Timing at a glance
| Audio | Played once; there is no replay |
|---|---|
| Our practice pace | About 1½ minutes per question |
Timings are approximate and can vary slightly from question to question.
How it's scored
Scored on1 mark for the correct summary
Choosing the correct summary earns one mark; any other choice earns nothing. There is no negative marking.
Worked example
A practice question we wrote
Imagine a talk explaining that bees are important pollinators, that their numbers have fallen in some regions because of habitat loss and pesticides, and that planting wildflowers can help. Which summary is best? A) Bees are declining everywhere because of pesticides alone. B) Bees matter for pollination; habitat loss and pesticides have reduced them in places, and planting wildflowers can help. C) Wildflowers are the main food crop pollinated by bees.
A strong approach
B. A exaggerates ("everywhere", "alone"), and C misreports a detail. The right summary covers all the main points without adding anything.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a summary that's mostly right but contains one wrong detail.
- Picking the option with the most words from the audio.
- Not taking any notes while listening.
Tips
- Note the main idea and two or three key points while you listen.
- Rule out options with extreme words (always, only, everywhere) the speaker didn't use.
- Check every main point is present in your choice and nothing extra has been added.
Highlight Correct Summary FAQ
Compare them point by point against your notes. The wrong one usually adds, changes or exaggerates one detail the speaker never said.
Related guides
PTE Practice is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Pearson. Our scores are a calibrated emulation, not official PTE scores.