What you'll learn
Summarising and note-making are core skills tested in Paper 2 of the CXC CSEC English A examination. You will learn to extract relevant information from passages, condense content accurately, and present ideas clearly using your own words. These skills require you to identify main ideas, eliminate unnecessary details, and demonstrate comprehension through concise expression.
Key terms and definitions
Summary — a shortened version of a text that captures only the main ideas and essential supporting details, written in continuous prose using your own words
Note-making — the process of extracting and recording key information from a text in a structured, abbreviated format using bullet points, lists, or other visual organisers
Paraphrasing — expressing someone else's ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning, without copying phrases or sentence structures from the source text
Relevant information — details that directly answer the question or relate to the specific focus given in the task instructions
Word count — the maximum number of words permitted in your summary response, typically 120-140 words for CSEC examinations
Content points — individual pieces of information or ideas that can be extracted from the passage and counted as separate marks
Verbatim copying — reproducing the exact words from the original text, which results in loss of marks in CSEC summarising tasks
Topic sentence — the opening sentence that identifies the main focus of your summary and establishes context for the reader
Core concepts
Understanding the task requirements
CSEC summarising questions always provide specific instructions about what to focus on. The question typically asks you to write a summary based on particular aspects mentioned in the passage, not everything in the text.
Read the question stem carefully and underline:
- The specific focus (e.g., "benefits of urban farming" or "challenges facing Caribbean fisheries")
- The required word count (usually 120-140 words)
- Whether you need prose format or note form
- The audience or purpose, if specified
The passage will contain more information than you need. Your task is to select only the relevant information that directly addresses the question focus. Information may be interesting or factually correct but still irrelevant to the specific task.
For example, if asked to summarise "the economic benefits of tourism in Jamaica," you would exclude social or environmental impacts, even though these appear in the passage.
Identifying and extracting content points
Each CSEC summary question has 10-12 content points available. You earn one mark per valid point included in your response, up to a maximum (typically 10 marks for content).
To identify content points systematically:
- Read the entire passage once for overall understanding
- Re-read with the question focus in mind
- Use a pencil to mark or number each relevant idea
- Look for signal words: "firstly," "another," "additionally," "furthermore," "also," "however"
- Check lists and examples — each item may represent a separate point
- Note cause-and-effect relationships — both cause and effect can be separate points
Content points may be explicitly stated or implied. For example, if a passage states "Grenada's nutmeg industry collapsed when Hurricane Ivan destroyed 90% of the trees," you can extract:
- The nutmeg industry suffered severe damage
- Hurricane Ivan caused the destruction
- The majority of nutmeg trees were lost
Paraphrasing techniques
Paraphrasing demonstrates comprehension and is essential for earning marks in CSEC summaries. Copying three or more consecutive words from the passage (except technical terms that cannot be changed) results in penalties.
Effective paraphrasing strategies:
Change word forms: "Barbados has invested heavily in renewable energy" becomes "Barbadian investment in renewable energy sources has been substantial"
Use synonyms: "rapid growth" → "swift expansion"; "challenges" → "difficulties"; "implement" → "introduce"
Restructure sentences: "The coral reefs protect coastlines from erosion" becomes "Coastlines receive protection from erosion through coral reefs"
Combine or split information: Merge two short sentences into one, or break a complex sentence into simpler components
Change from active to passive voice (or vice versa): "Scientists monitor the Soufrière volcano closely" → "The Soufrière volcano is monitored closely"
Technical terms specific to the topic (e.g., "photosynthesis," "GDP," "hurricane") cannot always be paraphrased, but show you have attempted to rework the surrounding text.
Writing in continuous prose format
Most CSEC summary questions require continuous prose — complete sentences organised into one or two proper paragraphs, not bullet points or notes.
Structure your prose summary:
Opening/topic sentence: Introduce the subject and context in one sentence. Example: "Caribbean banana farmers face numerous economic and environmental challenges."
Body sentences: Present your content points in logical order, using 2-3 content points per sentence where natural. Use connectives: "Additionally," "Furthermore," "Another benefit includes," "In contrast."
