Write Abstracts and Executive Summaries

The key idea

The learner can write an abstract or executive summary that is complete, concise and independent of the full text.

What is it for?

Learn to summarise a report or study so readers can understand its purpose, methods, findings and conclusions without reading the full text.

What you need to know

State the purpose and scope of the study or report.
Explain the method briefly, including how information was collected.
Present the main findings, using precise words and relevant figures.
Give the conclusion or recommendation supported by the findings.
Remove background details, repeated ideas, quotations and personal opinions.
Check the required word limit and make the summary understandable on its own.

1. Choose the right content and order

An abstract summarises a study, often for a research paper. An executive summary presents the main points of a longer report.

Both should help readers understand the work without reading every page. Include only information that serves this purpose.

Use a clear order: purpose, method, findings, and conclusion. An executive summary may also include practical recommendations.

Purpose: explain what the work examines or aims to achieve.
Method: state how the information was collected or analysed.
Findings: report the most important results.
Conclusion: explain what the results suggest or recommend.
Keep the order logical, but adapt it to the document's purpose.

The study examined whether flexible work hours reduced staff absences.

The purpose identifies the main issue and the intended focus.

The findings indicate that flexible hours reduced reported absences by 18%.

The result gives a clear finding and a useful figure.

2. Compress information without losing meaning

A summary keeps the main meaning while removing unnecessary detail.

Nominalisation turns an action into a noun. For example, 'staff responded' becomes 'staff responses'.

Precise verbs can replace long explanations. Passive forms can also help when the process matters more than the person.

Replace long descriptions with accurate terms.
Use nominalisation when it makes a sentence shorter and clearer.
Use passive forms when the actor is unknown or unimportant.
Keep figures that support the main finding.
Remove repeated examples, minor details and decorative language.

Long: The team looked at the answers given by 120 customers.

This sentence uses extra words.

Concise: The team analysed responses from 120 customers.

The verb 'analysed' communicates the action more directly.

Concise passive: Responses from 120 customers were analysed.

The passive version focuses on the evidence, not the team.

3. Select tenses and report findings carefully

Use the present tense to describe what a paper or report does. Use the past tense for completed research activities and results.

Choose verbs that match the strength of the evidence. A small study may suggest a link without proving cause and effect.

Hedging helps you avoid claims that go beyond the results. Use words such as 'suggests', 'indicates' and 'appears'.

Present: The report examines staff satisfaction.
Past: Researchers interviewed 80 employees.
Present: The findings suggest a link between training and retention.
Past: The survey identified three common concerns.
Do not claim that one factor caused another without suitable evidence.

The report identifies three barriers to online learning.

The present tense describes the report's content.

Researchers collected responses over six weeks.

The past tense describes a completed research activity.

The results suggest that shorter lessons may improve attendance.

The cautious wording avoids claiming more than the evidence supports.

4. Keep the summary independent and objective

Readers should understand the summary without opening the full document.

Name the subject, group or setting when readers need this information. Avoid phrases that depend on missing pages, such as 'as explained above'.

Do not add new facts, personal opinions or quotations. Every claim must come from the original work.

Identify the study or report clearly.
Explain essential terms if readers may not know them.
Replace references such as 'these results' when their meaning is unclear.
Report evidence rather than personal reactions.
Do not introduce facts that the original document does not contain.

Unclear: These results support the proposed changes.

Readers may not know which results or changes are meant.

Clear: The attendance data support extending the evening classes.

The sentence names the evidence and the proposed action.

Objective: The trial found a 12% reduction in missed appointments.

The sentence reports a result without adding personal praise.

5. Meet the word limit through careful cutting

An abstract often has a strict word limit. An executive summary may be longer because it serves managers or decision-makers.

Check the instructions before writing. Then draft the main points and count the words.

Cut repeated ideas first. Next, remove minor details and replace wordy phrases with precise expressions. Never remove information needed to understand the findings.

Check the required length and any formatting rules.
Keep one main purpose and the most important findings.
Replace long phrases with shorter, accurate wording.
Remove details that do not affect the conclusion.
Count the words again after every major revision.

Before: The purpose of this study was to examine staff attendance.

The opening uses a long phrase.

After: This study examined staff attendance.

The revised version keeps the meaning in fewer words.

Before: It is important to note that costs increased by 9%.

The opening phrase adds no useful information.

After: Costs increased by 9%.

The key result is now direct and easy to find.

How to do it, step by step

Identify the report's main purpose and intended readers.
Select the method and findings that matter most.
Write the conclusion or recommendation supported by the evidence.
Combine the points in a logical order and remove unnecessary detail.
Check accuracy, tense, independence and the word limit.

Formulas and key language

Use it for	Example	Another example
This study examines + noun or -ing form	This study examines staff preferences for flexible hours.	This paper examines the effects of shorter training sessions.
The report aims to + base verb	The report aims to identify delays in customer service.	The report aims to assess the cost of home deliveries.
Data were collected through + method	Data were collected through online questionnaires.	Data were collected through interviews with 60 customers.
The analysis focused on + noun or -ing form	The analysis focused on monthly spending patterns.	The analysis focused on identifying common service delays.
The findings indicate that + clause	The findings indicate that evening classes attract more adults.	The findings indicate that delivery delays affect customer satisfaction.
The results suggest that + clause	The results suggest that shorter meetings improve staff participation.	The results suggest that clearer labels reduce shopping errors.
A reduction in + noun was observed	A reduction in missed appointments was observed.	A reduction in printing costs was observed.
These findings support + noun or -ing form	These findings support extending the evening service.	These findings support further testing of the new schedule.
It is recommended that + subject + base verb	It is recommended that the centre extend its opening hours.	It is recommended that the team review delivery procedures.

