GCSE English Language: Summarising and Synthesising Information Guide

What summarising involves

Summarising means identifying the key points of a text and expressing them concisely in your own words, without simply copying phrases directly from the source.

Synthesising across two texts

Synthesis questions ask you to combine and compare information from two different sources on a similar topic — identifying similarities and differences between what each source says.

Selecting relevant information

Focus only on information relevant to the specific question asked, rather than everything interesting in the text — irrelevant detail wastes time and doesn't gain marks.

Structuring your answer

Organise your response around clear points, using each source as evidence, and use your own words rather than long, unexplained quotations wherever possible.

Common mistakes

• Copying long sections of text directly rather than summarising in your own words.
• Summarising each text separately rather than making direct comparisons.
• Including information not relevant to the specific question.