SECTION B: SUMMARY

The summary question requires you to identify the main ideas in a short passage, and then rewrite it
using your own words. You should spend about 30 minutes on this question. Manage your time wisely
and make sure you are familiar with the summary-writing technique, so that you can finish the task
quickly.

GENERAL GUIDELINES REMEMBER

- Read the question carefully. Make sure you
understand what the question wants.
- Read the passage once.
- Read the question again and underline the
main points, as required by the question.
- Identify at least five points. Do not include
unnecessary details like examples,
repetitions or lengthy descriptions.
- Paraphrase by changing the words and
structure.
- Use suitable words to link the various points
to ensure continuity: furthermore, thus, even
though, consequently etc.
- Rewrite, in your own words, all the points
you have written down. Do not add your
own facts, opinions or information.
- The summary section carries 10 marks: 5 for
content and 5 for language. Even if you find 7
points, only 5 will be counted.
- Never exceed the word limit allowed, i.e. 60
words. You will be penalised for going over the
limit.
- However, making your summary too short
means you may have missed some points.
- The whole summary must be written in only
one paragraph.
- Do not lift, i.e. copy-paste sentences from the
passage. Always try to use your own words.
- After completing your summary, count the
number of words and write the word count on
the bottom right-hand side.

SAMPLE PASSAGE

In Palestine, there are two seas, called the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The Jordan River
flows into both these seas. It flows into the Sea of Galilee and out again through the other side. The river
then flows into the Dead Sea but does not flow out again.
The Sea of Galilee has fresh water. In it, we can find fish and other marine life. Around it, there
are green fields and homes. But this is not the case with the Dead Sea. There is a good reason for this. The

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water in this sea is so salty that nothing can live in it. It has no fish. Nothing grows along its banks. The
water is so salty that you would get sick from trying to drink it. No one wants to live anywhere near it. It
also has a very unpleasant smell.
Yet, the Dead Sea has its uses. The minerals found in it can be used to treat a lot of skin
problems. The minerals are also used for making fertiliser.

Write a summary on the Dead Sea. Begin your summary as follows: The Dead Sea in Palestine
gets its water from the…

POINT CONTENT PARAPHRASED CONTENT

1 The Jordan River flows into both these The Dead Sea in Palestine gets its water
seas… The river then flows into the Dead from the Jordan River.
Sea but does not flow out again.
2 The water in this sea is so salty that nothing The sea water is extremely salty, which
can live in it. It has no fish. Nothing grows means no plants and marine life can survive
along its banks. in it.
3 The water is so salty that you would get sick Furthermore, the salty water is undrinkable
from trying to drink it… It also has a very and has a nasty odour.
unpleasant smell.
4 Yet, the Dead Sea has its uses. The minerals However, the Dead Sea is still useful
found in it can be used to treat a lot of skin because its minerals can cure skin diseases
problems.
5 The minerals are also used for making and fertilise plants.
fertiliser.

The Dead Sea in Palestine gets its water from the Jordan River. The sea water is extremely salty,
which means no plants and marine life can survive in it. Furthermore, the brackish water is undrinkable
and has a nasty odour. However, the Dead Sea is still useful because its minerals can cure skin diseases
and fertilise plants.
(57 words)

PRACTICE 1

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 Exercise is important to your health. Everyone should exercise, whether you are young or old.
One of the simplest daily exercises you can do is walking. Take a brisk walk for about 20 to 30
minutes every day. If it is not possible for you to do it every day, then you should try it at least four times
a week. Walking briskly makes your heart beat faster for a short while. Instead of walking, you could also
try jogging, swimming, playing an outdoor sport or even dancing. A lot of people are not aware that
dancing is also an exercise.
Exercising regularly keeps us fit, makes our muscles and bones strong and keeps our heart in
good condition. Your muscles need to be exercised regularly to keep them from becoming slack. Your
joints too will not become stiff if you get them moving regularly. Your blood circulation and your
digestion also improve when you have a healthy body.
When you exercise, you should enjoy what you are doing. If not, you will get bored and
eventually give it up.

Write a summary on the ways to exercise and why exercise is important. Begin your summary
as follows: There are many fun ways to exercise such as taking…

PRACTICE 2

A teenager who has a sibling or siblings is less likely to have depression problems or low self-
esteem. He also shows less tendency towards use of drugs and alcohol as long as his relationship with his
siblings remains positive.
Siblings can help each other to handle their ups and downs. If parents do not interfere, they will
figure out ways to help each other overcome their problems. This will eventually help the teenager build
up his problem-solving skills.
Siblings can support each other not only at home but in school. They can attend each other’s
games, events or performances. They learn to receive support and praise from each other. Furthermore,
they can observe their differences in temperament, talents and interests. By dealing with these differences
among their siblings, they learn to get along with anyone.
Siblings may fight among themselves from time to time, but it is only natural especially as they
move through adolescence. From their relationship, teenagers are able to draw not only emotional support
but also assistance with problem-solving skills.

