Cambridge IGCSE · 0500

First Language English

Summary skills — Paper 1

Name: ____________________Date: October 4, 2026

1.
A council report lists reasons for a town's traffic problems: a new shopping centre has increased visitor numbers, several residential streets lack proper footpaths, roadworks on the main bridge have narrowed access, and bus services run infrequently outside rush hour. Summarise, in your own words, the reasons for the traffic problems.
[4 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies increased visitors from the new shopping centre.
- Identifies inadequate footpaths on residential streets.
- Identifies reduced access from bridge roadworks.
- Identifies infrequent bus services outside peak times.
Examiner tip: Select only the points that actually explain the problem; do not include unrelated background detail.
2.
An article lists advantages of a four-day school week: students report less fatigue, teachers have an extra day for planning and marking, the school saves on energy costs, and families find it easier to arrange appointments. Summarise the benefits in your own words, in no more than two sentences.
[4 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies reduced student fatigue.
- Identifies more planning or marking time for teachers.
- Identifies financial savings for the school.
- Identifies more convenient scheduling for families, and combines the points concisely within the word limit.
Examiner tip: A strict sentence or word limit means you must combine related ideas efficiently, not list each one separately.
3.
A travel blog about visiting a historic city mentions: the entry fee for the castle, the writer's favourite café, opening times for the museum, and a funny story about losing a map. Which two of these details would be relevant to a summary of ‘practical information for visitors’, and which two would not?
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Selects the castle entry fee as relevant practical information.
- Selects the museum opening times as relevant practical information.
- Identifies the favourite café and the lost-map story as irrelevant to practical visitor information.
Examiner tip: A good summary excludes personal anecdotes and opinions that do not serve the specific purpose stated in the question.
4.
A text presents two views on school uniforms: one parent argues uniforms reduce peer pressure over clothing and save money, while another argues uniforms limit self-expression and are not always comfortable. Summarise both viewpoints in your own words.
[4 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the reduced peer pressure or cost-saving argument in favour of uniforms.
- Identifies the limited self-expression argument against uniforms.
- Identifies the comfort concern raised against uniforms.
- Presents both viewpoints in the student's own words, not copied phrasing.
Examiner tip: When summarising opposing views, keep each side's points clearly separate rather than blending them together.
5.
A passage describes the stages of making traditional bread: mixing flour, water, yeast and salt; kneading the dough for ten minutes; leaving it to rise for one hour; shaping it into loaves; and baking at a high temperature. Summarise this process in your own words.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies mixing the ingredients as the first stage.
- Identifies kneading and resting (rising) the dough.
- Identifies shaping and baking as the final stages, keeping the stages in their correct order.
Examiner tip: When a text describes a process, your summary should preserve the correct sequence of stages.
6.
Paraphrase the following sentence without copying three or more consecutive words from the original: ‘Despite repeated warnings from scientists, many coastal towns have continued to expand right up to the water's edge.’
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Conveys the idea that scientific warnings have been given more than once.
- Conveys the idea that towns have continued building close to the sea despite this.
- Uses genuinely different vocabulary and sentence structure from the original, not a near-copy.
Examiner tip: Paraphrasing means changing both the words and the sentence structure, not just swapping a few synonyms.
7.
A text states separately that a new park has a playground, that it has a pond with ducks, and that it hosts a weekly market on Saturdays. Combine these three details into a single, well-constructed sentence.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Includes all three details: the playground, the pond with ducks, and the Saturday market.
- Combines them into one grammatically correct, fluent sentence rather than three short, disconnected ones.
Examiner tip: Use connectives and varied clause structure to link separate points smoothly, rather than simply joining them with ‘and’ three times.
8.
A report on a school trip notes that the coach departed thirty minutes late, that the museum visit overran by an hour, that lunch was shortened as a result, and that the group still returned on schedule after the driver took a faster route home. Summarise what happened to the day's timing, in your own words.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the late departure and the overrun museum visit as the causes of delay.