UK / US: British and American English use the same basic structure for abstracts and executive summaries. Follow the spelling style required by your reader or organisation.

Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to C1 upgrades page.

Model text

From a Full Report to an Abstract

Full report: Purpose and method

A community learning centre examined whether changing its evening class schedule could improve attendance. During the previous term, several classes had recorded frequent absences, particularly among adults who worked late. The centre introduced a later start time for two evening courses. Researchers then compared attendance records from eight weeks before the change with records from eight weeks afterwards. They also collected feedback from 64 learners through a short questionnaire.

This section states the problem, describes the change and explains how evidence was collected.

Full report: Findings and conclusion

Average attendance increased from 71% to 83% after the schedule changed. Questionnaire responses suggested that the later start time helped learners arrive after work. However, transport difficulties remained a concern for some participants. The comparison cannot establish that the new schedule alone caused the increase, because other factors may have influenced attendance. The centre should therefore continue the later schedule for another term and monitor both attendance and learner feedback before extending the change to other courses.

This section reports the main result, recognises a limitation and gives a cautious recommendation.

Abstract: About 80 words

This study examined whether later evening classes could improve attendance at a community learning centre. Attendance records from eight weeks before and after the schedule change were compared, and 64 learners completed a questionnaire. Average attendance rose from 71% to 83%, while feedback indicated that the later start helped adults arriving from work. Transport difficulties remained a concern. Although the results suggest that the revised schedule may improve attendance, other factors could have contributed. The centre should continue the trial and review attendance and feedback before expanding the change.

The abstract keeps the purpose, method, key figures, limitation and recommendation. It stands alone and adds no new facts.

Common mistakes

✗ The study will examine attendance.

✓ The study examined attendance.

Use the past tense when describing a completed study.

✗ The findings prove that later classes caused higher attendance.

✓ The findings suggest that later classes may have improved attendance.

The comparison does not prove that the schedule caused the increase.

✗ The results were extremely very encouraging.

✓ The results were encouraging.

Avoid unnecessary intensifiers and personal evaluation in an objective summary.

✗ The study examined attendance, which was attendance at evening classes.

✓ The study examined attendance at evening classes.

Remove repeated information that does not add meaning.

✗ The researchers interviewed 64 learners, including each learner's full personal history.

✓ The researchers interviewed 64 learners.

Remove details that are unnecessary for understanding the main findings.

✗ As mentioned above, attendance increased by 12%.

✓ Attendance increased by 12%.

A summary must make sense without the full report.

Plan it, then check it

Plan

Write one sentence stating the study's purpose.
Note the method and the most important findings.
Write the conclusion or recommendation supported by those findings.
Arrange the information in a clear order and remove minor details.
Draft the summary within the required word limit.

Check

Does the summary state the purpose, method, findings and conclusion?
Can readers understand it without the full report?
Are all claims supported by the original document?
Are the tense and level of certainty accurate?
Have I removed repetition and met the word limit?

Practice

EXERCISE:

Choose the Best Abstract Sentence

Choose the sentence that is precise, objective and suitable for an abstract.

1.Which sentence states a study's purpose most clearly?

The first option states a clear purpose without personal opinion or vague detail.

2.Which sentence reports a completed method?

The third option reports a completed research activity and gives useful detail.

3.Which sentence reports a finding cautiously?

The second option reports a possible effect without claiming complete proof.

4.Which sentence is most suitable for an objective summary?

The third option reports a measurable finding without personal judgement.

5.Which sentence can stand alone in an abstract?

The second option names the evidence and gives the result without relying on other text.

6.Which sentence gives a suitable recommendation?

The first option gives a practical recommendation linked to continued evidence collection.

Now write

Your task

Write a 90-120-word abstract for this fictional study. A town library tested later opening hours for twelve weeks. Before the trial, average weekly visits were 420. During the trial, average weekly visits rose to 485. Researchers compared visitor records from the twelve weeks before the change and the twelve weeks during the trial. They also collected questionnaires from 90 visitors. Most respondents said later hours helped them visit after work. Some visitors still reported transport problems. The study could not establish that later hours alone caused the increase. Write an abstract covering the purpose, method, main findings, limitation and conclusion. Use only the information provided. Do not add new facts or personal opinions.

Target: 90-120 words

Word bank

examinedinvestigatedvisitor recordsquestionnaire responsesweekly attendanceincreased fromthe findings indicatethe results suggestduring the trialcompared witha potential limitationtransport difficultiesmay have contributedfurther monitoringthe study recommends

Sentence starters

This study examined whether...
Data were collected through...
Researchers compared...
The findings indicate that...
However, the study could not establish whether...
The results suggest that...

Use the fictional library study and invented wording. Do not include private information about yourself or real people.

Instant feedback on your own text is part of Premium.

Check your writing

Does my abstract state the purpose, method, findings and conclusion?
Can readers understand the summary without reading the full report?
Have I included only information supported by the original study?
Have I used precise words and cautious claims where needed?
Have I removed repetition and stayed within the word limit?

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