Writing

Below are some tips for preparing for the Writing exam: 

Do 

 Look at the question carefully (How many different ideas are there in the question? How many ideas do you have to write in your answer?).  Practise writing in three stages: – plan what you want to write – write your answer – check your writing/answer. 

 Check your work to see if it is: – organised (Have you used paragraphs? Does it have a conclusion?) – appropriate (Have you answered the question? Have you thought about who will read your writing?) – accurate (Is your spelling correct? Have you used capital letters and full stops?) – legible (Is it easy to read?). 

 Practise doing sample exams from the Trinity website trinitycollege.com/ISEI . 

 Practise writing in English outside class — for example, write reviews of films or books you have enjoyed, take part in discussions on the internet in English or write emails or messages to friends in English.

REMEMBER TO USE SPECIFIC GRAMMAR.

◗◗ Present perfect tense including use with for,since, ever, never, just

◗◗ Connecting clauses using because

◗◗Will referring to the future for informingand predicting

◗◗ Adjectives and adverbials of quantity,eg a lot (of), not very much, many

◗◗ Expressions of preference, eg I prefer, I’d rather

◗◗ Zero and first conditionals, using if and when

◗◗ Present continuous tense for future use (example:I am taking a plane tomorrow at 12.15 pm)

◗◗ Past continuous tense (example:I was reading yesterday at 9 o’clock)

◗◗ Modals connected to the functions listed above,eg must, need to, might, don’t have to..

◗◗ Infinitive of purpose (example: I go to University to get/ in order to get a degree in Law)

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS

◗◗ Describing past actions in the indefinite and recent past

◗◗ Describing the future, informing and expressing intentions

◗◗ Predicting and expressing certainty and uncertainty

◗◗ Giving reasons, opinions and preferences

◗◗ Expressing obligation

◗◗ Asking for information and opinions