Writing a report FCE

Posted on 30 May, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

FCE – report

Paper 2 Part 2 – Report

A REPORT is usually written for a superior (e.g. a teacher) or a peer group (e.g. members of an English club). Candidates are expected to give some factual information and make suggestions or recommendations. A report should be clearly organised and may include headings.

Hints

Begin by stating the purpose of your report.
You may invent where you got the information.
Use a clear layout with:
- Headings. They will make it clear that your report is not an essay or review.
- Lists of numbered points or bullets where appropriate. (DON’T overdo it, though. If you use them in more than one section, you won’t be able to show the full range of structures and vocabulary you know.)
Divide your report into sections according to the input.
Develop the ideas in the task input. Focus on a maximum of two points.
Give a clear summary of the situation and make a comment/suggestion only in the last paragraph.
Use an impersonal, semi-formal style.

Useful language for a report

Stating the purpose of the report (paragraph 1)

The main aim/objective/purpose of this report is to …

Describing how you got the information (paragraph 1)

To prepare for this report, I conducted interviews with… / I visited three of the most popular… / I discussed the issue with…

Reporting your results (paragraphs 2, 3, …)

According to …

All those who were interviewed believe that/are concerned that… / It is thought that… / It was commented upon by a number of people we talked to that…

A cause of dissatisfaction was…

Presenting a list

The arguments against … are the following:
1. 1 …
2. 2 …

The following were the main reasons given for supporting …: firstly, …, secondly, …

Points mentioned in favour of/against … were:

1 …
2 …

There are several ways in which … might be … :

1 …
2 …

Making recommendations (Last paragraph)

Taking all the factors mentioned into account…

I would therefore recommend ….

Clearly, more could be done to …. I would make the following recommendations:

1 …
2 …
3 …

Model questions and answers

Report – Model question 1

TASK

Your English teacher has asked you to write a report on where people can eat out in your area. You should include the views of visitors and local people, comment on any recent trends and dissatisfaction and make a recommendation.

Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Report – Model answer 1

Local eating places

The main purpose of this report is to give an overview of the town’s eating facilities. As part of the survey, both tourists and local residents were asked their views.

Cafés, pubs and restaurants

There are a number of good quality restaurants in the area, which cater for most tastes: pizza houses, sushi bars, exclusive French restaurants and gastro pubs. We are also fortunate to have several cafés and sandwich bars, which are very popular in the mornings with young mothers and children and with office workers at lunchtime.

Recent trends/Dissatisfaction

It was reported that in recent years most of the fast food restaurants had extended their hours, with most open until midnight. It was also stated that prices had gone up dramatically in some of the better restaurants and, as a consequence, people are going out less than they used to or eating at cheaper restaurants.

Room for improvement/Recommendations

The main area of concern among a number of people interviewed was the lack of vegetarian meals available in many of the restaurants and it is recommended that restaurants are made aware of this view.

[+/- 185 words]

Report – Model question 2

TASK

Your college has been asked to accept a group of 50 students from another country for two weeks. Your principal has asked you to write a report. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of accepting this group? What would you recommend?

Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Report – Model answer 1

Report on proposed visit by 50 overseas students

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of accepting a large group of students from overseas for two weeks. I have discussed the issue with all the senior members of college staff.

Advantages

All those I interviewed believe that for students, this would be an exciting opportunity to explore a foreign culture, both in the classroom and socially. Overall, they thought the visit would be stimulating for the college at a quiet time of the year.

Disadvantages

Some members of staff are concerned that:

there would be insufficient seating in the library at busy times.

the visitors might be more interested in enjoying themselves than studying.

the restaurant queue would be very slow at lunchtime.

Conclusion and recommendation

Clearly, the visit might involve some practical difficulties, but on the whole, everyone thought that it should be seen as an opportunity not to be missed. I would therefore suggest that the college accepts the group.

[+/- 170 words]

Report – Model question 3

TASK

You work for the Student Travel Agency of your college. The principal of the college is interested in the experiences of students who have worked abroad during their summer holidays. She has asked you to write a report on the advantages and disadvantages of such work. In particular, she wants to know whether the college should recommend “working holidays” to its students.

Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Report – Model answer 3

Working holidays for students

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of working holidays abroad. In order to obtain this information, I interviewed more than 30 students who had worked in different countries.

The benefits of working holidays

A large number of the students I spoke to said that they had enjoyed working abroad and had become more open-minded as a result. Apparently, they felt they had learnt a lot about the local people and their way of life by working side by side with them.

The disadvantages of working holidays

Not surprisingly, many students complained that they had worked too hard in certain countries. They believed that they had been exploited by their employers, who paid them very little money. According to some students, there had also been problems with documents such as work permits.

Conclusions and Recommendations

It appears that the majority of students found the experience of working abroad very beneficial. Therefore, I believe that the college should recommend “working holidays” to its students. However, it should also warn them about the problems they could face and the precautions they need to take.

[+/- 190 words]

Writing formal letters or emails FCE

Posted on 30 May, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

FCE – formal letter or email

Formal letters may be written to an individual or to an organisation. The purpose may be, for example,

to apply for part-time or vacation work (application letter)
to apply for study or scholarship opportunity (application letter)
to complain about something (complaint letter)
to make suggestions about something
to request information (enquiry letter)

In many exam questions, you will be told what to include in your reply. Make sure that your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the task and takes into account any additional information that you have been told to mention. It is important that you include these in order to get a good grade.

