Summarize Written Text requires a 25–50-word summary written within 10 minutes. You may use one or more complete sentences. A good template gives your ideas a clear relationship; the actual content must come from the passage.
Read for the main message before selecting a structure. Keep essential reasons, results and conditions, and remove repeated explanations or minor examples when they are not needed to convey that message.
The passages below are adapted or newly written teaching examples. Treat each passage as the source for its sample summary; the structures are practice options, not fixed categories of exam questions.
How to fill the templates
Replace the bracketed text with information supported by the passage. Where a bracket asks for a complete clause, include a subject and a verb. Where it asks for a noun phrase, use a phrase such as staff training or the cost of repairs.
The finished response must fit the word limit. The length of an unfilled template does not tell you how long your answer will be. Re-read the complete sentence after every substitution, particularly when you change singular subjects to plural subjects.
1. Main idea with supporting points
Use this for an explanation whose main point is developed through two closely related details.
The passage explains that [main point as a complete clause]. It highlights [supporting noun phrase] and [supporting noun phrase] as [their stated role or importance].
You can remove “The passage explains that” and state the main point directly when that creates a clearer, shorter summary.
Successful coffee shops can serve large numbers of customers despite limited floor space and seating. Coffee and espresso drinks have high profit margins, but the average purchase is small, so high sales volume is needed to maintain profitability. Alongside drinks, shops often sell baked goods, desserts and coffee beans by weight.
Coffee shops depend on high sales volumes to remain profitable despite small individual purchases. They can serve many customers in limited space, earn high margins on coffee drinks, and offer other products, including baked goods, desserts and coffee beans sold by weight.
The summary keeps the business explanation. Only the coffee beans are described as being sold by weight; that detail does not apply to the baked goods or desserts.
2. Cause and effect
Use this only when the passage establishes a reason and a consequence.
[Main outcome] occurs because [stated cause]. [Additional cause or condition] also contributes to [related outcome], making [stated implication] important.
Remove the second sentence if it introduces an implication that the passage never gives. Do not use because simply to join two unrelated facts.
A delivery company has received more complaints about late parcels. Its review found that several routes included more stops than drivers could complete within their shifts. The company will divide these routes and update customers when delays occur. Managers expect the revised routes to improve punctuality, although the results will be assessed after a month.
Overloaded delivery routes have caused late parcels and customer complaints. The company will divide these routes and provide delay updates, with managers expecting improved punctuality and planning to assess the results after one month.
The expected improvement remains an expectation. It is not presented as an outcome already achieved.
3. Contrast or comparison
Use this when the writer compares two positions, methods or outcomes, or explains a benefit alongside a limitation.
Although [first point as a complete clause], [contrasting main point]. [Subject] therefore [stated conclusion or implication], while [important qualification, if given].
If the passage simply compares two things without a conclusion, use “By contrast” in a second sentence instead of forcing a therefore statement.
Online training allows employees to study at convenient times and avoids the need to travel. However, practical activities can be difficult to reproduce online, and some participants benefit from immediate support in a classroom. The company therefore plans to combine online lessons with occasional practical workshops instead of choosing only one method.
Although online training offers flexible study and avoids travel, classroom sessions provide practical activities and immediate support. The company therefore plans to combine online lessons with occasional workshops rather than rely on a single method.
Both sides of the comparison remain visible, and the summary includes the company's proposed response.
4. A proposal, announcement or policy
Use this when the passage introduces a planned action and explains its audience, purpose or conditions.
[Organization or person] [plans to, will or is considering] [action] to [stated purpose]. [Essential condition or arrangement as a complete clause], while [important limitation or unchanged feature as a complete clause].
Choose the verb that matches the passage. Is considering, plans to and has introduced describe different stages of a decision.
A local museum is considering free admission on the first Sunday of each month to encourage more families to visit. Special exhibitions would still require a separate ticket. Before approving the proposal, the museum will ask visitors for feedback and assess the likely effect on its income. Ordinary admission charges will remain in place until a decision is made.
The museum is considering free admission on the first Sunday of each month to attract families, with separate charges for special exhibitions. Visitor feedback and income effects will be assessed before a decision; current admission charges remain unchanged.
The summary does not announce a policy that has yet to be approved.
5. A process or sequence
Use this when the order of events is central to the message.
[Process] begins with [first essential stage], followed by [next essential stage]. [Final stage] then [explains the result or next step], with [important condition, if stated].
Keep enough detail to explain how the process works, but omit minor examples or repeated instructions. Do not invent a cycle when the passage describes a process with a clear endpoint.
Residents who want to join the repair workshop must first complete an online registration form. The coordinator then checks whether the requested repair can be completed with the available equipment. Successful applicants receive a time slot and a list of items to bring. People whose repairs cannot be handled are directed to other local services.
Workshop applicants register online before the coordinator checks whether their repairs are feasible. Accepted applicants receive appointment times and preparation instructions, while those needing unsupported repairs are directed to other local services.
Choose connectors by meaning
| Relationship | Useful language | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | and, also, moreover | Both points belong in the summary. |
| Contrast | but, while, however | The ideas actually differ or conflict. |
| Concession | although, even though | One point qualifies the other. |
| Cause | because, due to | The passage states or clearly supports the cause. |
| Result | therefore, as a result | The conclusion follows from the preceding point. |
| Sequence | first, then, finally | The order is part of the message. |
Use complete sentence structure and appropriate punctuation. For example, “The service is free. However, booking is required” avoids joining two complete sentences with only a comma.
Edit before you submit
Check that the response contains 25–50 words and communicates the main message. Preserve restrictions, quantities and uncertainty when they affect the meaning. Confirm subject–verb agreement, tense, spelling and clear references such as it and they.
Do not automatically select the first and last sentences or delete every example and number. Choose content according to its importance to this particular passage.
During practice, underline the evidence for every statement in your summary. If a claim has no support in the passage, remove or revise it before working on more sophisticated wording.
