In the PTE exam, particularly in the Speaking & Writing section, the Summarize Written Text task requires test-takers to accurately condense a long passage into a single sentence, capturing the key points within a 5 to 75-word range. This task is crucial for demonstrating one’s ability to comprehend and effectively summarize academic-style writing.
One common topic appearing in such tests is Public Health Challenges In Aging Societies, reflecting the real-world concerns that many societies face today. Let’s explore this relevant theme in the context of a few practice Summarize Written Text questions.
Public Health Challenges in Aging Societies: Summarize Written Text Practice
Practice Question 1:
Prompt:
The percentage of the population aged 65 years and older is increasing in many countries, creating various public health challenges. With the rise in life expectancy, diseases such as dementia, heart disease, and diabetes are becoming more prevalent, requiring both economic resources and specialized healthcare services. Furthermore, a shrinking workforce means that fewer young people are available to support the growing number of elderly citizens. This demographic shift demands policy changes to ensure long-term care, financial sustainability, and the promotion of healthy aging practices.
Task:
Summarize the text in one sentence.
Sample Answers:
Band 90:
As the proportion of elderly people increases globally, public health systems are facing significant challenges, including higher rates of chronic disease, increased economic burdens, and a shrinking workforce for elderly care, necessitating comprehensive policy reforms.
Analysis:
- Content: Fully covers all key aspects of the passage, including economic and workforce challenges alongside healthcare issues.
- Form: 38 words (well under the 75-word limit).
- Grammar: Complex sentence structures correctly used.
- Vocabulary: Appropriate and advanced word choices such as “comprehensive policy reforms” and “economic burdens”.
- Spelling: No errors.
Elderly care challenges require policy reforms for aging societies
Band 80:
An aging population is causing increased healthcare needs, economic concerns, and fewer workers to support the elderly, requiring changes in public health policies.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers the main points, though “healthy aging practices” is not mentioned.
- Form: 28 words.
- Grammar: Simple yet correct structure.
- Vocabulary: A good level, with slightly less specificity in terms like “public health policies.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 70:
An older population is leading to more health problems and economic pressures, requiring changes in government policies.
Analysis:
- Content: Misses details about the shrinking workforce and specific diseases.
- Form: 19 words—too short to adequately cover complex content.
- Grammar: Basic sentence structure but grammatically correct.
- Vocabulary: “Government policies” is less precise than “public health systems.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Practice Question 2:
Prompt:
As societies age, one of the most pressing public health challenges is managing the rising incidence of chronic, non-communicable diseases among the elderly population. Due to lifestyle changes, technological advancements, and medical improvements, people are living longer, yet often spend their additional years dealing with various ailments. To address this, governments must invest in preventive healthcare services that prioritize active aging, with a focus on maintaining physical and mental health rather than merely extending life expectancy.
Task:
Summarize the text in one sentence.
Sample Answers:
Band 90:
An aging society faces growing healthcare challenges arising from the increasing number of chronic diseases, necessitating government investment in preventive care to promote active and healthy aging through both physical and mental well-being initiatives.
Analysis:
- Content: Fully covers all elements mentioned: chronic diseases, preventive healthcare, active aging, and mental and physical health.
- Form: 39 words.
- Grammar: Great use of complex sentence structure with no errors.
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated word choices like “necessitating” and “initiatives.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Preventive healthcare focusing on active aging among the elderly
Band 80:
As chronic diseases rise among the elderly, society must focus on preventive measures to ensure active and healthy aging instead of merely prolonging life expectancy.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers most key points, but doesn’t mention government responsibility or preventive healthcare services specifically.
- Form: 27 words.
- Grammar: Correct sentence structure and variations in tense.
- Vocabulary: Adequate but less specialized than the previous answer.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 70:
Aging societies face healthcare challenges as more elderly people suffer from chronic diseases, and governments need to focus on prevention.
Analysis:
- Content: Misses aspects of “active aging” and specifics about mental and physical health.
- Form: 20 words.
- Grammar: Simple, with no grammatical mistakes.
- Vocabulary: Too general, lacking specific detail.
- Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Here are 10 important terms from the passages above to expand your vocabulary:
-
Chronic (ˈkrɒnɪk) – (adjective) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
Example: Chronic diseases like diabetes require long-term management. -
Non-communicable (nɒn-kəˈmjuːnɪkəb(ə)l) – (adjective) diseases that are not transmissible from one person to another.
Example: Heart disease is a non-communicable disease, often caused by lifestyle factors. -
Demographic (ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk) – (noun) a specific segment of the population having shared characteristics.
Example: Changes in the demographic structure are leading to more elderly people. -
Incidence (ˈɪnsɪdəns) – (noun) the occurrence or frequency of a disease.
Example: The incidence of Alzheimer’s is higher in aging populations. -
Preventive (prɪˈvɛntɪv) – (adjective) designed to prevent occurrence.
Example: Preventive healthcare can reduce the cost of treating chronic conditions. -
Policy reform (ˈpɒlɪsi riˈfɔːrm) – (noun) changes made to improve policies.
Example: Governments must implement policy reforms to cope with the challenges of aging populations. -
Life expectancy (ˈlaɪf ɪksˌpɛktənsi) – (noun) the average period a person may expect to live.
Example: Advances in medicine have increased human life expectancy. -
Sustainability (səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti) – (noun) the ability to maintain or preserve resources over the long term.
Example: Pension systems must be evaluated for sustainability in aging societies. -
Active aging (ˈæktɪv ˈeɪdʒɪŋ) – (noun) the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security to enhance quality of life as people age.
Example: Government initiatives promote active aging among seniors. -
Workforce (ˈwəːrkfɔːrs) – (noun) the people engaged in or available for work.
Example: A shrinking workforce is a major concern in aging societies.
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE exam is a comprehensive test of your ability to distill complex information into a concise sentence. Public health challenges in aging societies offer an insightful and real-world topic to practice on. The examples above cover typical themes that you might encounter in the exam, and through careful attention to vocabulary, content, and grammar, you can significantly improve your performance in this section.
Feel free to leave a comment should you have any further questions on how to tackle this task!