How to write formal letters

Formal letter layout

[1] Salutation or Greeting

(A) If you know the name of the person you are writing to use the title (Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms) and the surname only. If you are writing to a woman and do not know if she uses Mrs or Miss, you can use Ms, which is for married and single women.
Examples: “Dear Mr Simpson,” / “Dear Mrs Flanders,” / “Dear Miss Skinner,” / “Dear Ms Van Houten,”
(B) If you do not know the name of the recipient of the letter begin with “Dear Sir,” / “Dear Madam,” (if you know you are writing to a man or a woman) or “Dear Sir or Madam,” (if you do not know the sex of the person you are writing to).

[2] Body

[2.1] Opening

The first paragraph states the reason(s) for writing and, if needed, what you are responding to (an advert, a prospectus…). In addition, an opening paragraph is needed to make reference to previous correspondence.

Useful phrases for the opening

I would like to apply for one of the scholarships I saw advertised in your prospectus. (applying for a scholarship)
I am looking for an outdoor work during the summer holidays and I would like to apply for the position of hotel lifguard assistant which I say advertised in my university’s student newspaper. (applying for a job)
I have seen your advertisement for the post / vacancy / job of… advertised in the local newspaper on 16 June. I am writing because I would like to apply for the job. (applying for a job)
I am the secretary of my college Science Club. I saw your advertisement for the exhibition “The Next 100 Years” and I am interested in organising a group visit. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about it. (requesting information)
I am writing (in order) to complain about the advertisement for your new game. Having just played the game, I realise that the advertisement is misleading. (complaint letter)
I am writing with regard to … I am writing with reference to… I am writing in response to…
Thank you for /your letter of 9 May… /for your letter regarding…
In reply tor your letter of 8 May, …

[2.2], [2. .] Main content

The rest of the body will be organized in paragraphs: that will make reading easier and the effect on the target reader will be better. For example, an application letter may have this layout and paragraphing:

Salutation or greeting
#1 Opening (first paragraph)
#2 About you (age, where you live, education-training and/or work experience relevant to the job, languages …)
#3 Reasons for applying (why you are suitable for the job)
#4 Conclusion (availability for interview, further questions, … – if necessary)
Closing
Final salutation
Name and surname

For any type of formal letter, paragraphing is just a matter of common sense, grouping ideas logically (covering two points or questions in one paragraph, two other points or questions in another paragraph…). You should aim for three to five paragraphs

Other useful phrases

Asking politely

Could you tell me… ?
I would be grateful if you could …
I would be interested in having more details about…
I would like to know if/when/when/…
I would like information on…
Do you know if…?

Complaining

I would like to complain about + noun or -ing
… is not what I expected / was expecting
I am not satisfied with…
I would be grateful if my money was refunded / if you could give me a refund
…

[3] Closing

The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. You usually state what you would like the recipient to do, make a reference to a future event, offer to help…

I look forward to hearing from you soon / I look forward to receiving your reply
I look forward to receiving a full refund (in a complaint letter)
I would like to know what you are going to do about this situation (in a complaint letter)
I would like to thank you in advance for this information (in a enquiry letter -requesting information)
If you require/Should you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me/feel free to contact me.

[4] Final salutation

Depending on how you started your letter (See “Salutation or Greeting” above), you will end your letter with

(A) Yours sincerely,
(B) Yours faithfully,

[5] Sign your name and then print your name clearly underneath on another new line

Moe Szyslak
Moe Szyslak

Letter of application – useful phrases

Dear ……

I am writing to apply for a/the job of ….. which I saw advertised in “The Guardian” newspaper.

I am 26 years old and at the moment I am studying … at …. Having studied English for over seven years I am a fluent speaker of the language. My qualifications also include Proficiency certificates in both French and German. As far as experience is concerned, I have worked as …………. for ……….. As for my character, people tell me I am ……………

I feel I would be suitable for this job because ………… . This will give me the opportunity to ….. . I would also like the chance to….

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours …

name

Other things to consider

Formal language

Use full verb forms and not contractions (do not instead of don’t, would like instead of ‘d like…)
Formal vocabulary, usually not using phrasal verbs.
More complex sentence structure.

Connectors: All good writing makes good use of connectors. You need to use some of the connectors that are more specific to formal language.

Model questions and answers

Formal email/letter 1 – Model question

TASK

You see this advertisement in a student newspaper.

Lifeguard assistants wanted

We are looking for someone in August to assist our lifeguards, provide supervision during beach activities and observe swimmers.

Write to the Lifeguard Manager, saying what your experience and qualifications are and stating the reasons why you are suitable for the job.

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Formal email/letter 1 – Model answer

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am looking for outdoor work during the summer holidays and I would like to apply for the position of lifeguard assistant, which I saw advertised in my university’s student newspaper.

I am 20 years old and at present I am studying Physical Education. I am a strong swimmer and have recently had first aid training. I very much enjoy working with people and for the last two summers I have benn working as an assitant ranger in a National Park, where I had to provide information to the public about using the park and provide emergency assistance to park users. Now I am looking for something different.

I think I would be a suitable candidate for the position because I have been described as calm in a crisis and someone who works well with others.

