Structured Practice

Precis practice: Technology and institutional capacity

Precis

Precis 20 marks 35 minutes 120 words

Read the following original passage and write a précis of approximately one-third of its length. Supply a suitable title.

Governments often purchase technology in the hope that software will repair weak processes. The result may be a digital copy of an inefficient system. Technology creates value when responsibilities are clear, records are reliable, staff are trained, and citizens can challenge errors. A portal cannot compensate for contradictory rules, fragmented databases, or incentives that reward delay. Digital reform should therefore begin with process mapping and legal review, followed by careful design, testing, and independent evaluation. The most advanced system is not always the most suitable; resilience, accessibility, and accountability matter more than novelty.

Practice workspace

Write notes or your response

35:00

Suggested approach

Identify the central claim, remove examples and repetition, preserve logical relationships, write in your own words, and add a concise title.

Self-assessment rubric

Accuracy 40%; compression 20%; coherence 20%; language 15%; title 5%.