WRITING COMPONENT
WRITING
INSTRUCTIONS The writing test is built around a series of interrelated activities. Typical activities include joining a club or applying for a visa. There are four parts, which range from very basic form-filling to quite complex e-mail messages. Make sure you fully understand the questions. lan what you are going to write and then edit your writing before clicking to the next question. The most common mistakes are the following! •
• • • • • •
"ot answering the questions #going off-topic$. %ead the question and understand what you are required to do. &riting too much but with poor grammar, spelling and punctuation. 'eep to the word count and focus on accuracy. "ot using a variety of sentence structures. "ot writing in sentences or paragraphs. "ot capitalising months, cities, countries and names. (sing )M) spelling.
The total time allowed for the writing test is *+ minutes.
TEST DESIGN
DESCRIPTION
art art
&ord &ord-l -lev evel el writi riting ng
omp omple lete te a form form with ith indi indivi vidu dual al word words s
art
)hort text writing
/orm-filling in the form of se sentences
art 0
0 written parts of text, 1 social network-type network-type interaction interaction with with 0 questions questions which all require responses
art 2
/ormal and informal text writing
Task ! &rite an informal email to a friend Task ! &rite a formal email
WRITING SET 1 W2
WRITING
Part 1 Personal Details Record Form 3ou are applying to pursue your studies at a university. /ill in the following details and submit to your university. lease ensure all information is completed in full. 3ou have 0 minutes to complete this form. Personal Details Title #delete as appropriate$! Miss )urname! 4ainal 1bidin
/irst "ame! "uramalina
Maiden "ame #if applicable$! 5ate of 6irth! 2 March 770 8ome 1ddress! "o 92, :ln Mentimun, Tmn )eri 1hmad erang 'ota Tinggi :ohor )treet! :ln Mentimun ostcode! 97++
ity! 'ota Tinggi
8ome Telephone! +; 990;*9
Mobile! +;;90**7
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W3
WRITING
Part 2 3ou are a new member of the neighbourhood watch. /ill in the form. &rite in complete sentences. 3our text should be + to 0+ words in length. 3ou have ; minutes. rovide the days and times you are available to do your neighbourhood watch and the reasons.
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W4
WRITING
Part 3ou are a new member of a reading club. 3ou are communicating with the librarian in your town library in a chat room. (se complete sentences when you write. (se 0+ > 2+ words per answer. 3ou have + minutes to complete all 0 answers. !i"rarian # $ello% I see t&at 'o( are a ne) mem"er o* o(r readin+ cl(", W&at are 'o(r reasons *or -oinin+ t&is readin+ cl(". #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
8ello, because reading is my passion. My day would suck if = do not read any books in one day.
POST !i"rarian # T&at/s +ood to &ear, W&at t'0es o* "oos do 'o( lie readin+ and )&'. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
= love thriller and mysterious. = don?t know why = just love it. = love how the author generates idea to write those kind of genre.
POST !i"rarian # T&e cl(" is 0lannin+ to mae some "oos aaila"le online "ased on t&e t'0es o* "oos o(r mem"ers en-o' readin+, W&at do 'o( t&in o* t&is idea. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
= think that is a good idea. 6ecause sometimes people are busy with their jobs and don?t have time to go to the library. )o if we are able to make it available online, they can read it when they are free at night.
W5
WRITING
POST Part 3 4 Tas 1 @ast week you received an email from your local council!
Dear Residents, To improve the telephone network, we will be installing a new telecommunication tower on Monday next week. It will take approximately 8 hours to install. or this reason, all telephone and internet services will be disrupted !rom 8."" a.m. till #."" p.m. on Monday. $e apologise !or this inconvenience, and hope it will bring better service. Thank you. The %ocal &ouncil.