Conclusion (optional): If word count permits, a brief closing statement can round off your summary, but prioritise content points over stylistic flourishes.
Keep sentences clear and concise. Avoid:
- Personal opinions ("I think")
- Quotations from the passage
- New information not in the original text
- Examples unless specifically requested
Organising notes effectively
When a question asks for notes rather than prose, use a clear, structured format. CSEC note-making tasks may specify bullet points, numbered lists, or columns.
Effective note-making principles:
Use clear labels: If summarising "advantages" and "disadvantages," create two separate sections with headings
Write in grammatically complete phrases: Notes should be concise but comprehensible. "Increased employment opportunities in hospitality sector" is better than "employment hospitality"
One point per line: Do not combine multiple ideas in one bullet point
Maintain parallel structure: If you start bullets with verbs, continue that pattern throughout
Be specific: "Damage to marine ecosystems" is better than "environmental problems"
Example note format for a question on Carnival's economic impact:
Economic benefits of Trinidad Carnival:
- Generates approximately $400 million in revenue annually
- Creates temporary employment in costume production
- Boosts hotel occupancy rates during festival period
- Stimulates small business sales in food and beverages
- Attracts international tourists year-round
Managing word count
CSEC summaries typically require 120-140 words. Exceeding the limit results in penalties — examiners stop marking after the maximum word count.
Word count strategies:
Count as you draft: Make a mark every 10 words in your rough version
Eliminate redundancy: "Due to the fact that" → "because"; "in order to" → "to"
Remove qualifiers: "very," "really," "quite," "somewhat" add words without adding content
Use concise vocabulary: "utilise" → "use"; "commenced" → "began"
Prioritise high-value points: If running over the limit, keep the clearest, most substantial content points
Count contractions as one word: "didn't" counts as one word
Hyphenated words count as one: "state-of-the-art" is one word
Articles (a, an, the) and prepositions count as words, so you cannot eliminate them arbitrarily, but revising sentence structure can reduce their use.
Worked examples
Example 1: Prose summary
Question: Using information from the passage, write a summary on the benefits of solar energy for Caribbean nations. Your summary should be in continuous prose and must not exceed 140 words.
Sample passage excerpt (simplified): "Caribbean countries import most of their energy in the form of fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to price fluctuations in the global market. Solar energy offers a sustainable alternative. The region's geographical position near the equator means consistent sunshine throughout the year, making photovoltaic systems highly efficient. Installing solar panels reduces dependence on imported oil, keeping more money within local economies. Additionally, the solar industry creates jobs in installation and maintenance sectors. Unlike coal or natural gas plants, solar facilities produce no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, helping Caribbean nations meet their climate commitments under international agreements. Solar energy also reduces the strain on national budgets previously allocated to fuel subsidies."
Model response (138 words):
Caribbean nations gain numerous advantages from solar energy adoption. Their equatorial location ensures year-round sunshine, which makes solar panel systems operate very efficiently. By generating electricity from solar power, these countries decrease their reliance on imported fossil fuels, thereby protecting their economies from volatile international oil prices. The money saved from reduced fuel imports remains within local economies for other development priorities. Solar energy contributes to employment growth through job creation in the installation and maintenance industries. Environmentally, solar facilities generate electricity without releasing greenhouse gases during operation, enabling Caribbean governments to fulfil their international climate obligations. Furthermore, switching to solar power alleviates the financial burden on national budgets that traditionally funded substantial fuel subsidies. These combined economic, environmental and employment benefits make solar energy an increasingly attractive option for Caribbean energy development.
Mark scheme analysis: Content points included (10 marks available, typically award 1 mark each up to maximum):
- Consistent sunshine due to geographical location ✓
- High efficiency of solar systems ✓
- Reduced dependence on imported fuels ✓
- Protection from global price fluctuations ✓
- Money retained in local economy ✓
- Job creation in installation sector ✓
- Job creation in maintenance sector ✓
- No greenhouse gas emissions ✓
- Helps meet climate commitments ✓
- Reduces spending on fuel subsidies ✓
Example 2: Note-making format
Question: Make notes on the challenges facing fisheries in the Caribbean region. Present your notes using bullet points. You should have between 8-10 points.
