Summary and note-making — IGCSE English As A Second Language (0993) questions by topic
Summary and note-making asks you to give short notes under a heading, or write a word-limited summary covering two required aspects, such as the effects of light pollution and how to reduce it, worth between 2 and 16 marks.
Give, summarise and complete are the top command words, and summarise specifically means restating content in your own words within the stated limit. Across 27 questions from 2023 to 2025 papers, instant marking on this page is well suited to a distinctive risk in this topic: exceeding the word limit caps the language mark, so checking your count and phrasing before submitting is worth doing every time.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is exceeding the stated word limit, which caps the language mark and may push later content points beyond it.
- Examiners note that copying language directly from the text with little paraphrase also caps the language mark in the middle band.
- Reports flag omitting an essential word, such as 'flat' or 'nature', or misspelling a key term so its meaning changes.
- Strong answers used synonyms and restructured grammar, for example 'clip' for 'cut' or 'at once' for 'immediately', while keeping focus on the required content.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Read the article about a rowing race called the Atlantic Challenge, and then complete the notes. Imagine you are going to give a talk to your classmates about the Atlantic…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading. Highlights of the Atlantic Challenge: (three bullet points)
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Read the article about a type of bicycle called a recumbent bike (see shared stimulus), and then complete the notes. Imagine you are going to give a talk to your classmates about…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading. The disadvantages of recumbent bikes: - - - [3]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
Imagine you are going to give a talk to your classmates about reducing car use in cities. Use words from the article to help you write some notes. Make short notes under the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: What the writer has tried doing in order to reduce his own car use.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
Imagine you are going to give a talk about underground homes to your classmates. Use words from the article to help you write some notes. Make short notes under the heading:…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Disadvantages of underground homes.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
Imagine you are going to give a talk to your classmates about virtual online tours offered by museums. Use words from the article to help you write some notes. Make short notes…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Advice given by a designer of virtual tours.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
You are going to give a talk about slacklining to your class at school. Prepare some notes to use as the basis for your talk. Make short notes under the heading: What appeals to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Advice for setting up slacklining equipment for beginners.
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the article about bonsai, which are trees usually grown in pots so they are very small in size. Write a summary about how to care for bonsai. Your summary should be about 80…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
You are going to give a talk about slacklining to your class at school. Prepare some notes to use as the basis for your talk. Make short notes under the heading: What appeals to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Advice for setting up slacklining equipment for beginners.
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the article about light pollution. Write a summary about what the harmful effects of light pollution are AND what people can do to reduce light pollution. Your summary should…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
You are going to give a talk to your class at school about Kilian Jornet's challenge. Prepare some notes to use as the basis for your talk. Make short notes under the heading: Why…
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: How people helped Kilian Jornet to complete the Bob Graham Round.
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the article about interior design. Write a summary about ways to make your home a happy and healthy space to live in. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
You are going to give a talk about yoga to your class at school. Prepare some notes to use as the basis for your talk. Make short notes under the heading: The history of yoga.
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Proven benefits of yoga.
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Problems that can occur when doing yoga.
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the article about going to a two-day music festival. Write a summary of the advice the writer gives for going to the music festival. Your summary should be about 80 words…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 21
You are going to give a talk about yoga to your class at school. Prepare some notes to use as the basis for your talk. Make short notes under the heading: The history of yoga.
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Proven benefits of yoga.
Answer this question and get it marked →Make short notes under the heading: Problems that can occur when doing yoga.
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the article about growing your own fruit and vegetables. Write a summary about the advantages of growing your own fruit and vegetables and advice on what you should do to get…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE English As A Second Language topics
- Listening (133)
- Reading comprehension (98)
- Writing (33)