WRITING (1 hour 30 minutes)

PART 2

Writing – Part 2

Task Information

In Writing Part 2, you must:

• Write 220–260 words.

• Choose one task from a choice of three.

• The possible text types are:

• a letter or email
• a review
• a report
• a proposal

• The instructions will clearly state:

• what you have to write

• why you are writing
• who you are writing for

Understanding these three points is essential because they determine:

• the structure
• the style (formal, neutral, informal)
• the language functions you must use.

Text Types
Possible texts in this part:

A. Review
B. Letter / Email
C. Proposal
D. Report

Identifying Types of Writing

The following statements are true about one or more text types.

Choose:
A Review
B Letter / Email
C Proposal
D Report

(Some questions have more than one answer.)

1. It is good to give this type of writing a title.

2. Headings within the text are appropriate.
3. This kind of text will begin with Dear…
4. This kind of text must be clearly organised into distinct paragraphs.
5. This kind of text aims to persuade the reader.
6. The writer usually knows exactly who will read the text.
7. This kind of text usually tries to evaluate something that has happened or that the writer has experienced.
8. This type of writing is more likely to be formal or neutral than informal.
9. The writer usually begins with an overview of the reason for writing.
10. The writer will try to begin in a way that catches the reader’s interest.

Exercise – Prepositions in Context

Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.

Then identify the text type the sentence is most likely from.

Example:

1. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Letter / Email

2. ______ conclusion, the campaign can be considered as having been a total success.
3. I've been terribly busy this month, but ______ last I've managed to find enough time to sit down and write to you properly.
4. Casablanca has to be one ______ the most romantic films ever made.
5. I recommend the first of the two options outlined above ______ a number of different reasons.
6. Do you prefer listening to music ______ your own or in the company of other people?
7. I am writing to congratulate you ______ the service which my wife and I received ______ your restaurant last night.
8. ______ the few slight problems which the group experienced this year, I have no hesitation ______ recommending the
course for other students ______ the future.
9. The following recommendations are based ______ generally accepted estimates ______ regard to the city's probable
future needs for leisure facilities.
10. According ______ the results of our survey, female students make more use ______ the college’s libraries than male
students do.

Identifying What, Why and Who

What you have to write affects how you structure your answer.

Complete the table with the appropriate text type.

Text types:

Review
Report
Letter / Email
Proposal
Text Type 1

Layout features

Title
Sub-headings
Ends with a conclusion (often a recommendation)

Language features

Early statement of the reason for writing

Absolute clarity when describing something precisely

Text Type 2

Layout features

Title
Sub-headings

Language features

Early statement of the reason for writing

Absolute clarity of language
Persuasive language
Arguments supported by clear reasons

Text Type 3

Layout features

Title

Language features

Early statement of the subject

Some factual information about the subject
Most of the text focuses on the writer’s opinion
Opinion supported by examples

Text Type 4

Layout features

Opening and closing formulae

Examples:

Dear …
Best wishes
Yours sincerely / faithfully
Language features

Clear opening paragraph explaining the reason for writing

Style varies depending on the reader

Identifying Specific Points in the Task

In Writing Part 2, tasks usually include two or three specific points that must be addressed.

Example task:

A student website has asked readers to write a review of a website they have found useful in their studies.

The review should:

• outline the content of the website

• explain why the reader has found it useful
• explain how the website could develop in the future

Task 2

You receive a letter from an English friend:

Your friend wants to take a gap year travelling, but their parents do not approve.

You must:

• explain how they could persuade their parents

• respond to the invitation to join the trip

Task 3

Your college wants international students to become involved in community life.

Write a proposal suggesting:

• types of voluntary work students could do

• how this benefits students
• how this benefits the community

Writing Functions
When writing, you often perform different functions.

Examples:

• explaining
• giving opinions
• recommending
• suggesting
• apologising
• complaining
 • persuading

Each task usually requires several functions.

Considering the Reader

Who you are writing for affects:

• vocabulary
• formality
• tone
• organisation

Example:

Letter to a friend → informal

Report to a council → formal

Proposal to a college principal → formal / neutral

Useful Language – Expressing Functions

Match the sentences with the function.

Functions:

apologising
complaining
congratulating
recommending
suggesting

One sentence expresses a different function.

