Clear Summarising for School Success
Summaries show you understand a text. They keep the main idea, remove extra detail, and use your own concise wording.
What makes a good summary?
- Focuses on the author’s main idea and key points
- Uses your own words (no copying whole phrases)
- Is significantly shorter than the original
- Remains neutral and accurate—no new opinions
Main idea vs supporting detail
Identify the core message
Ask: “What is the author mostly saying?” Everything else either supports or explains that idea.
Filter details wisely
Keep only the facts necessary to understand the main idea. Remove examples, stories, and repeated points.
A simple process: 5Ws + PAR
Use two quick frameworks to capture essentials:
- 5Ws: Who, What, When, Where, Why (sometimes How)
- PAR: Purpose (author’s goal), Approach (how they do it), Result (key conclusion)
Example → summary
Source (shortened): “Scientists studying urban trees found that planting a variety of native species increases biodiversity and resilience to disease. Mixed plantings also cool city streets more effectively during heatwaves.”
Good summary: Researchers report that cities benefit from planting diverse native trees, which both protect against disease and improve cooling during heatwaves.
Practice: shrink it to the core
Reduce the following text to one or two sentences, keeping the key idea only:
“Many students check their phones during homework and study sessions. Although some claim it helps them relax, frequent checking interrupts focus and extends the time needed to complete tasks. Short, timed breaks without screens can be more effective for maintaining concentration.”
How long should a summary be?
Aim for around 20–30% of the original length for longer texts. For short paragraphs (like exam extracts) practise writing one- or two-sentence summaries that capture the main point.
Always follow any word‑count instructions from your teacher or exam board; when in doubt, prefer brevity and accuracy.
Worked example (practice answer)
Below are model answers for the practice paragraph above, with a short explanation of why each works.
Source (practice): Many students frequently check their phones during homework and study sessions. Although some claim it helps them relax, frequent checking interrupts focus and extends the time needed to complete tasks. Short, timed breaks without screens can be more effective for maintaining concentration.
One-sentence
Regular phone checking during study breaks concentration and lengthens study time, whereas short, screen-free breaks are more effective for focus.
This sentence keeps the main cause/effect idea and the recommended alternative; it omits minor details.
Two-sentence
Many students frequently check their phones while studying, and this habit disrupts concentration and increases the time needed to finish tasks. Short, timed breaks away from screens are more effective for maintaining focus.
The two-sentence answer separates problem and solution, which can be clearer under exam conditions.
Exam tips
- Read the whole text once before underlining any parts.
- Underline only words or short phrases that point to the author’s purpose or conclusion.
- Write your summary in one draft — then check for accuracy and remove any leftover specifics that aren’t essential.
- If a word limit is set, practise timing: plan 1 minute to identify points, 3–5 minutes to write, 1–2 minutes to revise.
Common mistakes
- Including too many examples — keep only what supports the main idea.
- Adding your opinion — summaries should be neutral.
- Copying full phrases from the text — paraphrase and shorten.