Summary Writing (概括)

Not in PSLE 2026: Summary Writing is not part of the PSLE English syllabus for students sitting from 2025/2026 onwards. It is an O-Level English component. This page is kept for reference only — Jamie does not need to study this for PSLE.

Key Concepts

Summary Writing tests your ability to identify the most important information in a passage and express it concisely in your own words.

What the task looks like:

• You are given an informational or narrative passage (around 450 words)
• The question tells you exactly what to summarise (e.g. “Summarise the methods used to conserve water” or “Summarise the reasons why bees are important”)
• An opening sentence is provided — you continue from it
• Your summary must be written in continuous prose (flowing paragraphs, NOT bullet points)
• You must use complete sentences throughout
• The word limit is 80 words — words beyond 80 are not read by the examiner
• The opening sentence given to you is not counted in your 80 words
• You must use your own words where possible — copying full sentences from the passage will cost you marks

The 5-Step Method

Follow these five steps every time to score full marks.

Step 1 — READ the question focus carefully

Before reading the passage, underline the key focus word(s) in the question. The question tells you exactly what to look for. If the question says “summarise the methods used to protect coral reefs”, your job is to find only the methods — not the background, not the history, not the examples.

Step 2 — IDENTIFY the relevant paragraphs

Skim the passage and mark which paragraphs contain information about the focus. Cross out or mentally skip paragraphs that are off-topic (e.g. scene-setting, introductions, examples). This saves time and prevents you from including the wrong content.

Step 3 — PICK the key points

Go through the relevant paragraphs and number each valid point (write “1”, “2”, “3”… lightly in pencil beside each one in the passage). A typical summary question has 5 to 8 scorable points. Only include information that directly answers the question focus.

Step 4 — REPHRASE each point

Do not copy sentences word-for-word. Change the vocabulary and sentence structure when you write your summary. Replace words with synonyms, restructure sentences, and combine related ideas. This is what earns you language marks.

Step 5 — COUNT your words

Write your full summary first, then count. Aim for 70–80 words. If you are over 80, cut a point or shorten a sentence. If you are well under 70, you may have missed a point — check the passage again.

What to Include vs Exclude

Knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to put in.

INCLUDE:

• Direct answers to the question focus (methods, reasons, effects, steps — whatever the question asks for)
• Key facts and main points stated in the passage
• All distinct points, even if they seem small — each valid point is worth a mark

EXCLUDE:

• Introductory sentences that set the scene or give background
• Examples and illustrations that explain a point, unless the example itself is the point
• Repeated information — if the same idea appears twice, include it only once
• The writer’s personal opinions or comments, unless the question specifically asks for them
• Statistics, quotations, and minor details that are not core answers to the focus

Rephrasing Techniques

The examiner rewards you for using your own words. Here are the main techniques:

1. Replace nouns and verbs with synonyms

• “children” → “young people” / “youngsters” / “kids”
• “purchase” → “buy”
• “constructed” → “built”
• “assist” → “help”

2. Restructure sentences

• Original: “Because the river was polluted, many fish died.”
• Rephrased: “Many fish perished due to pollution in the river.”

3. Combine two short related points into one sentence

• Original points: “Volunteers planted trees. They also cleaned up the riverbank.”
• Combined: “Volunteers planted trees and cleared the riverbank.”

4. Change active to passive (or vice versa)

• Original: “The government launched a new recycling programme.”
• Rephrased: “A new recycling programme was introduced by the authorities.”

5. Change the order of information within a sentence

• Original: “Water is wasted daily by many households.”
• Rephrased: “Many families waste water on a daily basis.”

DO NOT:

• Change the meaning of a point
• Add your own ideas or opinions that are not in the passage
• Leave out key points to avoid rephrasing difficulty
• Use complex vocabulary you are not sure about

Marking: How Marks Are Awarded

Summary Writing is worth 12 marks in total.

Content marks (8 marks):

• Each valid, relevant point you include earns 1 mark, up to a maximum of 8
• The examiner works from a marking list of acceptable points
• A point must be clearly expressed to be awarded the mark — vague or confused statements may be rejected
• Copying a sentence verbatim may still earn the content mark, but will cost you language marks

Language marks (4 marks):

• 4 marks: Mostly own words, accurate grammar, varied sentence structures, flows well
• 3 marks: Some rephrasing, minor errors, generally clear
• 2 marks: Heavy lifting from the passage, frequent errors, choppy sentences
• 1 mark: Very little rephrasing, many errors, difficult to follow
• 0 marks: Incomprehensible or copied throughout

Word limit rule: The examiner stops reading at word 80. Any content after word 80 is ignored. If your 7th and 8th points fall after word 80, you receive no credit for them — even if they are correct. Always count carefully.

