The report summarizes a student trip to the UK, noting that: - Host families were appreciated but younger families would be preferable next time. - The sports and social program was very popular and should be repeated. - Language classes were good but more speaking practice is needed. - Overall the trip was successful and should be repeated with some improvements.

1. writing guide 103
Report
What to expect in a Part 2 report
• A report task normally requires you to
provide information – factual or invented
– about a situation in the present or past.
You may also be asked to suggest a future
course of action.
• The instructions make the situation clear,
and also who you are writing to: this
could be, for example, a college tutor, a
manager at work, or members of a club.
How to do a Part 2 report
• As with any question that you choose in
Part 2, make sure you can quickly think
of some relevant ideas to write about,
possibly including any experience you or
someone you know may have had.
• Make sure you write in an appropriate
style: for a report this is usually neutral or
formal.
• Plan your report in a logical order, using
headings. The headings will depend on
the precise situation, but the first might be
Background or Introduction and the last
might be Recommendation.
Practice task and model answer
1 Read the Part 2 task below and answer the
questions.
1 What is the report about?
2 Who is the intended reader of your
report?
3 What three things must you write about?
Six months ago, your company started to
sponsor a local sports club and your manager
has asked you to write a progress report.
Your report should explain why your company
chose to sponsor that sports club, describe the
form that the sponsorship takes, and suggest
with reasons why it should or should not
continue.
Write your report.
Report on sponsorship of youth football team
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to assess the company’s
sponsorship of the local youth football team.
Reasons for sponsorship
The company received negative publicity when a
chemical leakage from the factory polluted the river.
It was therefore decided that efforts should be made
to improve the company’s image locally. The town’s
youth football team was chosen as it was struggling
financially. It was felt that helping the club would
provide very positive publicity for the company.
Details of sponsorship
The company offered to meet the football club’s
expenses in full, initially for two years. Sponsorship
covers the cost of hiring the council-owned football
pitch that the club uses. Previously the club could
only afford to hire the pitch for three hours once a
week; the company has doubled this to two three-
hour sessions each week.
The company has also agreed to pay for a new football
kit for club members, which should be available
before the start of the next football season.
Recommendation
Some letters in local newspapers suggest that
the company’s motives for sponsoring the team
were suspect. However, this is outweighed by a
considerable amount of positive publicity, as the
youth football club is very popular in the town and
its financial struggles were a cause of concern. For
this reason, and because the sponsorship has raised
the company’s profile and greatly improved its image
locally, I strongly recommend that we continue.
Title
Gives the purpose
of the report, in
different words from
the instructions.
Section headings
Explains why the
company decided
to start sponsorship,
and why it chose the
football team.
Gives details
of the form the
sponsorship takes.
Shows how the
club benefits from
being sponsored.
Considers both
negative and
positive effects.
Reports usually (but
not always) include
a recommendation
about future action.
2 Read this model report and answer the questions.
1 How formal is the report? Give three examples of this style.
2 Which heading matches each part of the instructions?
3 What recommendation is made?