I am available for the whole of August and would be happy to attend an interview at any time. I look forward to hearing from you at any time in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Ivan Ivienen

(+/- 175 words)

Semi-formal email/letter 2 – Model question

TASK

You recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this email from a parent of one of the students who went.

I understand you were one of the organisers of our son’s ski trip. I have to say my husband and I were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. My son has informed us that the ski slopes were poor, the lessons were fewer than promised and the accommodation was inadequate.

Can you please give us a satisfactory explanation?

Nora White

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Semi-formal email/letter 2 – Model answer

Dear Ms White,

First, let me apologise for any disappointment your son experienced on our ski trip. It is true that there were several concerns. Since we had been led to believe by the company that there would be sufficient slopes for both beginners and advanced skiers, we were extremely upset when this turned out to not to be the case. It was also unfortunate that lack of snow meant that artificial snow had to be used instead.

As for the question of lessons, if you look at the letter we sent you, you will see that only five one-hour lessons were included in the price and that extra hours would have to be paid for separately.

In relation to accommodation, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. I know that in one room there were not enough beds but this was not the case in your son’s room.

We would like to assure you that we take all complaints seriously. We have already decided that next year we will change the company and the location for our trip and we hope that your son will consider joining us again.

Yours sincerely,

Ernest Omate

(+/- 195 words)

Formal email/letter 3 – Model question

TASK

You see this announcement in an English-language college prospectus.

Scholarships

Every year, two scholarships are offered to candidates from overseas who can show how our one-year course in English and American studies would help their career.

Scholarships cover fees, accommodation and food, but not transport or personal spending money.

To apply, write a letter explaining why you think you deserver a scholarship.

Write your letter in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Formal email/letter 3 – Model answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to apply for one of the scholarships I saw advertised in your prospectus.

At present, I am training to be a secondary school teacher of English and I finish my course at the end of June. However, I feel I still have a lot to learn about the language and culture of the English-speaking world and would benefit considerably from a course in an English-speaking country.

The reason I am applying for a scholarship is that I cannot afford the cost of studying abroad. I have no income except for my student grant, so if I am fortunate enough to be given a scholarship, I would have to work part-time to save some personal spending money. My parents will borrow som money for my airfare if I am successful.

I would appreciate being given the opportunity to study at your college and would be very grateful if you would consider my application.

Yours faithfully,

Pedro Gadicto

(+/- 160 words)

Writing letters or emails FCE

Posted on 30 May, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

FCE – informal letter or email

An informal letter or email is usually between people who know each other fairly well. In addition to giving news, they are often used to request information, congratulate people, give advice and ask questions. There are a lot of similarities between informal letters and conversation. Informal letters ask a lot of questions, show interest and enthusiasm, and imagine a lot of shared information.

How to write informal letters or emails

Salutation or Greeting

Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing. In emails, you can also start with Hi (and the person’s name). Dear Ben, or Hi Ben,
(Don’t forget to use only the first name of the person you are writing to and not Dear Mr John, which is never used, or Dear Mr John Brown, which sounds too formal.)
Informal letters sometimes have a comma after the person’s name, and the letter starts on the line below. The important thing is to be consistent with the style that you choose to use (so if you use a comma after the person’s name at the start of the letter, use a comma after the closing statement at the end).

Body

Openings

When writing an informal letter, you are usually replying to another letter. You would normally start with a greeting, then acknowledge the letter to which you are replying. It is often a good idea to acknowledge some key information given in the original letter too. You can also make a comment on your own reply.

Useful phrases for the opening

How are you? / How have the family been? / I hope you are well.
Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / postcard.
It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.
I was so surprised to hear that…
I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven’t been in touch for such a long time.
It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you’re well / you and your family are well.
How are things? / How are you? / How’s it going?

Other useful phrases

Referring to news

Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news

Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …
Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …
I thought you might be interested to hear about / know that …
By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?

Apologies

I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.
I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.

Invitations

I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.
Would you like to come / go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend?
I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre / come on holiday with us.
Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?
Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.
Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

Requests

I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.
I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.
I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?
I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …

Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck

I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.
It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.
I really appreciated all your help / advice.

Congratulations on passing your exams / your excellent exam results!
I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your interview.

Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.
Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …

Making suggestions and recommendations

Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?
You can’t leave New York without (…doing sth)
I’m sure you will enjoy (…doing sth). If you like, we can …
Do visit … / Don’t forget to …

Closing

The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. There are some standard ways of finishing an informal letter or email.

Give a reason why you’re ending the letter: Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! / I guess it’s time I got on with that studying I’ve been avoiding.
Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact: Give my love / regards to… / Say hello to… / Anyway, don’t forget to let me know the dates of the party. / I’ll try and phone you at the weekend to check the times. / We must try and meet up soon. / I can’t wait to hear from you / Look forward to seeing you again / Hope to hear from you soon / See you soon / Write soon
Closing statement such as Love, Lots of love, All the best, Take care, Best wishes, should be written on a new line. If you used a comma after the opening greeting, use a comma here too.
Signing off: Your first name then follows on another new line.