8owever, the installation took two days #Monday and Tuesday$ and since then, the service has worsened significantly. Write an email to a *riend% in 56 )ords% e70ressin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&is sit(ation and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, 3ou have + minutes. #(se friendly, informal Anglish with standard spelling and punctuation.$
3o,
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WRITING
Part 3 4 Tas 2 8lso% )rite an email% in 126 to 156 )ords% to t&e co(ncil e70lainin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&e sit(ation and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, 9o( &ae 26 min(tes, #(se formal Anglish and remember to use appropriate salutations and closing.$
5ear )ir. My name is "uramalina 4ainal, representing the neighbourhood of Taman =nternet would like to convey our disappointment during the installation of the new telecommunication tower in our neighbourhood. 1t first, you told us that the installation will cause all telephone and internet services will be disrupted only for one day but the installation delayed and it took two daysC &e had to go out of the neighbourhood to make emergency calls. 1nd you said that the installation will make the services become better. Today is the twentieth day after the installation. 1ll the services are not getting better but have worsened significantly. &e suggest that, the installation can be done during the night only so that the services can be use during day time. 6esides that, = hope the council can identify first the effectiveness the telecommunication tower before installed it.
8ope to see your improvement soon. Thank you, "uramalina 4ainal 1bidin
W7
WRITING
WRITING SET 2 Part 1 /ill in the form. 3ou have 0 minutes.
MEM:ERS$IP FOR T$E ENG!IS$ !8NGU8GE SOCIET9
/ull "ame!
"uramalina 4ainal 1bidin
5ate of 6irth!
2 March 770
8ome 1ddress! "o 92, :ln Mentimun, Taman )eri 1hmad erang, 97++ 'ota Tinggi :ohor
Mobile "umber! +;-;90**7 ourse! 1rabic @anguage )emester!
Amail 1ddress! amalina.amDEgmail.com
NEXT W8
WRITING
W9
WRITING
Part 2 3ou are the resident of the Anvironmental lub. /ill in the form. &rite in complete sentences. 3our text should be + to 0+ words in length. 3ou have ; minutes.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
lease write here about your suggested activities for the lub.
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W10
WRITING
Part 3ou are a new member of the Travel lub. 3ou are communicating in the chat room with the club president. (se complete sentences when you write. 3our text should be 0+ > 2+ words in length. 3ou have + minutes to complete all 0 answers. Cl(" President # $ello% I see t&at 'o( are a ne) mem"er o* o(r Trael Cl(", W&at are 'o(r reasons *or -oinin+ t&is cl(". #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
POST Cl(" President# T&at/s interestin+, Can I 0lease no) )&ere 'o( )o(ld lie to trael to and )&'. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
POST Cl(" President# T&e cl(" is 0re0arin+ a )e"0a+e on 0laces o(r mem"ers )o(ld lie to isit, Can 'o( 0lease +ie (s 'o(r ie)s on t&is idea. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
POST W11
WRITING
Part 3 4 Tas 1 @ast week you received an email from oncorde ondominium Management! Dear Residents, To improve the cleanliness o! the condominium premises, a new team o! cleaners will carry out general cleaning next 'aturday. To enable them to do their work e!!iciently, we kindly re(uest all residents to park their vehicles outside the premises !rom 8."" a.m. till #."" p.m. $e apologise !or the inconvenience caused. $e look !orward to your kind co)operation !or a better and cleaner environment. Thank you. The &oncorde &ondominium Management.
8owever, the general cleaning took two days #)aturday and )unday$, and due to this delay your car was badly damaged by vandals. Write an email to a *riend% in 56 )ords% e70ressin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&is sit(ation and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, 9o( &ae 16 min(tes, (se friendly, informal Anglish with standard spelling and punctuation.
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W12
WRITING
Part 3 4 Tas 2 8lso )rite an email% in 126 to 156 )ords% to t&e co(ncil e70lainin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&e sit(ation and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, 9o( &ae 26 min(tes, (se formal Anglish and remember to appropriate salutations and closing.
WRITING SET W13
WRITING
Part 1 3ou are planning a trip to 6ali through a travel agent. /ill in the form. 3ou have 0 minutes.
/ull "ame! 8ome 1ddress!
8ouse "o. F )treet! ityGTown! ostcode!
)tate!
/irst @anguage! .
.
0.
=nterests #@ist 0$!
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Part 2 3ou are a new member of a fitness club. /ill in the form. &rite in complete sentences. 3our text should be + to 0+ words in length. 3ou have ; minutes.
W14
WRITING
FITNESS CLUB &rite reasons why you are interested in the fitness club.
