Written production (guided and free writing)
Written production has guided tasks such as forms, notes, short messages and postcards, and free writing such as emails, letters, descriptions, short articles or stories. The exam tests whether you can organise a text, address the reader appropriately, use a range of grammar and vocabulary, and spell Maltese accurately.
Core writing rules
- Plan three parts: opening, body, closing. For an email: Għażiż/Għażiża + name, then purpose, details, and Saħħa or Dejjem tiegħek.
- Use connectors: l-ewwel (first), imbagħad (then), barra minn hekk (moreover), però (but), għalhekk (therefore), fl-aħħar (finally).
- Match register: int for a friend, intom for a group; avoid English fillers and slang in formal tasks.
- Check spelling of ħ, għ, ċ, ġ, ż, z and the apostrophe in ta’, x’, m’.
Worked example
Task: invite a friend to lunch. Draft: “Għażiż Pawlu, nixtieq nistednek għall-ikel is-Sibt f’nofsinhar. Niltaqgħu quddiem ir-ristorant ħdejn il-baħar. Jekk jogħġbok ġib il-ktieb tiegħek. Saħħa, Marija.” Reasoning: the opening names the reader; nixtieq nistednek is a polite invitation; is-Sibt f’nofsinhar gives day and time; quddiem ir-ristorant gives place; ġib is the imperative “bring”; tiegħek agrees with ktieb; the closing is informal but complete.
Traps
- Writing a list of sentences without paragraphs or connectors.
- Mixing formal and informal address in the same text.
- Using Italian or English spelling for Maltese words (ghax for għax, hobza for ħobża).
- Ignoring the word limit or leaving out a required content point.