Other things to consider

Range: It is important that you use grammatical expressions and vocabulary appropriate to the level of the exam. Even if there are no mistakes in your writing, you will not be able to get a good grade if you use only the language and vocabulary that you learnt at elementary level. Even in informal writing, there is a good range of language you can use (conditional sentences, a range of perfect and continuous tenses, indirect questions…)

Informal language, including phrasal verbs, informal vocabulary (“I guess you loved the pics“), contractions, question tags.

Simpler sentence structure: I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.

Connectors: All good writing makes good use of connectors. However, many of the connectors you have learnt for other styles of writing are inappropriate in an informal letter or email. For informal writing, you need to use some of the connectors that are more specific to spoken language.

To introduce a topic: Well, you’ll never guess who I bumped into yesterday. / I know how much you love tennis, so I’ve got us some tickets to Wimbledon. / By the way, did you know that John’s got a new job?
To go back to a previous topic: Anyway, as I was saying earlier, I really wasn’t very happy there. / Now where was I? Oh yes, I nearly forgot, Mary asked me tell you about the cinema.
To introduce surprising or bad news: Actually, he came to the party after all. / I’m really sorry but I can’t make it. / To tell you the truth, I don’t really like sports much.
To summarise what you’ve already said: Anyway, we had a really nice time in the end. / Well, to cut a long story short, we didn’t get there on time.

Model questions and answers

Informal email/letter 1 – Model question

TASK

You have received this email from an English-speaking boy called Simon.

Hello,
I would like to get to know someone from your country and a friend has told me that you would like to practise your English. Perhaps we could email each other. Could you tell me a bit about yourself and your family? Could you suggest how we might meet sometime in the future?
Thanks,
Simon

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Informal email/letter 1 – Model answer

Hello Simon,

I’m glad you’re interested in my country. As your friend said, I’d like us to email each other to help me improve your English.

Let me start by telling you a bit about myself and my family. My name’s Ivo and I live in Kutna Hora, which is about 45 minutes from Prague by car. I used to work for a medical company but now I’m learning to be a salesperson. In the future I want a job where I can travel for my work. I’ve already been to a few places in Europe but I’ve never been to an English-speaking country.

I live at home with my parents, which is convenient, as I don’t have to do much housework and my meals are cooked for me. My younger brother is studying at university. Although he is four years younger than me, we get on quite well. We both enjoy snowboarding and music.

What about you? Have you ever been to the Czech Republic? It would be great if you could come over one day and we could fix up a meeting. Why don’t you let me know your plans?

Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

Ivo

(+/- 190 words)

Informal email/letter 2 – Model question

TASK

You have received this email from your English-speaking friend, Jean.

I hear you organised a surprise birthday party for your mother. I’d love to hear about it. What kind of party did you organise? Who did you invite? How did it go? Do tell me.
Love,
Jean

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Note: The following model answer includes some notes to help

Informal email/letter 2 – Model answer

Open with an informal greeting
Hi Jean,

Start your reply by referring to the sender's email/letter.
Good to hear form you again. I hope you’re still enjoying your job.

Give reason for replying
I’m glad you asked me about the party I planned for my mother’s birthday. Well, I have to say it was a fantastic success. I told my mother we were taking her out for a quiet meal at a local restaurant with just the family, but in fact I’d⁽¹⁾ hired a large room in a hotel and invited all her old friends!⁽²⁾

Start a new paragraph as the topic has changed slightly.
Use an informal linking word/phrase
Anyway, I picked my mother up and told her I’d changed my mind. We were going to have a meal in a hotel. You should have seen her face when she walked into the room and everyone cheered! She just couldn’t believe it and burst into tear⁽³⁾. Then the party got going and it didn’t finish until four in the morning. We were absolutely exhausted, but my mother had had a wonderful time.

When you close, make an excuse to finish.
Must dash now – I’ve got to go to college. Hope to hear from you ⁽⁴⁾.

Make sure you finish with an informal phrase
Love,

Tania

(1) Use contractions
(2) Use some exclamation marks (but not too many) to express emotion.
(3) Use a range of appropriate vocabulary and informal expressions
(4) Short sentences are acceptable

(+/- 150 words)

Semi-formal email/letter 3 – Model question

TASK

Your recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this email from a parent of one of the students who went.

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Note: As you are writing to a parent the register of this letter should be semi-formal, which is characterized by:

the use of less colloquial language – e.g. Thank you very much for your letter (instead of: Thanks a million for your letter.)
less frequent use of short forms, phrasal verbs and idioms – e.g. I am writing to request information about… (instead of: I thought I’d drop you a line to ask about…)
a polite, respectful tone – e.g. I was wondering if you had … (instead of: Do you have…)

Informal email/letter 3 – Model answer

Dear Mrs White,

First, let me apologize for any disappointment your son experienced on our ski trip. It is true that there were several concerns. Since we had been led to believe by the company that there would be sufficiente slopes for both beginners and advanced skiers, we were extremely upset when this turned out not to be the case. It was also unfortunate that lack of snow meant that artificial snow had to be used istead.

As for the question of lessons, if you look at the letter we sent you, you will see that only five one-hour ski-lessons were included in the price and that extra hours would have to be paid separately.l

In relation to accommodation, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. I know that in one room there were not enough beds but this was not the case in your son’s room.

We would like to assure you that we take all complaints seriously. We have already decided that next year we will change the company and the location for our trip and we hop that your son will consider joining us again.

