In Summarize Written Text, you read a passage of up to about 300 words and have 10 minutes to summarise it in one sentence of 5 to 75 words. It scores Reading (23%) and Writing (28%) by Pearson's question weightings. Form is a pass or fail gate: two sentences, or more than 75 words, scores zero for the whole item, however good the summary is.
How it is scored
| Criterion | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Content | The main points of the passage |
| Form | One sentence, 5 to 75 words |
| Grammar | A correct, complete sentence |
| Vocabulary | Suitable word choice |
How to build your one sentence
Build it from the passage itself, in three steps:
- Take short sentences from the top, middle and end. Pick main ideas, not examples or numbers, and never two sentences that say the same thing. More different ideas beats longer sentences.
- Join them with simple connectors such as and, but, while, so and because.
- Paraphrase a few words, for example "expensive" to "costly", and keep the grammar of each sentence as it is.
Only one full stop, at the very end. Check this before you move on.
Words that break the rule
However, therefore, moreover and thus start a new sentence. Put one in the middle of your answer and it reads as two sentences, which scores zero. A comma alone between two sentences is a comma splice, a grammar error too. Write "Scooters are convenient, but many riders ignore traffic rules", not "Scooters are convenient, however, many riders ignore traffic rules". If a sentence you take starts with However, drop that word.
Our students get the full playbook: the exact sentence pattern, the complete safe connector list and a synonyms resource. See courses
Worked example
The passage idea: school start times. Teenagers find early classes hard because body clocks shift later during adolescence. Schools that start later report better results. However, timetables are hard to change.
Sentences taken from the passage:
- Top: "Many teenagers struggle with early school start times."
- Middle: "Their body clocks naturally shift later during adolescence."
- Middle: "Schools that start later have reported better attendance and higher grades."
- End: "However, changing the timetable is difficult, as bus routes and parents' working hours depend on it."
The final answer: "Many teenagers have difficulty with early school start times because their body clocks naturally move later during adolescence, and schools that begin later have seen better attendance and higher grades, but changing the timetable is hard, as bus routes and parents' working hours depend on it." *(46 words, one sentence)*
The sentences are joined with because, and and but. "However" was dropped, and a few words were paraphrased (struggle with, shift, start, reported, difficult).
A 10-minute plan
- 3 minutes: read the passage and mark short main-idea sentences in the top, middle and end.
- 5 minutes: join them and paraphrase a few words.
- 2 minutes: count full stops, look for however or therefore, and check the word count, subject-verb agreement and spelling.
Frequently asked questions
Can Summarize Written Text be two sentences?
No. It must be one sentence. Two sentences scores zero.
Can I use however or therefore?
No. They start a new sentence, so your answer can be read as two sentences and score zero. Use but, so or because instead.
How long should my summary be?
Between 5 and 75 words. Length alone earns nothing: cover different main ideas from across the passage and stay under 75.
Want your summaries checked? Tutors mark written work between classes. See courses or message us on WhatsApp. Next, read our essay template.