Enrol now

PTEfy · Blog · Summarize Written Text

PTE Core Summarize Written Text: the one-sentence rule

Summarize Written Text feeds both Reading and Writing, and it has one strict rule that trips people up: your answer must be a single sentence. Master that rule and a clean structure, and this becomes reliable points.

By the PTEfy coaching team

The one-sentence rule

You read a passage and write one sentence that captures its main idea, within the word limit shown on screen. It must be a single sentence, which means one capital letter at the start and one full stop at the end, with no full stop in the middle. Break that rule and the task scores poorly, no matter how good the content is.

How to build a strong single sentence

Find the main idea

Skim for the central point of the passage, not the small details. Your job is to sum up what the passage is really about.

Join ideas with linking words

To fit two ideas into one grammatical sentence, use linking words such as which, while, because or and. These let you combine points without starting a new sentence.

One sentence, correct grammarThe two things that decide this task are staying within a single sentence and keeping the grammar clean. Watch both before you submit.

Practise the shape

Take short articles and write a one-sentence summary of each, then check that it is grammatically one sentence and inside the word limit. Pair this with Summarize Spoken Text, which uses similar skills for listening. See your target in the PTE Core CLB chart.

Coaching that targets your weakest task

PTEfy is online PTE Core and PTE Academic coaching built around the score you need. We find the task holding you back and drill it with real feedback.

See PTE coaching plans

Keep reading: Write Email · Summarize Spoken Text · Reach CLB 9 Writing