Report Writing Guide
How to write a clear, formal report for Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE).
Contents
1. What a report is
2. Three main focus areas
3. Recommended structure
4. Step-by-step writing guide
1. What a report is
According to Cambridge English, a report in C1 Advanced (CAE) is usually written for a superior. For
example a manager, director or for peer group that could be other students or members of a club that
you are a member of as well. In a report, you always have to describe and evaluate a situation and
usually suggest some cause of action that you would recommend.
2. Three main focus areas
There are three main areas of focus when writing a report:
Present factual information: Obviously, these facts might be made up (not real) by you but you need
to present them as if they were factual.
Effective and efficient text organization: That means you need to think about the right paragraph
structure, relevant headings as well as different linking words and expressions that we can use to
connect our ideas.
Making suggestions/recommendations: Every report has a suggestion or recommendation at the
end of it because that’s the sole purpose of writing a report.
3. Recommended structure
C1 Advanced (CAE) Report: Structure
Section What to include
1. Introduction The purpose of this report is to….
2. Main content Paragraph 1 – Subheading: Give the relevant facts
Paragraph 2 – Subheading: Give the relevant facts
3. Conclusion Make your recommendations (If asked)
4. Step-by-step writing guide
C1 Advanced (CAE) Report: Writing Guide
We will use the example topic below:
You have just completed six months in a new job. In preparation for a progress meeting, you have been
asked to write a report to your manager.
Your report should explain what you feel you have achieved in the job so far, describe an problems you
have had, and suggest any future training that would be suitable.
Write your report (around 220 – 260 words)
Step 1: Find the topic points & topic
Knowing the topic can help you set the tone as well as think about vocabulary and expressions that you
might want to include in your text. Also, you need to find the main topic points that we need to address
in the task because they will make up the main portion of our text.
You have just completed six months in a new job. (topic: Job) In preparation for a progress meeting, you
have been asked to write a report to your manager. (report is for : manager)
Your report should explain what you feel you have achieved (topic point) in the job so far, describe any
problems you have had, (topic point) and suggest any future training (topic point) that would be suitable.
Topic: six months in a new job
Main key points:
explain what you feel you have achieved
describe any problems you have had
suggest any future training
The topic is your new job and we have three points which we must comment on.
The last thing we should think about in our task analysis s who’s going to read our report by finding out
this kind of information we can decide on the correct style and most appropriate register for our text.
Target reader: your manager.
As soon as we’ve analyzed the task and extracted all the information that we need we can start building
our structure and writing a report.
Step 2: Title
The report should start with the title it could be something like:
Report on ……. and then you write the topic of what you’re reporting.
or you can write the topic and end it with phrase : a report
in this way, the title will have an appropriately formal connotation. See both examples below:
Title: Report on six-month progress as a teacher
Title: Six-month teacher progress: a report
Step 3: Introduction
The introduction must contain all the necessary information covered by the report:
appropriate beginning in which you should explain your purpose for writing your report
The purpose of this report is to…..
The topic of the report (see step 1)
The three main key points that you discovered (see step 1)
See sample introduction:
Report on six-month progress as a teacher
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the progress following the first half year in my current position
as an English Teacher as well as enumerate achievements, outline issues and make suggestions for
professional development measures.
Step 4: The body paragraphs (main content)
In the main content, you should comment on/answer the main key points that you discovered in the task
under suitable subheadings (positive/negative points), and each is placed in a separate
section/paragraph.
Main key points (see step 1):
explain what you feel you have achieved
describe any problems you have had
suggest any future training
See the example main content below, with additional annotations you may find useful:
Achievements – add heading/simple, informative, formal
Throughout the first six months of employment at XYZ School, I have made important strides in
professional development by incorporating several new methods such as the task-based approach in
daily teaching practice, which has improved my students’ experience tremendously. Apart from personal
progress, numerous students have achieved their goals and advanced to higher education providers
under my guidance.
Problems – add heading
Despite all of this organisation of internal exams is underdeveloped as there does not seem to exist
policy and students have expressed their displeasure with other groups at the same level receiving easier
or more difficult questions in their tests. Additionally, my mentor has not always been available even
though a certain level of guidancein specific areas, for example developing teaching materials, is still
required.
Future opportunities – add heading
Considering all of the above, two main areas of possible improvement can be identified. Firstly, student
and teacher satisfaction could be increased by establishing a resource bank for tests and exams and by
training all the teachers to use them so as to ensure a consistent experience for our students. Secondly,
regular meetings with a mentor should be mandatory in order to provide guidance and to help teachers
become independent and confident with teaching materials.
topic paragraphs / contain the main information about a given section
useful language, formal expressions
transitional words, expressions and conjunctions, which link the sentences and make the text more
fluid
Step 5: Conclusion
The conclusion should contain a final assessment of the report, providing information, conclusions and
giving a final answer.
If the task of the report was, for example, to answer some questions, then this information should be
included in the summary.
Conclusion – add heading
In the final analysis, the situation of the teachers and students at our school is very likely to improve and
overall satisfaction will probably increase due to more efficient work processes if ideas included in the
report are implemented.
Full report
Report on six-month progress as a teacher
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the progress following the first half year in my current position
as an English Teacher as well as enumerate achievements outline issues and make suggestions for
professional development measures.
Achievements
Throughout the first six months of employment at XYZ School, I have made important strides in
professional development by incorporating several new methods such as the task-based approach in
daily teaching practice, which has improved my students’ experience tremendously. Apart from personal
progress, numerous students have achieved their goals and advanced to higher education providers
under my guidance.
Problems
Despite all of this organisation of internal exams is underdeveloped as there does not seem to exist
policy and students have expressed their displeasure with other groups at the same level receiving easier
or more difficult questions in their tests. Additionally, my mentor has not always been available even
though a certain level of guidance in specific areas, for example developing teaching materials, is still
required.
Future opportunities
Considering all of the above, two main areas of possible improvement can be identified. Firstly, student
and teacher satisfaction could be increased by establishing a resource bank for tests and exams and by
training all the teachers to use them so as to ensure a consistent experience for our students. Secondly,
regular meetings with a mentor should be mandatory in order to provide guidance and to help teachers
become independent and confident with teaching materials.
Conclusion
In the final analysis, the situation of the teachers and students at our school is very likely to improve and
overall satisfaction will probably increase due to more efficient work processes if ideas included in the
report are implemented.