CAE writing prep.

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

5 Cambridge - 03/06/2022

Final Writing prep

During the previous lessons

We practiced all other skills
Last Wednesday: a full Reading + Use of English test

The week before: a full Listening test

The week before that: several speaking tests

Today's goals:

- you can explain the format of the writing paper
- you can explain what the examiners look for in essays
- you can adhere to the proper structure of essays

- you are able to assess other people's work appropriately
- you know what you should bring tomorrow
- you know that you are awesome!

How many parts does the writing exam consist of?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

Part 1 is ALWAYS an essay.
Which tasks can you expect in part 2?

Why is it so important to be able to do two different part 2 tasks well?

How much time do you have for the whole thing?

1. 80 minutes
2. 85 minutes
3. 90 minutes
4. 100 minutes

How many words are you supposed to write for each part?

1. it doesn't matter, as long as you cover all necessary things
2. 300-340 words
3. 190-230 words
4. 220-260 words

Your writing will be assessed on 4 different points: C, CA, O & L. What do these letters stand for?

What are the dangers of going UNDER and OVER the word count, content-wise?

What does 'communicative achievement' entail?

Communicative achievement

Demonstrates complete command of the conventions of the communicative task. 

5 points: Uses the conventions of the communicative task with sufficient flexibility to communicate complex ideas in an effective way, holding the target reader’s attention with ease, fulfilling all communicative purposes.

Most important things
to not forget to score
highly for Organisation?

Organisation

Text is organised impressively and coherently using a wide range of cohesive devices and organisational patterns with complete flexibility.

5 points: Text is a well-organised, coherent whole, using a variety of cohesive devices and organisational patterns with flexibility.

What do examiners look for, language-wise?

Language

5 points:
- Uses a range of vocabulary, including less common lexis, effectively and precisely.

- Uses a wide range of simple and complex grammatical forms with full control, flexibility and sophistication.

- Errors, if present, are related to less common words and structures, or occur as slips.

How many paragraphs should your essay consist of? Name them!

Introduction

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

Conclusion

Adults can influence younger people in a good way, but also in a bad way. There are various possibilities how this can happen.

On the one hand, setting a good example is a quite useful way, because younger people will be able to see the adult’s behaviours and ways of thinking. They will see and feel the adult’s values and lives and may decide to become like them someday or at least to try to behave and think like adults.

On the other hand, offering advices seems to be the better way for me, how adults can influence younger people. Because, setting a good example to follow can be useful, but it also is pretty exhausting for adults and they may have some pressure as well. In addition, it’s just an opportunity for younger people, because they’ll decide rather they want to become like these adults or not.

In my opinion, younger people should try to learn how life works on their own. This will lead to more failures, but in my opinion, failing is normal and necessary. Of course this way of influencing is more exhausting for younger people, but I guess they’ll figure out how to do things on their own.

What should you start each paragraph with?

Safe linking words

Introduction: Nowadays

B.P. 1: Firstly, On the one hand

B. P. 2: Secondly, On the other hand, Moreover, In contrast to this, Conversely, Furthermore, etc.

Conclusion: In conclusion, All in all, To sum up, In my opinion

Exercise (10-15 minutes)

In pairs, take a look at the handout. You'll find:

- the rubrics examiner use to assess writing tasks at C1 level

- an essay task

- 2 essays 

Please read the task thoroughly and decide how many points you think both essays scored for C, CA, O and L

Assessment of candidate A

C: 5

CA: 3

O: 3

L: 2

so that means a pass! (6,5)

Assessment of candidate B

C: 3

CA: 4

O: 4

L: 3

Also a pass! (7,0)

Which assessment criterium is the easiest to score 5 points for?

1. Content
2. Communicative achievement
3. Organisation
4. Language

How much time do you have for EACH part?

1. 30 minutes
2. 50 minutes
3. 25 minutes
4. 45 minutes

Which part 2 tasks have you prepared for?

letter

report

review

proposal

What are you
bringing to the
exams tomorrow? (7)

Who's going to absolutely smash this writing thing tomorrow?

1. I am!
2. We are!
3. I'm the absolute awesomest writer of them all!
4. We are all magnificent!

SUPER GOOD LUCK!

You guys are all amazing!

See you tomorrow at 8.30 :)

HW for Wednesday: questions for texts 7 + 8 of the 2017-2 exam