An executive summary gives decision-makers the essentials of a longer report.

The idea

State the purpose, select the most important findings and give the recommendation; preserve the report’s meaning and keep details brief.

Examples

  • This report assesses access to the community centre.
  • The study compared opening times with local travel patterns.
  • Most visitors arrived before the evening session began.
  • However, the last bus left before that session ended.
  • We recommend coordinating the closing time with the bus timetable.
  • A three-month trial would allow the council to measure the effect.

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Watch out

Do not add a recommendation or finding that the report itself does not support.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the appropriate answer: The summary should state the report’s ___ before its key findings. (purpose / footnote)

    Show answer or example answer

    purpose

    purpose: Readers need to know what the report examines.

  2. Choose the appropriate answer: The survey found a shortage; the summary should include that main ___. (finding / heading)

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    finding

    finding: The shortage is a result of the survey.

  3. Choose the appropriate answer: The proposed next action is the ___. (recommendation / appendix)

    Show answer or example answer

    recommendation

    recommendation: The action is what the report advises.

Use it today

Summarise a report about a local service in three sentences: purpose, finding and recommendation.