Writing: Task, Register, and Range
Aptis General Writing moves from short responses to longer, more open tasks. The core concepts are task achievement (doing everything the prompt asks), register (formal vs informal), organisation (paragraphing and linking), range (varied vocabulary and structures), and accuracy (grammar, spelling, punctuation).
Traps to watch for
- Answering only half the prompt. Prompts often contain two or three sub-tasks (“describe… and say why…”). Missing one caps your score.
- Register slips. A message to a friend should not read like a report; a formal email should avoid contractions and slang.
- Word-count neglect. Under-length responses cannot show range. Aim to fill the expected length with relevant content, not padding.
- Over-ambition. Long, complex sentences with errors score worse than controlled ones. Accuracy is usually weighted heavily.
Rule of thumb
Before writing, spend thirty seconds planning: note each sub-task, then one idea per paragraph. Use a clear opening and closing line appropriate to the register. Leave a minute to check verb tenses and subject–verb agreement, the two most common error sources.
Worked example. Prompt: Write an email to a colleague explaining you will miss a meeting and suggesting how to cover your items. A weak answer says only “I can’t come, sorry.” A strong answer (1) states the absence and a brief reason, (2) names the agenda items and who could present them, (3) offers to send notes in advance, and (4) closes politely. Each sentence does a job the prompt asked for.