- Identifies the shortened lunch as a consequence of these delays.
- Identifies that the group still returned on time due to a faster return route, showing the overall outcome.
Examiner tip: A good process summary shows cause and effect — how one delay led to another, and how it was ultimately resolved.
9.
A workplace report lists reasons for low staff morale: long commutes, unpaid overtime becoming common, limited opportunities for promotion, and a lack of recognition for good work. Summarise these reasons in your own words.
[4 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies long commutes as a cause.
- Identifies unpaid overtime as a cause.
- Identifies limited promotion opportunities as a cause.
- Identifies a lack of recognition as a cause.
Examiner tip: When a list of causes is given, make sure your summary captures every distinct cause, not just the first or most memorable one.
10.
A recipe explains: first, whisk the eggs and sugar until pale; then fold in the sifted flour gently; next, pour the mixture into a greased tin; finally, bake for 25 minutes until golden. Summarise these instructions in your own words, keeping them in the correct order.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies whisking the eggs and sugar as the first step.
- Identifies folding in the flour as the second step.
- Identifies pouring into the tin and baking as the final steps, in the correct order.
Examiner tip: For instructions, getting the sequence right matters as much as including every step.
11.
A consumer guide compares two laptops: Laptop A is cheaper and lighter but has a shorter battery life, while Laptop B costs more and is heavier but lasts twice as long on a single charge. Summarise this comparison in your own words.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies Laptop A's advantages (cheaper, lighter) and disadvantage (shorter battery life).
- Identifies Laptop B's advantages (longer battery life) and disadvantage (more expensive, heavier).
Examiner tip: When summarising a comparison, present each item's strengths and weaknesses clearly, rather than mixing all the details together.
12.
A council survey finds that 62% of residents support a new recycling scheme, 25% are undecided, and 13% are opposed, mainly due to concerns about cost. Summarise these findings in your own words.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- States that a clear majority of residents support the scheme.
- States that a smaller group is undecided, and a minority opposes it.
- Identifies cost as the main reason given by those opposed.
Examiner tip: When summarising statistics, translate the numbers into clear descriptive language (majority, minority) rather than just repeating the percentages.
13.
An opinion piece argues that homework should be reduced because students need more time to rest, pursue hobbies, and spend time with family, and because research suggests excessive homework does not improve learning beyond a certain point. Summarise the writer's main argument and supporting points.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- States the main argument: that homework should be reduced.
- Identifies the need for rest, hobbies and family time as supporting points.
- Identifies the research point that excessive homework does not improve learning beyond a certain point.
Examiner tip: When summarising an argument, state the main claim first, then list the distinct reasons given to support it.
14.
A biography of an inventor mentions: the award she won for her invention, her favourite childhood food, the patent she filed for a new device, and the name of her pet dog. Which two details would be relevant to a summary of ‘her contribution to invention’, and which two would not?
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Selects the patent she filed as relevant to her contribution to invention.
- Selects the award for her invention as relevant, and identifies her favourite food and pet's name as irrelevant to this specific purpose.
Examiner tip: Relevance depends entirely on the stated purpose of the summary — the same detail can be relevant for one purpose and irrelevant for another.
15.
Paraphrase the following sentence without copying three or more consecutive words from the original: ‘The committee concluded, after lengthy discussion, that the proposal required significant revision before it could be approved.’
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Conveys that the committee discussed the matter at length before reaching its conclusion.
- Conveys that the proposal needs major changes before it can be accepted.
- Uses genuinely different vocabulary and sentence structure from the original.
Examiner tip: Try restructuring the sentence completely — starting from a different point in the idea — rather than just substituting individual words.
16.
A text states separately that a new sports centre has a swimming pool, that membership costs $20 a month, and that it offers free fitness classes for members under 18. Combine these three details into a single, well-constructed sentence.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Includes all three details: the pool, the membership cost, and the free classes for under-18s.
- Combines them into one grammatically correct, fluent sentence.
