In the Summarize Written Text section of the PTE Academic exam, candidates are required to summarize a passage into a single sentence. This task assesses key competencies such as reading comprehension, paraphrasing skills, grammar, and coherence. One frequent topic in this section revolves around “Renewable Energy Grids And Challenges,” which reflects the increasing importance of renewable energy sources in today’s world. In this article, we provide sample test prompts and model answers to assist PTE test-takers in preparing effectively for this section.
Sample Summarize Written Text Prompts for “Renewable Energy Grids and Challenges”
Prompt 1
The growing global demand for renewable energy has led to significant advancements in energy grids, yet various challenges remain unresolved. These grids must integrate diverse energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower while maintaining stability and efficiency. Decentralized grids present a solution to some problems, but they require sophisticated, smart technologies that allow for real-time energy distribution and storage. Additionally, there’s a challenge in ensuring that renewable grids match the reliability of traditional fossil-fueled grids, which are more established and familiar to utilities. Governments and organizations need to invest not only in infrastructure but also in research to address these challenges effectively.
Summarize the paragraph in one sentence.
Model Answers:
Band Score 90:
The rapid rise in global demand for renewable energy necessitates the development of advanced grids that must integrate various energy sources while overcoming challenges like grid stability, real-time distribution, and reliability comparable to fossil-fueled grids, requiring governments to invest in both infrastructure and research.
Content: Fully addresses the question with comprehensive coverage.
Form: Grammatically sound sentence, appropriate length.
Grammar: No errors, complex structure appropriately used.
Vocabulary: Excellent range of vocabulary, particularly on the subject.
Spelling: No errors.
Band Score 75-80:
Renewable energy grids need to integrate multiple sources, overcome stability challenges, and ensure reliability, which requires investment in technology and research from governments.
Content: Covers key points but less specific about details (e.g., smart grids, real-time distribution).
Form: Meets sentence length, grammatically correct.
Grammar: Good use of grammatical structures; however, simpler than higher band scores.
Vocabulary: Range of synonyms used effectively, but lacks some technical details.
Spelling: No errors.
Band Score 50-60:
Renewable energy grids have to address challenges in stability, distribution, and match the reliability of traditional grids through government investment.
Content: Misses full coverage of integration of energy sources and decentralized solution.
Form: Satisfactory, fits within the word limit but rather short.
Grammar: Sentence is correct, but structure could be more varied.
Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary; does not use technical terms effectively.
Spelling: No errors.
Prompt 2
With changes in climate policies and shifts toward sustainability, renewable energy grids are emerging as viable alternatives to fossil fuel-based systems. However, one of the major concerns hampering the growth of renewable energy grids is their intermittent nature—solar and wind sources are not constant, which makes managing supply and demand difficult. Advanced energy storage solutions, including batteries and other technologies, are seen as a remedy but require further development to become dependable at scale. Additionally, the high initial costs of building renewable energy infrastructure also pose a barrier to widespread adoption.
Summarize the paragraph in one sentence.
Model Answers:
Band Score 90:
Although renewable energy grids offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, their intermittent nature requires advanced storage technologies and significant investment in infrastructure before they can be widely adopted.
Content: Comprehensive coverage of key challenges, solutions, and the barrier of high cost.
Form: Single, clear sentence, meets word limit.
Grammar: Well-formed complex sentence without errors.
Vocabulary: Excellent vocabulary, precise technical terms like “intermittent nature” and “advanced storage.”
Spelling: No errors.
Band Score 75-80:
Renewable energy grids face challenges such as unreliable energy supply, costly infrastructure, and a need for better storage solutions.
Content: Almost complete coverage, but lacks specifics (e.g., the intermittent nature of energy).
Form: Maintains correct sentence structure.
Grammar: Few issues, though more complex structures would improve the score.
Vocabulary: Adequate variety but lacks the precision of technical terms.
Spelling: No errors.
Band Score 50-60:
Renewable energy faces challenges, such as unreliable sources and expensive infrastructure, that limit its growth.
Content: Leaves out the idea of potential solutions (i.e., storage technologies) and policy context.
Form: Simple sentence that fits within the word limit.
Grammar: Correct but lacks the complexity needed for higher scores.
Vocabulary: Basic range with no technical terminology provided.
Spelling: No errors.
Structure of renewable energy grid with technical components
Vocabulary and Grammar Breakdown
Here are 10 advanced vocabulary words and their meanings from the sample summaries provided above. Each word includes pronunciation, definition, and an example sentence to help you master their usage in context:
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Intermittent /ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/: Occurring at irregular intervals, not continuous or steady.
Example: “Solar and wind energy are intermittent, making it difficult to maintain consistent power supply.” -
Decentralized /ˌdiːˈsɛntrəˌlaɪzd/: Distributing administrative powers or functions over a less concentrated area.
Example: “Decentralized grids can help in managing renewable energy supply more efficiently.” -
Infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧər/: The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
Example: “Building renewable energy infrastructure requires significant financial investment.” -
Viable /ˈvaɪəbəl/: Capable of working successfully, feasible.
Example: “Despite the challenges, renewable energy grids are seen as a viable solution for the future.” -
Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/: The ability to maintain or support a process over the long term.
Example: “Sustainability is at the core of developing renewable energy grids.” -
Grid stability /ɡrɪd stəˈbɪləti/: The ability of an energy grid to consistently balance supply and demand without causing outages.
Example: “One of the key challenges of renewable energy is ensuring grid stability.” -
Investment /ɪnˈvɛstmənt/: The action or process of investing money for profit or future benefit.
Example: “Governments must increase investment in renewable technologies to meet energy demands.” -
Storage solutions /ˈstɔːrɪʤ səˈluːʃənz/: Technologies and methods for storing surplus energy for later use.
Example: “Energy storage solutions like batteries are essential for the efficiency of renewable grids.” -
Demand management /dɪˈmænd ˈmænɪʤmənt/: The balancing of energy supply with energy consumption needs.
Example: “Demand management is crucial in preventing overloading of renewable energy grids.” -
Reliability /rɪˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪti/: The quality of being trustworthy or performing consistently well.
Example: “One major challenge is that renewable grids need to offer reliability comparable to fossil fuels.”
Conclusion
The practice of Summarize Written Text is crucial for achieving top scores in the PTE Writing & Speaking sections. Renewable energy grids and their associated challenges are prominent topics in the test, given the global shift toward sustainable technologies. By focusing on concise summaries, mastering topic-relevant vocabulary, and understanding the fundamentals of renewable energy, candidates can significantly improve their performance in the exam. Start practicing with the provided prompts, and feel free to revisit topics like Renewable energy innovations and developments for further reading.
