Like most language components, knowing the correct techniques to help you answer your questions accurately is essential. In this post, our secondary school teacher, has prepared a short video, along with a worksheet, to help lower secondary students in the summary writing component.

If you would like to learn more techniques for summary writing, come join us for our regular Secondary 1 & 2 lessons on Saturdays at 4.30pm or 6.30pm.

Most of you might rush through this first phase in the Summary question, marking out points on your text without a second thought.

Hardly might you pause to consider if:

  • the point really addresses the question;
  • whether it is an example or illustration of a main point; or
  • if it is a variation (rephrasing) of another idea that you have already identified.

This could be because you are running short on time, or you want to spend more time paraphrasing the points. May I urge you not to take this first phase of identifying relevant points lightly, because it is not as straightforward as it seems.

Summary writing exercise

Try out this Summary question [1].

  1. Read the passage.
  2. Read and answer the Summary question. You should at least identify all 8-10 points and mark them out on the text, before watching the video.

This should take you no more than 15 minutes.DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT (PDF)

[1] Source: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
2017 EL Paper 2 Section C


Answers to summary writing exercise

2023 Bukit Timah Branch Secondary English tuition timetable

LevelDayStart timeEnd time
S1SAT2 pm4 pm
S2SAT4 pm6 pm
S3SAT6 pm8 pm