CSS 2026English (Precis & Composition)Q. 2
Write a précis (100 words) of the following passage and suggest a suitable title. ("One of the outstanding features of the century has been the improvement of living of working man…")
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This is a model answer to the CSS 2026 English (Precis & Composition) paper (Q. 2), prepared by the CSS Nexus team for practice. Read the outline first, then see how each point is developed.
Outline
- Step 1. Read the passage twice and find the central idea
- ✓The working class has gained power, wealth, leisure and welfare over the century
- Step 2. Note the supporting points
- ✓Early societies: a comfortable ruling few and a toiling, powerless majority (and slaves)
- ✓Industrial Revolution: more goods, dissatisfied workers, employers forced to show goodwill
- ✓Free choice of employer: good masters attracted the best workers, raising standards
- ✓Trade unions and strikes sped up reform
- ✓Today: fewer strikes; employers and workers depend on each other
- Step 3. Drop examples and repetition; write in your own words, in the third person and past tense
- Step 4. Count words (about one-third of the original) and choose a title
Answer
Title
The Rise of the Working Class
Précis
The century has markedly improved the lot of working people, giving them political power, wealth, leisure, health care, security and education. In early civilisations a small ruling class lived in comfort while the labouring majority, and the slaves beneath them, toiled without rights. The Industrial Revolution multiplied production and made workers resent their poverty. Needing skilled labour, factory owners realised that goodwill was essential; since workers could choose their employers, good masters attracted the best hands and standards rose generally. Trade unions and strikes accelerated these reforms. With conditions now better, strikes have declined, and both sides recognise their mutual dependence.
(Word count: about 100)
Why this works
The précis keeps the central idea in the opening sentence, follows the passage's logical order (past, Industrial Revolution, competition, unions, present), removes examples such as "kings, priests, military leaders", and uses the writer's own words. Other suitable titles are "The Changing Fortunes of Labour" or "Labour and Capital: From Conflict to Cooperation".
Common mistakes to avoid
Copying sentences from the passage, adding personal opinion, exceeding the word limit by a wide margin, writing in the first person, and choosing a title that covers only one part of the passage (for example "Trade Unions").
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