CAE WRITING EXAM

You will need to write 180–220 words for the first question and 220–260 words for the second question.

The first is compulsory, with the second question you have a choice of 5 different questions.

Can I use a pencil? No. Answers for the Writing paper must be written in pen.

How much time do I have? You have 1 hour 30 minutes to do the paper.

FORMATS:

Story, email, formal and informal letter, competition entry, review, article, essay, leaflet and magazine contributions, reports…

But all ask you to do the same thing.

YOU MUST:

Answer all parts of the question. Use paragraphs. Clear organization of ideas, with suitable

paragraphing, linking and opening and closing formulae.

Consistently formal or informal language. Use headings and bullets points if

appropriate. Give reasons why. Inform the target reader.

HOW TO WRITE IT…

Brainstorm how you could answer the question first.

PLAN it.  Write it.  Then edit. You could even write it in pencil

and then pen after.  Yes, you can be down-graded if your

handwriting is unreadable.

MAIN CRITICISMS FROM CAMBRIDGE:

Too short. Try to meet the maximum word count. Give the impression that you would have no trouble writing more.

Lack of imagination. Running out of ideas? Make stuff up! It does not have to be true, you are being graded on your writing skills.

Grammar and Spelling. Please look at your writing. Re-write any word you

spelt wrong in your copy book correctly so you wrote spell it wrong again. Yes, this affects your grade.

AND THE BIG ONE IS GRAMMAR.

Shorten your sentences! Which one is a sentence?

The girls wear pink hats. The girls who wear pink hats. Are prettier than worms. They are prettier than worms. The girls who wear pink hats are prettier than worms.

It is not normal for a sentence in English to continue for more than two lines of A4. If yours does, go back, and try to break it up with full stops.

Use a maximum of 2 commas in a sentence.

WHICH IS AND ISN´T A SENTENCE AND SAY WHY. 1. Carrots in the lunch box. N

2. Putting things back in the proper drawers. N3. I saw carrots in the lunch box. S4. Anthony’s favorite funny television show.5. I forgot my coat.6. When I’ll be able to drive a car?7. Can you drive a car?8. Paper plates that can be used in the microwave.9. Veronica’s choice of words offended her dog.10. Hearing voices that are not really there.11. Chad works very hard.12. Winning an important race.13. Winning a race is fun.14. Loves her friends no matter what.15. Looking like he’d seen a ghost!16. Things that creep in the shadows.17. Never farther than a phone call.18. Cookies that taste better than mud.19. Apples can be added to the recipe.20. Place your shoes on the blue mat.

PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST PERFECT

These are great, because you can translate them. Excuse my Spanish….

El había ido a Italia antes fue a Francia.

He had been to Italy before he went to France.Something happened before something else

He has eaten that seafood before…

El ha comido los marisco antes…An experience, something in the past and the time is

not important

STILL HAVEN´T FINISHED… STRUCTURE FOR STORIES =

LETTER STRUCTURE: POINT OUT LETTER WRITING CONVENTIONS