Writing / Written Production
What this section tests
Written production asks you to compose short messages, emails, or paragraphs that are clear, organized, and appropriate in tone. Assessment focuses on task achievement, organization, grammar accuracy, and range of vocabulary.
Concepts to master
- Paragraph structure: one clear topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a closing or linking sentence.
- Cohesion: use connectors (first, in addition, however, as a result) to link ideas smoothly.
- Register and format: an email to a colleague differs from one to a manager. Open and close appropriately (Dear Mr. Lee, ... Best regards).
- Sentence variety: mix simple, compound, and complex sentences; avoid strings of short, choppy sentences.
- Accuracy over ambition: a correct simple sentence beats a broken complex one.
Traps to watch
- Ignoring part of the prompt (e.g., answering only two of three bullet points).
- Overusing memorized phrases that do not fit the situation.
- Shifting tense or pronoun reference mid-paragraph.
- Writing far over or under the required length.
Rule of thumb
Plan for one minute, write for the rest, and reserve time to check. Before writing, list the points the prompt requires and tick each one off in your draft. When editing, check three things in order: verb tense consistency, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation around connectors.