CAE Writing

Guía completa de estructuras, frases y vocabulario

Ready for CAE — Student's Book

1. REVIEW
¿Qué es?
Una reseña de un libro, película, serie, restaurante, lugar o producto. El objetivo es informar y
recomendar (o no) al lector. El tono es semi-formal y personal.

Estructura
Sección Contenido
Título Llamativo y creativo. No uses simplemente el nombre del producto.
Introducción Engancha al lector con una pregunta retórica, anécdota o afirmación
llamativa. Presenta el tema brevemente.
Párrafo 1-2 Descripción y puntos positivos con ejemplos concretos.
Párrafo 3 Puntos negativos o limitaciones (equilibrio). Usa
however/nevertheless.
Conclusión Recomendación final. Di a quién va dirigido el producto.

📋 Plantilla lista para usar — solo cambia los [ ]

Copia esta plantilla exacta. Solo sustituye lo que está entre [ ].
[Título creativo relacionado con el tema]
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to [situación llamativa]? [Nombre] is set in [lugar y
época] and follows the story of [protagonista], a [descripción del personaje] who tries to [objetivo
del protagonista]. However, when [complicación/conflicto], what follows is [descripción breve de la
trama].
The [series/film/book] provides a compelling insight into both [tema 1] and [tema 2]. Through
[escenas/capítulos/personajes], it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of [qué aprendes].
Furthermore, [aspecto positivo] is brilliantly complemented by [otro aspecto positivo], which is
absolutely superb.
Nevertheless, it is hard to overlook [punto negativo]. One particular weakness is that [explicación]
becomes somewhat tedious and predictable. If the writers had given more thought to [qué falla],
perhaps viewers would have been more convinced.
All things considered, you will probably find yourself [reacción del lector]. The [series/film/book]
perfectly combines elements of [género 1], [género 2] and [género 3]. If you want to be thoroughly
entertained, I would say this is the [series/book] for you, and I would recommend it to anyone with a
passion for [tipo de historia].
🔒 Frases que NUNCA cambian — cópialas exactas
Estas frases funcionan en CUALQUIER review. Memorízalas.
APERTURA
• Have you ever wondered what it would be like to…?
• What would you do if you could…?
• If you are looking for…, look no further.
• [Title] is set in [place/time] and follows the story of…
PUNTOS POSITIVOS
• The [series/film/book] provides a compelling insight into both… and…
• Through [the hospital scenes/the chapters], it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of…
• … is brilliantly complemented by…, which is absolutely superb.
• One of the most striking features is…
• The narrative perfectly combines elements of [genre] and [genre].
• … is gripping / outstanding / thought-provoking / captivating.
PUNTOS NEGATIVOS
• Nevertheless, it is hard to overlook…
• One particular weakness is that… becomes somewhat tedious and predictable.
• If the writers/directors had given more thought to…, perhaps viewers would have been more
convinced.
• Despite this, the overall experience is…
• The plot/storyline is, at times, overly long and slow-paced.
CONCLUSIÓN / RECOMENDACIÓN
• All things considered, you will probably find yourself binge-watching the whole show.
• The [series] perfectly combines elements of [history], [romance] and [crime].
• If you want to be thoroughly entertained, this is the [series] for you.
• I would recommend it to anyone with a passion for [dramatic and unique stories].
• … is, without doubt, a must-read/must-watch for…

📚 Vocabulario — Adjetivos y descripciones

PARA DESCRIBIR POSITIVAMENTE
Adjetivo/Expresión Cómo usarlo
gripping a gripping storyline / plot
compelling a compelling insight into / a compelling character
outstanding an outstanding performance / an outstanding series
thought-provoking a thought-provoking portrayal of…
captivating a captivating narrative / captivating scenes
brilliantly crafted the characters are brilliantly crafted
nuanced a nuanced depiction of…
vivid a vivid portrayal of Australian society
masterful a masterful blend of history and fiction
superb the cinematography is absolutely superb
 insightful an insightful exploration of…
witty witty dialogue / a witty script

PARA DESCRIBIR NEGATIVAMENTE

Adjetivo/Expresión Cómo usarlo
tedious the plot becomes somewhat tedious
predictable the ending is rather predictable
far-fetched the storyline is, at times, far-fetched
unconvincing the characters are rather unconvincing
slow-paced the first episodes are slow-paced
overly long the series is overly long
poorly developed the secondary characters are poorly developed
repetitive Fagin's heists become repetitive
disappointing the conclusion is somewhat disappointing

