Rapid Reading / Summary / Note-Making / Information Transfer
Rapid reading, summary, note-making, and information transfer test quick extraction and condensation. The skill is to keep the main idea and drop repetition, examples, and decorative detail.
Core rules
- Summary: state the main idea and key supporting points; use your own words; keep the original tense.
- Notes: give a title, headings, and sub-points; use telegraphic language and indentation; avoid full sentences.
- Information transfer: read table, flowchart or tree labels carefully; copy the relation accurately.
- Check the word limit before writing the final version.
Worked example
Passage: 'Water is scarce in the village. People are advised to close taps, harvest rainwater, and repair leaks. One school saved water this way.' Summary: 'The passage explains that water is scarce and recommends closing taps, harvesting rain, and repairing leaks.' Reasoning: the summary keeps the problem and three solutions; it leaves out the school example, which is supporting detail. Notes: Water conservation: (i) close taps (ii) rainwater harvesting (iii) repair leaks.
Traps
- Copying full sentences into notes.
- Adding your own opinion to a summary.
- Missing the title in note-making.
- Changing the order of steps in a flowchart.
- Including examples that the summary does not need.