Topic 2 of 6 · Form 2
Summary writing
Select relevant information from a passage to answer a specific focus (e.g. "the reasons why…", "the benefits of…") and write it as continuous prose within a word limit.
Notes for this topic 1 file, in order
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The task
Select relevant information from a passage to answer a specific focus (e.g. "the reasons why…", "the benefits of…") and write it as continuous prose within a word limit.
Method
- Underline the focus of the question.
- Read the passage and highlight only points relevant to the focus.
- List the points in note form, removing repetition, examples and illustrations.
- Combine and reword points into fluent sentences, using linking words (also, however, in addition, as a result).
- Check the word count and that every point is relevant.
Language skills
Paraphrase (use your own words where possible), condense (one word for many – "children, teenagers and adults" → "people of all ages"), and avoid personal comments or opinions.
Worked example: Condense: "Farmers who live in the villages near the river often lose their crops when the water rises suddenly during the rainy season."
Riverside farmers often lose crops to seasonal floods.
Marking
Marks are usually given for content points and for writing (concision, own words, organisation and accuracy).
Check yourself
- What should you leave out of a summary?
- Condense "a large number of people from many different countries".
- Why are linking words useful in a summary?
Show answers
- Examples, repetition, illustrations, direct speech and your own opinions.
- Many people from different countries (or "an international crowd").
- They join points smoothly and show relationships between ideas.
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