In recent times, social media has significantly influenced the lives of young people, creating numerous impacts — both positive and negative. Understanding these effects is crucial, especially when it comes to the Speaking & Writing section of the PTE exam. This article provides a sample Summarize Written Text exercise focused on the positive and negative effects of social media on youth, a topic commonly discussed in modern discourse.
Sample Summarize Written Text Exercise
Below is a standard example resembling real PTE Summarize Written Text tasks, optimized to enhance your preparation for the exam. Read the passage carefully and summarize it in one sentence within a maximum of 75 words.
Task:
Read the following text and summarize it within one sentence. Your response must be between 5 to 75 words.
Social media has drastically affected modern youth culture. Positively, platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook foster social connections and provide access to diverse perspectives and information. However, excessive usage can negatively impact mental health, leading to issues like anxiety, addiction, and diminished face-to-face social skills. As with any technology, responsible usage is crucial to maximizing benefits while mitigating harmful consequences to the individual well-being of young users.
Answer Samples and Analysis
Band Score: 90
Social media fosters connections and access to information for youth but can also negatively affect mental health and social skills when used excessively, making responsible usage essential.
Content: Complete, covers both positive and negative aspects.
Form: Correct word limit (36 words).
Grammar: Flawless grammar.
Vocabulary: Well-chosen vocabulary such as “fosters” and “mitigating.”
Spelling: No errors.
Social media's positive and negative effects on young users and mental health
Band Score: 80
While social media connects youth and offers information, it may lead to mental health problems and reduced real-life interaction if overused; therefore, it is important to use it responsibly.
Content: Focuses on both the advantages (connectivity and information access) and disadvantages (mental health and real-life interaction).
Form: Meets word count criteria (36 words).
Grammar: Minor issues with sentence structure but mostly correct.
Vocabulary: Adequately varied, with no errors.
Spelling: No issues.
Band Score: 70
Social media helps people interact but can also affect their mental health if poorly managed.
Content: General coverage of the topic; slight lack of depth on the negative aspects such as diminished social skills.
Form: Correct format and word count (19 words).
Grammar: Some sentence simplification, but no major grammatical errors.
Vocabulary: Simple yet suitable vocabulary.
Spelling: Correct.
Band Score: 60
Social media is good but can cause problems.
Content: The summary is too brief and lacks depth in both positive and negative consequences.
Form: Under the word limit (8 words).
Grammar: Incomplete sentence and overly simplistic structure.
Vocabulary: Very limited vocabulary.
Spelling: Correct.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Below are 10 useful vocabulary items that can help enhance your Summarize Written Text practice:
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Addiction (əˈdɪkʃən) — strong dependence on a substance or activity.
Example: “Social media addiction is a growing concern among teenagers.” -
Mitigate (ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt) — make less severe, serious, or painful.
Example: “Proper time management can mitigate some of the negative effects of social media.” -
Diminished (dəˈmɪnɪʃt) — made smaller, less effective, or less powerful.
Example: “Social media may lead to diminished social skills.” -
Perspective (pəˈspɛktɪv) — a particular attitude or way of viewing something.
Example: “It provides users access to diverse perspectives.” -
Excessive (ɪkˈsɛsɪv) — more than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
Example: “Excessive use can lead to poor mental health outcomes.” -
Responsible (rɪˈspɒnsəbl) — being the primary cause of something and thus able to be blamed or credited.
Example: “Responsible usage is important when interacting on social media platforms.” -
Foster (ˈfɒstə) — encourage the development of something positive.
Example: “Social media fosters global connections.”
Social media facilitates global connections across different cultures among youth
-
Interaction (ˌɪntərˈækʃən) — reciprocal communication or involvement between individuals or systems.
Example: “Face-to-face interaction is often reduced by online communication.” -
Anxiety (æŋˈzaɪəti) — feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Example: “Constant engagement on social media can lead to anxiety in some users.” -
Well-being (ˈwɛlˌbiːɪŋ) — the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
Example: “Social media can have both positive and negative impacts on an individual’s well-being.”
Conclusion
Social media’s impact on youth is a trending topic in today’s world, making it an excellent focus for your PTE Summarize Written Text tasks. This example delves into both the positive and negative effects of social platforms, with a detailed analysis of various band scores’ responses to help you better prepare for the exam. For optimal results, always ensure you include both sides of the argument and stick to the 75-word limit.
Don’t forget to also keep your mental health in the digital age in check, as excessive social media use can interfere with cognitive well-being.
We encourage you to practice frequently and leave comments below if you have any questions or need further guidance.