1. One possibility would be to organise a meeting to find out how other students feel about the proposed timetable.
2. It is disgraceful that members of your staff should have such a careless attitude towards their work.
3. I should not have borrowed your bicycle without asking your permission.
4. One of the options would be more expensive to implement than the others.
5. The third option seems to me to be the preferable choice because it would benefit the largest number of people.
6. Your success is a magnificent achievement and one that you should take great pride in.

Completing Functional Language

Complete the sentences.

Complaining

1. I am writing to complain ______ the service I received in your hotel last weekend.
 2. If I do not receive a satisfactory response, I shall have no ______ but to send a full account of the way I was treated to
your Head Office.
3. It was very upsetting to be spoken ______ so impolitely ______ your reception staff.

Persuading

4. I feel sure you would regret it if you did not take ______ of this exceptional opportunity.
5. There's no denying the ______ that this is a very generous offer.
6. Surely you must ______ that opportunities like this do not arise very frequently.

Recommending

7. If I were in your ______ I wouldn't hesitate to seize the opportunity.

8. ______ my opinion, the best course of action would be to carry out a survey.
9. ______ no circumstances should you ______ a hasty decision.

Giving Reasons

10. There are a number of reasons ______ I am of this opinion.

11. I should like to ______ forward the case for a different approach.
12. The project has been temporarily suspended owing ______ a lack of funding.

Writing Part 2 – Exam Practice

Action Plan

1. Choose the task you can answer best.

2. Read the question carefully and underline key points.
3. Identify the text type.
4. Think about who you are writing for.
5. Decide why you are writing.
6. Make a plan before writing.
7. Organise the answer into clear paragraphs.
8. Use varied vocabulary and structures.
9. Leave time to check your writing.

Recommended time: 45 minutes

Important Advice
You may write in British or American English, but do not mix them.

Incorrect example:

The theater is in the centre of the town.

Exam Task 2
Your company wants to offer work-experience placements to international students.

Write a letter for the student newspaper explaining:

• what your company does

• what placements are available
• how students benefit

Exam Task 3
Write a review of a software application.

Include:

• what is special about it

• who would find it useful
• one suggested improvement

Note: Even if you like the software, you must suggest one improvement.

Exam Task 4

Write a report for the city council.

Discuss:

• entertainment facilities
• restaurant facilities
• improvements for your age group

Important:

Focus on one age group, not the whole population.

Follow-up
Check your work for frequent errors.

ANSWER KEY WITH EXPLANATIONS

Identifying Types of Writing

1. ACD
(Reviews, proposals and reports usually have titles.)
2. CD
(Proposals and reports use headings.)
 3. B
(Letters/emails begin with Dear.)
4. A B C D
(All writing tasks require clear paragraphs.)
5. C
(Proposals aim to persuade.)
6. B
(In letters/emails you know the reader.)
7. A
(Reviews evaluate experiences.)
8. C D
(Proposals and reports are formal.)
9. B C D
(These usually start by stating the purpose.)
10. A
(Reviews try to engage the reader.)

Prepositions
1. to
Fixed expression: look forward to.
2. In
"In conclusion"
3. at
"at last"
4. of
"one of the most"
5. for
"for a number of reasons"
6. on
"on your own"
7. on / at
congratulate someone on something
service at a restaurant
8. Despite / in / in

Despite the problems

no hesitation in recommending
in the future

9. on / with

based on
with regard to

10. to / of

according to
use of something

Text Type Table

1 Report
2 Proposal
3 Review
4 Letter / Email

Explanation:
Reports and proposals use headings and formal clarity.
Reviews emphasise opinions.
Letters depend on the reader.

Functions
1 suggesting
2 complaining
3 apologising
4 explaining (NOT in the list)
5 recommending
6 congratulating

Completing Functional Language

Complaining

1 about
2 choice
3 to / by

Persuading

4 advantage
5 fact
6 agree

Recommending

7 position
8 In
9 Under / make

Giving reasons

10 why
11 put
12 to

Common Mistakes in Writing Part 2

1 Writing fewer than 220 words.

2 Ignoring one bullet point in the task.

3 Using informal language in formal texts.

4 Not organising the text into clear paragraphs.

5 Writing without planning first.