Summarize Written Text PTE – Tips, Tricks & Template

21 November 2025 by

Brijesh Dhanani

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The Summarize Written Text (SWT) task in the PTE Academic exam is one of the most important parts of the Writing section. Although the task looks simple, many students find it challenging because they must read a long passage, understand the main idea, and express it in one single sentence of 5–75 words. This requires not only reading skills but also strong writing abilities, such as sentence formation, grammar, and vocabulary.

In this guide, you will learn how the SWT task works, what skills it tests, and most importantly, the best tips, tricks, and templates to score high. The language is kept simple so that every student can easily understand and apply the strategies.

What Is the Summarize Written Text Task?

In the Summarize Written Text task, you will be given a short academic passage, usually between 150–300 words. You need to read the passage carefully and write one sentence that captures the central idea. You are given 10 minutes to complete each question.

Your summary must:

Present the main idea of the passage
Be written in one single sentence only
Contain 5 to 75 words
Use proper grammar, punctuation, and logical flow

This task contributes to both Reading and Writing scores.

Why Is SWT Important in PTE?

Many students underestimate SWT, but it plays a major role in your overall Writing performance. Here’s why:

1. It tests your comprehension ability

You must identify the central idea and connect supporting points. This shows how well you can understand academic content.

2. It evaluates sentence construction

Since you must write only one sentence, you need to show good control over grammar, clauses, linking words, and punctuation.

3. It improves your writing discipline

SWT teaches you to write clearly, concisely, and logically—skills that are also useful in the essay task.

A well-written summary can give a strong boost to your Writing score.

Scoring Criteria for Summarize Written Text

PTE evaluates your SWT response on the following criteria:

1. Content

Does your summary capture the main idea of the passage? Irrelevant points or missing the central meaning results in score loss.

2. Form

Is your answer written in one sentence only? If you write more than one sentence, you get zero for the task.

3. Grammar

Your grammar should be correct and consistent. Incorrect verb forms, missing articles, or faulty sentence structure reduce the score.

4. Vocabulary

Use clear and meaningful words. You do not need to use very difficult vocabulary; instead, choose accurate words that express the idea.

How to Approach SWT – Step-by-Step Method

Below is a simple and effective method that works for most students.

Step 1: Read the passage quickly (1–2 minutes)

Your goal is not to understand every word. Instead, focus on:

The main idea
The topic sentence
Repeated words and phrases
Supporting information

Step 2: Identify the topic, main idea, and supporting points

Ask yourself:

What is this passage mainly about?
What is the writer trying to explain or argue?
Which fact or idea appears in multiple sentences?

Step 3: Note down important keywords

Do not rewrite full sentences. Just select key ideas such as:

Causes
Effects
Purposes
Comparisons
Findings

These will help you frame a meaningful summary.

Step 4: Create one long but clear sentence

Combine the important points using linkers such as:

and
while
although
because
which
that

Step 5: Check word count and grammar

Before submitting:

Ensure the summary is one sentence only
Keep the word count between 5–75 words
Check for punctuation errors
Maintain logical flow

Tips to Score High in Summarize Written Text

Here are some useful tips that can greatly improve your SWT performance.

1. Do not copy full sentences

Copying the entire sentence from the passage will not help, and it may look unnatural. Instead, paraphrase using your own words while keeping the meaning intact.

2. Focus on the primary idea, not small details

Avoid examples, years, statistics, quotations, or small explanations. PTE only wants the core idea.

3. Use linkers to make the sentence long but coherent

Useful linkers include:

moreover
however
therefore
as a result
in addition
although
whereas

These help join ideas smoothly.

4. Avoid complicated vocabulary

Complex or difficult words increase the chance of grammatical errors. Use simple and correct language.

5. Keep your summary between 30–50 words

Although the limit is 5–75 words, the ideal length for a high-scoring summary is 30–50 words. This range is concise yet informative.

6. Use correct punctuation

A single sentence requires appropriate punctuation. Place a comma, semicolon, or connector to avoid run-on sentences.

7. Practice reading complex material

Regular reading of academic articles helps you understand and summarise ideas quickly. It also builds your confidence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Students often lose marks because of small but important mistakes. Avoid these:

❌ Writing more than one sentence

This is the biggest mistake. Even if your content is excellent, writing two sentences results in a zero score.

❌ Adding opinions

Do not include your personal thoughts. SWT requires only factual summary.

❌ Using informal language

Avoid words like “kids,” “stuff,” “they say,” or “a lot of.” Maintain a formal academic tone.

❌ Incorrect use of connectors

Using too many connectors makes the sentence confusing. Use only 1–3 connectors per summary.

❌ Ignoring the main idea

Students sometimes write a summary based on a minor detail. This reduces the content score.

A Simple and Effective SWT Template

You can follow this universal template, which fits nearly all SWT passages.

Summarize Written Text Template

“The passage explains that [main idea], while also highlighting that [supporting idea], which suggests that [overall conclusion of the text].”

This template is easy to use and allows you to write a grammatically correct single sentence.

Example of Summarize Written Text

Passage (short example):

Modern cities are facing rapid population growth, leading to challenges in housing, transportation, and resource management. Governments are now exploring sustainable solutions such as green buildings, public transport upgrades, and renewable energy systems to improve living conditions.

Sample Summary (using template):

The passage explains that modern cities are experiencing population growth that causes challenges in managing resources and infrastructure, while also highlighting that governments are exploring sustainable solutions to improve overall living conditions.

Advanced Strategies for Better Performance

If you want to aim for higher scores, try these advanced techniques.

1. Understand the writer’s purpose

Ask:

Is the writer explaining, comparing, describing, or arguing something?

Understanding this helps you write a better summary.

2. Use academic vocabulary wisely

Words like:

“significant,”
“consequently,”
“primarily,”
“demonstrates,”
“indicates,”

make your writing sound more formal and structured.

3. Avoid unnecessary clauses

Although the sentence can be long, it should not be messy. Remove phrases that do not add value.

4. Summarize with a cause–effect structure

Many passages have a causal structure. Identify it and use it in your summary.

Practice Is the Key

Summarizing well requires practice. The more passages you read and summarize, the faster and more accurate you become. Practicing daily improves:

Reading comprehension
Speed
Grammar
Vocabulary
Confidence

Final Thoughts

The Summarize Written Text task may look simple, but it requires a clear strategy and consistent practice. By following the tips, tricks, and template shared above, students can significantly improve their Writing and Reading scores. Remember to focus on the main idea, maintain one sentence, and write clearly with good grammar.

For real exam-like practice, you can try Gurully’s PTE mock tests, where you can attempt multiple SWT questions and improve your skills with repeated focused practice.