The document provides guidance for two writing tasks: 1) A letter to complain to the local council, and 2) An article. For the letter, it recommends starting with formal greetings like "Dear Sir or Madam" and ending with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely." The letter should be 150 words and include an introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs with arguments, and a conclusion with demands. For the article, it recommends starting with a title and using a neutral register allowing contractions and informal language. The article should be 300 words and use paragraphs, linking words, and be easy to read. It also identifies common grammatical, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation mistakes to avoid.

1. C1, MID-COURSE TEST
Ana Mena

2. TASK FULFILLMENT
WRITING TASK 1: A LETTER TO COMPLAIN TO YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL
• Start with: Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Town Counsellor, To whom it may
concern, ...
NOTE:
In British English, all the phrases above must be followed by a comma.
In American English, in business letters, they can be followed by a colon.
• Finish with: Yours faithfully, or Yours sincerely,
NOTE:
These phrases are always followed by a comma.
If you start the letter with “Dear Sir or Madam,” or “To whom it may
concern, “ finish it with “Yours faithfully, “.
If you start the letter with “Dear Mr/ Ms. XXX,” or “Dear Town Counsellor,“
finish it with “Yours sincerely, “

3. TASK FULFILLMENT
REGISTER: It’s expected to be a formal piece of writing, and so
you must:
• Avoid contractions
• Avoid phrasal verbs
• Never use colloquial expressions such as “Best regards!”
INFORMATION REQUIRED: 150 words
• Introduction: Why are you writing the letter?
• Main Body: two/three paragraphs to present your
arguments why the decision made by the Council is wrong.
• Conclusion: Your demands/ actions to be taken

4. TASK FULFILLMENT
WRITING TASK 2: AN ARTICLE
• Start with: A TITLE
• REGISTER: Neutral, it means that you can use contractions, colloquial
expressions, phrasal verbs, etc..
• INFORMATION REQUIRED: 300 words

5. COHESION & COHERENCE
• Use paragraphs.
• Use a variety of linking words.
• Make it easy to read.
• Personal reference.
• Common mistakes:
 We demand this cultural centre with green areas for our children in order THAT they can ....
 I am writing as the president of ….., with regards to ... WITH REGARD TO – REGARDING- AS
REGARDS
 On the one hand : If you start a paragraph using this connector, the next one must start
with “On the other hand, “
 We buy more, AND therefore the price of products decreases. You can also use Therefore, to
start a sentence.
 Despite of … DESPITE – IN SPITE OF + noun phrase
 In my point of view …. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, ….IN MY VIEW, …
 The ones who want by all means to purchase luxuries and can’t afford it ...THEM

6. ACCURACY
GRAMMAR:
 Sentence structure:
Have you ever wondered why do people buy on impulse?
....our total disagreement with the shopping mall that it is projected...
Your marketing makes people buy things that don’t need.
 Concord:
• Subject – verb agreement:
3rd person singular, people, ....
Nobody cannot escape from this new trend.
• Determiner – noun agreement:
...in case that all this actions will continue....
 Time consistency:
...but next month it will be out of date and we need a new one.

7. ACCURACY
 Verb patterns:
Infinitive of purpose
For + -ing
 Countable and mass nouns:
We cannot forget that a big amount of shops in Barrio Peral were forced to ... a
large number of....
 Relative pronouns:
..because we have one, that is enough for a small city like ours. WHICH
We have decided not to buy there, and even organise a campaign against it, that
could bring several problems. WHICH

8. ACCURACY
VOCABULARY:
• We are living in a real buzz area
• Has shopping become in a truly addiction?
• ...their value objects in order to survive.
• We are not awareness that....
• ...they become addictive to shop.
• You can buy your mobile today and it’s probable that
tomorrow you will have it at home.
• Quite or quiet?

9. SPELLING & PUNCTUATION
• Sentence length
• Commas:
 However,
 In fact,
 Therefore,
 First,
 To finish,
 Luckily,
 Because
• Badly written words

10. PRONUNCIATION
- Stress
- Endings: I'm, like, -ed
- Vowels (cycle lane, main, read, lower, a
strategy, status, young, sci-fi, status, identity,
share, can't)
- Consonants (buying, history, cinema,
schedule, walking)
- Intonation