Yours sincerely,

Waylon Smithers

(+/- 190 words)

Writing articles FCE

Posted on 30 May, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

Paper 2 Part 2 – Article

AN ARTICLE is usually written for an English-language magazine or newsletter, and the reader is assumed to have similar interests to the writer. The main purpose is to inform, interest and engage the reader, so there should be some opinion or comment.

Hints

Add a short title to catch the reader’s attention. Make sure it is relevant. You can use the one in the question or invent one of your own.
Introduce the topic. Although you don’t know the readers personally, you can address them directly and ask them a rhetorical question. It helps to involve them.
Divide your report into sections according to the input. One or two paragraphs will do.
Develop the ideas in the task input. Remember .
- Use a personal or more neutral style, but not formal (you might use contractions).
- It is important that you show a range of structures.
- Give examples where appropriate to bring your article to life
- Use humour where appropriate.
Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.

Useful language for an article

Involving the reader

Just imagine…

Have you ever…?
How would you feel if …?
Are you one of those people who …?
If the answer is …, you should….
What would live be like if…
…

Making the article lively and interesting

I was absolutely terrified when I realised…

More importantly, it was something I…
Not surprisingly, it’s a good way of raising money.
The tent was worryingly small for three people!
It was the most amazing experience I have ever had.
…

Developing your points

Let’s start with …

Another advantage of …
On top of that, …
…

Giving your own opinion

I think that / In my opinion …

It seems to me that …
If you ask me, …
To my mind…
…

Model questions and answers

Article- Model question 1

TASK

You see this announcement on an English-language website.

Articles wanted

A charity event to remember
What is the most unusual way you’ve raised money for charity? How did you do it? What did you have to do? Was the event a success? Would you do it again?
Write us an article answering these questions.
We will publish the best articles on our website.

Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Article – Model answer 1

A charity event to remember

So why did I decide to do a 90-km walk in six days along the Great Wall of China? Well, the reason was that our local children’s hospital needed to raise money or it would be close. However, I didn’t realise how big a challenge it would be.

Before I went, I thought that I would be walking along a flat surface but when I saw the Great Wall, my heart sank. Part of the time we would be trekking up hundreds of high steps and, worryingly, some of the paths had steep falls on either side and there was nowhere to go because we were surrounded by mountains and forests. However, after a while, I started to love the experience. I was in one of the most amazing places on earth and the views were incredible.

In the end, the adventure was a great success. The hospital was delighted because a group of us managed to raise several thousand pounds.

Would I be keen to help the hospital again next year? Yes, but I think I’ll try and find an easier challenge next time!

[+/- 190 words]

Article- Model question 2

TASK

You see this announcement in an international magazine.

Articles wanted

Life on a desert island
Imagine you were on a desert island. What important object, person or place in your life would you miss most? What would be the reasons?
Write us an article answering these questions.
We will publish the best articles in the magazine.

Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Article – Model answer 2

Life on a desert island

How would you feel about living on a desert island? I can’t imagine anything worse! I’d miss a lot of things but most of all, I would miss my home.

My home is a small house on the outskirts of a city. It was built about 50 years ago and has a small garden. In the summer, our country gets very hot but our house is always cool. You’d probably think our house is nothing special, but I have lived there all my life and all my friends live nearby. It’s a happy place, where I feel completely safe. Whenever I go away, I look forward to coming back, lying on my bed, reading a book and listening to my brother and sister arguing downstairs!

I love travelling and meeting new people, but if I were on a desert island, I’d be away from the place I love most: my home; and I would hate that.

[+/- 160 words]

Article- Model question 3

TASK

You see this announcement in an international magazine.

Articles wanted

Lucky winners
What would you do if you won a large sume of money. How would your life change?
Write us an article answering these questions. Give reasons.
We will publish the best articles next month.

Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Article – Model answer 3

Don’t throw it all away!

Have you ever dreamt of becoming rich unexpectedly? Just imagine what your life would be like! However, some people who get rich quickly are very careless with their money and end up being poorer than they were before.

That’s why I’d be very careful. I wouldn’t want a completely different kind of life, so I’d start by putting some of it away, in case everything went wrong – set up a kind of “emergency fund”. Then I would buy my hard-working parents a new home. They deserve it because they have always provided me with everything I’ve always wanted, even if it meant they had to go without. I would also give some money away to needy people who are struggling in the world and have no food. It would not be right to just spend the money on myself. Then I think I would take a year off from studying and travel round the world in great comfort. I’ve spent most of my live travelling on a limited budget and sleeping in hostels.

After that, who knows? I’ll see, but I certainly won’t be buying any luxury cars!

[+/- 190 words]

Writing essays for FCE 2015

Posted on 30 May, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

FCE – essay

Paper 2 Part 1 – Essay

AN ESSAY is always written for the teacher. It should answer the question given by addressing both content points and providing a new content point of the writer’s own.

The essay should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion and should be written in an appropriate register and tone.

While it is possible to argue only one point of view (i.e. either agreeing or disagreeing on a topic) as long as you bear in mind the other point of view and back up your points, it is probably easier to have a balanced discussion comparing advantages and disadvantages, or ideas for and against a topic.