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 Write a summary on why it is an advantage for teenagers to have siblings. Begin your
summary as follows: It is an advantage for teenagers to have siblings as…

PRACTICE 3

You can learn to be money-smart as soon as you are given pocket money and allowed to manage
it on your own. Get your parents to help if you need guidance on good personal budgeting and money
management skills.
You can start by being very clear about what the allowance covers. For instance, if the allowance
is meant only for clothing and books, make sure you spend it only on those things, not for game sets or
cosmetics. Decide also what sort of clothing and books can be used with the allowance as some clothes
and books will blow your budget away with a single purchase.
Learn to separate your allowances for different purposes, i.e. put aside one amount for clothing,
another for books, another for leisure, another for snacks and so on. It may be tiresome in the beginning
but it will teach you how to allocate and spend your money wisely. It is easier to budget properly with
small allowances. Break down your allowance into weekly amounts instead of monthly.
Be wise enough not to spend all your pocket money within the time period allocated. It is always
good to make it a habit to save a little from each allowance. Furthermore, you can enjoy thinking what
you want to do if you manage to have extra or leftover from your allowance.

Write a summary on managing allowances. Begin your summary as follows: It is quite simple to
manage one’s allowance and spending…

PRACTICE 4

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 George has big plans for his family’s apartment. First, he wants to have a bigger living room. To
do so, he has to reduce the size of the kitchen. The family has been using the present sofa set in the living
room ever since he can remember. He wants to replace it with modern furniture. He has already set his
eyes one a set he saw in the shop.
He will also need to widen the door from the living room to the kitchen. Then he will have to
clean the wall in the living room and repaint it. He can almost see and smell the new colour. It will
complement his new sofa set. George takes a deep breath as he imagines himself spread out on the new
set.
George also plans to do something about the master bedroom which is his parents’ room. The
room appears dull and dark to him. He has decided to paper the walls to make it brighter.
There is only one problem. Every time he mentions his ideas to his parents, they roll their eyes.
His mother will wring her hands and shake her fists. George will have to calm her down. Sometimes it
takes days. They have also warned George that they will move out if he keeps going on about it. It is
obvious that they truly like the apartment they way it is!

Write a summary on George’s plans for the apartment and his parents’ reaction. Begin your
summary as follows: George wants to redecorate his family’s apartment and he plans…

PRACTICE 5 (Kota Tinggi Finals 09)

Meeting deadlines for school can sometimes seem overwhelming. Managing your time will help
you to be more organised. Here are some suggestions for maximising the time you have.
Firstly, you must learn to set goals. It is a good idea to think about what you need and want to do
with your time. From this, you can set your goals, which will help you to manage your time more
effectively. Having a project timeline in order to complete your work is also useful. Using a diary to write
down appointments, homework, or things you have to do will help you to keep track of what is going on.
This way you may avoid things catching you by surprise.
In addition, having a calendar that shows everything that is on during the month, or even the year,
will help to remind you of events that are coming up. If you find that you are being distracted by the
phone or emails, it might help to turn off the phone or computer for a while. You can always call or
contact people back later. Being flexible is also important. Sometimes, situations change and you may

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need to readjust your goals or plans to fit in with the changes.
Lastly, balance your time wisely as having a balance of activities in your life can help you to
avoid burning out. It is a good idea to find time for relaxing, being active and hanging out with friends.

Write a summary on steps to manage time. Begin your summary as follows: Ways that we can
use to manage our time include…

PRACTICE 6 (Johor State Trial 2009)

Taking good care of your mind is as important as having a healthy body. Here are some tips on
how to do this.
Firstly, exercise regularly. This allows you to see things with a fresh mind. Things always seem
better when you do not feel run down or very tired. Having a proper diet ensures our bodies receive the
right nutrition which is needed for a healthy mind. It is also important to get enough sleep. A relaxed and
well-rested body helps to lift your spirits.
Get support from your family and friends. A supportive family and good friends can give you
good advice or even help you out. Make a timetable. Make sure your timetable allows you some rest and
time to do things that you enjoy. Being well-organised can save you a lot of time and frustration.
You should not be too harsh on yourself. Treat mistakes as learning experiences and accept the
things that you cannot change.

