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Summary

Condensing key points from a passage into a brief overview, showing overall understanding.

1

What is Summary?

Summary questions test your ability to identify the most important points in a passage and express them briefly. You need to separate the main ideas from the supporting details and write concisely.

2

Step-by-Step Method

1

Read the passage and identify the main ideas

Ask yourself: what are the 3-4 most important things this passage is about?

2

Separate main points from details

Ignore minor details, examples and descriptions. Focus on the key facts or events.

3

Use your own words

Do not copy sentences from the text. Rephrase the key points.

4

Be concise

A summary should be much shorter than the original. Every word should count.

5

Check you have covered all the main points

Read the passage again to make sure you have not missed anything important.

3

Worked Examples

Example 1

Summarise a passage about a boy joining a new school.

Working

  1. Main points: 1) Boy starts at a new school, 2) He feels nervous, 3) He makes a friend at lunch, 4) He feels more confident by the end of the day.
  2. Write these as 2-3 concise sentences.
Answer: A boy starts at a new school and feels very nervous at first. At lunchtime he meets another pupil who becomes his friend. By the end of the day, he feels much more confident about his new school.
Example 2

In one sentence, summarise the main argument of a persuasive passage about school uniforms.

Working

  1. The passage argues that uniforms reduce bullying, save money and create a sense of belonging.
  2. Combine into one sentence.
Answer: The passage argues that school uniforms should be compulsory because they reduce bullying, save families money and help create a sense of community.
Example 3

Summarise the key events of a story passage.

Working

  1. Beginning: character finds a map.
  2. Middle: follows the map to a hidden cave.
  3. End: discovers treasure but decides to leave it.
Answer: The character discovers an old map that leads them to a hidden cave. Inside, they find a treasure but ultimately decide to leave it untouched.
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Common Mistakes

Common error

Including too much detail – retelling the whole passage instead of summarising.

Correct approach

Only include the MAIN points. If a detail could be removed without changing the meaning, leave it out.

Common error

Copying directly from the text.

Correct approach

Use your own words to show you understand the content.

Common error

Missing the main point while including minor details.

Correct approach

Ask yourself: if I could only say ONE thing about this passage, what would it be? Start there.

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Top Tips

  • A good summary answers: who, what, when, where, why – but only the essential details.
  • Try to keep your summary to about a quarter of the length of the original.
  • Start with the most important point first.
  • Use connectives like “then”, “however”, “finally” to link your summary points smoothly.

Ready to practise?

Put these techniques into action with our free practice papers.

Practise English Questions

Other English Techniques

Information Retrieval

Finding the facts to summarise.

Using Your Own Words

Rephrasing text in your own words.

Inference

Understanding deeper meanings to summarise.
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