PTE Writing Summarize Written Text
Useful Vocabulary & Linking Words
for SWT
Opening stems (choose one,
keep one sentence):
- The text
highlights that…
- The text
emphasizes that…
- The text
illustrates how…
- The text
points out that…
- The text
describes how…
Contrast/Concession: although,
while, whereas, despite, even though, yet
Cause/Effect: because, since, therefore, thus, consequently, leading to,
resulting in, which causes
Addition: and, moreover, furthermore, in addition, as well as
Condition: if, unless, provided that
Relative/Chaining: which, that, who, thereby + -ing
Paraphrase upgrades: shows → highlights/demonstrates; important →
significant/crucial; helps → enables/assists; problem → issue/challenge; people
→ individuals; way → method/approach; use → utilize; big → substantial; get →
obtain; think → argue/contend
10 Sample Passages with Answers
Passage
Many cities are investing in dedicated cycling lanes to reduce traffic
congestion and pollution. Evidence from European cities shows that protected
lanes encourage more people to cycle, including women, older adults, and
children who would otherwise avoid busy roads. Cycling also improves public
health by increasing physical activity and reducing respiratory illness linked
to vehicle emissions. However, critics argue that cycle lanes can slow car
traffic, reduce parking, and disrupt local businesses during construction.
Successful schemes often involve public consultation and gradual rollout so
residents can adapt. Planners emphasize that isolated lanes are less effective
than connected networks that link homes, workplaces, and schools, enabling
cyclists to travel safely across the city rather than only on short
recreational routes.
Answer (44 words): The text
highlights that protected cycling lanes reduce congestion, pollution, and
illness by encouraging more people to cycle, although critics cite traffic and
parking concerns, and planners stress that connected networks rather than
isolated lanes are essential for citywide effectiveness.
Passage 2
Telemedicine,
the delivery of healthcare through video calls and digital platforms, expanded
rapidly during the pandemic and has remained common since. It offers
convenience, reduces travel time and costs, and improves access for people in
rural areas or with mobility limitations. Patients with chronic conditions can
receive regular monitoring without visiting clinics. However, concerns remain
about diagnostic accuracy without physical examination, limited internet access
among older and poorer patients, and the risk of fragmented care when providers
lack shared records. Regulators are developing standards for licensing,
privacy, and reimbursement. Many health experts predict a hybrid future in
which telemedicine handles routine consultations and follow-ups, while
in-person visits are reserved for examinations, procedures, and complex cases
requiring hands-on assessment.
Answer (46 words): The text
highlights that telemedicine improves convenience and rural access and suits
routine follow-ups, although diagnostic accuracy, internet access, and care
fragmentation remain concerns, so experts predict a hybrid future combining
digital consultations with in-person visits for complex cases.
Passage
Standardized tests are widely used to evaluate student learning and compare
schools across regions. Supporters argue that they provide objective,
consistent data and hold institutions accountable for results. However, critics
contend that such tests narrow the curriculum, encourage teaching to the test,
and disadvantage students from poorer backgrounds who may lack preparation
resources. Some universities have made admissions tests optional, and several
school systems have reduced testing frequency. Researchers note that test
scores correlate strongly with family income, raising questions about fairness.
Alternative assessments, including portfolios and project-based evaluations,
are being piloted in some districts, though they are harder to compare across schools.
The debate reflects deeper disagreements about whether education should
prioritize measurable outcomes or broader development of creativity,
collaboration, and critical thinking skills.
Answer (45 words): The text
highlights that standardized tests offer consistent, objective data and
accountability but narrow the curriculum and disadvantage poorer students,
prompting some institutions to adopt optional testing and alternative
assessments that measure creativity and critical thinking rather than measurable
outcomes alone.
Passage
The growth of solar and wind power has created a challenge: these sources
produce electricity intermittently, depending on weather and time of day.
Energy storage technologies, particularly large lithium-ion batteries, are
increasingly used to capture surplus power and release it during peak demand.
Storage costs have fallen sharply over the past decade, making grid-scale
batteries more viable. Nevertheless, current storage capacity remains far below
what is needed to support fully renewable grids, and battery production raises
concerns about mining, supply chains, and disposal. Researchers are exploring
alternatives including pumped hydro, compressed air, and hydrogen. Analysts
argue that combining diverse storage methods with improved grid management and
demand flexibility will be necessary to ensure reliable electricity as reliance
on fossil fuels declines.
Answer (46 words): The text
highlights that intermittent solar and wind power require storage, and although
falling battery costs help, current capacity is insufficient and raises mining
and disposal concerns, so analysts argue diverse storage methods plus better
grid management are needed for reliable renewable electricity.
Passage
Volunteer tourism, in which travellers combine holidays with community or
conservation work, has grown into a substantial industry. Participants often
pay to join projects such as building schools, teaching English, or protecting
wildlife. Advocates claim these programmes foster cultural exchange, fund
conservation, and provide labour where resources are scarce. Critics counter
that short-term volunteers may displace local workers, lack required skills,
and create dependency, while projects are sometimes designed more for tourist
satisfaction than community need. Some organizations now require longer
commitments and formal training, and a few communities have taken leading roles
in designing projects themselves. Researchers recommend that prospective
volunteers scrutinize how programmes are managed, who benefits, and whether
local voices shape decisions, arguing that responsible volunteering should
prioritize sustainable outcomes over the rewarding experience of the traveller.
