Writing (PEIC B1)
What this paper tests
PEIC B1 Writing has two tasks. The first is a short transactional message - an email, note or card of roughly 50–70 words giving information. The second is a longer text of about 100 words: an informal email or letter, a description or a short story. Marks come from content (covering every point in the prompt), communicative effect (the right reader and purpose), organisation, grammar, vocabulary and spelling.
Core rules
- Underline the points you must include. Miss one and you lose content marks, however good your English is.
- Decide who the reader is. "Hi Alex" for a friend; "Dear Mr Brown" for an office. Never mix the two.
- Plan three short paragraphs: greeting and reason for writing; the details; closing plus a question or request.
- Use B1 linkers: because, so, although, however, then, also.
- Keep inside the word limit. A longer answer creates more errors, not more marks.
Worked example
Prompt: "Write an email to your friend Alex. Invite him to a concert, say when and where it is, tell him the ticket price, and ask him to reply by Friday."
Model: "Hi Alex, I'm writing because a great band is playing in our town and I'd love you to come. The concert is on Saturday 12 May at the City Hall. Tickets are £18 each. Can you let me know by Friday if you want to come? See you, Dan."
Reasoning: the four prompt points map onto four clear sentences, so nothing is missed. The greeting and closing are informal and consistent. "Can you let me know by Friday" delivers the request. The tenses - present simple and present continuous for future plans - are controlled and appropriate.
Traps that cost marks
- Ignoring one bullet point, the most common and most expensive error.
- Copying the prompt's wording instead of building your own sentence.
- One long block with no paragraphing, which hides your organisation.
- Wrong register, such as "I am writing to inform you" in a message to a friend.
- Forgetting the question or request that the task asks you to end with.