Thinking about taking the PTE Core test to apply for permanent residency or a work visa? One important part of the test is called “Summarize Spoken Text” or SST. In this article, we’ll explain what SST is, how it’s scored, and provide tips and a template to help you succeed. Let’s get started!

What is PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text?

PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text is a task where you listen to a short lecture or talk and then write a summary of what you heard. Your summary should be 20-30 words long and include all the key points from the lecture. This task tests your listening and writing skills.

Understanding PTE Core Summarized Spoken Text

PTE Summarized Spoken Text

In the SST task, you will listen to a recording that lasts between 45 to 75 seconds. After listening, you have 8 minutes to write your summary. The recording could be about various topics such as science, history, or everyday events. The goal is to capture the main ideas and important details in your summary.

PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text Summary
PTE Task Listening Task
Skills assessed:Listening & Writing
Audio Length: 45 to 75 seconds
No of Questions: 1 to 2 tasks in the test
Time:8 minutes per question
Scoring Criteria:Content, Form, Grammar, Vocabulary & Spelling

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How Is This PTE Core SST Task Scored?

Your summary will be scored based on four main criteria:

Content: This checks if you included all the important points from the recording. Missing key details can lower your score.

Form: This evaluates if your summary is within the word limit (20-30 words). Staying within this range is crucial for a good score.

Grammar: This looks at the grammatical accuracy of your summary. Proper sentence structure, verb tenses, and punctuation are important.

Vocabulary: This assesses the words you use. Using appropriate and varied vocabulary to convey the main ideas will help you score higher.

Spelling: Are there any spelling mistakes?

Also Read: PTE Email Writing Template & Tips

PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text Template

PTE Core SST Template

Introduction: The lecture was mainly about _<keyword 1>_.

Body: Furthermore, __<keyword 2>__ , __<keyword 3> and __<keyword 4>__ were also mentioned in the lecture.

Conclusion: Overall, the lecture suggested highlighting the facts about  __<keyword 5>__.

How To Use The Template?

  • You will hear an audio which will go for around 45-75 seconds.
  • While the audio starts, you have to make as many notes as you can.
  • Write important notes, dates, places, things, technical terms and quotes
  • Write keywords which make sense. Try to write keywords which are nouns or adjective+nouns.
  • For implementing the template one should be concerned about the quality of words, parts of speech, sentence and tense structure.
  • Write down between 20 to 30 words.

Download PTE Core SST Template

PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text Sample Questions and Answers 

Here are some examples from OnePTE’s ‘Summarize Spoken Text’ section. You can practice in OnePTE for free.

PTE Summarize Spoken Text Practice Questions 1

Coal‘ (On this app, type ‘Coal’ in the search bar of the ‘SST’ section for practicing)

Audio Transcript:

Coal is a black or dark brown combustible rock made primarily of carbon. It was formed millions of years ago when ferns, plants, and trees died and fell into swamps. The swamp conditions prevented the organisms from decaying completely, and after millions of years of intense heat and pressure, coal was formed.Coal is classified into four main types or ranks based on carbon and heat content: lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, anthracite. The general rule is that the higher the grade of coal, the cleaner it burns, and the more versatile its uses. Coal is extracted from the earth through underground mining or surface mining. The choice of mining method is largely determined by the geology of the coal deposit and its distance from the surface. Underground mining currently accounts for a larger share of world coal production than surface mining. Coal can be burned for heating or to produce electricity. To convert thermal coal to electricity, it is first milled to a fine powder which increases the surface area and allows it to burn more quickly. The hot gases and heat energy produced from combustion converts water into steam to run a turbine and generator. High quality coal is also a useful raw material. For example, it can be converted to Coke for steel-making. Coal can also be converted to liquid or synthetic gas by advanced chemical processes, making it a possible but costly replacement for natural gas or liquid fuels for transportation.

We can list down all the keywords this way-

  • Coal
  • carbon
  • ferns
  • plants
  • trees
  • swamps
  • earth
  • surface
  • mining method
  • geology
  • underground mining
  • coal production
  • electricity
  • high quality coal
  • liquid
  • synthetic gas
  • natural gas
  • liquid fuels
  • transportation

N.B: Select the best one from there which suited the most in the structure

Answer:

The lecture was mainly about coal. Furthermore, earth, surface and production were also mentioned in the lecture. Overall, the lecture suggested highlighting the facts about electricity.

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Another PTE SST Template:

For a better score, try to write down around 6-7 broken sentences, phrases and groups of words. Thus you can use this template:

The audio lecture was mainly about _<title sentence /phrase 1>_ .

Then the speaker mentioned that _<sentence 2/phrase 2>_.

Finally, the lecture concluded that _<sentence 3/phrase 4>_.

PTE Summarize Spoken Text Practice Questions 2

Vitamin D‘ (On this app, type ‘ Vitamin D’ in the search bar of the ‘SST’ section for practicing)

Audio Transcript:

50% of the world’s population is Vitamin – D deficient and we believe that it has serious health consequences for both children and adults alike. Major cause is lack of sun exposure humans have always depend on the Sun for their vitamin D requirement and it’s over the past forty years that it’s been suggested that you should never be exposed to direct sunlight that is one of the major causes of the vitamin D deficiency pandemic. Again, everybody thinks about vitamin D preventing rickets in children. We don’t see rickets any longer so people are not thinking about vitamin D. It’s incomprehensible to physicians as to how vitamin D could reduce risks of heart attack by fifty percent, reduce risk of common cancers like colon, prostate, breast by as much as fifty percent reduce risk of infectious diseases including influenza by as much as 90%, reducing risk of type I diabetes 78%, if a child is get adequate vitamin D during the first year of life reduces risk of type II diabetes.

Answer:

The lecture was about vitamin D deficiency. Then the speaker mentioned that the causes of this pandemic. Overall, the lecturer concluded that adequate vitamin D reduces the risk of diabetes.

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Also Read: PTE Core Summarize Written Text Template & Tricks

Tips to Get a High Score in PTE Core SST

  1. Listen Carefully: Make sure you pay attention to the main idea and key details.
  2. Take Notes: Write down important points while listening to the audio.
  3. Check Your Grammar: Ensure your summary is grammatically correct. Simple errors can lower your score.
  4. Check Your Work: Make sure your summary is clear, correct, and the right length.
  5. Practice Regularly: Practice summarizing spoken texts from various topics. This will improve your listening and summarizing skills.
  6. Use the Template: Follow the template to structure your summary.

The PTE Core Summarize Spoken Text task might seem challenging at first, but with practice and these tips, you’ll get better at it in no time! Remember to listen carefully, take notes, and use the template. Keep practicing, and you’ll be ready to ace this part of the PTE exam.