adj) – Capable of working successfully; feasible.
    Example: Digital health solutions are becoming more viable in rural places.

  5. Accessibility /əkˌsɛsəˈbɪləti/ (n) – The quality of being able to be reached or entered.
    Example: Internet accessibility is still limited in many rural communities.

  6. Digital Literacy /ˌdɪʤətl ˈlɪtərəsi/ (n) – The ability to find, evaluate, and compose clear information using digital platforms.
    Example: Improving digital literacy is crucial for adopting telemedicine in rural populations.

  7. Personalization /ˌpɜrsənəlɪˈzeɪʃən/ (n) – The action of designing or producing something to meet someone’s individual requirements.
    Example: Healthcare personalization is essential to make telemedicine effective.

  8. Shortage /ˈʃɔrtɪʤ/ (n) – A state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.
    Example: There is a substantial shortage of mental health professionals in remote areas.

Shortage of mental health professionals in rural areasShortage of mental health professionals in rural areas

  1. Investment /ɪnˈvɛstmənt/ (n) – The action or process of investing money in something for future profit or benefit.
    Example: Governments must increase their investment in rural healthcare infrastructure.

  2. Equity /ˈɛkwɪti/ (n) – Fairness and justice in the way people are treated.
    Example: Ensuring healthcare equity is a major goal in improving mental health services.


Conclusion:

Providing mental health support in remote areas is a critical issue appearing consistently in PTE’s Summarize Written Text task. This topic offers insightful discussion opportunities related to healthcare infrastructure, the use of telemedicine, and the challenges surrounding digital literacy. Practicing summarization on this topic not only improves your English skills but also keeps you informed about significant global concerns. Don’t hesitate to practice regularly and leave your comments or queries below!

If you’re interested in similar challenges, consider exploring challenges related to mental health services accessibility in rural areas or check out our guide on remote learning and educational equity to stay updated on timely issues.

Leave a Comment