Write a summary on how to keep your mind healthy. Begin your summary as follows: In order
to have a healthy mind, we should start…

PRACTICE 7 (Negeri Sembilan State Trial 2009)

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 Not everyone who enters college or university is successful. Some students drop out of college
before they complete their degree. Others may have to repeat courses and end up taking longer than they
had planned. However, many of these problems can be avoided.
There are several reasons why students do not do well at university. Some students do not know
how to plan their time effectively. Some have poor study habits such as the inability to take notes or read
effectively. When they face an assignment, they do not know where to begin. This causes delays in
completing their work.
Some students seem to go to university only to have fun. They spend their time going to parties or
movies. Others attend university just for the sake of obtaining a degree. They never settle down to a
serious programme of study. Some get involved in relationships and lose interest in studies altogether.
Other problems can also affect how well a student does. Some students feel unhappy being away
from home as they miss their mothers’ cooking and the homely atmosphere. These might lead to
emotional or health problems, making it difficult for them to study.
So, any student who plans to enter a college or university should be prepared to work hard if he or
she is to be successful.
(Adapted from Fast Lane, 1991)

Write a summary on the reasons why students do not do well at university. Begin your
summary as follows: Some students do not perform well at university due to…

PRACTICE 8 (Perlis State Trial 2009)

The dictionary defines entertainment as anything that amuses or gives us fun. Some examples of
entertainment are watching television, listening to the radio, going to the cinema and chatting with
friends.
The most popular form of entertainment at home is watching television. Most Malaysians, both
young and old, spend about 21 hours a week watching television. They watch, on average, about three
hours of television per day. They watch all kinds of programmes – dramas, sports, comedies, music or
variety shows, advertisements and cartoons.
Why is the television so popular among Malaysians? The main reason could probably be that they
find it convenient just to sit and relax in front of the screen. Another reason is that television sets are

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easily available and can be purchased cheaply. It is also one of the cheapest forms of entertainment for the
whole family. Sometimes parents who are too busy with their work switch on the television for the
children. They hope that by doing so their children will not disturb them.

Write a summary on why people watch television. Begin your summary as follows: Watching
television is the most popular form of home entertainment…

PRACTICE 9 (Selangor State Trial 2009)

Studying drama will allow you to become anyone, anywhere, at anytime. By understanding
drama you can learn to understand anyone, anywhere, anytime. This is because we all experience ‘real
life’ drama in the form of our own personal experiences as well as ‘real life’ drama in the news and
current affairs.
By studying drama, you will be asked to participate in group work. This will help you to explore
relationships on and off stage. It will help your communication skills and it will help you to make friends
easily.
Studying drama also has a lot of personal benefits for students. It helps with building self-
confidence, speaking in public, and developing interpersonal skills.
By studying drama’s impact on our culture, we can start to look more critically at what these
media offer us and we can choose whether or not to accept the messages that they give. By studying
drama we become intelligent spectators who can distinguish between good and bad drama, as well as
‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ideologies. We can start making informed decisions about the drama that we see.
(Adapted from Why study drama? By Rynn and Kehaul, 2007)

Write a summary on the benefits of drama. Begin your summary as follows: Studying drama is
considered important nowadays because it allows you…

PRACTICE 10 (Kedah State Trial 2009)

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 Nowadays you do not care about your friends. You prefer to check your emails in the middle of
the night as the Internet has become the centre of your world. It looks like you are addicted to the Internet
maybe because it provides a lot of information. You meet people without having to disclose real details
about yourselves and you have a feeling of being in control of each situation.
The Internet is also a highly accessible tool. You do not have to leave home and it is usually
installed in your room. Just as a gripping movie or an exciting book is an escape from reality, so is the
Internet. You are never alone, you can be any person you want to be and you will always find friends
there.
The good news is that there is something you can do to overcome the addiction. You can set aside
in advance one or two afternoons a week to do something away from home, for example, take a walk
somewhere, go shopping or do anything else that you once enjoyed doing. Meeting friends at least once a
week is also a good idea. To avoid spending too much time on the Internet, you can take up a hobby at
home such as gardening or playing a musical instrument.

Write a summary on the reasons for Internet addiction and ways to overcome it. Begin your
summary as follows: You might be addicted to the Internet because it provides…

PRACTICE 11 (Melaka State Trial 2009)

Newspapers have become a daily necessity, especially in the city where people have to be aware
of what is happening around them. In spite of the television or Internet giving us information, most people
still prefer the feel of the actual newsprint.
The newspaper is indeed important as it is a powerful tool to inform the public on various issues.
It has a wide coverage as the estimated number of readers is about 10 million in Malaysia alone.
Important and shocking news alike are quickly known to the nation through newspaper publications.
Every day, the front page news captures the attention of the public and is almost always a topic in
people’s conversations.
The business section of the newspaper lends a helping hand to the investors who are keen on
knowing about the companies they have invested in. The comics are a delight to the young and old alike.
For journalists, the newspaper is a means through which they are given a chance to voice their
opinion and make their stand on many issues.

