Write a Summary of the Following Passage: Steps, Format & 10 Solved Examples (Class 6–10)

In English exams, you will often see the instruction: “Write a summary of the following passage.” Summarising a passage means reading a text carefully and rewriting only its main idea and most important points in fewer words and in your own language. It is a key writing skill for students in Classes 6–10 because it tests whether you truly understood what you read.

Quick answer: how do you write a summary of a passage? Read the passage twice, find the main idea, note the key points, drop examples and repeated details, rewrite the points in your own words in a short paragraph, and check your grammar. This guide explains each step, the correct format, and then shows 10 solved examples you can practise with.

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What Does It Mean to Write a Summary of the Following Passage?

A summary is a short version of a longer text. It keeps the central message and the most important supporting points, and leaves out everything else, such as examples, descriptions, quotations and repetition.

When a question says “write a summary of the following passage”, it is also worded in other ways. You may see:

Summarize the following passage
Write a concise summary of the passage below
Give a one-paragraph summary for this text
Create a brief bullet-point summary of the passage
Provide a short abstract of the following passage

All of these ask for the same core skill: shortening a text without losing its meaning.

A simple example

Original: “Honeybees visit flower after flower to collect nectar. While moving between flowers, they carry pollen on their bodies, which helps plants make seeds and fruits. Without bees, many of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy would become rare.”

Summary: Bees collect nectar and, in the process, spread pollen, which helps plants produce fruits and seeds.

The summary has one sentence, uses fresh wording, and keeps only the cause (bees spread pollen) and the result (plants produce fruit).

Why Is Summary Writing Important for Students?

Summary writing is more than an exam exercise. It builds several skills at once:

Reading comprehension: You cannot summarise what you have not understood, so the task pushes you to read closely.
Vocabulary: Rewriting ideas in your own words makes you look for simpler or better words.
Critical thinking: You must decide which details matter and which can be dropped.
Writing skills: Short, clear sentences with a logical order become a habit.
Study skills: Making short notes from a chapter is summarising in practice, and it helps in revision.

How to Write a Summary of a Passage: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Read the passage carefully

Read it once for a general idea and a second time slowly. Look up or guess the meaning of difficult words from context.

Step 2: Identify the main idea

Ask yourself: “What is this passage mostly about?” The main idea is often in the first or last sentence, but not always. Try to state it in one sentence.

Step 3: Highlight important points

Underline the sentences that support the main idea, such as reasons, causes, results and key facts.

Step 4: Remove unnecessary details and examples

Leave out repeated ideas, personal stories used as illustrations, descriptions, numbers that are not essential, and direct quotations.

Step 5: Rewrite the key information in your own words

Combine your points into connected sentences. Do not copy long phrases from the passage.

Step 6: Keep it short and clear

A commonly taught guideline is to keep a summary to roughly one-third of the original length. Always follow the word limit given in the question or by your teacher.

Step 7: Review and correct grammatical errors

Check tense, spelling, punctuation and sentence flow. Make sure your summary makes sense even to someone who has not read the passage.

Correct Format for Summary Writing

Element	Guideline
Heading	Write a short, meaningful title (as the question or your teacher requires)
Structure	Usually one paragraph, unless bullet points are asked for
Order	Follow the order of ideas in the original passage
Tense	Generally use the simple present or the tense that matches the passage; stay consistent
Person	Write in the third person; avoid “I” and “we” unless the passage is about the writer
Length	Follow the stated word limit; if none is given, aim for about one-third of the passage
Language	Your own words, simple and direct sentences
Opinion	Do not add your own views or comments

Formats can differ between schools and boards, so check what your teacher or textbook expects.

Important Rules to Follow While Writing a Summary

Do’s

Do state the main idea clearly.
Do keep the original meaning and order of ideas.
Do use your own words and connect sentences smoothly.
Do stay within the word limit.
Do proofread before submitting.

Don’ts

Don’t copy sentences directly from the passage.
Don’t add your own opinion or new information.
Don’t include examples, quotations or minor details.
Don’t write a summary that is as long as the passage.
Don’t change the meaning of what the writer said.

10 Solved Summary Writing Examples for Classes 6–10

The passages below are original and arranged from easier to harder. Try writing your own summary first, then compare it with the model.

