PTE Listening: Summarize Spoken Text: Tips and Strategies
The first type of question in the Speaking section requires you to listen to an audio and write its summary in 50-70 words. The audio is played only once and you are given 10 minutes to listen and write your summary within the word limit.
Understand Summarize Spoken Text
Prompt length:: 60-90 seconds
Skills assessed: Listening and writing
Time to answer: Within 10 minutes
Attempting the question: Once you listen to the audio, start writing the summary in the space provided on the screen. The word count is shown at the bottom of the screen. Make sure that the words are between 50-70. You can also ‘cut’, ‘copy’, and ‘paste’ to write your summary.
Scoring: Your response to the Summarize spoken text is judged on your ability to comprehend, analyze, and combine information from a lecture and summarize the key points in writing. Your summary is scored based on the following 5 points:
- 1. Content: Your summary must include the main points and supporting points. If you are unable to interpret the main points, your summary will be scored zero.
- 2. Form: Full credit is given if the summary is within the word limit of 50-70 words. However, if your summary contains fewer than 40 words and more than 100 words, you will not receive any score points.
- 3. Grammar: Your response is given full credit if it is grammatically correct. The basic structure of the sentence must be concise.
- 4. Vocabulary: Your response is scored according to the correct use of vocabulary according to your understanding of the lecture. The use of synonyms is also a plus point.
- 5. Spelling: Your response must contain correct and consistent use of spellings, whether using the US, the UK, Australian, or Canadian English.
Tips and strategies to answer Summarize Spoken Text
- 1. Note the main points: You may want to note down the key points or any important information that may help you in summarizing the lecture.
- 2. Organize the notes: Organize the notes in a way that is easy for you to understand. Make use of symbols and abbreviations.
- 3. Write within the word limit: Make sure you write the summary in 50-70 words with no grammar or spelling mistakes.
- 4. Practice: Practice summarizing lectures as it will help you in writing short summaries faster.
For more tips and strategies, you can register with SGES Education.