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 For companies looking for an avenue to advertise their products, the newspaper is one of the best
choices. Because of the large number of people who read the newspapers, their products will be known by
many.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the newspaper is an important source of information.

Write a summary on the importance of newspapers. Begin your summary as follows:

Nowadays, newspapers are important to the public as they give…

PRACTICE 12 (Pahang State Trial 2009)

Recycling is a means of processing used things to be used again as new products. We recycle old
paper bags, bottles and plastic bags to reduce their production. Besides that, in recycling, we use things
like newspapers, aluminium cans and garden refuse to make new things.
With the advancement of technology, natural materials are becoming scarce. Therefore, human
beings have resorted to recycling to avoid the raw materials from perishing. It is also important to reduce
the amount of waste in the environment. It is sad to say in a day, human beings discard many things.
Some of these things can be recycled. Therefore, when we reuse things, we throw away fewer items.
Landfills and dumpsites are places where rubbish is disposed. These landfills are limited, so we
must learn to save space. In order to do so, we must recycle the things we use in our daily lives. We can
recycle glass containers, aluminium cans, paper and shopping bags.
In recycling, we save energy. During a production process a lot of energy will be required to
produce a new product. The by-products of these new products are toxic waste that can be harmful to
mankind. Hence, through recycling, pollution can be reduced.
We recycle materials to save money. It is a cheaper method of waste disposal than landfills. We
can also make creative handicrafts and gifts from used items as decorations for the home and as presents
to friends. Besides this, the recycled materials can be sold to gain some revenue for the family. Beautiful
cards, gift wraps and decorative home items can be made from recycled materials, thereby helping the
cottage or home industries.

Write a summary on why we must practice recycling. Begin your summary as follows: People
should not throw unwanted things which can be recycled…

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PRACTICE 13 (Perak State Trial 2009)

We all worry. Most of the time worrying is a normal human behaviour that helps us to think
clearly and protect our loved ones. But sometimes worrying gets out of control and the sense of anxiety it
created can leave us feeling stressed. Here are a few tips to help you stop worrying.
An old saying says that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. So never worry alone. The more
you look at a problem on your own, the worse it can seem to be. One of the best treatments for worrying
is having good friends that you can talk to openly.
Physical exercise is one of the best ways of reducing anxiety. Exercising your body releases
chemicals in the brain that help calm you down. Exercise also helps you sleep better. And sleep is the
very best tonic for overcoming worry.
The worst part of worrying is it can create negative thoughts. Learn to turn negative thoughts into
a positive mindset. This technique teaches you to look at things in a different kind of way.
If worrying is becoming serious and affecting your quality of life, seek help from your doctor or a
counsellor.
(Adapted from Just English, Vol. 2 Issue 2, 2005)

Write a summary on ways to overcome worrying. Begin your summary as follows: There are
several ways to help a person stop worrying…

PRACTICE 14 (Sabah State Trial 2009)

More and more teenagers are logging on to the Internet every day. Although the Internet is a great
source for research projects and other information, there are also dangers involved with surfing the Web.
The person you meet online may not be who or what he or she claims to be. Someone who says that he is
a 15-year-old boy may actually be a 50-year-old man pretending to be a teen for inappropriate reasons,
such as to send pornographic materials or to lure teens into unsafe situations.
Never give out personal information, such as your name, home address or phone number, the
name of your school, photographs, credit card numbers or the names of your parents without permission
from your parents. Do not agree to meet the person without any adult accompanying you. Do not give out
your password to anyone. In chat rooms, use a name that is not gender-specific so you are less likely to

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receive pornographic materials or other forms of harassment. If you do receive pornographic materials,
report it to the local police department.

Write a summary on how to stay safe on the Internet. Begin your summary as follows: To
ensure safety when going online, never give out personal…

PRACTICE 15 (Sarawak State Trial 2009)

KLANG – Several roads in Klang were flooded on Thursday following a heavy downpour that
lasted less than an hour. Some housing estates including Taman Sentosa, Bandar Puteri and Taman Desa
were flooded.
Among the worst affected areas were stretches of Jalan Pasar and Jalan Tengku Kelana. Rising
flood waters and stalled vehicles on the affected roads caused a massive traffic jam.
The rain, which started at 6 a.m. affected residents of Bandar Puteri the most, as flood water
entered their houses. Due to the flood, office staff, factory workers and school children could not go to
work or school on time.
As a result of these flash floods, properties were damaged and residents had to spend a lot of
money to repair them. Roads were also damaged and potholes caused accidents. The residents blamed the
developers and requested the authorities to take immediate measures to improve this situation.
(Adapted from The Star, 2004)

Write a summary on what happened during the flood in the affected areas. Begin your
summary as follows: On Thursday, flash floods in Klang greatly affected a few…

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