The Writing Word Limit
In the Aptis Writing test, Part 4 requires you to write an email of about 50 words to a friend inviting them to a party. You have 10 minutes. You draft: 'Hi Sam, I'm having a party on Saturday at 7pm. Would you like to come? There will be food and music. Let me know if you can make it. Best, Alex.' You count the words: 31 words. You worry it's too short and consider adding more details, but you also need to check grammar and spelling. You have 5 minutes left.
1. Should you add more content to reach the word limit? Why or why not?
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The instruction says 'about 50 words', so 31 is significantly under. You should add relevant details to meet the word count and show range. However, do not pad with irrelevant information. Add specific details like the occasion (birthday), what to bring, or request a reply. For example: 'Hi Sam, I'm having a birthday party on Saturday at 7pm at my place. Would you like to come? There will be food, music, and games. Please let me know if you can make it by Friday. Best, Alex.' This adds about 20 words and stays on topic. Then quickly proofread for errors.
2. How should you balance adding content with proofreading in the remaining time?
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Spend 2 minutes adding a sentence or two of relevant detail, then 3 minutes proofreading. Proofreading is crucial because grammar and spelling affect your score. Check for common errors: verb tense, prepositions, punctuation. Since the email is short, errors are more noticeable. Adding content without checking could introduce mistakes. So, add a concise detail, then read through carefully. If you find errors, correct them. If time runs out, at least the email is complete and mostly accurate.