Integrated Reading–Writing Tasks
What this domain tests
You read a short passage and then write a response that summarizes it and gives your own view. The exam checks whether you understood the source, whether you can restate it in your own words, and whether you can separate summary from opinion.
Core rules and concepts
- Read twice: first for the overall claim, then for two supporting points you can name.
- Paraphrase by changing word class or using a synonym: charge money for bags → make bags cost extra.
- Attribute clearly: The writer argues that..., According to the passage....
- Keep the two halves separate. Summary first, then your opinion with one reason.
- Do not add facts that are not in the passage; examiners check for this.
Worked example
Passage claim: A town began charging five yen for plastic bags, and shoppers who brought their own bags rose from 20% to 60% in a year. The writer says the charge works better than asking people politely. Task: Summarize the writer's argument and give your opinion. Model: "The writer says that charging for plastic bags changed behavior in one town, where the number of shoppers bringing their own bags rose sharply. The writer believes a small fee works better than polite requests. I agree, because people notice money more than posters, and my own family started carrying bags only after the fee began." Reasoning: Sentence 1 restates the claim with a synonym (rose sharply for the percentages). Sentence 2 states the writer's position with attribution. Sentence 3 gives a personal opinion plus a reason, clearly marked by I agree, because.
Traps that cost marks
- Copying full sentences from the passage instead of paraphrasing.
- Mixing opinion into the summary so the reader cannot tell which is which.
- Giving an opinion with no reason.
- Adding outside statistics or examples not in the source.