Past Years’ Questions (A Review)
Year
1997

Format
An article for school newspaper

1998
1999

A formal letter to the Manager of a
factory
A report to the Principal

2000

An informal letter to your mother

2001
2002
2003

An article for your school magazine
A talk to other students
A formal letter to your teacher

2004

A report for the principal

2005

A letter to a friend (informal letter)

2006

A letter to a friend (informal letter )

2007

A talk to students

2008
2009

An article for a school magazine
A report to the Principal

2010

A letter to your cousin

2011

A speech to Red Crescent Society
members
An article

2012
2013

2

Task
To inform students about the nature
club and persuade them to join.
To request a visit for your school
consumer club.
To inform the principal about the poor
condition and services of the library.
To ask for some money to buy a
birthday gift for your brother.
How to cope with stress
Road Safety
To state the choice made by your class
on a trip after the end-of-year
examination and give reasons for the
choice.
To write on matters in your school
which could be improved.
To describe your experiences at a
three-day outdoor camp.
To give reasons why he/she would
make a good Head Prefect
To give a talk on a reference book that
is useful for secondary students
To write an article about your friend.
To give reasons for the lack of interest
in sports and provide suggestions to
overcome the problems.
To tell him/her about the benefits of
the National Service Programme and to
encourage him/her to go.
To inform them on how to manage a
sprained ankle.
TOTAL MARKS FOR DIRECTED WRITING
Aspects
Format
Content
Language
TOTAL

Marks
3
12
15
30

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS FOR ASSESSMENT
Language 15 Marks
MARK RANGE
A
14-15

B
11-13

C
08-10

DESCRIPTION OF CRITERIA
● The language is accurate apart from occasional draft slips.
● Sentence structure is varied and shows that the candidate is
able to use sentence length and type to achieve an intended
effect.
● Vocabulary shows some sophistication and is used with
precision.
● Punctuation is correct.
● Spelling is correct across the whole range of vocabulary used.
● Paragraphs have unity.
● The tone is appropriate for a talk to students.
● The language is almost always accurate but there may be more minor
or first draft slips.
● Errors may also arise from more ambitious structures which are
imperfectly understood.
● Sentences show some variations in length and type, including
the confident use of complex sentences.
● Vocabulary is wide enough to show intended meaning.
● Spelling is nearly always accurate.
● The tone is quite suitable for a talk to students. The
reader is satisfied that a genuine attempt has been made.
● The language is largely accurate to communicate meaning
clearly to the reader.
● Simple structures are used without error; mistakes may occur
when more sophisticated structures are attempted.
● Vocabulary is adequate to convey intended meaning although it
may not be sufficiently developed to achieve precision.
● Sentences shows some variety of length and structures although
there is a tendency to repeat some sentence types, giving it a
monotonous effect.
● Punctuation is generally accurate although errors may occur in
more complex uses.
● The talk is written in paragraphs which show some unity,
although links may be absent or inappropriate.
● The tone of the talk lapses into slang or informal language.
3
ASPECTS OF FORMAT
a

Formal report

To: The principal

Addressee

Poor Conditions

Topic/Title

(Paragraphs)
Reported by,
Hassan
b

Formal letter

Arsalan
Gulistan Town
Quetta
The manager
XYZ
Lahore

Writer’s name & post
Sender’s name

Recipient’s address

2 February 2014

Date

Dear sir,

Salutation

Asking permission to visit …

Title

(Paragraphs)

c

Informal letter

Yours faithfully
Arsalan Raza
Secretary
123, Jalan ABC
2500 KUANTAN
Dear Sara,

Complimentary Close
(name & designation)
Sender’s address

Salutation
friend’s name)

(Paragraphs)

d

A Speech / Talk

Yours sincerely,
Good morning,
The title of my speech is

Complimentary Close
Greeting
Topic/Purpose

(Paragraphs)

e

f

Thank you
An Article for school magazine / HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
by Umer Hashmi
school newspaper

Leaflet/Flyer

(Paragraphs)
(sharing&informative)
Bonefire

(Paragraphs)
(sharing&informative)