Read the rubric, essay question and prompts very carefully in order to understand what you are expected to do. This is vital!
It is important to keep the focus of the topic question and that all your ideas and opinions are relevant to the question.
Support your opinions with reasons and examples.
Think of a third idea of your own in addition to the two given prompts. If any of the three essay prompts is missed out, then the target reader will not be fully informed and the candidate will be penalised.
Ideas need to be expressed in a clear an logical way, and should be well organised and coherent. It is advisable to use up to 5 paragraphs:
1. Introduction
2. Prompt 1 development + reason(s)/example(s)
3. Prompt 2 development + reason(s)/example(s)
4. Prompt 3 development + reason(s)/example(s)
5. Conclusion (you may include your opinion here)
Varying the length of the sentences, using direct and indirect questions and using a variety of structures and vocabulary may all help to communicate ideas more effectively.
The correct use of linking words and phrases (e.g. but, so, however, on the other hand, etc.) and the appropriate use of cohesive devices (e.g. using pronouns for referencing) is especially important in essays.

Hints

[PLANNING]
– Use the task input to help you plan but try to avoid copying phrases from the input in Part 1. Use your own words.
[INTRODUCTION and CONCLUSION]
– Effective introductory and concluding paragraphs – In the introduction, state the topic clearly, give a brief outline of the issue, saying why it is important or why people have different opinions about it.
– DO NOT express you opinion at the beginning of your essay (develop you essay in such a way that it guides the reader to the conclusion you draw).
– DO give your opinion in the final paragraph.
[SECOND and THIRD PARAGRAPHS]
– Structure your argument. – Each new paragraph has one main idea, stated in a topic sentence.
– Include relevant details to support the main idea: these might include examples, rhetorical questions (do no overdo it), controversial or surprising statements… If you include a drawback, give a possible solution, too.
[GENERAL]
– DO use a relatively formal register and an objective tone. Do not be too emotional.
– Remember to use linking adverbials to organise your ideas and to make it easy for the reader to follow your argument.
– In the exam, allow yourself time to check your grammar, spelling and punctuation thoroughly.

Linking words and phrases

Present your ideas clearly. Use connectors to link your ideas

Make sure you know how to use connectors appropriately (register, punctuation…). If you have any doubts, you should use a good dictionary to check.

To express personal opinions: In my opinion, I believe (that) / I feel (that) / it seems to me / in my view /as I see it / I think / personally
To show purpose: to / in order to / so as to / so that
To list ideas: Firstly / secondly / finally / In the first place / Lastly
To contrast ideas: However / although / in contrast / whereas / but / nevertheless / in spite of / despite
To describe a cause: Because / since / as / due to
To show a sequence: First of all / then / after that / eventually / in the end / finally
To add information: In addition / moreover / what is more / besides / too / furthermore / and
To describe a consequence: Consequently / as a result / therefore / so / thus / for this reason / that is why
To conclude the topic: In conclusion / to sum up / in short / all in all

Model questions and answers

Essay 1 – Model question

TASK

In your English class, you have been talking about the subject of cultural heritage. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

Is is a good thing that countries spend a lot of money on their heritage?

Notes

Write about:
1. preserving the past
2. investing in the future
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 1 – Model answer

Most countries spend large sums of money protecting their national heritage. However, there is strong argument that we should look forwards and not backwards, spending less money on preserving the past and more on securing our future.

On the one hand, it is important that we remember our heritage. Once it is lost, it is lost forever. Caring for important monuments helps with this. It also attracts tourists, which has an economic benefit for everyone.

On the other hand, governments spend a lot of money on museums and keeping historic sites in good condition when poor people need houses to live in and businesses need better roads for transporting their goods.

Another argument is that by making heritage sites attractive for tourists -for example, by putting on entertainment – we give a very untrue picture of the past and sometimes damage the local environment.

To conclude, while there are strong arguments for not spending too much on preserving the past, I believe it is important to protect the most famous sites for the future generations but it is not realistic to try and save everything. We need to invest in the future too.

(+/- 190 words)

Essay 2 – Model question

TASK

In your English class, you have recently had a discussion about science and young people. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

Science is very important in the 21st century. How do you think it could be made more appealing to young people?

Notes

Write about:
1. television programmes
2. interactive museums
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 2 – Model answer

Although young people love gadgets and technology, some see science as uninteresting and ‘uncool’. Over time, the number of young people, particularly girls, pursuing science and technology studies and careers has dropped.

One way in which science could be made more attractive would be to have lively television programmes presented by celebrities, with subjects which were relevant to the experience of the young. We live in a celebrity culture and children identify with well-known young people.

Another idea would be to set up interactive science museums in every town, where parents could take their children. It is much better to teach children the principles of science through hands-on experiments than to lecture them in a classroom.

Of course, there would be more incentives if the average scientit were better paid and young people were made aware of the range of jobs available. A lot of people are put off a scientific career because they think it means working in a badly paid job in a boring laboratory.

Whichever way we choose, it is vital that more young people are attracted to science, since society’s prosperity depends largely on continuous scientific progress.

(+/- 190 words)

Essay 3 – Model question

TASK

In your English class, you have recently had a discussion about relationships. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

Is it better to live alone or with someone else?

Notes

Write about:
1. independence
2. money
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 3 – Model answer

Nowadays more people are deciding to live by themselves. Some people claim this is more enjoyable and in young people it develops a sense of responsibility, whereas others disagree.

