FCE Test Week 1: Essay Feedback

• English
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Test Week Essay

Read your Feedback .

Things that were done well:

Content was relevant

Good Layout

Good use of discourse markers: Firstly, Secondly, Finally

Good use of topic sentences to introduce your paragraphs (hardly anyone mistakenly used sub-headings or letter conventions)

Tip: 

Always, always, always,

write a plan.

Most of you did : )

Tip: Highlight the important things in the task

common spelling errors

alot = a lot (actually, rather too informal, try and use many, numerous, several)

favor =  favour ( US vs UK spelling???)

its common for parents to .... It's = it is ....

Their /There

Your / You're

Common Grammar errors

 irregular plurals: 

Themselfs = THEMSELVES

Childs =CHILDREN

Don't say or write " very fun" - It sounds very Dinglish...

TIP: great fun / enormous fun / very enjoyable

To or Too

“Too” is an adverb. It can be used to replace words such as “excessively”, “additionally”, “as well” or “also”. 

“To”, on the other hand, is a versatile preposition that can be used in various situations and contexts. It's used to indicate a direction, like “toward” and “until”.

Remember to use good topic sentences to introduce your ideas/paragraphs.....

To start off with, I'm going to talk about bad things about being the oldest in the family.

Firstly, some reasons I believe it is easier not to be the oldest sibling in a family are  ............

I am going to write my essay on being the youngest. i have quite some ideas and want to tell them here.

It is very important parents to consider how the children's birth order may influence parenting.   .....

Correct use of common linking words

and

So next time you think it might be  easier to be the oldest sibling, think about all the advantages  and, the great benefits of being the baby of the family. Remember DON'T use a comma with "and"  ....

So next time you think it might be easier to be the oldest sibling, think about all the advantages and the great benefits of being the baby of the family. 

No comma here

Correct use of common linking words

but

There is no doubt that having a lot of siblings is  fun. But are they worth it? 

There is no doubt that having a lot of siblings is fun but are they worth it? 

use "but" to join two ideas together by placing a comma before "but."

common error: a weak conclusion

Your last paragraph needs to be a conclusion. 

• Always sum up what has already been said in your main paragraph.
• Never introduce a new topic.
• Start the paragraph with:To conclude, .... / To sum up, .... / In conclusion, ...../ All in all, ......
• Try to link the last sentence in your conclusion back to something you have said in your introduction.   
• REMEMBER TO SAY WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE.

Another common error: Too informal 

Try not to use too many shortened forms.

Do not use too many personal pronouns (I, she, he, it, you)

Use correct vocabulary for a semi-formal essay - 

a lot /many, numerous

gotta / got to

gonna / going to

Remember: a catchy title

Government spending on animal protection: good or bad?

Endangered species, do they deserve our money?

Last but not least..... (not essential, but helps the reader know what your essay is about!

Final tip....

Use the writing file in the back to Gold Experience, it is really helpful for the layout, tips and especially "Useful Language" for the essay task. 

MORE PRACTICE......

WHY PRACTICE FOR THE ESSAY?

The essay (Part one) counts as the same number of points as the writing task in Part two but it is a mandatory task so we know that there is definitely going to be an essay in the writing exam. It is a sure way of getting good points if you have had lots of essay practice and looked at frequent topics that come up. 

www.examenglish.com