Summary writing is one of the most consistently mishandled tasks in the CAPS English exam. Students either include too much, leave out critical points, or go over the word limit and lose marks unnecessarily. This guide fixes all of that.
In the Grade 10, 11 and 12 CAPS English curriculum, a summary task requires you to read a passage and then rewrite the key information in your own words, within a specified word count. The summary appears in Paper 1 and tests your ability to:
A summary is not a copy-paste exercise. You lose marks for lifting sentences directly from the text. You also lose marks for going over the word limit — examiners typically stop reading once you've exceeded it.
Get the big picture first. Understand the topic, the author's purpose and the overall message before you decide what's important.
The question will usually tell you what aspect of the passage to focus on. For example: "Summarise the reasons the writer gives for..." — this means you only include reasons, not descriptions, examples or background.
On your second reading, underline or number the points that directly answer what the question asks. Aim to identify exactly as many points as there are marks — if the question is worth 10 marks, find 10 points.
Rewrite each point in your own language. Change the sentence structure, use synonyms for key words, and avoid quoting directly from the text. This is where most marks are won or lost.
Connect your points using linking words (furthermore, in addition, however, as a result). Your summary should read as a coherent paragraph, not a list of bullet points.
Count carefully. If you're over the limit, identify sentences that can be shortened. If you're under, check whether you've missed any key points.
Count only the words in your summary, not the heading if you've written one. In CAPS, conjunctions, articles (a, an, the) and prepositions all count as words. Don't try to cheat the count by writing "don't" instead of "do not" — both count as one word.
Paraphrasing is the most important skill in summary writing. Here's how to do it effectively:
Original text: "Regular physical exercise has been shown to significantly reduce stress levels and improve overall mental health outcomes in adolescents."
Poor paraphrase (too close to the original): "Regular physical exercise significantly reduces stress and improves mental health in teenagers."
Strong paraphrase: "Young people who exercise frequently experience lower stress and better psychological wellbeing."
Different CAPS grades and tasks have different word limits. Always check the question. Common limits are 70–100 words for a shorter summary, and 120–150 words for a longer one. The penalties for exceeding the word limit vary — in some exams, the examiner stops reading at the limit. Others deduct marks per excess word. Either way, going over costs you.
Going significantly under the word limit usually means you've missed key points — which also costs marks. Aim to land within 5–10 words of the limit in either direction.
Write your word count in brackets at the end of your summary: e.g. (97 words). This shows the examiner you've counted carefully and makes it easier for them to verify. It's a small habit that signals a careful student.
Summary writing improves dramatically with practice. Work through 8–10 past paper summaries before your exam, time yourself, and — most importantly — get feedback from someone who knows the CAPS marking guidelines. A tutor can show you exactly which points earn marks and how the rubric is applied, which makes far more difference than practising in isolation.
Our How to Write a Summary study guide covers every aspect of CAPS summary writing — from identifying key points to paraphrasing techniques, word count strategies and worked examples with marking rubric breakdowns. All for R100, delivered instantly to your inbox.