Model Answer

Sample Passage Excerpt (~100 words):

Singapore uses several strategies to ensure a steady water supply. First, water is collected from rainwater catchments that cover two-thirds of the island. Residents are encouraged to install water-saving devices such as low-flow taps and shower heads. Industrial companies are required to recycle their water before releasing it. The national water agency runs public campaigns to remind citizens to turn off taps when not in use. In schools, students learn about water conservation through special programmes. Finally, Singapore imports water from neighbouring countries to supplement its local supply.

Question: Using information from the passage, write a summary of the methods Singapore uses to ensure a steady water supply. Your summary must be in continuous writing (not in note form). It must be no longer than 80 words, not counting the opening words given to you below.

Begin your summary as follows: Singapore employs a number of methods to secure its water supply.

Step 3 — Identifying the key points (numbered in passage):

1. Rainwater is collected from catchments covering two-thirds of the island
2. Residents are encouraged to use water-saving devices (low-flow taps, shower heads)
3. Industrial companies must recycle their water before releasing it
4. Public campaigns remind citizens to turn off taps
5. Schools teach water conservation through special programmes
6. Water is imported from neighbouring countries

Model Summary (~75 words):

Singapore employs a number of methods to secure its water supply. Rainwater is harvested from catchments that span two-thirds of the island. Households are encouraged to install water-saving devices such as low-flow taps and shower heads. Industries are required to recycle water before discharging it. The authorities run public awareness campaigns urging people to conserve water. Youngsters are taught about water conservation in schools. Additionally, water is brought in from neighbouring countries to supplement the local supply.

Word count: 76 words

Annotation:

All 6 points are included. No examples or background detail was added. The summary flows as continuous prose.

Common Mistakes

1. Writing bullet points instead of continuous prose The question always says “in continuous writing (not in note form)”. Bullet points earn zero language marks and risk losing content marks too. Always write in full sentences that connect to each other.

2. Lifting full sentences verbatim from the passage If your summary reads like copy-paste, you will lose language marks even if your content is correct. Always change at least the vocabulary, if not the sentence structure.

3. Summarising the wrong content This is the most costly mistake. If the question asks for “methods” and you write about “effects”, you score zero for content. Always re-read the question focus before you write.

4. Going over 80 words The examiner stops at word 80. If your key points appear after word 80, they are ignored. Count before you finalise.

5. Forgetting to use the given opening sentence The opening sentence is part of the task. Begin your answer with the exact words given, then continue your summary from there. Do not rewrite or ignore the opening.

6. Including irrelevant background or scene-setting details Passages often begin with interesting descriptions or historical context. These are almost never part of what you need to summarise. Stick strictly to the question focus.

7. Repeating the same point twice If a passage mentions the same idea in two places, count it as one point and include it only once. Repeating it wastes words without earning extra marks.

8. Not combining related points Two very short related ideas can be combined into one sentence to save words and improve flow. For example: “They planted trees and cleared rubbish from the riverbank.”

Exam Tips

• Underline the focus word(s) in the question first. Before reading the passage, know what you are hunting for: methods, effects, reasons, steps, challenges, benefits.

• Number your points in the passage before writing. Use a pencil to write “1”, “2”, “3”… next to each valid point as you find it. This way you do not miss anything and you can sequence your summary efficiently.

• Write first, then count words — it is faster. Counting words while writing slows you down and breaks your train of thought. Write the complete summary, then go back and count.

• The given opening counts as your topic sentence — do not repeat it. Your first sentence after the opening should be your first content point, not a restatement of what the opening already says.

• Use linking words to improve flow. Connect your points with words like: Additionally, Furthermore, In addition, Moreover, Also, Lastly. This improves your language score.

• Write legibly and clearly. If the examiner cannot read a word, it may not be credited. Write neatly, especially when you are rushing near the end.

• Practise counting 80 words on a full page. Know roughly how many lines of your handwriting equal 80 words — this makes the final check much faster.

• Check your grammar quickly before submitting. Subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and articles (a/an/the) are the most common errors. A 30-second check can recover a language mark.

Quick Summary

• Format: Continuous prose (paragraphs), complete sentences — never bullet points
• Word limit: No more than 80 words (the given opening is NOT counted)
• Use own words: Replace vocabulary and restructure sentences — lifting verbatim loses language marks
• Question focus: Only include information that directly answers the specific focus (methods / reasons / effects etc.)
• Marks: 8 content marks (1 per valid point) + 4 language marks = 12 marks total
• Points to find: Aim for 5–8 valid points — more than 8 earns no extra credit
• Leave out: Background, examples, repeated information, irrelevant details
• 5 steps: Read focus → Identify paragraphs → Number points → Rephrase → Count words
• Danger zone: If you go over 80 words, the examiner stops reading — count carefully
• Opening sentence: Provided by the paper — begin there, do not rewrite or skip it