PTE Summarise Written Text: the one-sentence method

In Summarise Written Text, you read a passage and summarise it in one sentence of 5 to 75 words. Break the form rule and the whole answer can score zero, so form comes first.

How it's scored

• Form: exactly one sentence, 5–75 words.
• Content: the main ideas of the passage.
• Grammar and vocabulary: a correct, well-built sentence with appropriate words.

The method

1. Find the topic (what the passage is about) and the 2–3 main points.
2. Join them in one sentence with linking words: 'while', 'although', 'which', 'and', 'so'.
3. Aim for 25–50 words: enough for the key ideas, short enough to keep the grammar under control.
4. Finish with exactly one full stop, and check there are no others.

Example

For a passage about working from home: "Working from home saves commuting time and gives flexibility while keeping productivity steady, but because it can weaken teamwork and blur work–life boundaries, many organisations now use a hybrid model." (33 words, one sentence.)