Answer (47 words): The text
highlights that volunteer tourism can fund conservation and foster cultural
exchange, but critics warn it may displace local workers and create dependency,
so researchers recommend that volunteers check how projects are managed and
whether local communities shape decisions and benefit sustainably.
Passage
Noise pollution from traffic, construction, and industry is increasingly
recognized as a serious public health issue. Prolonged exposure to high noise
levels has been linked to hearing damage, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular
disease, and reduced cognitive performance in children. Urban planners are
responding with noise barriers, quieter road surfaces, restrictions on
night-time construction, and zoning that separates residential areas from
industrial zones. However, regulation is often inconsistent, and enforcement
varies widely between jurisdictions. Some experts argue that noise receives far
less attention and funding than air or water pollution despite affecting
millions of people daily. They recommend comprehensive noise mapping, stricter
limits on vehicles and equipment, and public education about protective
measures, noting that reducing noise improves quality of life and delivers
measurable health and economic benefits.
Answer (45 words): The text
highlights that noise pollution causes hearing damage, sleep disturbance, and
cardiovascular disease, yet it receives less attention and funding than other
pollution, so experts recommend noise mapping, stricter limits, and public education
because reducing noise delivers measurable health benefits.
Passage
Many adults believe that learning a new language is nearly impossible after
childhood, but research suggests this belief is overstated. While children may
acquire accents more easily, adults often learn grammar and vocabulary faster
because of existing knowledge, study skills, and motivation. Technology has
expanded options considerably, with apps, online tutors, and immersive media
making practice accessible at low cost. Neurological studies show that adult
brains remain capable of forming new language networks, particularly with
regular, spaced practice. Nevertheless, adults typically face time constraints,
competing responsibilities, and fear of making mistakes. Educators recommend
setting realistic goals, practising speaking early, and integrating language
use into daily routines such as watching shows or reading news in the target
language.
Answer (45 words): The text
highlights that adults can learn languages effectively because they often grasp
grammar and vocabulary faster than children, and although time constraints and
fear of mistakes pose challenges, technology and regular spaced practice make
fluency achievable.
Passage
Fast fashion—cheap, rapidly produced clothing that follows trends—has
transformed the apparel industry and made stylish clothing affordable for many
consumers. However, the model carries significant environmental and social
costs. Garment production consumes vast quantities of water and energy,
generates chemical pollution, and contributes to landfill waste as clothes are
discarded quickly. Labour conditions in some supply chains remain poor, with
low wages and unsafe factories. Some brands have introduced recycling schemes,
sustainability labels, and transparency initiatives, though critics argue these
efforts are often superficial. Policymakers in several regions are considering
extended producer responsibility laws and quality standards. Researchers
suggest that lasting change requires consumers to buy less and repair more,
alongside stronger regulation and business models built around durability
rather than constant novelty.
Answer (46 words): The text
highlights that fast fashion makes clothing affordable but causes water and
energy consumption, pollution, waste, and poor labour conditions, and although
brands promote recycling and transparency, researchers argue lasting change
requires consumers to buy less plus stronger regulation and durable business
models.
Passage
Automation, powered by robotics and artificial intelligence, is reshaping
labour markets across sectors. Routine tasks in manufacturing, administration,
and customer service are increasingly performed by machines, raising fears of
widespread job losses. Historical evidence suggests automation also creates new
roles, often requiring higher skills, and boosts productivity, which can lower
prices and stimulate demand. The difficulty is that displaced workers may lack
the training to move into emerging occupations, and transitions can be slow and
painful for affected communities. Governments and employers are experimenting
with retraining programmes, wage subsidies, and portable benefits. Economists
emphasize that the pace and distribution of gains matter greatly: without
deliberate policies to support workers through transitions, automation could
widen inequality even as it raises overall economic output.
Answer (46 words): The text
highlights that automation displaces routine jobs while creating higher-skilled
roles and boosting productivity, yet displaced workers may lack training, so
economists stress retraining, wage subsidies, and portable benefits to prevent
automation from widening inequality as output grows.
Passage
Freshwater scarcity affects billions of people and is expected to worsen as
populations grow, agriculture expands, and climate change alters rainfall
patterns. Agriculture consumes the largest share of freshwater, often
inefficiently through flood irrigation and water-intensive crops grown in dry
regions. Cities compete with farms for limited supplies, and ageing
infrastructure leaks substantial volumes before water reaches consumers.
Solutions include drip irrigation, wastewater recycling, desalination, pricing
reforms, and stricter protection of watersheds. However, each approach involves
trade-offs: desalination is energy-intensive, pricing reforms can burden poor
households, and recycling requires public acceptance and investment. Experts
argue that scarcity is often a governance problem as much as a physical one,
and that coordinated policies combining efficiency, infrastructure repair, and
fair allocation can substantially extend available supplies.
Answer (45 words): The text
highlights that freshwater scarcity is worsening due to population growth,
agriculture, and climate change, and although solutions like drip irrigation,
recycling, and desalination involve trade-offs, experts argue coordinated
governance combining efficiency, infrastructure repair, and fair allocation can
extend supplies.
