Writing: Clear Sentences for Everyday Purposes
What the writing section tests
The writing test asks you to produce short, clear texts for practical purposes such as an email, a message, a note or a brief explanation. The concepts you need are: identifying your purpose and audience; organising ideas into a beginning, middle and end; writing complete sentences with subject and verb; joining ideas with appropriate connectives; choosing plain, precise words; and checking punctuation, spelling and capital letters.
Traps to watch for
- Answering only part of the task. If the prompt asks for an apology and a new time, give both. Underline each requirement before you write.
- Fragments and run-ons. A group of words without a main verb is a fragment; several sentences joined by commas alone is a run-on. Use a full stop or a joining word.
- Missing apostrophes. Its shows possession; it's means it is. Similarly, the team's roster belongs to the team, while the teams are plural.
- Wrong tone. A message to a manager should be polite and direct, not casual slang.
- Overlong sentences. If a sentence runs past about 20 words, split it.
Rule of thumb
Plan in three lines: what the reader needs to know, what I want them to do, and by when. Draft, then read aloud in your head to catch missing words and punctuation.
Worked example
Task: email a supervisor to say you will be late because of a transport delay, and ask to start at 10 am.
Subject: Late start today
Hi Sam,
My train has been cancelled, so I will arrive about 30 minutes late. Could I please start at 10 am instead and make up the time tomorrow?
Thanks, Alex
The message gives the reason, the request and a proposed solution, and keeps a polite, brief tone.