Model response:
Challenges facing Caribbean fisheries:
- Overfishing in coastal waters leading to depleted fish stocks
- Use of illegal fishing methods that damage marine habitats
- Competition from industrial foreign fishing vessels
- Rising sea temperatures affecting fish breeding patterns
- Coral reef degradation reducing fish nursery areas
- Limited access to modern fishing equipment for small-scale fishers
- Inadequate enforcement of fishing regulations and protected zones
- Hurricane damage to fishing boats and coastal infrastructure
- Difficulties obtaining affordable financing for vessel repairs
- Declining numbers of young people entering the fishing profession
Mark scheme analysis: Each distinct challenge = 1 content mark. Notes are grammatically complete, specific, and clearly separated. No verbatim copying. Appropriate level of detail without unnecessary elaboration.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Copying chunks of text verbatim: Examiners penalise copying. If you take three or more consecutive words from the passage, you risk losing marks. Always paraphrase except for technical terms with no reasonable alternatives. Practice synonym replacement and sentence restructuring during revision.
Including irrelevant information: Students often try to reach the word count by adding points that do not address the specific question focus. If asked about "benefits," do not include challenges or descriptions. Underline the key focus words in the question and check each point against them before including it.
Exceeding the word count significantly: Examiners stop reading after the specified maximum (typically 120-140 words). Content points beyond that limit earn zero marks even if brilliant. Draft your response, count carefully, and edit ruthlessly. Better to come in at 135 words with strong points than 160 words with weak points ignored.
Writing in note form when prose is required (or vice versa): Read the question carefully. "Write a summary" typically means continuous prose in paragraphs. "Make notes" or "list the main points" means bullet points or numbered format. Mismatching the format results in lost marks for expression.
Adding personal opinions or outside knowledge: Summaries must contain only information from the passage provided. Do not add phrases like "I believe," "In my opinion," or facts you know about the topic that are not in the text. Stick strictly to what is stated or clearly implied in the passage.
Poor paragraph structure in prose summaries: A solid block of text is harder to read and suggests poor organisation. Include a clear topic sentence, group related points logically, and use appropriate connectives ("Furthermore," "Additionally," "However") to link ideas smoothly.
Exam technique for "Summarising and Note-Making"
Time management: Allocate approximately 30-35 minutes for the summary question in Paper 2. Spend 5-7 minutes reading and identifying points, 15-20 minutes drafting your response, and 5 minutes reviewing and counting words. Do not rush the identification phase — missing content points costs marks directly.
Active reading strategy: On your first read-through, understand the passage's overall message. On your second reading, with the question in mind, use pencil to mark or number each relevant point in the margin. Aim to identify 12-15 possible points, then select the strongest 10 for your response, ensuring they directly address the question.
Draft efficiently: If time permits, write a brief rough version in the margin or on spare paper, then produce a neat final copy. If pressed for time, go directly to your answer booklet but leave every other line blank so you can insert corrections neatly. Count words as you write by marking every 10th word.
Allocate marks strategically: Most CSEC summaries award 10 marks for content (1 mark per point up to 10) and 5 marks for expression (including paraphrasing, grammar, coherence). Prioritise getting 10 solid content points, but do not neglect clear expression and accurate paraphrasing, which together represent one-third of the available marks.
Quick revision summary
Summarising requires extracting relevant information and presenting it concisely in your own words within a specified word count (typically 120-140 words for CSEC). Identify 10-12 content points that directly address the question focus, paraphrase effectively using synonyms and sentence restructuring, and present information in the required format (continuous prose or notes). Avoid verbatim copying, irrelevant details, and exceeding word limits. Allocate 30-35 minutes in the exam: read actively, draft strategically, and review carefully. Strong paraphrasing and precise focus on the question earn maximum marks.