Summary and synthesis: identifying the main theme or themes; summarising ideas and information from a single text; synthesising from more than one text

Overview

Summary and synthesis are core reading skills assessed under Assessment Objective 1 (AO1). While they are often tested together, they require slightly different approaches. Summarising requires you to distill the most important information from a single text into your own words. Synthesising requires you to weave together ideas from two or more texts to show how they connect, agree, or differ on a shared theme.

The Podcast

Listen to this 10-minute podcast episode for a comprehensive overview of summary and synthesis skills, including examiner tips and a quick-fire recall quiz.

Reading Skills: Summary

Identifying Explicit and Implicit Information

To summarise effectively, you must be able to locate both explicit and implicit information.

• Explicit Information: Information that is stated directly in the text. (e.g., 'The train arrived at 8:00 AM.')
• Implicit Information: Information that is suggested or implied, requiring you to read between the lines. (e.g., 'He paced the platform, checking his watch every ten seconds,' implies he is anxious or running late.)

Examiners reward candidates who can identify both. If you only spot explicit details, your summary will be superficial.

The Summary Process

1. Read the Question Focus: What exactly are you being asked to summarise? Highlight the key words in the question.
2. Scan and Select: Read the text, highlighting 4-6 key points that directly answer the question.
3. Paraphrase: Write your summary in your own words. Do not copy chunks of text. Copying shows you can read, but paraphrasing shows you understand.
4. Be Concise: A summary should be shorter than the original text. Omit minor details, long examples, and repetition.

Reading Skills: Synthesis

What is Synthesis?

Synthesis means bringing together information from more than one text into a single, unified response. You are not writing about Text A and then writing about Text B separately; you are weaving them together around a shared idea.

The TICS Method for Synthesis

To ensure you are truly synthesising and not just summarising separately, use the TICS method for your paragraphs:

• T - Topic: State the shared idea or theme.
• I - Idea from Text A: Explain what the first text says about this.
• C - Connection: Link it explicitly to Text B using a connective phrase.
• S - Synthesis point: Draw a conclusion about what both texts together tell us.

Essential Connective Phrases

To signal to the examiner that you are synthesising, you must use connective phrases:

• Agreement/Similarity: 'Both texts suggest that...', 'Similarly, Text B presents...', 'Like the writer of Text A, the author of Text B believes...'
• Difference/Contrast: 'While Text A focuses on..., Text B takes a different approach by...', 'In contrast to Text A, Text B suggests...', 'However, Text B offers a different perspective on...'

Writing Skills: Applying AO1 to Your Own Writing

While AO1 is a reading objective, the skills of summary and synthesis are crucial for your writing tasks (AO5 and AO6).

Planning and Organising Ideas

When writing a transactional piece (like an article or a speech), you must organise your ideas logically. The ability to synthesise your own thoughts—grouping related ideas together into coherent paragraphs—is what separates a clear, convincing argument from a disjointed ramble.

Being Concise and Clear

The skill of summarising teaches you how to be concise. In your own writing, avoid unnecessary repetition and 'waffle'. Make your point clearly, develop it with a specific detail or technique, and move on.