Paper 1, Question 3, Summary: Should students use multiple paragraphs or restrict their response to one paragraph only?

It is not mandatory to include multiple paragraphs or for separate strands to be handled either separately or jointly in a candidate response.

One of the criteria on which the quality of candidates’ writing is assessed in their summary response (Q3a Writing) relates to how well organised the summary is. There are many ways in which a summary response could be well organised. The focus should be on the impact of the organisation of the response on the reader. Paragraphing typically supports organisation in writing, but that isn't to say that effective organisation cannot be achieved via one single paragraph. Similarly, in presenting and ordering content points, there are many different ways in which a logical and clear structure can be achieved.

The other criterion on which candidates’ writing is assessed in their summary response is the appropriate use and range of candidates’ own words and structures. Please refer to the Q3a (Writing) Table in the Paper 1 Reading specimen mark scheme for descriptors in full.