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Part 3ou have contacted a friend from another campus in your chat room. 3our friend wants to know what your life is like in your new campus. Talk to himGher using sentences. 3our text should be 0+ > 2+ words in length. 3ou have + minutes to complete all 0 answers. W15
WRITING
Friend # $ello, $o) &ae 'o( "een. $o) is li*e in 'o(r ne) cam0(s. W&at 0ro"lems do 'o( &ae. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
POST Friend # $o) do 'o( &andle 'o(r 0ro"lems. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
POST Friend # I am 0lannin+ to set (0 a WhatsApp +ro(0 )it& o(r *riends so t&at )e can s&are ideas, W&at do 'o( t&in are t&e 0ros and cons o* settin+ (0 o(r WhatsApp +ro(0. #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
POST Part 3 4 Tas 1 3ou are a member of your Teacher )upport
WRITING
$e wish to re!er to our meeting last month where we decided to carry out some social activities. Due to !inancial constraints o! our organisation, we have to postpone our activities. $e hope to resume our activities when our !inancial situation improves. Thank you. +ead o! T'*
Write an email to anot&er TSO mem"er% in 56 )ords% e70ressin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&is sit(ation and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, 9o( &ae 16 min(tes, (se friendly, informal Anglish with standard spelling and punctuation.
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W17
WRITING
Part 3 4 Tas 2 8lso )rite an email% in 126 to 156 )ords% to t&e $ead o* TSO e70lainin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&e sit(ation and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, 9o( &ae 26 min(tes, (se formal Anglish and remember to use appropriate salutations and closing.
WRITING SET 3 W18
WRITING
Part 1 Personal Details Record Form 3ou are applying to be a member of a computer club. /ill in the following registration form. lease ensure all information is completed in full. 3ou have 0 minutes to complete this form. Personal Details /ull "ame! 5ate of 6irth #ddGmmGyy$! 8ome 1ddress! )treet! ostcode!
ity!
8ome Telephone!
Mobile!
Amail 1ddress! &hat software programmes are you familiar withB
. . 0.
8ow much time do you spend in a day surfing the internetB
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Part 2 3ou are a new member of a computer club. /ill in the form. &rite in complete sentences. 3our W19
WRITING
text should be + to 0+ words in length. 3ou have ; minutes.
COMPUTER CLUB
lease tell us about the days and times you can come for the computer lessons and the programmes you would like to learn.
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Part 3ou are a member of a computer club. 3ou are talking to atricia in the club chat room. Talk to atricia using complete sentences. 3our text should be 0+ > 2+ words in length. 3ou have + minutes to complete all 0 answers. W20
WRITING
Patricia # $ello% I &ear 'o( are a ne) mem"er o* o(r com0(ter cl(", I "ecame a mem"er a*ter I read t&eir adertisement in a "roc&(re, I )o(ld lie to no) )&' 'o( -oined t&e com0(ter cl(". #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
3ou!
POST Patricia # $o) do 'o( *eel a"o(t t&e com0(ter cl(". #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
3ou!
POST Patricia# W&at do 'o( t&in a"o(t t&e trainin+ 0roided in t&e com0(ter cl(". #Maximum 2+ words, 0 minutes$
3ou!
POST
W21
WRITING
Part 3 4 Tas 1 3ou are a member of a computer club.
NOTICE
Dear Members, lease be in!ormed that !rom next month the membership !ees o! the computer club will go up by -". /lso note that we are starting renovation o! the computer lab. /s such, computer lessons !or the next month will be held in the old computer lab next to the store, every Monday !rom 0.-" p.m. to 8.-" p.m. Thank you. Management
Write an email to a *riend, Write 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&e notice and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, Write a"o(t 56 )ords, 9o( &ae 16 min(tes, (se friendly, informal Anglish with standard spelling and punctuation.
NEXT Part 3 4 Tas 2 W22
WRITING
No)% )rite an email to t&e mana+ement% e70lainin+ 'o(r *eelin+s a"o(t t&e notice and s(++est 0ossi"le alternaties, Write 126 to 156 )ords, 9o( &ae 26 min(tes, (se formal Anglish and remember to use appropriate salutations and closing.
8NSWER ;E9# WRITING Part 1 W23
WRITING
•
(ses capital letters for proper nouns
•
"o spelling errors
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•
1nswers all questions accurately /ills in all information correctly
Part 2 The weighting for this task is even, so the maximum mark available is *. *
@ikely to be above 1 level
2 #1.$
learly defined sentences, all on-topic. Mostly accurate grammar with few serious errors of vocabulary usage #appropriateness and spelling$. The text organiDation is completely appropriate. 1ttempts at textual cohesion and accurate punctuation.
