In the PTE Academic exam, the Summarize Written Text task in the Speaking & Writing section tests your ability to read, comprehend, and condense the key points of a passage into a single sentence. For students who are preparing for the test, understanding common subjects such as public health and clean water access could be crucial, as these themes often feature in various PTE exams.
In this article, we’ll present several practice examples based on Public health and clean water access topics and offer sample responses based on different scoring bands.
Understanding Public Health and Clean Water Access in PTE
Public health and access to clean water are significant global concerns, often discussed in both academic and real-world settings. This makes the topic essential for PTE exams, which often include social, environmental, and scientific themes. You can also explore more about related issues through insightful articles such as Public health issues in remote regions.
The writing task asks you to read a passage (150-400 words) and summarize it in just one sentence of no more than 75 words. Let’s now proceed with practice samples and model answers divided by different band scores.
Summarize Written Text Practice: Public Health and Clean Water Access
Sample 1:
Topic: Public Health and Clean Water Access
Passage:
Clean water is essential for human health, yet millions of people globally lack access to it due to poor infrastructure, pollution, or conflict. This issue disproportionately affects those in lower-income countries and remote regions. Inadequate access to clean water can lead to waterborne diseases, which pose a major threat to public health, especially in vulnerable populations. International organizations and governments have been working towards improving water access through sustainable infrastructure, policy reforms, and community education.
Summarize the text in one sentence (no more than 75 words).
Sample Responses & Analysis:
Band 90 Response:
Limited access to clean water due to inadequate infrastructure and various human conflicts contributes to significant public health issues, with international organizations advocating for sustainable solutions, particularly for lower-income and remote populations.
- Content: Excellent coverage of key ideas (water access, health risks, international efforts).
- Form: One sentence within 75 words.
- Grammar: No issues found.
- Vocabulary: Advanced vocabulary (e.g., “sustainable solutions,” “advocating”).
- Spelling: No errors found.
Band 70 Response:
Many poor regions face health issues due to lack of clean water, and initiatives are ongoing to improve infrastructure and access.
- Content: Covers main ideas; slightly lacks detail about disease impact.
- Form: One sentence within 75 words.
- Grammar: Grammatically correct.
- Vocabulary: Sufficient but lacks advanced terms.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 Response:
People in poor areas have no clean water and get sick, but organizations are trying to help them.
- Content: Limited; misses the global scope and specific actions.
- Form: One sentence, but overly simplistic.
- Grammar: Grammatically correct but basic.
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary.
- Spelling: No errors.
Public health and clean water access issues
Sample 2:
Topic: Global Water Movements & Health
Passage:
With the increasing scarcity of freshwater, driven by climate change and overuse, there has been a corresponding deterioration in health conditions in many parts of the world. A significant proportion of global disease is linked to poor water quality as access to clean water decreases. Communities are urged to employ water conservation techniques and adopt technologies aimed at reducing water wastage. Approaches such as desalination and greywater recycling are becoming more widespread to mitigate the crisis.
Summarize the text in one sentence (no more than 75 words).
Sample Responses & Analysis:
Band 90 Response:
Climate change and excessive water usage have worsened global water scarcity, significantly affecting public health, while methods like desalination and greywater recycling are emerging as viable solutions to improve water access.
- Content: Rich in detail, covering multiple technological and environmental factors.
- Form: One sentence within 75 words.
- Grammar: Advanced and correct.
- Vocabulary: High-level vocabulary (e.g., “desalination,” “viable solutions”).
- Spelling: No spelling issues.
Band 70 Response:
Water scarcity caused by climate change and overuse is linked to worsening health, and technologies such as desalination offer solutions.
- Content: Includes main points with fewer specifics.
- Form: Correct and within the word count.
- Grammar: Grammatically sound.
- Vocabulary: Adequate.
- Spelling: Correct.
Band 50 Response:
Many people are sick because of no clean water, and new technologies are helping to fix this.
- Content: Very limited detail and too simplistic.
- Form: One sentence but lacks complexity.
- Grammar: Mostly grammatically correct but simple.
- Vocabulary: Basic.
- Spelling: No errors.
To get a broader perspective on solving such issues, check out this comprehensive guide on Global water scarcity and solutions.
Vocabulary & Grammar Focus
Here are ten useful vocabulary words from today’s practice examples, along with their phonetic transcriptions and definitions:
-
Infrastructure /ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃər/ – The fundamental systems and services needed for the functioning of a country, city, or area.
Example: Improving water infrastructure can prevent diseases in remote areas. -
Waterborne /ˈwɔː.tə.bɔːn/ – Carried or transmitted by water.
Example: Cholera is a waterborne disease affecting millions. -
Desalination /diːˌsæl.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ – The process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable.
Example: Desalination is a vital technology for countries with low freshwater availability. -
Scarcity /ˈskeə.sɪ.ti/ – The state of being scarce or in short supply.
Example: Water scarcity can severely affect public health. -
Sustainable /səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl/ – Capable of being maintained over the long term.
Example: Sustainable farming practices help conserve water. -
Vulnerable /ˈvʌl.nər.ə.bəl/ – Exposed to the possibility of harm or damage.
Example: Vulnerable populations are hit the hardest by water crises. -
Pollution /pəˈluː.ʃən/ – The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.
Example: Industrial pollution has made local water sources undrinkable. -
Recycling /rɪˈsaɪ.klɪŋ/ – The process of converting waste materials into reusable objects.
Example: Greywater recycling systems are essential in saving water in drought-prone areas. -
Mitigate /ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ – To make something less severe or harmful.
Example: Desalination plants help mitigate the effects of water scarcity. -
Overuse /ˌəʊ.vəˈjuːs/ – To use too much of something.
Example: Overuse of freshwater resources is leading to global water shortages.
Conclusion
Practicing Summarize Written Text questions from challenging topics like public health and clean water access will enhance your comprehension and summarization skills for the PTE exam. These global issues, closely related to public policy and environmental science, are common in exams, making vigilant practice essential. Be sure to focus on key ideas, stay within the word limit, and refine your vocabulary to ensure success in this task.
For more helpful tips and practice, feel free to leave a comment or check out our related articles!
