The PTE exam’s Speaking and Writing section plays a crucial role in measuring your language skills, especially the task of Summarize Written Text. This task demands you summarize a passage in one sentence, using good grammar, proper punctuation, and vocabulary. In this post, you’ll find sample practice exams focused on the integration of smart cities and renewable energy, a highly relevant and often discussed topic in urban development.
The topic of smart cities has emerged as a hot issue in the PTE exam, often appearing as a matter of sustainable urban planning, like the Renewable energy adoption in public infrastructure. These questions typically explore how cities can incorporate renewable energy solutions.
Let’s dive into our first question set.
Summarize Written Text Practice Exam on Smart Cities & Renewable Energy Integration
Before we start, remember the format for Summarize Written Text on the PTE test. You have 10 minutes to read the passage and summarize it in one complete sentence. Use appropriate punctuation and limit your answer to one sentence of no more than 75 words.
Sample Text #1:
Smart cities represent a technological shift in how infrastructure and services are managed to improve the quality of life for residents. A significant component of this development is the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into the city’s power grid. This reduces carbon emissions, enhances energy security, and achieves sustainability goals. Additionally, implementing smart grids helps cities optimize energy consumption using real-time data, enabling better efficiency and cost savings.
Task: Summarize the paragraph in one sentence. (10 minutes)
Sample Responses and Band Descriptions
Band 90 Response:
Smart cities use advanced technologies to integrate renewable energy, reduce emissions, enhance sustainability, and optimize energy efficiency through smart grids and real-time data management.
Analysis:
- Content: Excellent coverage of all key aspects, including renewable energy, emission reduction, and smart grids.
- Form: Proper capitalization, sentence structure with no punctuation issues.
- Grammar: Flawlessly written with accurate subject-verb agreement.
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated use of terms like “optimize” and “efficiency.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 75 Response:
Smart cities integrate renewable energy and smart grids to improve sustainability, lower emissions, and manage energy efficiently through real-time data use.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers all the main points, though slightly less detailed.
- Form: Well-constructed sentence that’s grammatically correct.
- Grammar: Good, although slightly simpler grammar choices.
- Vocabulary: Good command of terminology with some variation.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band 60 Response:
Smart cities are improving sustainability and energy savings by using renewable energy and smart grid technologies.
Analysis:
- Content: Misses some key details, such as the use of real-time data.
- Form: Sentence is clear but more concise than necessary.
- Grammar: Simple but correct construction.
- Vocabulary: Limited vocabulary restricted to easier terms.
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Sample Text #2:
Incorporating renewable energy in urban areas forms a critical part of smart city development. Cities globally are turning to clean energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat air pollution. Public infrastructure, like street lighting and public transportation, increasingly relies on solar or wind energy. Policies that encourage the shift to renewable energy also emphasize the importance of innovation through regulations on sustainable urban planning.
Task: Summarize the paragraph in one sentence. (10 minutes)
Sample Responses and Band Descriptions
Band 90 Response:
Smart cities worldwide are driving the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy by implementing policies that support sustainable urban planning and integrating solar and wind power into public infrastructure.
Analysis:
- Content: Captures essential points, including policy shifts, renewable energies, and smart infrastructure.
- Form: Well-organized, appropriate length, and no punctuation issues.
- Grammar: Accurate subject-verb agreement and sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Variations like “fossil fuels” and “sustainable urban planning” show excellent language control.
- Spelling: Correct.
Band 75 Response:
Smart cities adopt renewable energy, as cities globally transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources like wind and solar for public infrastructure.
Analysis:
- Content: Clear, cohesive, but missing a mention of policies/urban planning.
- Form: Well-constructed sentence, appropriate punctuation.
- Grammar: Accurate use of verb tenses and agreements.
- Vocabulary: Correct use of “fossil fuels” and “renewable energy.”
- Spelling: No mistakes.
Band 60 Response:
Smart cities use renewable energy, such as solar and wind, to decrease reliance on fossil fuels and improve public infrastructure in urban areas.
Analysis:
- Content: Some key aspects are missing, such as policies and sustainable planning.
- Form: Grammatical structure is sound with no major errors.
- Grammar: A bit simplistic, but no mistakes.
- Vocabulary: Limited use of transition words and varying vocabulary.
- Spelling: Correct.
For more on smart city development and policies concerning renewable energy, visit Renewable energy policies in urban planning.
Vocabulary and Grammar from Sample Texts
Here are 10 high-level vocabulary words taken from the passages. Learning and using them effectively will help you improve your PTE score:
-
Integration: /ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən/ – The process of combining parts to make a whole.
Example: The integration of renewable energy into city grids helps reduce carbon emissions. -
Sustainability: /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ – The capacity to maintain environmental, social, and economic resources over time.
Example: Sustainability is central to the success of smart cities. -
Smart grids: /smɑːt ɡrɪdz/ – Electricity supply networks that use digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage.
Example: Many cities now rely on smart grids to optimize their electricity distribution. -
Carbon emissions: /ˈkɑːbən ɪˈmɪʃənz/ – The release of carbon, specifically carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.
Example: Reducing carbon emissions is a primary goal of renewable energy adoption. -
Optimization: /ˌɒptɪmaɪˈzeɪʃən/ – The action of making the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.
Example: Optimization of energy use through smart grids is essential for cost reduction. -
Infrastructure: /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə/ – The basic physical and organizational structures needed for a society or enterprise.
Example: Renewable energy is integrated into urban infrastructure to provide sustainable power. -
Public transportation: /ˌpʌblɪk trænsˈpɔːt/ – Systems of buses, trains, etc., that are available for people to use in a city.
Example: Public transportation systems increasingly rely on renewable sources like solar energy. -
Data management: /ˈdeɪtə ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ – The practice of collecting, keeping, and using data securely and efficiently.
Example: Smart cities rely on advanced data management techniques to optimize services. -
Renewable energy: /rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈɛnədʒi/ – Energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.
Example: Increasing the use of renewable energy is crucial for sustainable urban living. -
Fossil fuels: /ˈfɒsɪl fjʊəlz/ – Natural sources of energy from the remains of living organisms, such as coal or oil.
Example: Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is vital for reducing pollution.
Conclusion
In summary, smart cities continually adapt to integrate renewable energy technologies and emphasize sustainability through clever infrastructure designs like smart grids. Topics on Smart Cities And Renewable Energy Integration are highly relevant for PTE aspirants. Ensuring a good balance in covering the essential details is key to excelling in the Summarize Written Text section.
Be sure to practice regularly using different texts and, if in doubt, always review grammatical accuracy, sentence length, and key content details. Do leave a comment if you have any questions or need further tips!
