Summary writing (papers before 2024): past paper questions
Real questions on summary writing (papers before 2024)
The newest 20 of 59 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0510/11 · October/November 2023 · Q13[12]
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 long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your...
See it on the paper → - 0510/13 · October/November 2023 · Q12[12]
Read the article about a girl who took part in a TV cookery competition. Write a summary about the rules for entering the competition AND what the judges are looking for to decide on a winner. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible....
See it on the paper → - 0510/21 · October/November 2023 · Q14[16]
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 started. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. Yo...
See it on the paper → - 0510/23 · October/November 2023 · Q13[16]
Read the article about snail racing. Write a summary about the recommendations for holding a snail race. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 8 marks for...
See it on the paper → - 0510/11 · May/June 2023 · Q11[12]
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 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content...
See it on the paper → - 0510/12 · May/June 2023 · Q12[12]
Read the article about cleaning beaches. Write a summary about how to organise and run your own beach-cleaning event. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 6...
See it on the paper → - 0510/13 · May/June 2023 · Q12[12]
Read the article about sailing. Write a summary about the skills you can gain from learning to sail. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 6 marks for the st...
See it on the paper → - 0510/21 · May/June 2023 · Q12[16]
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 be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 8 marks...
See it on the paper → - 0510/23 · May/June 2023 · Q13[16]
Read the article about traditional handmade items. Write a summary about why people buy AND make traditional handmade items. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of your summary, an...
See it on the paper → - 0510/12 · February/March 2023 · Q12[12]
Read the article about the skill of listening to people. Write a summary about advice on how to be a good listener. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 6 m...
See it on the paper → - 0510/22 · February/March 2023 · Q13[16]
Read the article about national parks. Write a summary about the benefits of national parks. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 8 marks for the style an...
See it on the paper → - 0510/12 · October/November 2022 · Q12[12]
Read the article about cactus plants. Write a summary about how cactus plants are able to survive in deserts. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 6 marks f...
See it on the paper → - 0510/21 · October/November 2022 · Q13[16]
Read the article about biofuels which are used to power some vehicles. Write a summary about the advantages AND disadvantages of biofuels. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of yo...
See it on the paper → - 0510/22 · October/November 2022 · Q13[16]
Read the article about crop rotation – growing a series of different crops on the same piece of land, one after the other. Write a summary about the advantages of crop rotation for home gardeners. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as poss...
See it on the paper → - 0510/23 · October/November 2022 · Q13[16]
Read the article about extreme weather conditions. Write a summary about how to protect yourself in extreme cold weather such as blizzards AND what to avoid doing in extreme hot weather. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You...
See it on the paper → - 0510/11 · May/June 2022 · Q11[12]
Read the article about the history of the potato. Write a summary about why the potato has become a popular food. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 6 mar...
See it on the paper → - 0510/12 · May/June 2022 · Q12[12]
Read the information from a headteacher about a school trip to a sculpture park. Write a summary about what the rules of the park are. Your summary should be about 80 words long (and no more than 90 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your sum...
See it on the paper → - 0510/21 · May/June 2022 · Q12[16]
Read the article about the Polar Academy, an organisation that takes teenagers on expeditions to the Arctic. Write a summary about what the Polar Academy wants the teenagers to gain from the experience AND what teenagers need to do to be chosen for the expedition to the Arctic. Your summary should be about 100 words lo...
See it on the paper → - 0510/22 · May/June 2022 · Q13[16]
Read the article about a teenager who did a short cookery course during the holidays. Write a summary about the cookery skills he learned during the course, AND the advice he gives to future students. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as...
See it on the paper → - 0510/22 · February/March 2022 · Q12[16]
Read the article about some of the oldest trees on our planet, known as ‘ancient trees’. Write a summary about what can cause damage to ancient trees. Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will receive up to 8 marks for the c...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
There was a full range of marks awarded on the summary question. All the content points proved accessible, and most candidates were able to identify at least five relevant details successfully. The task had two aspects, namely what are the harmful effects of light pollution and what people can do to reduce it. The most successful responses conveyed all relevant detail, demonstrated good use of own...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0510/21 Q12 (Cambridge)
The summary proved to be a good discriminating exercise and there was a full range of marks awarded. All the content points proved accessible and most candidates were able to identify at least five relevant details successfully. The task was to write a summary about the advantages of crop rotation for home gardeners. The most successful candidates were able to convey relevant detail, attempted to...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 0510/22 Q13 (Cambridge)
Many candidates found this exercise challenging. A significant number wrote beyond the 90 word limit, which in many cases affected the Content and Language marks. Candidates are advised to read the question carefully to ensure they provide information relevant to the task. In this series, candidates had to provide advice to potential visitors to the adventure park. Responses which also included no...
— Examiner report, May/June 2019, 0510/11 Q13 (Cambridge)
Past papers, syllabus and examiner reports © UCLES (Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Questions are matched to topics from the official syllabus. AssessPro is independent and not endorsed by Cambridge.