The main advantage of living alone is that there is nobody to tell you what to do, so you can live your life in your own way. What is more, you can organise or decorate your house as you want. There is no one else to disagree with.

On the other hand, it can be quite lonely for some people. By nature, we are social animals. Secondly, it is more expensive because you have to pay all the rent and bills yourself, so you have less money to enjoy yourself. Last but not least, it can be quite hard to find a nice flat for one person, so you might not be able to live in the best area.

To sum up, there are strong arguments on both sides. In conclusion, I believe that living alone is better for older people who have more money and like privacy but not for young people who need to share the costs.

(+/- 180 words)

Essay 4 – Model question

TASK

In your English class you have been talking about happiness. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

Whether you are happy or not depends on the personality you are born with. Do you agree?

Notes

Write about:
1. money
2. health
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 4 – Model answer

Some people claim they are naturally cheerful. However, in my view, how we lead our lives is the main reason we are either happy or unhappy.

Take money, for example. Money doesn’t automatically make us happy. In fact, it makes some people very unhappy because they are frightened of losing what they’ve got. On the other hand, if we’re not greedy and don’t spend it foolishly, it can reduce stress and give us security.

Then consider health. If we eat badly, get too little sleep and don’t exercise, our health will decline and make us miserable. Eating well and going for lovely long walks in the countryside can make us feel better generally.

The third thing I think is important is to have a positive outlook on life. We should all enluy things like music and being with our friends. At the same time, it’s important to spend time alone and live as simply as possible, which is not easy in the 21st century!

All these make a big difference to our happiness, no matter what our natural temperament.

(+/- 170 words)

Remember you have two more samples in the Expert Writing section of your book (pages 199 and 200), which include hints and suggestions to help you.

Writing essays for IELTS

Posted on 30 May, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

The process of writing is generally a painful one. Organizing ideas into paragraphs, thinking of the right connectors, coming up with a nice pseudo-original idea on the topic, and so on and so forth.

When it comes to essays, the process becomes a little bit more painful, unfortunately. Still, this type of writing needs to be learned since most pieces of writing that you will produce as a student will be exactly this type: the essay ones. Therefore, here I´m leaving a guidance to give you a hand with this process. Cheer up! Everyone in the end, learned this! 🙂

There are then model answers on the following pages for different types of essay and different questions, with some brief guidance on each.

It is important to analyse model answers for IELTS essays because there are different essay types, and these will require different ways to answer them.

However, as you will see from the guidance on this page, they can all follow the same basic structure.

These are some of the types of IELTS essay we will look at:

Agree / disagree
Discuss two opinions
Advantages & disadvantages
Causes (reasons) & solutions
Causes (reasons) & effects
Problems & solutions
Compare & contrast

Not every essay will fit one of these patterns, but many do. You may get some of these tasks mixed up. For example, you could be asked to give your opinion on an issue, and then discuss the advantages or disadvantages of it.

The golden rule is to ALWAYS read the question very carefully to see exactly what you are being asked to do.

View this lesson for more practice on analyzing essay questions.

How do I Write an IELTS Essay?

In order to answer this, lets first look at a sample question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.

In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication by email. However, these developments in IT are likely to have more negative effects than positive in the future.

To what extent do you agree with this view?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

You should write at least 250 words.

An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements:

Introduction
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion

We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example.

1) Introduction

You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

You should do just two things:

State the topic of the essay, using some basic facts (that you may be able to take from the question)
Say what you are going to write about

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about IT:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people’s lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, it can be argued that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the question. Note that these are paraphrased – you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out the what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does).

View this lesson for more advice on writing IELTS essay introductions.

2) Body Paragraphs

For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs – no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

Lets look at the first paragraph for the essay about IT. The essay is about the benefits and drawbacks of IT, so these will need to be discussed in separate paragraphs.

Here is the first body paragraph:

To begin, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster, resulting in numerous benefits for commerce and business. Furthermore, theWorld Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. It is evident that these improvements have made life far easier and more convenient for large numbers of people and will continue to do so for decades to come.

The controlling idea in this first paragraph is the ‘benefits of IT‘, and there are two supporting ideas, which are underlined. No drawbacks are discussed as the paragraph would then lose coherence.

Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people’s basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

Re-state what the essay is about (re-write the last sentence of your introduction in different words)
Give some thoughts about the future

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe developments relating to new technology are likely to produce many negative effects in the future that must be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts to individuals and society.

The full IELTS Essay:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people’s lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, it can be argued that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

To begin, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster, resulting in numerous benefits for commerce and business. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. It is evident that these improvements have made life far easier and more convenient for large numbers of people and will continue to do so for decades to come.

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people’s basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe developments relating to new technology are likely to produce many negative effects in the future that must be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts to individuals and society.

(287 words)

Comments

The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion.

The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the third paragraph is a qualifying statement (Nevertheless, not all the effects...), so the writer can now focus on the negative elements.

The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples (lack of regulation, viruses). Both paragraphs suggest that these problems will continue in the future.

The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement.

Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation (…this has made life…) but importantly, also refers to the future of IT (…likely to increase..., might get worse…).

