In the PTE Speaking & Writing section, Summarize Written Text is a crucial component that requires test-takers to read a passage and summarize it in one concise sentence. This task focuses on testing your ability to identify the main points of a text while adhering to grammatical and syntactical rules. One of the common themes in recent years is Ocean Conservation Efforts And Their Effects, reflecting the increasing awareness of environmental challenges. In this post, we’ll explore a possible topic related to ocean conservation, provide sample summaries for different PTE scoring bands, and offer expert guidance on how to succeed in this task.
Below, you will find detailed sample tasks and responses for practice, along with additional insights into how your summaries can impact your overall PTE score.
Practice Summarize Written Text: Ocean Conservation Efforts
Read the given passage and summarize it in one sentence. Your summary should be no longer than 75 words.
Ocean conservation efforts have become increasingly important in recent years due to the significant threats marine ecosystems face, including overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change. Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working together to protect these vital ecosystems through various initiatives. Sustainable fishing practices and marine protected areas (MPAs) have proven effective in promoting the regeneration of fish populations and safeguarding biodiversity. However, challenges remain, such as illegal fishing and insufficient international collaboration.
Sample Responses by Band Scores:
Band 90 (High Score)
Ocean conservation efforts that focus on challenges like overfishing and climate change aim to protect marine ecosystems by promoting sustainable fishing and establishing marine protected areas, but they continue to face obstacles such as illegal fishing and lack of global cooperation.
Content: Excellent – All key points are included (efforts, sustainable practices, marine protected areas, challenges).
Form: Meets word limit, concise, and well-structured.
Grammar: Error-free, with complex structures well executed.
Vocabulary: Precise use of academic vocabulary (e.g., “sustainable practices,” “marine protected areas”).
Spelling: No mistakes.
Ocean conservation efforts with sustainable fishing and marine protected areas
Band 70 (Mid-High Score)
Recent conservation strategies aim to safeguard marine life by sustainable fishing and creating protected areas, but ongoing challenges include illegal fishing and insufficient global coordination.
Content: Very Good – Key ideas are covered but lacks mention of specific threats like overfishing or habitat destruction.
Form: Well-structured sentence and appropriate word count.
Grammar: Minor issues with article usage (“the sustainable fishing” might have been clearer).
Vocabulary: Accurate but could be more specific (e.g., “strategies” instead of “efforts”).
Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 (Mid Score)
Efforts to conserve the ocean include promoting sustainable fishing and creating marine protected areas but still having issues with illegal fishing.
Content: Fair – Misses some key details like government involvement and broader challenges such as climate change.
Form: The summary is concise but exceeds the word limit slightly.
Grammar: Basic grammatical errors (“having issues” should be revised as “facing issues”).
Vocabulary: Limited and less formal (“having issues” could be better expressed as “facing challenges”).
Spelling: Correct.
Vocabulary from the Sample Passage
Here are some important vocabulary words used in the passage, along with their meanings and pronunciation. Learning these words will help you in the Summarize Written Text and other areas of the PTE exam:
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Conservation /ˌkɒnsərˈveɪʃən/ (n.) – The protection and preservation of natural resources.
- Example: Ocean conservation is crucial for maintaining biodiversity.
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Overfishing /ˌoʊvərˈfɪʃɪŋ/ (n.) – Fishing excessively, leading to the decline of fish populations.
- Example: Overfishing has led to the depletion of several fish species.
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Habitat Destruction /ˈhæbɪˌtæt dɪˈstrʌkʃən/ (n.) – The process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species.
- Example: Coral reefs face habitat destruction due to climate change.
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Biodiversity /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.daɪˈvɝː.sə.ti/ (n.) – The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat.
- Example: Biodiversity in the oceans is threatened by human activities.
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Sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl/ (adj.) – Using resources in a way that they are not depleted or permanently damaged.
- Example: Sustainable fishing practices ensure that fish populations remain stable.
Sustainable fishing practices ensuring marine life regeneration and balanced ecosystems
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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) /məˈriːn prəˈtɛktɪd ˈɛəriəz/ (n.) – Regions of seas or oceans where human activity is restricted to conserve the natural environment.
- Example: Marine protected areas are key to preserving endangered marine species.
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Illegal Fishing /ɪˈliːgəl ‘fɪʃɪŋ/ (n.) – Fishing that violates laws or regulations.
- Example: Illegal fishing poses a serious threat to global conservation efforts.
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Collaboration /kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən/ (n.) – The action of working with others for a common purpose.
- Example: Collaboration between nations is essential for successful ocean conservation.
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Initiatives /ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz/ (n.) – New plans or strategies aimed at solving a specific problem.
- Example: Governments and NGOs are introducing new initiatives to protect marine ecosystems.
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Regeneration /rɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ (n.) – The process of renewal, restoration, or growth.
- Example: Sustainable practices help promote the regeneration of marine life.
Conclusion:
In this Summarize Written Text example, we’ve covered ocean conservation efforts and the pressing issues faced by both governments and NGOs. This topic is highly relevant in today’s world, often appearing in the PTE Writing module. Mastering such subjects not only improves your writing skills but also gives you greater awareness of ongoing global challenges. Keep practicing with additional PTE-relevant topics such as Water pollution and ecosystem conservation or Ocean conservation and sustainable fishing.
By practicing regularly, you’ll be better equipped to tackle complex topics, identify the main points, and deliver concise but comprehensive summaries. Let us know in the comments below if this helped you or if you’d like more practice examples!
