Summarize Written Text (SWT) is an essential task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section. In this task, candidates are asked to create a one-sentence summary of a given passage. The topic Role Of Art In Social Change surfaces frequently because it has great relevance to modern social dynamics. This article provides practice to help you excel in this task by offering sample questions for the Role of Art in Social Change and corresponding model answers analyzed closely by their expected band scores in the PTE.
Art has a transformative nature that can lead to societal evolution by influencing perspectives, evoking emotions, and advocating for change. Understanding how to clearly summarize its role in a concise manner is key to scoring high in PTE.
Practice Summarize Written Text Questions: Role of Art in Social Change
Below is a PTE-style Summarize Written Text passage, complete with responses analyzed according to PTE marking criteria. This will help you understand how to approach the task more effectively.
Sample SWT Passage
Art has consistently served as a catalyst for social change across various periods in history. Whether through paintings, music, literature, or other forms of creative expression, art has the power to reflect societal issues like inequality, discrimination, and political oppression while encouraging introspection and conversation. For instance, Pablo Picasso’s renowned anti-war painting, “Guernica,” exemplifies art’s ability to communicate the horrors of war, helping to galvanize public sentiment against violence. Another modern-day example is street art and murals promoting movements like Black Lives Matter, which have played an essential role in raising global awareness. In short, art acts as a medium for individuals and communities alike to question norms, challenge authorities, and advocate for justice and human rights.
Summarize the passage in one sentence (between 5 and 75 words).
Model Responses & Analysis
Band 90 Response
Art has always been pivotal in encouraging social change by reflecting key societal issues and injustices, such as inequality and oppression, through both historical pieces like Picasso’s “Guernica” and modern movements like Black Lives Matter.
Analysis:
- Content: Fully captures the essence by including key details like historical significance and modern examples.
- Form: Perfect word count (35 words).
- Grammar: Flawless.
- Vocabulary: Diverse vocabulary such as “pivotal,” “injustices,” and “movements.”
- Spelling: Perfect.
Band 79 Response
Art influences societal change by highlighting issues like inequality and political oppression, with examples including Picasso’s “Guernica” and street art supporting movements like Black Lives Matter.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers main ideas but omits terms like “justice” or “advocacy for human rights.”
- Form: Appropriate length (29 words).
- Grammar: No grammatical errors.
- Vocabulary: Clear but slightly simpler vocabulary compared to the Band 90 response.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 65 Response
Through street art and works like Picasso’s “Guernica,” art brings attention to problems in society such as inequality and war.
Analysis:
- Content: Lacks some detail on the broader role of art in societal change.
- Form: Word count is near the low limit (21 words).
- Grammar: Simple sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Basic and straightforward (“problems,” “attention”).
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 Response
Art shows society’s problems in pictures like Guernica and helps movements like Black Lives Matter.
Analysis:
- Content: Misses much of the passage’s depth.
- Form: Word count is too low (15 words), losing marks on this criterion.
- Grammar: Simple but correct.
- Vocabulary: Very basic and imprecise.
- Spelling: No errors.
Role of Art in Social Change: Key Insights for SWT Practice
Understanding how art influences social change is crucial not only for PTE but also for forming a well-rounded comprehension of how to construct effective summaries. Art can serve as a mirror to society, helping individuals vocalize issues like injustice, poverty, inequality, and raise global awareness. Practicing SWT tasks on topics related to urban poverty and social inclusion policies or broader questions such as those associated with fast fashion’s social and environmental costs can strengthen your ability to synthesize complex ideas into concise, accurate summaries.
Vocabulary and Grammar in Practice
Here are some key vocabulary words from the passage:
-
Catalyst /ˈkæt.əl.ɪst/ (n): Something that speeds up change.
Picasso’s “Guernica” was a catalyst in raising awareness about war atrocities. -
Discrimination /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/ (n): Unjust treatment based on differences such as race or gender.
Art has challenged racial and gender discrimination throughout history. -
Oppression /əˈprɛʃ.ən/ (n): Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment.
Artists often use their work to depict the oppression experienced by marginalized groups. -
Galvanize /ˈɡæl.və.naɪz/ (v): To inspire or motivate people into action.
Public murals helped to galvanize support for social movements. -
Injustice /ɪnˈdʒʌs.tɪs/ (n): Lack of fairness or justice.
Many forms of art focus on exposing societal injustices. -
Introspection /ˌɪn.trəˈspek.ʃən/ (n): Reflective observation of one’s own thoughts or feelings.
Art stirs introspection about moral and social issues. -
Advocate /ˈæd.və.keɪt/ (v): To publicly support or recommend.
Artists advocate for change through thought-provoking works. -
Transformative /trænsˈfɔːrm.ətɪv/ (adj): Causing significant change.
The transformative power of art is evident in its ability to influence societal change. -
Reflect /rɪˈflɛkt/ (v): To represent or show something in an accurate manner.
Art often reflects the realities of a society’s struggles. -
Medium /ˈmiː.di.əm/ (n): An agency or means of doing something.
Art serves as a medium for the expression of political dissent.
Conclusion
Incorporating a topic like Role of Art in Social Change into your PTE preparation can enhance your ability to handle a wide variety of texts and ideas. Art is not only a crucial part of cultural shifts but also a powerful tool for advocacy, justice, and reform. Hence, this theme appears frequently in academic and social discussions—making it a perfect candidate for Summarize Written Text exercises. By practicing regularly and analyzing your mistakes, you will improve your score. We encourage you to practice more such tasks and explore other related topics in our article on Urban poverty and social inclusion policies to cement your understanding of multifaceted social issues.
