WRITING - PAPER 2

You have 1½ hours for Paper 2, Writing. In that time you have to do two pieces of writing of between 120 and 180 words each. In Part 1, there is no choice; you must do the letter you are instructed to write. In Part 2, you must do one of a choice of four topics. In questions 2, 3 and 4 these topics may be a letter, a report, an article, a story, a description or a composition. In question 5 there will be a choice of two topics on the optional set books.

STAGES IN EXAM WRITING

1.

READ CAREFULLY
Read both parts of the paper carefully. Make sure you understand what you have to do in Part 1. Choose the topic you think you can do best in Part 2. Do not attempt a topic if you are not sure what is meant.

2.

PLAN
Make a paragraph plan. Make notes of the ideas you intend to include in each paragraph. Make sure you follow the instructions exactly.

3.

WRITE
Most people do not have time to write their work out twice, that is, to do a rough copy and then a clean copy. If you make a good paragraph plan, it should not be necessary to do a rough copy as well. It does not matter if you cross out words, as long as you write clearly. Remember to keep to the word limit.

4.

CHECK
Check what you have written carefully.

ASSESSMENT

It is a good idea to remind you that the FCE examiner will be looking for:

Success in following the instructions, completing the task and having the desired effect on the target reader

Use of an appropriate format and register

Clear organisation of ideas, including paragraph structure and linking

Appropriacy and range of vocabulary

Accuracy and range of grammatical structures

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Correct spelling and punctuation

TIMING

It is important to watch the clock so that you finish both pieces of writing in the 1½ hours. You should spend the same amount of time on each one.

This is a suggested timing for the different stages of exam writing. Individual students may feel more comfortable with a slightly different allocation of time. It is up to them to decide what suits them best, as long as they allow themselves time for planning, writing and checking two pieces of work.

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5 minutes: Read paper, choose Part 2 topic

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Part 1: 10 mins: plan  ►  20 mins: write  ►  10 mins: check

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Part 2: 10 mins: plan  ►  20 mins: write  ►  10 mins: check

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5 minutes: Recheck everything

SCORING

You should stick to the word limit. Some students think they will get more marks if they write more than 180 words. This is not true. To score a reasonable mark a student will have written something in an appropriate format which simply but accurately completes the task, would have the desired effect on the target reader, and which uses fairly natural-sounding English in an appropriate register with not too many errors.
 

A more ambitious realisation of the task, making use of a wider range of vocabulary and structures, though still with occasional errors, will score more. A composition which only partly completes the task, through neglecting the instructions, and which has frequent basic errors will score less.
 

FINAL ADVICE: TIPS

1.

Organise your paragraphs well.

2.

Link your ideas clearly.

3.

Keep in mind who you are writing for (e.g. a friend, your boss, readers of a newspaper).

4.

Use an appropriate format. (A letter, a report and an article all look different)

5.

Use language (informal or formal) which is appropriate for the type of writing and for your readers.

On the next page you will be able to check original pieces of writing from five different FCE candidates. All of the evaluation comments attached should be interpreted at FCE level.