Summary Writing

Summary writing is NOT:

• Copying sentences from the text.
• Selecting and quoting the best phrases.
• Writing everything you found in the text.
• Giving your opinion on the topic.

Summary writing IS:

• Identifying only the points relevant to the stated focus.
• Rewriting those points in your own words (paraphrasing).
• Organising them logically within the word limit.

Why this matters: Cambridge mark schemes award marks for own words. If you copy a phrase from the text, even if it's the right information, you may not score the mark for it — because the skill being tested is paraphrase, not retrieval.

The three-step summary process:

1. Read the question and underline the focus. What specifically must you summarise?
2. Read the text(s) and number the relevant points — ignore everything else.
3. Rewrite each point in your own words — then connect them into flowing prose.

The focus question is everything.

If the question says: "Summarise the advantages of urban farming described in the passage." Then:

• Include: every stated advantage of urban farming.
• Exclude: disadvantages, background history, the writer's personal story, statistics about global farming unless they directly establish an advantage.

How to scan for relevant points:

1. Underline the focus keyword(s): in this case, advantages.
2. Work through each paragraph asking: "Does this paragraph / sentence state an advantage?"
3. If yes — underline it. If no — skip it.
4. Count your underlined points. Cambridge typically expects 5–8 relevant points for a 100-word summary.

Worked example: Text extract (abbreviated): "Urban farms use 70% less water than traditional agriculture. They reduce food miles, cutting carbon emissions. Crops can be grown in disused buildings, reviving neglected areas. However, initial set-up costs are very high, and not all crops are suitable for indoor growing. Urban farmers report improved community bonds when residents work together."

Focus: advantages of urban farming.

Relevant points:

1. Use 70% less water.
2. Reduce food miles / cut carbon emissions.
3. Revive neglected/disused buildings.
4. Improve community bonds.

Not relevant (exclude):

• High set-up costs → this is a disadvantage.
• Not all crops suitable → also a disadvantage.

What counts as paraphrasing:

• Replacing key words with synonyms.
• Restructuring the sentence (active ↔ passive, different clause order).
• Combining two related short sentences into one.
• Splitting a long sentence into shorter ones where appropriate.

What does NOT count:

• Changing only one word in a sentence.
• Using a synonym but keeping the same sentence structure.
• Rearranging word order without real change.

Three levels of paraphrase (weakest to strongest):

Level 1 (minimal — risky): Original: "Urban farms use 70% less water than traditional agriculture." Paraphrase: "Urban farms use 70% less water compared to traditional farming." → Only one change (agriculture → farming). Cambridge may not award this.

Level 2 (acceptable): "Growing food in cities requires significantly less water than conventional farming methods." → Restructured; 'urban farms' → 'growing food in cities'; 'use less water' → 'requires significantly less water'.

Level 3 (strong — aim for this): "City-based food production is far more water-efficient than traditional agricultural practices." → Fully restructured; vocabulary changed throughout; same meaning conveyed precisely.

Paraphrasing techniques:

• Noun → verb: production of food → producing food
• Active → passive: farmers reduce emissions → emissions are reduced
• Formal ↔ informal synonym: revive → regenerate; bonds → connections
• Sentence compression: combine two short sentences into one complex sentence.

The common mistake — bullet-point answers: Many students write: "Urban farms use less water. They reduce emissions. They help communities." This is three separate sentences with no connection — it reads like a list, not a summary.

The correct approach — connected prose: "Urban farms offer several environmental and social advantages. They require significantly less water than conventional farming and contribute to lower carbon emissions by reducing the distance food travels. Furthermore, by utilising disused urban spaces, they help revitalise neglected areas and strengthen community relationships."

Cohesive devices for summaries:

• Adding: Furthermore, In addition, Also, Additionally.
• Contrasting: However, On the other hand. (Use only if explicitly required — usually summaries focus on one side.)
• Result: As a result, Consequently, This means that.
• Sequential: Firstly, Secondly, Finally.

Opening your summary: Always begin with a clear topic sentence that states the overall focus:

• "Urban farming offers a number of significant advantages…"
• "There are several reasons why young people find it difficult to sleep…"
• "The following summarises the main causes of air pollution described in the text…"

Closing your summary: You do not need a conclusion in a summary — end when you've covered all your relevant points within the word limit.

Cambridge is serious about word limits. If the limit is 100 words and you write 150, Cambridge will count 100 words and ignore the rest. You may lose marks for information you included after the limit.

How to manage word count:

1. After a rough draft, count your words.
2. If over: identify which points have the most detail and trim. Cut adverbs and adjectives before cutting ideas.
3. If under: check whether you've missed any relevant points, or whether you can develop existing points slightly.

Common ways to trim:

• Remove unnecessary adverbs: 'very significantly' → 'significantly'.
• Combine two sentences: 'X happens. This means Y.' → 'X happens, resulting in Y.'
• Remove repeated ideas.
• Cut background information that isn't part of the focus.

Checking for relevance one final time: Before submitting, re-read your summary and ask: "Does every sentence directly address the focus question?" If any sentence is tangential, cut it.

Counting tip: In an exam, count in groups of 10 words by placing a small mark every 10 words. Don't count word-by-word — it wastes too much time.