Writing
The writing part asks for one or two short texts, most often an informal e-mail or message to a friend, sometimes a short article or notice. You get a situation and a list of content points - usually three things you must include - plus a word limit. Marks come from covering every content point, using suitable language, organising the text, and controlling grammar, vocabulary and spelling.
Cover the content points
Number the points in the task and tick each one off in your plan. If the task says “say when the party is, where it is, and what to bring”, a text that describes the party beautifully but never gives the date loses a content mark however good the English is.
Get the frame right
- Informal e-mail: Hi Anna, → an opening line reacting to the situation → body answering each point, one short paragraph each → closing line → Take care, / See you soon, plus your name.
- Article: a title, a short introduction, two paragraphs developing the points, and a concluding sentence.
- Use contractions (I’m, don’t) and direct address in informal texts; avoid them in a notice.
Worked example
Task: “Write an e-mail (60–80 words) to your friend Sam. Invite him to your birthday party on Saturday, say where it is, and ask him to bring some music.” Plan: greeting; invitation + day; place and time; request for music; closing. Model: “Hi Sam, How are you? I’m having a birthday party on Saturday and I’d really like you to come. It starts at six at my place - we can use the garden if the weather is nice. Could you bring your speaker and some music? See you soon, Martin.” Reasoning: all three content points appear, the register is informal throughout, and the frame is complete. The draft is close to the lower limit, so the writer should add one short sentence rather than stop short of the word count.
Traps that cost marks
- Missing one content point, which is scored separately from language.
- Copying phrases from the task without adapting them into your own sentence.
- Mixing registers: “Dear Sir” in a message to a friend, or slang in a notice.
- Writing far over the limit and making more errors at the end.
- Forgetting the greeting or sign-off, which costs organisation marks.
- Misspelling high-frequency words: because, friend, beautiful, favourite, tomorrow.