Read a passage, then summarise it in exactly one sentence of 5–75 words. That "exactly one" is the strictest form rule in the exam — a second full stop zeroes your Form mark instantly, however brilliant the summary. Master the rule and this task becomes two of the most reliable questions in the test.
Four traits — and Content gets read by a human expert.
Did your sentence capture the passage's main point (and key supporting ideas)?
One sentence, 5–75 words. Anything else = 0.
A long connected sentence has to stay grammatical.
Your own appropriate words — not chunks lifted verbatim.
Main clause carries the main claim; connectors carry everything else.
The technique is mechanical once you see it: put the passage's central claim in your main clause, then attach the two or three supporting points with connectors — while, because, although, which, and.
[Main claim] Remote work has permanently changed office demand, [connector + support] because many firms have shifted to hybrid models, [connector + contrast] although city centres are adapting by converting offices to housing, [connector + implication] which suggests the change is structural rather than temporary.
That's one sentence, ~40 words, four ideas — comfortably inside 5–75, with room for grammar to stay clean. You don't need to compress everything: Content wants the main point plus key support, not an inventory.
The classic. Two clean sentences feel more natural to write — and score 0 on Form, every time.
✓ Fix: before submitting, count your full stops. The answer is one. Abbreviations aside, if there are two, join them with a connector or cut one.Stitching together lifted phrases dodges the thinking but shows immediately — and Vocabulary is scored on your appropriate word choice, with a human reviewing Content.
✓ Fix: close-read, then write the sentence from your understanding, glancing back only to check facts.Grabbing the first paragraph's idea and polishing it misses what Content actually asks: the whole passage's main point.
✓ Fix: ask "what is this passage arguing overall?" before writing anything. Often the last paragraph tells you.Cramming every detail produces a 74-word monster whose grammar collapses under its own weight — trading 2 Grammar marks for no extra Content.
✓ Fix: 25–45 words is the sweet spot. Main claim + two or three supports, cleanly connected.Ten minutes feels endless until you've spent eight of them re-reading.
✓ Fix: 4 minutes reading, 4 writing, 2 checking — where "checking" means: one full stop? 5–75 words? grammar holds?The form rule should become a reflex before test day.
On The PTE Master, Summarize Written Text runs with the real format and a live word count, and paid AI feedback marks your answer against the actual traits — including the exact form rule, so a stray second sentence gets caught in practice instead of in your exam.
Real passages, the one-sentence rule enforced, and AI feedback on content, form, grammar and vocabulary.
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