2. UNIT 2 – WRITING- 1 hour (
2 questions)
This section will be a writing task. You will be
provided with two questions.
You must spend 30 minutes on each question.
Remember to highlight the key points of the
question.
3. 0 The first thing that you should do in an exam is
read the question carefully. When you are sure
that you understand what you are being asked to
do, look for the PALL.
0 PURPOSE – What is the purpose of the task?
What is it asking you to do?
0 AUDIENCE - Who is it for?
0 LANGUAGE - What language will be used?
0 LAYOUT - How is it set out on the page? What
features should you include?
4. Plan
0 Make sure you include a plan, this can be a list or
spider diagram or a flow chart.
0 Examiners automatically feel happy when they see a
plan and it is a good idea to keep examiners happy.
0 You must ensure you plan and spend time checking.
0 You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentence
structure, punctuation and paragraph use. If you
forget about all these things you can go back and add
paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the
examiner you want a new paragraph there.
5. Punctuation
0 Try to use a variety of punctuation
0 (: ;?!)
0 This automatically gives you more marks.
6. Use a range of sentences
0 Make sure you use a variety of sentence
structures for effect. Use long descriptive
sentences followed by short snappy ones.
7. Vocabulary
0 Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do
not normally use.
0 Use standard English and avoid slang.
8. How to engage the examiner
0 Think of an examiner like a fish you want to
catch…
• HOOK them in
• Choose your ANGLE
• Use PERSUASIVE devices ( to tempt them)
• ANECDOTES ( to get them on side)
• STRONG POINTS ( to finish them off)
9. HOOK THE READER
0 It’s really important that you select your opening
line carefully in order to hook the reader into
your writing and engage them to want to carry on
reading.
10. Your local area has
just been voted the
worst place to live in
terms of being
environmentally
friendly. Write a
letter to your local
newspaper suggesting
what you think are
the problems and
what can be done to
tackle this issue.
11.
12. Write a lively
article for a
newspaper or
magazine on the
subject of the
eating habits of
the British.
Headline or article title
Keep it short
Make it catchy
Give an idea of what the rest of the article
will be about.
Introduction of the article
Give a brief outline of the subject
Keep this section to a few initial ideas and
sentences
Main body of the article
Try to answer all the reader’s questions
like ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘what’
Make each paragraph relevant to the
subject or the title of the article
Add plenty of detail so your reader fully
understands you
Answer the important points in this section
Conclusion of the article
This should always be at the end
Give a summary of the article
Give recommendations/overview linked to
introduction.
13. Homework
0 Exam revision.
0 Use the work we have done in class and practice
responses for the exams next week.
