IGCSE English 0500: Summarising Multiple Viewpoints

The town council is consulting residents on a proposal to hold a weekly night market in the marketplace square every Thursday evening from May to September, with food stalls, live music and extended opening hours for surrounding shops.

Supporters argue the market would draw visitors from neighbouring villages who currently have little reason to visit the town after five o'clock, and cite a similar market in a nearby town that reportedly doubled Thursday evening takings for cafes and restaurants within its first season. The council's tourism officer adds that footfall data from that town showed visitors often stayed to explore other shops nearby, suggesting benefits would not be limited to the market stallholders alone.

Existing shopkeepers are divided. Several independent gift-shop owners on the square welcome the idea, believing extra footfall on a traditionally quiet evening would boost sales without requiring them to compete directly with market stalls, since food and craft stalls would occupy a different part of the square. However, the two established restaurants directly overlooking the square have objected strongly, arguing that food stalls selling similar dishes at lower prices would draw customers away from their existing evening trade.

Residents living in the flats above the square have raised a different concern: live music and crowd noise until ten o'clock could disrupt sleep, especially for families with young children and for two residents who work night shifts and sleep during the evening. The council has proposed ending amplified music by nine o'clock as a compromise, though no final decision has been made.

An environmental group has also written in, pointing out that increased traffic and delivery vehicles bringing stock to stalls each week could add to congestion on the square's narrow surrounding streets, which already struggle with parking on market days. The group has asked the council to require stallholders to arrive on foot or by bicycle where possible.

The council expects to announce its decision after a two-week public consultation closes at the end of the month.

The council wants to understand how residents and different local groups feel about the market proposal. In your own words, write a connected summary of no more than 120 words covering the range of views for and against the plan. (Up to 8 marks for relevant content, covering the range of viewpoints; up to 4 marks for a concise, well-organised summary in your own words.) [12]

Creditable content points (up to 8 marks, one per point)

Supporters believe the market would attract visitors from neighbouring villages who would not otherwise visit in the evening.
A comparable market elsewhere reportedly doubled evening takings for cafes and restaurants.
Benefits could extend beyond stallholders, as visitors also explore other nearby shops.
Some existing shopkeepers (gift-shop owners) support the plan, expecting extra footfall without direct competition.
The two restaurants overlooking the square object, fearing cheaper food stalls will take their trade.
Residents above the square fear noise/crowds will disrupt sleep, particularly for families and night-shift workers.
The council has proposed a compromise of ending amplified music earlier, though this is not yet finalised.
An environmental group fears extra traffic/deliveries will worsen congestion and parking, and wants stallholders to travel without cars.

Writing marks (up to 4)

Award marks for a summary that:

stays within the 120-word limit despite the density of the source text
covers a genuine range of viewpoints (not just one or two) in the student’s own words
is organised logically, for example grouping supportive views, then business objections, then residents’ and environmental concerns
links ideas with connectives rather than presenting eight disconnected sentences

Points that should NOT be credited

The exact dates of the consultation period or its closing date, procedural detail, not a viewpoint.
The name or location of the comparison town used as evidence, supporting detail, not a viewpoint in itself.

Model summary (108 words)

“Supporters believe the market would attract visitors from nearby villages who rarely visit in the evening, pointing to a similar market elsewhere that reportedly doubled takings and encouraged visitors to explore other shops too; some gift-shop owners agree, expecting extra footfall without direct competition. Restaurants overlooking the square disagree, fearing cheaper food stalls would take their custom. Residents above the square worry that music and crowds could disrupt sleep, particularly for families and night-shift workers, though the council has suggested ending amplified music earlier as a compromise. An environmental group also fears extra traffic and deliveries would worsen congestion and parking, and wants stallholders to travel without cars.”

Final answer

A strong response reports at least five of the eight viewpoints above, clearly organised by stakeholder group, in connected own-words prose within the word limit.