Writing: Planning, Accuracy and Range
What you must know
Writing tasks ask for a notice, message, email, postcard, diary entry, or short description of 50-120 words. Marks reward communication of all required points, range of vocabulary and structures, and accuracy. Plan before writing: note the audience (tu or Lei), the text type, and every bullet point the prompt requires, then tick each one off.
Control these structures: present tense of regular and common irregular verbs (essere, avere, fare, andare, venire, potere, volere, dovere), passato prossimo, near future (sto per, domani vado), modals with infinitives, connectives (perché, ma, però, quindi, poi, prima, dopo, infine), and formulaic openings and closings (Caro/Cara..., Ciao..., A presto, Un caro saluto, Distinti saluti for formal).
Traps in questions
- Missing a bullet point loses more marks than a small grammar slip; count them.
- Wrong register: tu forms in a formal email to a hotel or office.
- Word limit: staying far under the minimum restricts range; going far over adds errors.
- Adjective agreement and verb endings are the most frequent accuracy errors; leave two minutes to check them.
- Invented words from English (e.g. realizzare meaning 'to realise') cost marks; use structures you know.
Worked example
Prompt: write an email to an Italian friend inviting them to spend a weekend at your house, mentioning transport, food and one activity (about 60 words). Model: Ciao Marco, come stai? Ti scrivo perché vorrei invitarti a casa mia il prossimo fine settimana. Puoi prendere il treno fino alla stazione di Parramatta; poi vengo io a prenderti in macchina. Sabato mattina andiamo al mercato e nel pomeriggio facciamo una passeggiata al parco. La sera mia madre prepara la pasta, quindi mangiamo insieme. Fammi sapere se puoi venire. A presto, Luca. Every prompt point is covered: invitation, transport, food, activity.
Rule of thumb
Write a short plan as a checklist of the prompt's points, draft simply, then proofread verbs and agreements only.