VERBOS ÚTILES PARA DESCRIBIR

Verbo Ejemplo
to portray The series portrays the harsh realities of…
to depict It vividly depicts life in colonial Australia.
to explore The film explores themes of identity and…
to captivate The plot captivates audiences from the very first episode.
to complement The romantic subplot brilliantly complements the main story.
to overlook It is hard to overlook the holes in the plot.
to gain insight into Through the scenes, we gain insight into…
to combine The series combines elements of crime and romance.

Estructuras gramaticales — Review

CONDICIONAL PASADO (para crítica)
• If the writers had given more thought to X, perhaps viewers would have been more convinced.
• Had the director paid more attention to the script, the film could have been outstanding.
• If the ending had been more carefully planned, the series would have left a stronger impression.
→ Estructura: If + had + past participle, would have + past participle
PASIVA (tono formal e impersonal)
• The story is set in 1850s Australia.
• The series is based on the character of the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist.
• The narrative is brilliantly complemented by a romantic subplot.
• Viewers are taken on a journey through colonial society.
→ Uso: para describir el contenido sin decir 'I think' constantemente.
INFINITIVO DE PROPÓSITO
• Through the hospital scenes, it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of…
• The series aims to explore the contradictions of colonial society.
• The subplot serves to humanize the main character.
→ Uso: para explicar el propósito de un elemento de la trama.
WOULD PARA ESPECULAR / RECOMENDAR
• Viewers would be fascinated by…
• I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys…
• You would find yourself unable to stop watching.
→ Uso: más formal y tentativo que 'will'.
INVERSIÓN (estructura avanzada)
• Never before have I seen such a vivid portrayal of colonial life.
• Rarely does a series manage to combine history and humour so effectively.
• Not only does the series entertain, but it also educates.
→ Uso: al principio de frase para énfasis. Sube mucho la nota en CAE.
WHAT + CLÁUSULA (énfasis)
• What makes this series truly special is the combination of humour and drama.
• What the writers achieve here is a remarkable balance between fiction and history.
• What is particularly impressive is the quality of the acting.
→ Uso: para enfatizar un punto positivo de forma elegante.
2. PROPOSAL
¿Qué es?
Un texto formal en el que sugieres algo a alguien con poder de decisión para convencerle. Mira
hacia el futuro — propones algo que aún no ha ocurrido. Tono: formal y persuasivo.

Estructura
Sección Contenido
Título Relevante y formal. Incluye el tema del proposal.
Introduction Comentario general persuasivo. Sin detalles todavía.
Párrafos temáticos Cada punto del task tiene su propio heading.
Conclusion Recomendación explícita + cierre positivo.

Frases clave — Proposal

INTRODUCCIÓN / SUITABILITY
• It is universally acknowledged that… is one of the most…
• There is little doubt that… would be of great benefit to…
• Not only did… but she/he also…
• … is well equipped to deal with / perfectly suited for…
• … is conveniently located / ideally situated / well connected to…
DESARROLLAR PUNTOS
• There is no shortage of / a wide selection of… to choose from.
• … boasts an impressive range of / boasts a fine…
• … paved the way for / marked a turning point in…
• … laid the foundations for / contributed greatly to…
• … has easy access to / is within easy reach of…
• … transformed our understanding of…
CONCLUSIÓN / RECOMENDACIÓN
• All in all, … is perfectly suited for…
• I strongly recommend that… be featured/chosen/implemented.
• There is every reason to believe that… would captivate/benefit…
• If this recommendation is implemented, … is bound to be a resounding success.
• … would undoubtedly captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
• There is every reason to believe that her story would fascinate viewers worldwide.
3. REPORT
¿Qué es?
Un texto formal que describe una situación actual y hace recomendaciones. A diferencia del
proposal, el report se centra en el presente.

Estructura
Sección Contenido
Título Formal y descriptivo del tema.
Introduction Explica el propósito y cómo se recogió la información.
Findings Presenta los hallazgos con datos y headings.
Recommendations Propone mejoras concretas y justificadas.
Conclusion Resumen breve y cierre formal.