0 #1.$
There are some serious issues with grammar and vocabulary usage. 8owever, the meaning is still clear. Text is written in complete sentences, organiDed appropriately for the text form and mostly accurate punctuation.
#1.$
"umerous serious errors of grammar and vocabulary usage, which make the text sometimes difficult to follow. 1 series of phrases, not sentences. oor punctuation.
#1.$
There is too little language or the usage is so poor that the text is almost impossible to follow. There is no clear structure.
+
@ittle or no meaningful language or the work is off-topic.
•
'eeps to the word count #+-0+ words$.
•
lear sentences.
• •
1nswers are on-topic. %eplies fully to the input. 1ccurate grammar, spelling and punctuation. =t is acceptable to have grammar and spelling errors and still score *G* if the errors are not serious #i.e. the writing can be understood and the errors are not basic$
Part *
@ikely to be above the 6 level
2 #6.$
%eplies fully to each piece of input. The grammar is appropriate to be one and W24
WRITING
is mostly accurate, while there is a good range of vocabulary on general topics. )ome errors, but these do not impede communication. ohesive and coherent text using an appropriate range of linguistic devices. /ew, if any, punctuation or spelling errors. 0 #6.$
%eplies well to at least two of the input text. 1n adequate range of grammar used with no major errors which impact on understanding. There is good control of elementary vocabulary, though evidence of some major errors when expressing unfamiliar or complex topics. ohesive and coherent text using an adequate range of linguistic devices. )pelling andGor punctuation errors do not impede communication.
#1.$
%eplies to at least two of the input text. Many errors, which make the text sometimes difficult to follow. "arrow lexical repertoire with frequent errors making the message difficult to follow. )ome effort to use connecting devices though not always consistent. Arrors, including punctuation and spelling, make the text difficult to follow.
#1.$
5oes not reply to more than one input. There is little language with such poor control as to make the text almost impossible to follow without considerable effort. Hery basic everyday vocabulary. @acks cohesion andGor uses linguistic devices inappropriately. )pelling and punctuation errors make the text almost impossible to follow.
+
@ittle or no meaningful language or the work is off-topic.
•
'eeps to the word count #0+-2+ words for each answer$.
•
%eplies fully to each piece of input.
•
)entences follow on from one another in a coherent manner.
•
(ses a range of grammar and vocabulary.
•
1ccurate grammar, spelling and punctuation. =t is acceptable to have errors but the writing must be understood.
Part 3 *
@ikely to be above the 6 level
2 #6.$
Task fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register #i.e. two distinct registers used in the different messages written$. Avidence of a clear, assured and W25
WRITING
precise use of a broad range of grammatical forms. 1 good command of a broad lexicon. Iood use of idiomatic expression and no impeding errors of grammar or lexis. /ew if any errors of cohesion or coherence. 0 #6.$
Task partially fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register #i.e. fully appropriate register used in one of the two different messages written$. 1n adequate range of grammatical forms used, with no impeding errors. 1 good range of lexis with a high level of accuracy. Arrors do not affect the message. ohesive and coherent text using an adequate range of linguistic devices. )pelling andGor punctuation errors evident but these do not affect the message.
#6.$
Task not fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register #i.e. appropriate register not used in either of the two different messages written$. 1 relatively narrow range of grammatical forms used, with some impeding errors. The lexical range is adequate for the description of situation relating to himGherself. )ome errors which tend to make understanding difficult. 1ttempts to use linguistic devices are not always consistent. Arrors, including punctuation and spelling, can make understanding difficult.
#6.$
Task not fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register #i.e. more evidence of awareness of register$. 1 limited range of grammatical forms and vocabulary used and not always with sufficient accuracy. Arrors may make the text difficult to follow. @ack systematic cohesion andGor uses linguistic devices inappropriately. )pelling and punctuation errors can make understanding difficult.
+
learly below 6 level or work is off-topic.
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•
•
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(nderstand the difference in writing to a friend as opposed to writing to an authority. The first text is casual and the second text is formal. 1nswers the input in a coherent manner. The text makes sense. &riting is clear, assured and precise using a range of cohesive devices to make the writing flow. Irammar and vocabulary is broad and accurate.
W26
