Summarize Written Text · Part 1: Speaking & Writing

In 1837, at the age of 28, Darwin wrote "Species…

Question #741005Added 12 Oct 2026In this week's predictions
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Summarise the text in one sentence.

In 1837, at the age of 28, Darwin wrote "Species Change" in one of his notebooks, which was the earliest record of his evolutionary ideas. Prior to this, he had sailed around the world for 5 years on the HMS Beagle, observing numerous signs that species were not fixed in South America, Oceania, and other places. After returning to England, he wrote "cuidado" (meaning "be careful" in Spanish) in another notebook, realizing that the theory of evolution was a radical and dangerous view, and that there was insufficient evidence to make it public at that time. Over the next 20 years, Darwin continuously accumulated a vast amount of data and first presented his views to a small circle of scientists. It was not until 1859, when "On the Origin of Species" was published, that his ideas became accessible to the general readership, causing a great sensation. The first edition of 1,250 copies sold out on the day of publication, and the circulation reached 4,250 copies within a year, receiving both praise from the scientific community and fierce criticism from the religious community and conservative forces. To this day, "On the Origin of Species" remains one of the most important works in human history, and one of the few works that still has scientific value more than 150 years after its publication. Darwin was well aware that his work was only the beginning. He wrote in the book: "In the distant future, I see open fields for far more important research."

How to answer: structure and key points

Structure

  1. Write one sentence only, inside the word limit shown in the format card below.
  2. Begin with the passage's main idea.
  3. Add the most important supporting or contrasting points, joined with a connector.
  4. Use your own words where you can, check the grammar, and end with a full stop.

Outline for this passage

  • Main idea: Darwin developed his evolution theory cautiously for two decades before On the Origin of Species made it public.
  • Point: His Beagle voyage showed species were not fixed, but he feared the idea's danger.
  • Point: The 1859 book sold out instantly, drawing scientific praise and religious criticism.
  • Point: It remains scientifically valuable, and Darwin saw it only as a beginning.
  • Join with: “although”

These are key points and a structure written by RealPTE, not a script to memorise: say or write it in your own words.

RealPTE numbers

From RealPTE practice records and students’ “I sat this” reports, counted weekly (last count 2026-10-21). Reports are what students tell us; predictions are not guaranteed.

Questions about this question

How do I answer PTE Summarize Written Text #741005?

Write one sentence only, inside the word limit shown in the format card below. Begin with the passage's main idea. The key points above cover 3 ideas from this question.

How do I get full marks on this Summarize Written Text question?

Write one well-formed sentence inside the word limit that gives the main idea and the key supporting points.

Can I practise #741005 with scoring?

Yes. The practice button on this page opens question #741005 in the RealPTE practice screen, where your answer is scored when you finish.

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Summarize Written Text format (Pearson)

PromptText up to 300 words
Time to answer10 minutes
Skills assessedReading, Writing
Scored onContent; Form; Grammar; Vocabulary

How it is scored

  • Write one sentence of 5–75 words; fewer than 5 or more than 75 words scores zero.
  • A response that misses the topic scores zero on every trait.

Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 1: Speaking & Writing, checked 9 October 2026.