Timing at a glance
| Time | About 10 minutes per passage |
|---|---|
| Length | One sentence, between 5 and 75 words |
| Passage | Up to about 300 words |
Timings are approximate and can vary slightly from question to question.
How it's scored
Scored onContentFormGrammarVocabulary
Content checks whether your sentence captures the passage's main idea and its most important points. Form checks the rules of the task: one sentence, within the word limit. A summary that breaks the form rule can lose most of its marks. Grammar and Vocabulary check that the sentence is correct and the words are well chosen.
Worked example
A practice passage we wrote (shortened)
Several companies have trialled a four-day working week without cutting pay. Managers report that staff take fewer sick days and that output has stayed the same or risen. Critics argue the results are hard to apply to every industry, especially services that must be open every day, and warn that some employees simply work longer hours on the remaining days.
A strong approach
"Trials of a four-day week without pay cuts suggest that it can reduce sick days while maintaining output, although critics argue that the results may not suit every industry and could lead to longer working days." (36 words, one sentence)
Main idea first, then the key support, then the contrast, joined with "while" and "although".
Common mistakes
- Writing two sentences, or one sentence joined only by commas.
- Copying a single sentence from the passage instead of summarising the whole text.
- Going over the word limit by adding examples and details.
- Leaving out the passage's contrast or conclusion.
- Forgetting the full stop or capital letter.
Tips
- Read once for the main idea, then note the two or three key supporting points.
- Build one sentence: main idea + supporting point + contrast or result.
- Join ideas with connectors such as while, although, which and because.
- Aim for roughly 25–50 words; long enough to be complete, short enough to stay correct.
- Check the word count and that there's exactly one full stop before you submit.
Summarize Written Text FAQ
No. The task asks for one sentence. Two sentences break the form rule and can cost most of the marks.
Related guides
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