Integrated Skills (cross-skill tasks)
What this domain tests
Integrated Skills tasks combine reading or listening input with a writing or information-transfer output. In the Aomori paper this can mean reading a poster and writing an email, comparing two short opinions and choosing one, or listening to a message and completing a note. The test is whether you can select relevant information, transform it, and use it for a stated purpose and audience.
Core rules
- Identify the output first: a note, an email, a message, or a short paragraph. That tells you which input details matter.
- Select, do not copy. If the task says 'write an email to a friend', do not paste the poster's formal wording. Change 'Volunteers are required' to 'Would you like to volunteer?'
- Include the required facts exactly. Dates, times, places, and items to bring are usually checked.
- Match the audience. A friend gets a friendly opening and a question; a teacher gets a polite request.
- Cover every bullet in the task. If the prompt asks for a date, one item, and one question, write all three.
Worked example
Poster: 'Volunteers needed: Clean the beach at Asamushi on Sunday, July 14, 9:00–11:30. Bring gloves. Call Mr. Sato by July 10.' Task: write a 20–30 word email inviting a friend. Include the date, one thing to bring, and one question.
Sample: 'Hi Yuki, would you like to clean the beach at Asamushi on July 14? Please bring gloves. What time should we meet?'
Reasoning: the date and the gloves come directly from the poster. The question is new but relevant. The tone is friendly, and the total is 22 words. Copying 'Call Mr. Sato by July 10' would be irrelevant to a friend and would waste the word limit.
Traps
- Copying source sentences instead of transforming them.
- Missing one required fact, such as the date or the item to bring.
- Writing a formal letter to a friend or a casual note to a teacher.
- Adding information that is not in the source and is not asked for.
Exam habit
Before writing, make a three-item checklist from the task. After writing, tick each item and count the words.