Example 1: The Joy of Reading (Class 6, reading habits)

Passage: Reading a little every day can change the way we think and speak. When we read stories, we meet new words and ideas without even trying. Books also take us to places we may never visit and let us understand people very different from us. A child who reads daily usually finds writing and speaking easier. So even fifteen minutes with a book before bedtime is a habit worth building.

Heading: Benefits of Daily Reading

Summary: Reading daily improves our language, introduces new ideas and helps us understand different people. Even fifteen minutes a day is a useful habit.

Main idea: Daily reading is beneficial. Supporting points: new words, wider understanding, easier speaking and writing.

Example 2: Making the Most of Time (Class 6, time management)

Passage: Time is like a bank account that gives everyone the same amount each day. Some students waste it on small distractions and then rush at the last minute. Others make a simple timetable, finish difficult tasks first and keep short breaks for rest. These students feel calmer and perform better. Planning does not take much time, but it saves a great deal.

Heading: The Value of Planning Time

Summary: Everyone gets equal time each day, but students who plan with a timetable, do hard tasks first and take short breaks stay calm and perform better than those who waste time.

Example 3: Trees, Our Silent Friends (Class 7, nature)

Passage: Trees do many quiet jobs for us. They take in carbon dioxide and release the oxygen we breathe. Their roots hold the soil together and prevent it from washing away in heavy rain. Their shade keeps streets and homes cooler in summer, and their branches shelter birds and insects. Yet, in many places, trees are cut down for roads and buildings without thought. If we want a healthy future, we must protect the trees we have and plant new ones.

Heading: Why Trees Matter

Summary: Trees provide oxygen, protect soil, give cool shade and shelter wildlife. Because they are often cut carelessly, we must protect existing trees and plant more.

Example 4: A True Friend (Class 7, friendship)

Passage: Anyone can be a friend when times are good, but a true friend is the one who stays when things go wrong. Such a friend listens without making fun, tells us the truth gently and is happy when we succeed. Friendship does not need expensive gifts or constant company. It grows through honesty, trust and small acts of kindness. A single loyal friend is worth more than a large crowd of acquaintances.

Heading: Qualities of True Friendship

Summary: A true friend supports us in difficult times, listens, speaks honestly and celebrates our success. Friendship depends on trust and kindness, not gifts, and one loyal friend is better than many casual ones.

Example 5: Eating Right, Living Well (Class 8, health)

Passage: Many children today prefer chips, sweets and cold drinks to home-cooked meals. These foods taste good but offer little nourishment, and eating them too often can lead to weight gain and tiredness. A balanced diet, which includes cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and milk products, supplies the energy and vitamins the growing body needs. Drinking enough water and sleeping on time are equally important. Healthy habits formed in childhood usually stay for life.

Heading: The Importance of a Balanced Diet

Summary: Junk food lacks nutrition and may cause weight gain and tiredness, while a balanced diet with enough water and sleep keeps the growing body healthy. Good habits formed in childhood last a lifetime.

Example 6: Lessons from the Playground (Class 8, sports)

Passage: Sports are often seen as a break from studies, but they teach lessons that no textbook can. A player learns to follow rules, work with teammates and accept defeat without anger. Regular practice builds patience, since improvement comes slowly. Physical activity also keeps the body strong and the mind fresh, which helps students concentrate in class. Schools should therefore treat sports as an essential part of education, not an extra.

Heading: Why Sports Belong in Education

Summary: Sports teach discipline, teamwork, patience and sportsmanship, and they keep body and mind fit for studying. Hence, schools should treat them as an essential part of education.

Example 7: The Power of Discipline (Class 9, discipline)

Passage: Many people believe that success comes from talent alone, but history suggests otherwise. Talented individuals who lack discipline often leave their goals unfinished, while ordinary learners who work steadily frequently surpass them. Discipline means doing what must be done even when we do not feel like it: waking up on time, completing homework and avoiding constant distractions. It may seem restrictive at first, but it actually gives us freedom, because a disciplined person is never trapped by delays, last-minute pressure or regret.

Heading: Discipline: The Foundation of Success

Summary: Talent without discipline often fails, whereas steady, disciplined effort leads to success. By building routines and avoiding distractions, a disciplined person escapes delay and last-minute pressure, so discipline brings freedom rather than restriction.