3. relevant title and
opening paragraph
outlining the
purpose of the
report
appropriately formal
register
linking between
paragraphs
Task
Ready for Writing
Report
An international research group is carrying out an investigation into the housing
situation for young people around the world. You have been asked by the group to
write a report about your country, including the following points:
• the different housing options available in your country for young people in their
early 20s
• the problems faced by young people with each option
• possible future changes in the housing situation for young people in your country
Write your report.
Model answer
The housing situation for IOUng people in rn! c.ountn1
Trrl:roduc.lion
{
The aim of this report is lo e<amine the various housins options open lo people
in their early 20s in my c.ountry and the diHic.ullies enc.ounlered ith eac.h one.
Tl will also c.onsider like,1 future developments in the housing situa ion for young
people here.
Bu,1ing a properh1
Properly spec.ulalion and soaring inflation have put. house pric.es beyond -I.he reac.h
of the majority of first-time buyers. The few who do manage to raise the
monej for t.he deposit on a small flat, are likelj to e<perienc.e problems obtaining
a mortgage. Banks are unwilling lo lend mone~ to an~one without. a permanent.
c.onlr.ac.t, somelhing whic.h most young workers c.an onl~ dream of.
Renting
An obvious alt.ernalive is lo rent. a propertj. However, rents, like house pric.es,
have risen dramatic.all), forc.ing low-earners lo share. For many 20-somelhings
-I.his c.an prove an enjo)able e<perienc.e, but some soon disc.over -I.hat. -I.he~ are
not suited to living wit.h of.hers. Local aut.horit.ies provide some low-c.ost rented
ac.c.ommodat.ion spec.if'ic.alll for Joung single people, but. this lends t.o be in verj
short. suppl~.
Living wit.h parents
It. is hardl1 surprising, then, t.hat a signific.ant. proportion of sc.hool and c.ollege
leavers opt. lo c.ont.inue living in t.he parent.al home until the! have saved enough
monej to bu) a plac.e of their own. This may take some time, however, and
f'ric.lion bet.ween parenls and c.hildren c.an result..
Fu-lure developmen±.s
As long as house prices c.ontinue lo inc.rease, the out.look for JOUng people here }
will remain bleak. Onl~ a substantial fall in propert~ values will improve the ~,__--
siluation and this seems unlikely in the near future.
rewording
of language
used in
the task
instructions
range of
vocabulary
items to avoid
repetition of
'young people'
conclusion
addressing
the final
point of the
task
An international research group is
carrying out an investigation into
employment prospects for young people
around the world. You have been asked
by the group to write a report about
your local area, including the following
points:
Introducing the report
The aim/purpose of this report is to
examine/evaluate/describe/outline ...
It will also include/consider/suggest/
recommend ...
The future looks bleak/remains
uncertain/is promising.
This seems unlikely in the near/
foreseeable future. (See also
vocabulary of Possibility on page 208
of theWordIist.)
• the types of employment available
for young people in your area
• the difficulties faced by young
people searching for work
• possible future developments in the
employment situation for young
people in your area
Write your report in 220-260 words.
The report is based on asurvey
conducted among (college students).
Predicting the future
The outlook for young people/jobs/
the country is(far from) bright/
optimistic/depressing.
Making recommendations
I would (strongly) recommend that
(the school/company) should .. .
In the light of the resultsof the
survey, I would (strongly) advise
against ...
Ifeel itwould be to our advantage if .. .
201

5. Reports
You are on the student committee at your college. This year you helped
the English Department organise a three-week study trip to the UK. The
principal of the college has asked you to write a report on the trip.
You should explain what was successful about the trip, describe any
problems, and suggest improvements for future trips.
Write your report in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.
'Possibe pan '
lntro: aim of thif> re.port
Aaommocation: hof>t famiie.f> he.pfu but e.ce.ri - iounge.r one.;, ne.~t time.?
'Sport;,/DOc.ia programme.;,: v. good (give. ce.taif>) - ::e.e.p ne.r-t ie.ar
Language. c.aMe.f>: te.ac.he.rf> frie.nci but we. ne.e.c more. ;,pe.a::ing ana i;,te.ning
prac.tic.e. ne.~t time.
C.Onc.uf>ion: re.c.omme.nc re.pe.at the. trip w
ith improve.me.ntf>
1 Use appropriate linking words.
2 Use appropriate phrases to make suggestions and recommendations
if appropriate (also see page 165) .
3 Organise your report into sections with headings.
4 Include a clear introduction and conclusion.
5 Write clear and concise sentences
6 Use a formal style.
11 Writing Guide

6. Introduction (4)
The aim of this report is to assess the success
of this year's study trip to the UK and to
recommend any changes.
Accommodation (3)
Students appreciated the hospitality c,ffered
to them by their host families and the help
they gave them with their language practice.
However, (1) some of the host families were
rather elderly. lt would be preferable (2) if
younger host families could be found for our
next trip.
Sports and social programme (3)
Students were highly enthusiastic about this
side of the trip, which offered them the chance
to compete against British students in various
sports and also learn about British culture
while mixing with British students. They were
phrase bank
• Introduction
•
•
•
•
The aim of this report is to .
This report describes/outlines/deals with
This report is based on ...
Making recommendations
lt would be a good idea to
lt might be advisable to .. .
lt would be preferable to .. .
I suggest/propose/recommend that we (shou Id)
Conclusion
To sum up, .
In conclusion, ...
I have no hesitation in recommending ...
able to visit art galleries and museums and the
programme included a hit show and some rock
and pop events. I propose that (2) we repeat this
type of programme next year.
Language classes (3)
While (1) most students got on well with the
teachers, they would have liked more chance
to improve their speaking and listening skills. I
suggest we request that more class time is spent
on communicative skills next year.
Conclusion (4)
To sum up, (1) this year's trip appears to have
been enjoyed by most students despite the
reservations mentioned above. If the suggested
changes are implemented, I have no hesitation
in recommending (2) that we send other
students on the trip next year.
Writing Guide IJ