FCE WRITING TIPS

You should think of the writing as a checklist to make sure you complete with the task:

1. Is it in the correct format and organisation?

2. Have you answered the question?
3. Is it easy to read?
4. Have you used complex grammar forms?
5. Are there few errors? (spelling, grammar, vocabulary)

 REPORT

A report includes the introduction, main body, recommendation.

Before writing
You have to make your writing plan. Spend around 5 minutes to make your plan which consists of an introduction,
main body and recommendation.

Title
Choose a fact so that the person who reads it will get the information about report.

Introduction
– Don’t begin and end your report with Dear Sir/Madam, like a letter.
– Do say how you collected the information

Main body
– Do use headings because this makes it easier for the reader to find the main information.
– Do include two or three points under each heading. Make sure all your points fit with the headings.
– Do use a range oft specific vocabulary or set phrases (e.g. some thought this was a good idea… /other students
said they preferred…)
– Don’t use lots of adjectives and dramatic language as you do in a story. A report gives factual information.
– Don’t include irrelevant details or description.

Recommendations
– Do use formal language
– Do express opinions impersonally. Don’t express recommendations or opinions until the conclusion.
– Check your tense forms, the spelling, singular/plurals
—————————————————————————
Useful language
You have to make sure that your language is formal.

Introduction
– The aim of this report is to…
– This report is intended to…

Reporting results
– Most people seem to feel that…
– Several people said/told me/suggested/thought that…

Presenting a list
– The gave/suggested the following reasons:
– They made the following points: 1… 2 …

Making recommendations
– I would therefore recommend (that we expand the library/installing a new coffee machine)
– It would seem that (banning mobile phones) is the best idea.
  Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

Suggesting additional ideas

Another option would be to …
I would also suggest …
Another point to consider is hat …
Alternatively…. Moreover. / Furthermore.
Apart from this / In addition to this

Making recommendations
I would strongly / highly recommend …
My first / second recommendation would be to ..
It would be (highly) advisable to …
If my recommendations are followed, then …
The best solution / ideas would seem to be …
Listing ideas
I would suggest the following: … might like to consider the following:
The following are highly recommended: 1….. OR 2. ……….
They gave/ suggested the following reasons:
They made the following points: 1….2…

Reporting findings
It appears that the majority of …
The only problem is that … .
Most …(students seem) … .
Not surprisingly, …
According to …

 In the last paragraph you :

– give the recommendations

– generalise
– express opinions impersonally

Phrases you can use to end

Concluding and making recommendations

All things considered, …
We have no hesitation in recommending… .

 REVIEW
  ARTICLE

Articles in First Certificate are usually written for English magazines or newsletters. The main thing is to
make your articles interesting to read, and to give your opinions on the topic.

Type of article
– informal to neutral
* It depends on what magazine it is for (ex : young people magazine : more informal, business/travel magazine :
more neutral)
* Do not use formal expressions (ex : Besides, moreover, likewise.. /I would like to give an opposite idea..)

Basic advice
– It should be interesting and catch the reader’s attention.
– Do not just copy sentence from the task.
– Use informal language to involve the reader (ex : Once Carnival starts, the whole town goes crazy!)
– Don’t forget to express your opinion (ex : I love the giant street dolls.)

Structure
1. Heading : think of an interesting title.
2. Introductory paragraph linked to the title : to make the reader interested in the topic, try to use a question.
3. One or two more paragraphs : develop your main points.
4. A final paragraph : summarise the main points and give your concluding opinion or express your feelings.

Useful language:

Involving the reader

1. Are you thinking of (getting married in the near future)?
2. I’m sure you’ll agree (it was a great idea.)

Developing your points

1 . Let’s start with (why it is so important to take plenty of exercise).
2. Another advantage (of using a computer is that..)
3. On top of that,…

Giving your own opinion

1. I think that/In my opinion (traditional celebrations are very important).
2.

2. It seems to me that (people are much more aware of the importance of a good diet nowadays.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - Do I have to use British spelling?

A - No. You can use American spelling.

Q - How important is spelling and punctuation?

A - You aren't expected to be perfect, but if a mistake stops the reader from understanding what you want to say, that's quite
bad.

Q - How important is the word count? What happens if I write too many words?

A - If you do the task properly you will write the correct number of words. You won't lose marks if you write 5 words too
many. Focus on writing what you have to write, and the word count will take care of itself.
Don't waste time in the exam counting how many words you have written!

Q - My handwriting is terrible! Will I lose points?

A - Just make sure a human can read it - if you are very messy, write a little bit slower. If you usually end up with lots of
things crossed out - you need to plan better!

The Task:

You read this announcement in a magazine: what’s the best surprise you’ve ever had? Why was it a
surprise? How did you feel when it happened? Send us your answers. We’ll publish the best ones.

Write your article in 140-190 words.

Kamel's Article:

The Best Surprise I’ve Ever Had

Three years ago, something great happened to me. That thing was the best surprise I’ve ever had, it was
the moment my grandma finished her mastectomy surgery. During that day all of my family was
anxious about the state of my many, I was full of doubt and sadness, and these bad thoughts I had in
mind: “and if it doesn’t work? What would happen if she dies?” and made me in a state that cannot be
described, and there is something very special to that memory. That morning I went to the perfumes
shop just to buy for her the jasmine perfume that she loves too much, while I’m waiting in the waiting
room I was wishing from all my heart that she stay alive, so I can give her the perfume. Sudenly the
doctor came out and announced to us that the surgery worked and she was completely cured. I was the
happiest person on earth that moment. However she died 6 months after that but that moment is
considered the best surprise in my whole life.

Andrew's Version:

The Best Surprise I’ve Ever Had

Three years ago, something great happened to me. That thing was the best surprise I’ve ever had: it was
the moment my grandma survived her mastectomy.

During that day, my whole family was anxious about the state of my granny. I was full of doubt and
sadness, and these bad thoughts kept coming to my mind: “And if it doesn’t work? What would happen
if she dies?” This left me in a state that cannot be described, and there is something very special about
that memory.

That morning I had gone to the perfume shop to buy the jasmine perfume that she loved so much. While
I was in the waiting room I was wishing with all my heart that she would stay alive so I could give her
the perfume, though I was sure I would never have the chance.

Suddenly, the doctor came out and announced that the surgery worked and my gran was completely
cured. I was the happiest person on earth at that moment. She died 6 months later, but the smell of
jasmine always makes me think of the day she surprised us by surviving her surgery.