Example 8: Technology in the Classroom (Class 9, technology)

Passage: Digital tools have changed how students learn. Videos can explain a difficult experiment in minutes, online libraries provide books that a school may not own, and learning apps allow students to practise at their own pace. However, the same devices carry distractions such as games and social media, and too much screen time can strain the eyes and reduce attention. The real value of technology therefore depends on how it is used. When guided by teachers and parents, it can support learning; when used without limits, it can weaken it.

Heading: Technology and Learning: Use with Care

Summary: Digital tools make learning easier through videos, online books and apps, but distractions and excessive screen time can harm attention and health. Technology helps learning only when it is used with guidance and limits.

Example 9: Protecting Our Water (Class 10, environment)

Passage: Although water covers most of the earth, only a small portion is fresh and usable, and that portion is under growing pressure. Factories release untreated waste into rivers, farms use more water than necessary, and households often let taps run carelessly. As groundwater levels fall, wells dry up and communities are forced to depend on distant supplies. Solving this crisis needs effort at every level: industries must treat their waste, farmers can adopt drip irrigation, and families can fix leaks and reuse water. Rainwater harvesting, though simple, can recharge groundwater and offers a lasting remedy.

Heading: The Need to Conserve Fresh Water

Summary: Fresh water is limited and is being polluted and overused by industries, farms and households, causing groundwater to decline. Treating industrial waste, using efficient irrigation, saving water at home and harvesting rainwater can help conserve it.

Example 10: Education Beyond Marks (Class 10, education)

Passage: Examinations are meant to measure learning, yet many students now study only to score marks. They memorise answers the night before, write them down and forget them within weeks. This habit may produce good results, but it leaves little real understanding. True education encourages curiosity, asks questions and connects lessons to everyday life. A student who understands a concept can apply it in new situations, long after the exam is over. Marks matter, but they should be a result of learning, not the only goal.

Heading: Learning Versus Scoring

Summary: Many students memorise only to score marks, which gives results but little lasting understanding. Real education builds curiosity and the ability to apply ideas, so marks should follow learning rather than be its sole aim.

Common Mistakes Students Should Avoid

Mistake	Why it is a problem	Better approach
Copying lines from the passage	It shows no understanding	Rewrite each idea in your own words
Including examples	Examples make the summary long	Keep only the idea the example supports
Adding personal opinions	A summary reports the writer’s message, not yours	Stick to the passage
Missing the main idea	The summary becomes a random list of facts	State the main idea first
Writing too long or too short	Marks are lost for ignoring the limit	Count words and trim or add accordingly
Changing the order or meaning	The summary becomes inaccurate	Follow the original flow
Ignoring grammar	Errors reduce clarity	Proofread at the end

Tips to Improve Summary Writing Skills

Practise with short texts daily. Summarise a news item, a paragraph from a textbook or a short story in two sentences.
Use the “who, what, why” test. If your summary answers these, it probably covers the essentials.
Underline as you read. In the exam, mark only key sentences so you can quickly gather them later.
Learn linking words. Words such as because, therefore, however and as a result help join ideas into one smooth paragraph.
Write a one-sentence version first. Then expand it only if more length is allowed.
Read your summary aloud. If it sounds unclear, fix it.
Compare with a model. After practising, compare your answer with a solved example, like those above, to see what you missed.

Conclusion

Learning to write a summary of the following passage is about three habits: reading carefully, choosing what matters, and expressing it clearly in your own words. Follow the seven steps, keep to the correct format and avoid common mistakes, and your summaries will be accurate and concise. Use the 10 solved examples above as practice material: attempt each passage before reading the model, and you will see steady improvement. With regular practice, summarising becomes quick and natural, and it helps in every subject, not only in English.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "write a summary of the following passage" mean?

It means you should read the given passage and write its main idea and key points in a shorter form, using your own words.

How long should a summary be?

Follow the word limit in the question. If none is given, many teachers suggest about one-third of the original length, but check your teacher’s or board’s instructions.

Should a summary have a heading?

Often yes, a short heading is expected, but follow your teacher’s or exam’s instructions.

Can I use the exact words of the passage?

Short key terms, such as names or technical words, can be reused, but sentences should be rewritten in your own words.

What is the difference between a summary and a paraphrase?

A paraphrase restates the whole text in different words and is usually similar in length. A summary shortens the text and keeps only the essentials.

Should I write a summary in the past or present tense?

Use the tense that suits the passage and stay consistent. Passages about general facts are usually summarised in the present tense.