Describing photos

Posted on 14 April, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

Describing photos (comparing, contrasting and speculating)

You are going to practise language for;

Describing photos
Comparing and contrasting photos (discussing similarities and differences)
Speculating on what might be happening
Reacting to photos (giving opinions)

Discuss
Look at the presentation. Follow the instructions and talk about some of the photos

Write
The language used here for comparing and contrasting / speculating is also useful for writing discussion / argument essays. Plan:

Introduction – describe the situation / topic to be discussed
Compare / contrast ideas (for and against / advantages and disadvantages)
Speculate on solutions to problems raised by the question
Conclusion – give an opinion

Which pairs or groups of photos in the presentation could be used to demonstrate ideas for argument writing topics about education, technology, food, family, work, leisure, health, advertising etc?

Comparatives and superlatives

Posted on 14 April, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

Can you remember? What were the superlatives in the quiz?

What do you know about comparatives and superlatives?
When do we use them?
How do we make them?

Look at the presentation below and answer the questions.

Common list of verbs followed by -ing or to-infinitive

Posted on 5 April, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

Common verbs followed by the gerund:
enjoy………………….. I enjoyed living in France.
fancy………………….. I fancy seeing a film tonight.
discuss………………. We discussed going on holiday together.
dislike………………… I dislike waiting for buses.
finish…………………. We’ve finished preparing for the meeting.
mind………………….. I don’t mind coming early.
suggest…………….. He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
recommend………. They recommended meeting earlier.
keep………………….. He kept working, although he felt ill.
avoid………………….. She avoided talking to her boss.
miss ……………………She misses living near the beach.
appreciate………….. I appreciated her helping me.
delay…………………. He delayed doing his taxes.
postpone…………… He postponed returning to Paris.
practise…………….. She practised singing the song.
consider……………. She considered moving to New York.
can’t stand………… He can’t stand her smoking in the office.
can’t help………….. He can’t help talking so loudly.
risk…………………… .He risked being caught.
admit………………… He admitted cheating on the test.
deny…………………. He denied committing the crime.
mention…………….. He mentioned going to that college.
imagine…………….. He imagines working there one day.
tolerate……………… I tolerated her talking.
understand………… I understand his quitting.
involve………………. The job involves travelling to Japan once a month.
complete…………… He completed renovating the house.
report………………… He reported her stealing the money.
anticipate…………… I anticipated arriving late.
recall………………….. Tom recalled using his credit card at the store.

Common verbs followed by to + infinitive:
agree …………..She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting
ask*…………….. I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early
decide…………. We decided to go out for dinner
help*…………….. He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean
the kitchen
plan……………… She plans to buy a new flat next year
hope…………… .I hope to pass the exam
learn…………… .They are learning to sing
want*…………… .I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party
would like*…….. I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her
tonight
promise……….. We promised not to be late
can afford…….. We can’t afford to go on holiday.
manage……….. He managed to open the door without the key.
prepare* ……….They prepared to take the test /the teachers prepared the students
to take the test.
demand……….. He demanded to speak to Mr. Harris.
choose………… .I chose to help.
offer…………….. Frank offered to drive us to the supermarket.
wait……………… .She waited to buy a movie ticket.
would hate*…… I’d hate to be late / I’d hate you to be late.
would love*…… I’d love to come / I’d love him to come.
seem……………. Nancy seemed to be disappointed.
expect*………… They expect to arrive early / they expect Julie to arrive early
intend…………… We intend to visit you next spring.
pretend………… The child pretended to be a monster.
refuse………….. The guard refused to let them enter the building.
tend……………… He tends to be a little shy.
would prefer*… I’d prefer to do it / I’d prefer him to do it.
deserve……….. He deserves to go to jail.
appear…………. His health appeared to be better.
arrange………… Naomi arranged to stay with her cousin in Miami.
claim…………….. She claimed to be a princess.

*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

(Note that ‘help’ can also be followed by the infinitive without ‘to’ with no difference
in meaning: ‘I helped to carry it’ = ‘I helped carry it’.)

Verbs + ing or to-infinitive

Posted on 5 April, 2015 by maldonadodelfi

Gerunds and infinitives

It can be a little difficult to know when to use gerunds and infinitives.

We use gerunds (verb + ing):

After certain verbs – I enjoy singing
After prepositions – I drank a cup of coffee before leaving
As the subject or object of a sentence – Swimming is good exercise

We use ‘to’ + infinitive:

After certain verbs – We decided to leave
After many adjectives – It’s difficult to get up early
To show purpose – I came to London to study English

We use gerunds (verb + ing)

We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without ‘to’):

After modal verbs – I can meet you at six o’clock
After ‘let’, ‘make’ and (sometimes) ‘help’ – The teacher let us leave early
After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) – I watched her walk away
After expressions with ‘why’ – why go out the night before an exam?

Click for exercises on PDF here

2) Speak
Look at the list of verbs in the presentation and make sentences using a gerund or an infinitive after each verb.
Example – I can’t stand driving in the city.

3)Write some sentences using the verbs above which are true for you.
Example – I detest eating prunes.
I’m just a poor EFL teacher. I can’t afford to buy new shoes.

4)Practise
Here are 5 songs with gerunds and infinitives in the titles.
How many do you know? Can you think of any more songs with a gerund or an infinitive in the title?

I promise to try

I can´t stand losing you

Imagine (having no possessions…)

I want to break free