Ending
Title
Writer’s name
Tone
Title/Slogan
Introduction
Tone

1123 dw formats

  • 1.
    Past Years’ Questions(A Review) Year 1997 Format An article for school newspaper 1998 1999 A formal letter to the Manager of a factory A report to the Principal 2000 An informal letter to your mother 2001 2002 2003 An article for your school magazine A talk to other students A formal letter to your teacher 2004 A report for the principal 2005 A letter to a friend (informal letter) 2006 A letter to a friend (informal letter ) 2007 A talk to students 2008 2009 An article for a school magazine A report to the Principal 2010 A letter to your cousin 2011 A speech to Red Crescent Society members An article 2012 2013 2 Task To inform students about the nature club and persuade them to join. To request a visit for your school consumer club. To inform the principal about the poor condition and services of the library. To ask for some money to buy a birthday gift for your brother. How to cope with stress Road Safety To state the choice made by your class on a trip after the end-of-year examination and give reasons for the choice. To write on matters in your school which could be improved. To describe your experiences at a three-day outdoor camp. To give reasons why he/she would make a good Head Prefect To give a talk on a reference book that is useful for secondary students To write an article about your friend. To give reasons for the lack of interest in sports and provide suggestions to overcome the problems. To tell him/her about the benefits of the National Service Programme and to encourage him/her to go. To inform them on how to manage a sprained ankle.
  • 2.
    TOTAL MARKS FORDIRECTED WRITING Aspects Format Content Language TOTAL Marks 3 12 15 30 CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS FOR ASSESSMENT Language 15 Marks MARK RANGE A 14-15 B 11-13 C 08-10 DESCRIPTION OF CRITERIA ● The language is accurate apart from occasional draft slips. ● Sentence structure is varied and shows that the candidate is able to use sentence length and type to achieve an intended effect. ● Vocabulary shows some sophistication and is used with precision. ● Punctuation is correct. ● Spelling is correct across the whole range of vocabulary used. ● Paragraphs have unity. ● The tone is appropriate for a talk to students. ● The language is almost always accurate but there may be more minor or first draft slips. ● Errors may also arise from more ambitious structures which are imperfectly understood. ● Sentences show some variations in length and type, including the confident use of complex sentences. ● Vocabulary is wide enough to show intended meaning. ● Spelling is nearly always accurate. ● The tone is quite suitable for a talk to students. The reader is satisfied that a genuine attempt has been made. ● The language is largely accurate to communicate meaning clearly to the reader. ● Simple structures are used without error; mistakes may occur when more sophisticated structures are attempted. ● Vocabulary is adequate to convey intended meaning although it may not be sufficiently developed to achieve precision. ● Sentences shows some variety of length and structures although there is a tendency to repeat some sentence types, giving it a monotonous effect. ● Punctuation is generally accurate although errors may occur in more complex uses. ● The talk is written in paragraphs which show some unity, although links may be absent or inappropriate. ● The tone of the talk lapses into slang or informal language. 3
  • 3.
    ASPECTS OF FORMAT a Formalreport To: The principal Addressee Poor Conditions Topic/Title (Paragraphs) Reported by, Hassan b Formal letter Arsalan Gulistan Town Quetta The manager XYZ Lahore Writer’s name & post Sender’s name Recipient’s address 2 February 2014 Date Dear sir, Salutation Asking permission to visit … Title (Paragraphs) c Informal letter Yours faithfully Arsalan Raza Secretary 123, Jalan ABC 2500 KUANTAN Dear Sara, Complimentary Close (name & designation) Sender’s address Salutation friend’s name) (Paragraphs) d A Speech / Talk Yours sincerely, Good morning, The title of my speech is Complimentary Close Greeting Topic/Purpose (Paragraphs) e f Thank you An Article for school magazine / HEALTHY LIFESTYLE by Umer Hashmi school newspaper Leaflet/Flyer (Paragraphs) (sharing&informative) Bonefire (Paragraphs) (sharing&informative) Ending Title Writer’s name Tone Title/Slogan Introduction Tone