What is a Summary:
Shortened passage which retain information of the original text
Also a brief restatement of contents of passage, in your own words-with no judgment
Why is a summary Important:
Improves reading skills
 It helps you actively engage with the text, which improves comprehension.
 Summarizing forces you to pick out key points instead of just reading passively.
Helps with critical thinking skills
 Summarizing helps you understand how ideas relate to each other.
 You think deeper about the author’s purpose and message to explain it in your own words
Improves vocabulary
 You learn how words are used in different contexts, which improves understanding and
memory.
 Finding simpler or clearer synonyms improves word recall and usage.
Summary key details we all know:
Question 1.f.
Question related to text B
Carries total of 15 marks
 10 marks reading
 5 marks reading
 Spend at least 20-25 minutes for Summary
Text B is usually Semi-formal or Formal with a non-fiction genre
Contributes to 18.75% out of 80
Contributes to 9.375% out of 160
Objectives you must satisfy/ What Cambridge expects:
R1- Demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
R2- Demonstrate understanding of implicit meaning and attitudes
R5 – Select and use information for specific purposes
W2 – organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
W3 – use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
Reading objectives/things to satisfy:




Focus and identify task
Scan to find details
Understand explicit and implicit meanings
Select relevant information
Summary writing steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Unpack the question
Skim the text (focus on time,space,place)
Scan the text
Structure plan (planning in empty spaces/planning on insert) group points logically
Write summary
Maintain key for easiness
Unpacking the question:



What is the question asking for?
Highlight key words
Make sure to understand all the bullet points and answer them correctly
What to include in skimming:






Time
Space
Place
Genre
Topic about
New word meaning
What to include in scanning:



Refer to the question
Identify relevant points
Highlight the summary points
How to filter points correctly/what not to include:




Facts and figures
Examples and illustrations
Anecdotes
Personal opinions
Writing the actual summary:













120 words PRESCISLEY
ONLY 1 paragraph
Written in 3rd person only
Begin your summary with a topic sentence (A topic sentence in a summary is the first
sentence that gives the main idea of the entire text you're summarizing.)
Summary is impersonal and formal
Use short/complex sentences, avoid compound
Use your OWN words
Use of semi-colons
Paraphrase
Change the words without changing meanings
You don’t have to find synonyms for technical terms
Make sure to scratch out the wrong summary, the one written in pencil.
Write a note to examiner who is correcting to avoid confusion if you have continued the
scratched out summary.
Oral endorsement points:





Don’t copy from the text-doesn’t show Cambridge how much you understood
Consider the clarity and register of your writing
Keep your explanations concise
Do not change or blur the original idea
The candidates who had explained the idea accurately, clearly and concisely in their own
words, received the highest marks
Advice:










plan the ideas you are going to include ahead of writing your response – draw a neat line
through your planning afterwards
reflect on the ideas you have highlighted in your plan – check that they are distinct and
complete
check whether there are repeated ideas which could be covered by one ‘umbrella’ point
discard any ideas or extra details which are not relevant to the specific focus of the question
Don’t repeat the order of ideas in the text-organise them logically
explain ideas in a way that someone who had not read the text themselves would
understand
do not add details, examples or comment to the content of the passage
check back to ensure that you have included all the ideas you planned to
do not repeat ideas in any introductory or concluding sections of your summary
Though it is not necessary to count every word, you should keep in mind the guidance to
write ‘no more than 120 words’ and aim for concision.
Specific Criteria to get the highest marks:
Reading:
Marks:
9-10
Writing:
4-5
Criteria:
 A thorough
understanding of what
the question asks
 Selected points
provide an accurate
overview
 Demonstrate a range
of ideas without
shifting focus



Fluent response which
is organised.
A wide range of
vocabulary, candidates
own words used to
explain the text
Spelling, punctuation
and grammar are
mostly accurate
Grammar aspects:
Write in the 3rd person
Use of short and complex sentences instead of compound sentences
Why you shouldn’t use compound sentences:
 Makes your writing look childish
 Increases word count
 Gives the idea that you don’t have a good grasp on your language
Why use complex/short sentences:
Short sentences:
 They make your points clear and easy to understand.
 Brevity: Summaries must be brief—short sentences help keep it concise.
 Focus: They stick to one main idea, avoiding unnecessary detail.
Complex sentences:
 Efficiency: You can combine two or more related ideas into one sentence to save space.
 Flow: They make your summary sound smoother and more natural.
 Depth: Help explain relationships between ideas (e.g., cause, contrast, or time).
Connectors
They help explain how one idea is connected to another — like cause and effect, contrast, addition,
or time.
They make your summary smooth to read and help your ideas flow logically from one to the next.
In a summary, you want to say a lot in fewer words. Connectors help combine ideas into one
sentence efficiently.
A list:
Add info





and
also
furthermore
in addition
moreover
Contrast





but
however
although
on the other hand
yet
Cause and effect:

because




since
therefore
as a result
so
To show when or order:





then
after that
finally
meanwhile
at the same time
Comparison (to show similarity)



similarly
likewise
in the same way
Do not use informal/semi-formal language and do not use contractions
Do not use directed speech
Use past tense when referring to events already completed (e.g., The author described...).
Use present tense when describing general truths or the writer’s ideas (e.g., The text explains...).
Why use semi-colon:
To Link Closely Related Ideas

A semicolon connects two complete sentences (independent clauses) that are closely
related but not joined by a conjunction (like and, but).
To Improve Flow Without Using Too Many Conjunctions


Helps avoid repetition of simple words like and or but.
Keeps your writing sophisticated and varied in structure.
When not to use:
Don't use it to join a sentence fragment with a complete sentence.
Don’t overuse it; it can make the summary seem too formal or heavy.
Use of Em dashes


Adds emphasis, a sudden break, or explanation.
Why Important: Can be used for emphasis or to insert a brief definition or note, but
not overused in academic summaries.