Summarize Written Text for the PTE: Telehealth in Mental Health Care

Introduction

The Summarize Written Text task is a crucial component of the PTE exam’s Speaking & Writing section. It’s designed to test your ability to comprehend, condense, and summarize complex written material within the given word limit. As telehealth is becoming increasingly important in delivering mental health care, it has become a popular topic for Summarize Written Text tasks in the PTE exam.

In this article, we’ll explore some sample summaries based on this topic, provide answer bands corresponding to different PTE score levels, and offer insights into how you can optimize your responses.

Summarize Written Text Task Example

Below is a sample text for Summarize Written Text based on the keyword “Telehealth in mental health care”. This sample text aims to mimic real-world test content closely.

Prompt:

The rise of telehealth in mental health care has given patients, especially those in remote areas, easier access to professional services without the need to travel. In many cases, virtual consultations through video calls have proven to be as effective as face-to-face appointments. The pandemic further popularized these services, making mental health care more attainable and eliminating psychological barriers for individuals hesitant to seek help in physical settings. Despite clear benefits like convenience and reduced costs, telehealth presents unique challenges, such as connectivity issues, limited non-verbal communication cues, and the fact that not all individuals feel comfortable with online sessions. Still, with continued advancements in technology, telehealth is poised to play a significant role in the future of mental health care.

Your task: Summarize the above text in one sentence in between 5 and 75 words.

Example Responses

Band 90 Answer:

The growing use of telehealth in mental health care has increased accessibility and convenience, but faces challenges related to technology and patient comfort, although advancements indicate it will be crucial in the future.

Analysis:

• Content: Excellent. This response covers all key aspects, including accessibility, convenience, challenges, and potential future importance.
• Form: Perfect word count (42 words).
• Grammar: No mistakes; a complex sentence used correctly.
• Vocabulary: High-level, accurately chosen words like “accessibility,” “convenience,” and “advancements.”
• Spelling: No errors.

Telehealth increases access to mental health services in rural areas

Band 80 Answer:

Telehealth has improved access to mental health services, showing potential despite issues such as reduced non-verbal communication and connectivity problems.

Analysis:

• Content: Very Good. The response summarizes the main points but omits minor details like convenience and future importance.
• Form: Within word count (25 words).
• Grammar: Correct, although simpler sentence structure.
• Vocabulary: Appropriate, but usage of technical terms could be improved slightly.
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 70 Answer:

Telehealth makes mental health care more accessible, though there are challenges such as technical problems and the discomfort some feel with online services.

Analysis:

• Content: Good. It covers the essentials but misses information about the pandemic and future advancements in the field.
• Form: Correct word count (22 words).
• Grammar: Simple sentence, but no major mistakes.
• Vocabulary: Basic, lacks more advanced terms like “accessibility” or “non-verbal cues.”
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 60 Answer:

Telehealth helps with mental healthcare access but there are issues like tech problems.

Analysis:

• Content: Fair. It briefly addresses telehealth and technical challenges but leaves out many important details.
• Form: Very short (13 words).
• Grammar: Correct but overly simplistic.
• Vocabulary: Too basic. Use of terms like “tech problems” is informal for this context.
• Spelling: No errors.

Vocabulary and Grammar

Here is a list of 10 words and phrases from the passage, along with their explanations and examples of usage.

1. Accessibility /ˌæk.səˈsɪb.əl/ (noun): The quality of being easy to obtain or use.
   Example: Telehealth has improved the accessibility of mental health services for people in rural areas.

2. Non-verbal cues /ˌnɒnˈvɜː.bəl/ (noun phrase): Body language, facial expressions, tone, and other forms of communication that don’t involve words.
   Example: Therapists often rely on non-verbal cues when diagnosing patients.

3. Connectivity /ˌkɒn.ɛkˈtɪvɪti/ (noun): The state of being connected, especially in terms of network or internet access.
   Example: Poor connectivity during a telehealth session can make communication difficult.

4. Virtual consultation /ˈvɜːtʃuəl kɒn.sʌltˈt.eɪʃən/ (noun): A medical or psychological appointment conducted online.
   Example: She scheduled a virtual consultation with her psychiatrist using telehealth technologies.

Remote mental health consultation via telehealth

5. Hesitant /ˈhɛzɪtənt/ (adjective): Unwilling or unsure about doing something.
   Example: Many people are hesitant to seek mental health care due to stigmas surrounding therapy.

6. Psychological barriers /ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɒdʒɪ.kəl ˈbærɪər/ (noun phrase): Mental, emotional, or social obstacles that prevent someone from taking action.
   Example: Telehealth helps to lower psychological barriers for those uncomfortable with face-to-face therapy.

7. Attainable /əˈteɪ.nə.bəl/ (adjective): Possible to achieve or reach.
   Example: The availability of mental health services via telehealth makes care more attainable for many people.

8. Connectivity issues /ˌkɒn.ɴɛk.ˈtɪ.vɪt.i̩ ɪʃ.uːs/ (noun phrase): Problems relating to the stability or speed of internet connections.
   Example: Some patients experience connectivity issues when engaging in teletherapy sessions from remote locations.

9. Advancements /ədˈvɑːns.mənts/ (noun): Progress or improvements in a particular field.
   Example: Technological advancements have made telehealth an increasingly viable option for mental health care.

10. Crucial /ˈkruː.ʃəl/ (adjective): Extremely important or necessary.
    Example: Telehealth could play a crucial role in the future of mental health services.

Conclusion

The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE exam demands a comprehensive understanding of the content and the ability to succinctly deliver it within the word limit. The provided samples and analyses show what you need to do to score highly. Telehealth in mental health care is an increasingly common theme due to its current relevance, so practicing with similar topics will enhance your performance in the test. For more insights into this evolving area, check out our related reading on Mental health in the digital age. Happy practicing!