Comprehension
and
Summary Writing –
IGCSE FLE(0500)
ABHINANDAN BHATTACHARYA
Collins Resource Team
[Link]@[Link]
© HarperCollinsPublishers India Pvt. Ltd
Webinar Overview
1. Approaches to short and long type
questions
2. Understanding command terms
3. How to structure a Summary response
4. Use of language and style in Summary
writing
5. Assessment Criteria
Where do we need to use
comprehension skills?
while answering the
while answering short
writer’s effects question
answer questions
while responding to a while responding to an
Summary Writing extended response to
task reading task
while answering the
Directed Writing task
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Short answer type
questions
Re-read paragraph 1 (‘Ecuadorian legends tell … in the area.’).
Give two reasons why locals believe an ancient race of giants once existed,
according to the text.
Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
(i) ‘thriving cities’ (line 3)
(ii) ‘ancient structures’ (line 5)
Re-read paragraph 4, (‘This evidence has … artificial origin.’).
(i) Identify two pieces of evidence that the Ecuadorian authorities did not want to
believe the findings.
(ii) Explain why researchers believe that these are man-made pyramids.
Re-read paragraph 5 (‘Furthermore, several other … leader is buried.’).
Using your own words, explain why it is possible that the researchers are wrong in
their theories.
SOURCE: NOVEMBER 2020 FLE
PAPER 1
SAMPLE EXAM STYLE QUESTION –
NOVEMBER 2020
COMMAND TERMS
Some Tips…
• Each part of the question will tell you where to look in the text to work
out your answer – for example it may say to look at certain lines, certain
words or the whole passage.
• Generally, the questions will get more challenging as you work through,
so watch out for instructions designed to help you – for example if you
are told to use your own words or give a certain number of reasons.
• There is no need to repeat the whole of the question before beginning
your answer. ‘He means that...’ or ‘It is because...’ are enough to provide
a grammatical introduction to your sentence. This will save you time.
Why do we need to
learn the skills of
Summarising?
SUMMARY WRITING PROCESS
Read the STEP 1
passage and
identify
unknown words
S
Guess from the Syllabic K
context breakdown I
M
R
E
A
Recognition of Recognition of D
similarity to a similarity to I
word in another another English N
language word G
SUMMARY WRITING PROCESS
STEP 2
Underline the key words in
the question and return to
the passage
Identify and highlight S
relevant key points/phrases C
in the passage A
N
N
I
Avoid examples, repetitions, N
direct speech, figurative G
language and trivial details
SUMMARY WRITING PROCESS
STEP 3
Transfer the
highlighted
material to a list
T
R
Ensure there are
A
10 adequate
Change the words N
and phrases into
relevant points for S
your own words
content F
E
R
T
O
Some individual Keep the technical
words can be used words intact as P
BUT long phrases they might not be
cannot be lifted changed
L
A
N
SUMMARY WRITING PROCESS
STEP 4
Write in an informative style;
Introduction and Conclusion not necessary
W
Use complex sentences; R
Do NOT use direct speech I
T
I
Write in third person maintaining the Tense N
consistency G
T
Check for clarity and concision; H
E
Avoid repetition
S
U
Maintain an objective stance; M
Avoid narration or commentary M
A
R
Y
SAMPLE EXAM STYLE QUESTION –
NOVEMBER 2020
Using your own words as much as possible, rewrite
each sentence below as a concise summary. Try to use
no more than ten words for each one.
1. At the end of the working week, when it’s got dark and the stars are
coming out, I like to just sit back, have a long, cool drink and watch some of
the nonsense that is on the television.
2. My dad’s father is really old – nearly 80 years old – but he still likes going
out all the time and meeting his friends, his family and the people that he
used to work with.
3. The world faces a range of environmental problems, probably the
foremost of which is global warming, caused almost certainly by human
influences like traffic and industrial pollution – especially from fossil fuels.
4. My mum’s sister really liked working her way through as many books,
magazines, newspapers and text books as she could possibly get her hands
on.
ADVICE TO CANDIDATES ON SUMMARY WRITING TASK –
QUESTION 1 (f)
re-read Text B after reading the question to identify potentially relevant ideas
plan your response using brief notes to ensure a wide range of ideas from the text is
selected
avoid including unnecessary details which do not address the question
organise the ideas, grouping them where relevant, to ensure that your response is coherent
avoid repeating ideas
write clearly and make sure you express yourself fluently in your own words
do not add comments or your own views
try to keep to the guidance to ‘write no more than 120 words’
CONTENT AND STRUCTURE
LEVEL MARKS DESCRIPTION
5 9-10 • A very effective response that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the
requirements of the task.
• Demonstrates understanding of a wide range of relevant ideas and is consistently well-
focused.
• Points are skillfully selected to demonstrate an overview.
4 7-8 • An effective response that demonstrates a competent understanding of the
requirements of the task.
• Demonstrates understanding of a good range of relevant ideas and is mostly focused.
• Points are carefully selected and there is some evidence of an overview.
3 5-6 • A partially effective response that demonstrates a reasonable understanding of
the requirements of the task.
• Demonstrates understanding of ideas with occasional loss of focus.
• Some evidence of selection of relevant ideas but may include excess material.
2 3-4 • A basic response that demonstrates some understanding of the requirements of the
task.
• Demonstrates general understanding of some relevant ideas and is sometimes focused.
• There may be some indiscriminate selection of ideas.
1 1-2 • A response that demonstrates a limited understanding of the task.
• The response may be a simple list of unconnected ideas or show limited focus.
• There is limited evidence of selection.
0 0 • No creditable content.
STYLE AND ACCURACY
LEVEL MARKS DESCRIPTION
3 4-5 • A relevant response that is expressed clearly, fluently and mostly with
concision.
• The response is well organised.
• The response is in the candidate’s own words (where appropriate), using a
range of well-chosen vocabulary which clarifies meaning.
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar are mostly accurate.
2 2-3 • A relevant response that is generally expressed clearly, with some evidence of
concision.
• There may be some lapses in organisation.
• The response is mainly expressed in the candidate’s own words (where
appropriate) but there may be reliance on the words of the text.
• Errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar which do not impede
communication.
1 1 • A relevant response that lacks clarity and concision.
• There may be excessively long explanations or the response may be very
brief.
• The response may include lifted sections.
• Frequent errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar, which
occasionally impede communication.
0 0 • No creditable content.
USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCE SITES
1. [Link]
20to%20Write%20a%[Link]
2. [Link] –
SUMMARY WRITING
3. [Link] –
Comprehending and responding to Paper 1 tasks
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