And the Writing test (2)

As soon as the issue with ideas is dealt with, the students move on the inevitable next question:

How do I write?

Many people who have not written anything major since school have probably forgotten that any piece of writing must have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Simply starting by answering your first question will not bring you many points.

When marking your paper one of the criteria is lexical resource, which simply means vocabulary. The marker wants to see a wide range of vocabulary, from simple, everyday words to more complex, topic-specific ones. Please be aware that using fancy 3- or 4-syllable words in the wrong context will not bring you points.

So if you’re writing the answer to the General Training task 1 -the letter- and you’re writing to a friend then your language should be informal. However, if you’re writing to a potential employer formal vocabulary is needed.

Other things that require attention are grammar and sentence structure. Using simple tenses and short sentences is not always to your advantage. Before the test, take some time to revise the grammar of English and when practicing try to write longer, more complex sentences involving more tenses.

Until next time, Good luck!