Summarize Written Text PTE – The Decline of Traditional Journalism

The Summarize Written Text section in the PTE Speaking & Writing module offers candidates the opportunity to paraphrase and summarize key points from a given passage within a single sentence. One frequent topic emerging within this part of the test is The Decline Of Traditional Journalism. Mastering Summarize Written Text tasks will help candidates score well by improving their ability to digest and convey complex information in a concise manner.

In this article, we will provide a sample prompt and model answers with detailed explanations. The emphasis here is on comprehensive practice and developing precision in summarizing content.

The Decline of Traditional Journalism – Summarize Written Text Sample

Prompt:

Traditional journalism, which once thrived on print media like newspapers and magazines, is seeing a significant decline due to the rise of digital platforms. The advent of the internet, social media, and blogs has diversified the sources of news and contributed to a shift in how information is consumed. Readers now expect constant updates, fast delivery, and free access to information, leading to a downfall in traditional revenue models dependent on subscriptions or sales. Additionally, in today’s environment, anyone can publish and disseminate news, blurring the line between professional journalists and amateur reporters. Despite several attempts to adapt, such as introducing paywalls, traditional news outlets struggle to compete with the financially sustainable models of online media giants.

Summarize the text in one sentence.

Model Answers & Band Score Analysis

Band 5 (90-100 points)

Traditional journalism has seen a sharp decline due to the rise of free digital news sources, leading to the collapse of revenue models like subscriptions, while digital platforms remain more competitive and financially sustainable.

Analysis:

• Content: Fully captures the main ideas, focusing on the decline due to digitization and revenue challenges.
• Form: Contains a complete sentence, appropriate in length (5-75 words).
• Grammar: Flawless usage; sentence structure is complex yet clear.
• Vocabulary: Precise word choices such as “sharp decline”, “digitization”, and “revenue models”.
• Spelling: No mistakes; high attention to word accuracy.

Band 4 (80-89 points)

The rise of digital platforms has caused the decline of traditional journalism because people now prefer free online news, making the old subscription revenue model unsustainable.

Analysis:

• Content: Covers main ideas but misses more nuance on the competitive financial sustainability of digital platforms.
• Form: Well-formed sentence respecting the word count limit.
• Grammar: Appropriate use of grammar, though the structure is slightly simpler.
• Vocabulary: Uses mostly correct terms like “unsustainable” but misses stronger alternatives such as “collapse”.
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 3 (70-79 points)

Traditional news has declined as digital platforms offer news for free and readers no longer want to pay for information.

Analysis:

• Content: Oversimplifies the issues by omitting key points like the struggles of traditional revenue models and professional journalism.
• Form: Sentence is complete, though less complex.
• Grammar: Basic sentence structure, though correct.
• Vocabulary: Relatively simple and lacks sophistication (“pay for information” rather than “subscription models”).
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Band 2 (60-69 points)

Traditional journalism is suffering because of digital media.

Analysis:

• Content: Misses most key points of the passage; too brief and vague.
• Form: Short but a complete sentence.
• Grammar: Basic grammar; no evident mistakes but lacks complexity.
• Vocabulary: Extremely simple and fails to convey the depth of the subject.
• Spelling: No errors.

Vocabulary and Grammar Insights

To successfully summarize passages in the Summarize Written Text task, an expanded vocabulary and solid grammatical foundation are crucial. Here are 10 essential words from the passage with meanings and examples.

1. Advent /ˈæd.vənt/ (n): The arrival of an important event or invention.

   • The advent of the internet transformed how journalism is consumed.

2. Diversified /dəˈvɜː.sɪ.faɪd/ (adj): Varied or expanded into different areas.

   • Digital platforms diversified the news sources available to readers.

3. Revenue Model /ˈrɛv.ə.njuː ˈmɒd.əl/ (n): A specific way through which a business or organization generates income.

   • The traditional revenue model of paid subscriptions is no longer successful.

4. Sustainable /səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl/ (adj): Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

   • Digital platforms have developed more sustainable financial models.

5. Subscription /səbˈskrɪp.ʃən/ (n): A payment for regular access to a particular service or product, such as magazines or news outlets.

   • Many newspapers have shifted to subscription-based online models.

6. Disseminate /dɪˈsem.ɪ.neɪt/ (v): To spread something, particularly information, widely.

   • Social media allows users to disseminate news quickly and effortlessly.

7. Blur the line /blɜː/ (phrase): To make it harder to see the difference between two things.

   • Digital platforms have blurred the line between professional and amateur reporting.

8. Consumption /kənˈsʌmp.ʃən/ (n): The process of using, or the demand for a product or resource.

   • The rise of digital media has changed how news consumption takes place.

9. Paywall /ˈpeɪ.wɔːl/ (n): Restriction of access to certain content, typically requiring payment to view the material.

   • Paywalls were introduced but failed to recapture lost revenue.

10. Thrived /θraɪvd/ (v): Grew or developed successfully; prospered.

    • Traditional journalism once thrived, but now faces significant challenges.

Conclusion

To achieve success in the Summarize Written Text section of the PTE exam, candidates must focus on understanding key themes like the decline of traditional journalism, and practice summarizing these themes effectively. With regular practice, accurate grammar use, and a broad vocabulary, students can perform well on this task.

This topic is commonly encountered in real PTE exams, so we encourage you to practice frequently and share any questions in the comments for further assistance!