PTE Summarize Written Text: Template & Scoring
Summarize Written Text (SWT) asks you to condense a passage into a single sentence of 5–75 words. It contributes to both your Writing and Reading scores, and it is one of the most rule-driven tasks in PTE — get the form right and the marks come easily; break the one-sentence rule and you score zero for form.
How Summarize Written Text works
You read a passage and write one sentence summarising it within 10 minutes. The answer must be a single sentence of between 5 and 75 words. You typically face one to two of these.
Step-by-step strategy
- 1Read the passage and identify the single main idea.
- 2Pick the one or two most important supporting points; ignore examples and detail.
- 3Combine them into one sentence using connectors like 'while', 'because', 'and', or 'although'.
- 4Check the word count is between 5 and 75 (aim for 30–40).
- 5Proofread for spelling, grammar, and — critically — that there is only one full stop.
Connector formula
- '[Main point], while [supporting point], which [result or reason].'
- '[Main point] because [reason], although [contrast].'
One sentence — no exceptions
A full stop in the middle of your answer means two sentences, and that scores zero for form no matter how good the content. Read it back and confirm exactly one capital letter at the start and one full stop at the end.
How Summarize Written Text is scored
- Content — does your summary capture the main idea and key point of the passage?
- Form — it must be a single sentence of 5–75 words. Outside this, form scores zero.
- Grammar — correct sentence structure, tense, and agreement.
- Vocabulary — appropriate, precise word choice.
Because it feeds Reading as well as Writing, a clean, well-formed SWT lifts two skills. Spelling and grammar are scored, so the final proofread is worth real marks.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing two sentences — the single most common way to score zero on form.
- Going under 5 or over 75 words.
- Copying long chunks of the passage instead of summarising.
- Cramming in too many points and losing grammatical control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did I score zero on Summarize Written Text?
Almost always because the answer was not a single sentence or fell outside the 5–75 word limit. Both break the 'form' rule and zero it out regardless of content. Check for exactly one full stop and a word count within range.
How many words should my SWT answer be?
Between 5 and 75 words, but aim for around 30–40. That is enough to capture the main idea and a key supporting point in one controlled, grammatically clean sentence.
Does Summarize Written Text affect my reading score?
Yes. It is an integrated task contributing to both Writing and Reading, which makes a well-formed summary doubly valuable.
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