Writing Exam B1/B2

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

Writing Exam B1/B2

Contents

What to expect

Pre-conditions

Rubric

Common mistakes

What to expect

B1 → 1 hour exam → 3 assignments

E-mails (question, reply, complaint)

Review, report, contest

Application form

B2 → 1 hour exam → 2 assignments

E-mails (complaint, experience)

Experience, review, report, contest

Preconditions

Your text is written in English, whatever language the case uses

Minimum of 80% is realised (each assignment is seperate)

In this fase interpunction, spelling and lay-out aren't marked yet.

Rubric

Cohesion

Vocabulary 

Grammar

Spelling, interpunction and lay-out

Approach (formality)

Rubric - Cohesion

B1 

You're able to group sentences together with simple/complex linking words. 

(Simple → always correct) - (Complex → majority correct)

You can make references in a text.

(Future → Past) - (contradiction, possesive pronouns)

B2 (Everything from B1)

Chronological order, thematic, structured and clear texts.

Complex linking words 

Cohesion - Example

Unlike her classmates, Lisa managed to get an A+ on her economics exam. 

Not only is he great at football, but also excells in school. 

Finally, he reached the top of Calton Hill after an hour long walk.

Rubric - Vocabulary

B1

Can express yourself with familiar and non-familiar vocabulary.

(hobbies, interests, work and school)

Prepositional phrases are used correct

(Simple → always correct) - (Complex → majority correct)

B2 (Everything from B1)

Wide range of vocabulary in different settings → avoid repetition of words

Complex prepositional phrases

Vocabulary - Example

Know your vocabulary according to what you're writing about. If unsure or at a loss for words, describe the word. (Avoid this as much as possible)

Prepositional phrases

In: in time, in defense of, in good condition, in general, in honor of, 

At: at risk, at a discount, at all costs, at night, at peace, 

By: by law, by definition, by all means, by chance, by accident

Synonyms

Happy → jolly, merry, content, cheerful, joyful

Good → of high quality, satisfactory, in order, fine, up to standard

Avoid words such as → instead use 

Like, things, stuff, nice, about → such as, specific object, awesome, approximately

Rubric - Grammar

B1

Word order, grammar tenses, singular - plural and articles 

(Simple → always correct) - (Complex → majority correct)
 

B2 (Everything from B1)

More complex grammar tenses, complex word order

Future tenses, continious tenses

Grammar - Example

Word order

Subject - Verb - Object 

Thomas (S) bakes (V) an (O) apple pie

Subject + Verb + Object + Adverb Of Place + Adverb Of Time 

He (S) meets (V) George (O) at the park (AP) every day (AT).

Grammar tenses

Past perfect simple → Time till a certain point in the past

I had finished the work. / She had gone.

Past perfect continious → An action that started in the past continued up until another time in the past

She didn't want to move. She had been living in Liverpool all her life.

Grammar - Example

Singular - plural

Mouse - Mice 

Foot - Feet

Inflect verbs, adverbs and nouns

Student - Student's - Students' 

Run - Running 

Him - Himself / Them - Themselves

Fall - Has fallen

Articles / Superlative

An hour - A university  - The president

pretty - prettier - prettiest

Rubric - Spelling, ect

B1

Capital letters and punctuation are correct. (mother tongue has influnece)

Makes use of paragraph, openings and closing

Writing flows and is easy to read

B2 (Everything from B1)

Consistent use in everything

Mother tongue has little to no influence

Spelling, ect - Example

Dear ...,

Mr. / Ms. Last name,                                                                       (With)  Kind regards,

Mrs. / Miss. Last name,                                                                                Yours Sincerely,

Sir or Madam,         →                                       →                       →             Yours Faithfully, 

Company name,                                                                                              

I hope to hear from you soon. / I appreciate your help/feedback on...

Thank you for your consideration. / Please let me know if you have any questions.

I am looking forward to... 

Rubric - Approach

B1

You know how to address someone according to the case
 

 

B2 

You know how to address someone according to the case

Language is flexible, ambiguous and uses humor

Approach - Example

Read each case carefully and decide how to address someone

E.g. When you write to your boss → don't use Dear Sir or Madam,

E.g. When you write to a company → use company's name

With flexible and ambiguous language is meant that we have a wide range of vocabulary, grammar and know how to captivate a reader. 

E.g. Use adjectives, adverbs to strenghten your writing

E.g. Intergrate humor

Common mistakes

B1

• Grammar mixups and mistakes in tenses
• Impropper opening and closing
• Spelling mistakes, lack of capital i
• Lack of paragraphs
• No comma after a introductory phrase

B2

• Complex sentence structures
• Word usage
• Word formation errors
• Misplaced commas 
• Collocations
  
• Idiomatic expressions

Quiz time

What are the preconditions of the exam?

Dear Sir/Madam,

Dear MBORijnland,

Dear Jessie,

Dear Mr Jones,

Yours Faithfully, 

Kinds regards/Yours Sincerely,

Kind regards,

Yours Sincerely,

Which of these words are misspelled?
acguire, necessary, concequenses, colleage, definitely

1. acguire, necessary, definitely
2. acguire, concequenses, definitely
3. acguire, concequenses, colleage
4. concequenses, colleage, definitely

Think of a synonym for the word angry

Which words can you use to open a paragraph? Give an example.

Make a sentence using: Past perfect simple

Make the following words plural:
goose, woman, tooth,

Which inflection do you need?
The teacher graded all of his ... exams.

1. student's
2. students’
3. students
4. neither of them, we're adults ;)

Which mistakes can you find in the text? Copy the paragraph and rewrite the answer correctly.

Dear Ms Johnson
I'm writing this letter in regadrs to my application as an english teacher. I has been gaining experience in several subject and wouldn't like to broaden my horizon on...

What information was new/not known to you?

Where do you think you'll make the most mistakes?

What did you learn today? Give 3 examples

Where do you need more practice?

Spelling

Grammar

Writing practice

Vocabulary

Cohesion

Further specific instruction

Something else

Additional practice

Spelling:

https://jklm.fun/ - https://wordwall.net/en-ru/community/english/b1-level - https://app.lastletterfirst.com/

Grammar:

http://www.english-practice.at/ - https://engxam.com/?post-format=grammar - 

Writing practice:

https://writeandimprove.com/

Vocabulary:

https://jklm.fun/ - https://wordwall.net/en-us/community/vocabulary/games-b1 - https://wordhub.com/?fca=1&success=0#/

Cohesion:

https://wordwall.net/en-gb/community/linking-words

Additional practice / Something else:

Come to me with a specific question