The document provides instructions and assessment criteria for two writing tasks to be completed by Tatjana Kunda. Task 1 is worth 15 points and involves writing a letter to a friend describing how the writer learned English and suggesting ways for their friend to improve their language learning abilities. Task 2 is worth 25 points and requires writing an essay expressing an opinion on whether it is better to watch a film version of a book or read the book itself, while providing reasons to support the stated viewpoint. The document provides details on the expected length, register, grammatical competence, and lexical competence for each task.

1. Tatjana Kunda
Rīgas 63. vidusskola
tatjana.kunda@gmail.com

3.  Contents
 Organisation
 Grammar
 Vocabulary
 Orthography
Task 1 – 15 points
Task 2 – 25 points

4. LEARNING LANGUAGES
Your friend, Anna, has problems learning
foreign languages. Write a letter to her
describing how you learnt English and
suggesting ways how she could become a
better language learner.

5. Time
25 minutes
Genre
Letter (personal)
Topic
Languages
No of words
expected
100 – 120
Rhetorical
function(s)
expected
describing, suggesting
Register
Informal
Domain
Personal
Grammatical
competence
expected
B1
Lexical
competence
expected
B1

6. ‘The B1 language user has mastered the basic
structures of the language and is beginning to
attempt to produce more complex language.’
(EnglishProfile, 2011:13)

7. Key Feature
Example
-ing clauses
Whose relative clauses
Maria saw him taking a taxi.
Indirect questions
Guess where it is.
Clauses with what as
subject/object
This is what I think.
Verb+object+infinitive
I ordered him to gather my
men.
Some complex auxiliaries
Would rather, had better
Additional modal uses
I have invited all his friends, so
we should be 28 people
... This famous painter whose
pictures I like so much.

8. Dear Anna,
Last time we spoke you mentioned that you have
difficulties learning foreign languages and it really concerns
me. I will try to help you in this matter by using some
examples from my own experience.
To begin with, learning English was not easy for me as
well. Besides attending English lessons at school I have also
studied the language in different courses. What is more, I
attended an English summer school in Oxford.
I would definitely recommend taking after school
language activities, and, moreover, you should consider
going abroad, because living in the target language speaking
community can significantly enhance your results.
I hope this can atleast slightly help you to improve your
learning ability.
Yours sincerely,
XXX.

9. 
do not include all content points:
◦ either experience or suggestions;



do not observe the word count;
include redundant information;
do not follow letter format:
◦ Salutations, sign offs
(Into Europe The
Writing Handbook, 64)

10. FILMS VERSUS BOOKS
A lot of young people nowadays think that it is
much better to watch a film version of a book
than to read it. Write an essay expressing your
opinion and providing reasons to support your
point of view.

11. Time
45 minutes
Topic
Films, books
No of words expected
200 – 250 words
Rhetorical function(s)
expected
giving opinion, giving reasons, comparing and
contrasting, explaining
Register
Semi-formal to formal
Domain
personal
Grammatical
competence expected
C1
Lexical competence
expected
C1

12. 
text relevance to the topic:
◦ scripts about films and books in general;





Cannot find ‘key words’ in the rubric;
cannot express and support their opinion;
lack precision in expressing ideas;
digress from the topic;
‘a lot of text, little information’.
‘English is present, thoughts – absent’

13. 



texts lack coherence
(logical organisation);
wrong use of
connectors;
Inappropriate
paragraphing;
Students do not plan
their work;

14. 






english, englisch, englis, anglish, inglish,
endlish
by/bi, bay, buy
ofcorse, offcourse, ofcars
beast wishes
Firstable, firstfull, firstaful
I am curtain
With good witches, ... .

15. 

‘In the past black and white films were about
colourful life, but today colourful films are
about black and white life.’
‘A restaurant definitely will take more time
than eating in McDonalds but the meal will be
much more enjoyable, like an adventure, not
only filling of your stomach.’

‘A lot of people say that I’m a bookworm. So,
at last this bookworm has something to say.’

‘Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.’