Examiner tip: Look for a logical connection between the details (here, all relate to what membership offers) to combine them smoothly.
17.
A historical account states that a small coastal village grew slowly for centuries, expanded rapidly after a railway line was built nearby in the 1880s, and has remained a mid-sized town ever since. Summarise this sequence of events, in no more than two sentences.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the slow early growth over centuries.
- Identifies the railway as the cause of rapid expansion in the 1880s.
- Identifies that it has remained mid-sized since, keeping the sequence within the word/sentence limit.
Examiner tip: A strict sentence limit forces you to combine the slow-growth and stable-size phases efficiently, giving the railway expansion the most detail since it is the turning point.
18.
A product review lists advantages of a new blender (powerful motor, easy to clean, quiet operation) and disadvantages (expensive, takes up significant counter space). Summarise both the advantages and disadvantages in your own words.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the powerful motor, ease of cleaning and quiet operation as advantages.
- Identifies the high price and large counter space required as disadvantages.
Examiner tip: Keep advantages and disadvantages in two clearly separate groups rather than listing all five points as if they were the same type of information.
19.
A manufacturing explainer describes: raw cotton is harvested from fields; it is then cleaned and spun into thread; the thread is woven into fabric; finally, the fabric is cut and sewn into finished clothing. Summarise this process in your own words, in the correct order.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies harvesting the cotton as the first stage.
- Identifies cleaning/spinning into thread and weaving into fabric as the middle stages.
- Identifies cutting and sewing into clothing as the final stage, keeping all stages in order.
Examiner tip: For a manufacturing process, each stage usually depends on the one before it, so getting the order right is essential.
20.
A complaint letter states that a delivery arrived five days late, that the box was visibly damaged, that two items inside were broken, and that the customer had to take unpaid time off work waiting for the missed original delivery slot. Summarise the key points of this complaint.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the five-day delay as a key point.
- Identifies the damaged box and broken items as a key point.
- Identifies the unpaid time off work as a further consequence raised by the customer.
Examiner tip: A complaint summary should capture both what went wrong and any real consequence the customer suffered as a result.
21.
A request letter to a school explains that a student needs extra time in exams due to a diagnosed condition, that medical evidence is attached, and that this arrangement was also used successfully the previous year. Summarise the key points made in this request.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the request for extra exam time due to a diagnosed condition.
- Identifies the attached medical evidence as supporting the request.
- Identifies the previous successful use of this arrangement as further supporting evidence.
Examiner tip: A request summary should capture both what is being asked for and the evidence offered to support it.
22.
Two nutrition experts are quoted on breakfast: one says skipping breakfast harms concentration and should always be avoided; another says the effect varies by person and what matters more is overall daily diet. Summarise both expert views in your own words.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- States the first expert's view that skipping breakfast always harms concentration and should be avoided.
- States the second expert's view that the effect varies by person and overall diet matters more.
Examiner tip: When summarising two contrasting expert opinions, present them as clearly separate viewpoints rather than blending them into one combined statement.
23.
A report explains that a factory's old machinery frequently broke down, that repairs caused regular production delays, and that the company has now invested in new equipment specifically to reduce these interruptions. Summarise the cause-and-effect chain described here.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies frequent machinery breakdowns as the initial problem.
- Identifies production delays as the consequence of these breakdowns.
- Identifies the investment in new equipment as the company's response intended to solve the problem.
Examiner tip: A cause-and-effect summary should move clearly from problem, to consequence, to the solution or response.
24.
A charity report states that a clean-water project reduced local illness rates, allowed more children to attend school regularly instead of collecting water, and freed up time for parents to start small businesses. Summarise the benefits of this project in your own words.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies reduced illness as a benefit.
- Identifies improved school attendance as a benefit.
- Identifies freed-up time for parents' businesses as a further benefit.
Examiner tip: Notice how one change (clean water) can produce several distinct, separate benefits — make sure your summary captures each one.