Candidates will be given 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the writing exam
There are two parts of the Writing paper
Each question on the Writing paper carries equal marks.
Candidates are asked to write 220–260 words for Part 1 and 220–260 words for Part 2.
Writing approximately the right number of words is an integral part of task achievement. If significantly fewer words are written, this is likely to mean that the task has not been successfully completed. If significantly more words are written, there is likely to be irrelevance, repetition of ideas, or poor organisation.
Part 1
Candidates are required to write an essay based on two points given in the input text. They will be asked to explain which of the two points is more important and to give reasons for their opinion.
Candidates should be able to underline relevant salient issues on a topic, and to support an argument with subsidiary points and reasons. An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development, and an appropriate conclusion.
Part 2
Candidates have a choice of task. The tasks provide candidates with a clear context, topic, purpose and target reader for their writing.
The output text types are:
• letter/email
• proposal
• report
• review
Candidates will be expected to show awareness of the style and tone required by a task, and must be prepared to demonstrate appropriate use of two or more of the following functions as specified in the task: describing, evaluating, hypothesising, persuading, expressing opinion, comparing, giving advice, justifying and judging priorities.
Candidates should be careful to choose language which is appropriate to the chosen task.
Tips!
Try to choose tasks and topics suited to your interests and experience; your writing will likely be more effective.
Read the questions carefully, underline the most important parts, and then plan an answer which addresses all the points required by the task. This will help you produce well-structured and appropriately balanced answers which deal adequately with each point you need to address.
The flow of ideas in your writing should be logical and easy for the reader to follow. Use a variety of linking words and phrases, cohesive devices and organisational patterns.
Use a range of complex language. Even if you make mistakes, the examiner will give credit for the attempt, provided that the mistakes do not impede communication.
Don’t waste time counting words. Practise the planning and writing of each section.
Write legibly so that your answers can be marked; your handwriting is not assessed in the test. It is not important in the exam whether your writing is joined up or not, or whether you write in upper or lower case.
Spelling errors and faulty punctuation are not specifically penalised, but students should be aware that mistakes in these areas can impede communication and/or have a negative effect on the target reader. Check your work for errors.