Frases clave — Report

INTRODUCCIÓN / PROPÓSITO
• The principal aims/objectives of this report are to…
• This report is intended to assess/evaluate/examine…
• The information was gathered through surveys/interviews/observations.
• Comments made at the end of questionnaires suggest that…
• A number of concerns with regard to… were expressed by…
FINDINGS / HALLAZGOS
• It was found/noted/observed that…
• The majority of respondents felt that…
• It is worth noting that…
• There appears to be a lack of / a need for…
• Following a survey among…, it was clear that…
RECOMENDACIONES
• It is recommended that… should be set up/introduced/improved.
• A working group should be set up to…
• I recommend that a larger survey be conducted before…
• If these recommendations are implemented, the situation is bound to improve.
• Unless these suggestions are implemented, it is unlikely that there will be any improvement.
4. ESSAY
¿Qué es?
Un texto argumentativo en el que desarrollas una opinión o discutes dos puntos de vista. Es el más
académico. Sin headings.

Estructura
Sección Contenido
Introducción Presenta el tema. No des tu opinión todavía. Contextualiza.
Párrafo 1 Primer argumento + ejemplo concreto.
Párrafo 2 Segundo argumento o punto de vista contrario.
Conclusión Tu opinión personal + resumen de los argumentos.

Frases clave — Essay

INTRODUCCIÓN / PRESENTAR EL TEMA
• It is often said/claimed that…
• It is universally acknowledged that…
• A problem that is often debated nowadays is that of…
• One of the most striking aspects of this issue is…
• By way of introduction, it is worth considering…
DESARROLLAR ARGUMENTOS
• Many people would argue that…
• It stands to reason that…
• This brings us to the question of whether…
• As far as… is concerned, …
• Incidentally, we must not forget that…
• On the one hand… on the other hand…
CONCLUSIÓN / OPINIÓN PERSONAL
• All things considered, it would appear that…
• On balance, I would argue that…
• In my view, there is no doubt that…
• Having weighed up the arguments, I firmly believe that…
• It is my firm conviction that…
5. CONECTORES — Guía rápida
Función Conectores
Adición Furthermore / Moreover / In addition / What is more / Not only… but also /
As well as / Additionally / Besides
Contraste However / Nevertheless / Despite / Although / On the one hand… on the
other hand / In contrast / Whereas / On the contrary
Resultado As a result / Consequently / Therefore / Thus / For this reason / Hence /
This is why
Causa Because of / Due to / Owing to / Thanks to / Given that / Since / As / In
view of
Énfasis Above all / In particular / Especially / What is more / Indeed / It is hard to
overlook / Above all
Conclusión All in all / All things considered / On balance / To sum up / In conclusion /
Overall / Last but not least
Ejemplo For example / For instance / Such as / A case in point is / This includes /
One such example is
Propósito In order to / So as to / So that / In order that / With the aim of
Especulación It would appear that… / It seems as though… / Presumably… / It is quite
possible that…
6. Checklist antes de entregar
✓ Pregunta
□ ¿Responde a TODO lo que pide el task?
□ ¿Tiene título relevante?
□ ¿Tiene headings en cada sección? (proposal/report)
□ ¿El registro es formal en todo momento?
□ ¿Hay variedad de conectores?
□ ¿Cada párrafo tiene al menos un ejemplo concreto?
□ ¿La conclusión tiene recomendación explícita?
□ ¿Está dentro del límite de palabras (220-260)?
□ ¿Hay coma antes de 'which'? (…units, which helped)
□ ¿Usaste 'thousands of' (no 'thousand of')?
□ ¿Usaste 'scientist' y no 'scientific' para una persona?
□ ¿El vocabulario es variado y avanzado?
□ ¿Hay al menos una estructura avanzada? (inversión, what-clause, condicional pasado)

❌ Errores frecuentes a evitar

❌ Incorrecto ✅ Correcto
thousand of soldiers thousands of soldiers
this exceptional scientific this exceptional scientist
extremely dedication extraordinary dedication
units which helped units, which helped (coma antes de which)
changed the world of science changed the world of modern science
In my proposal I will write about… Empieza directamente con frase persuasiva
very good / very bad outstanding / compelling / tedious / far-fetched
I think it is good It would appear to be… / It is widely regarded as…
produced by her extremely dedication brought about by her extraordinary dedication

CAE Writing Guide — Antonella