Cambridge Writing part 1: Essay

Cambridge B2 English - Writing exam
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This lesson contains 30 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 1 video.

time-iconLesson duration is: 30 min

Items in this lesson

Cambridge B2 English - Writing exam

Slide 1 - Slide

Cambridge B2 writing exam

Slide 2 - Slide

Writing part 1: Essay
Learning goal:
The right structure
The right content
The right language

Slide 3 - Slide

Have you ever written an essay before?
yes, many.
a few
no, I don't think so
What is an essay?

Slide 4 - Poll

Cambridge Writing paper
2 parts
part 1: writing an essay (140 - 190 words)
part 2: A choice of four questions: article, email/letter, essay, review.(140 - 190 words)

1 hour and 20 minutes in total 

Slide 5 - Slide

Writing Part 1: Essay
What is it?
Students are given an essay title and two ideas. They write an essay giving their opinion about the title, using the ideas given and adding an idea of their own. The title will be a subject of general interest – students won’t need any specialised knowledge.

What do you have to practise?             
Giving an opinion and providing reasons for that opinion.

  • 140 - 190 words



Slide 6 - Slide

Sample task and language

Slide 7 - Slide

Sample answer

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Writing Part 1: Essay
How to prepare? 
Read a lot!
Watch documentaries and listen to podcasts.
Watch or read the news.

Practise grammar, vocabulary, formal language, linking words. 




Slide 9 - Slide

Over to you
Look at the hand-out of Exam Booster writing part 1
Do the exercises.
You do not have to write an essay yet.
Carefully study the examples and language used.

Slide 10 - Slide

Writing paper criteria
The examiners give you a grade based on 4 things:

  • Content - Did you write what you were asked to write?
  • Communicative achievement - Was your writing too formal, too informal, or just right?
  • Organisation - Did you link paragraphs and sentences? Is there a logical flow from start to finish?
  • Language - Did you show off your sparkling vocabulary or did you use basic words? Did you make lots of grammar and spelling mistakes?



Slide 11 - Slide

Formal language
  • do not use contractions, such as I'm, don't, you'd, he's, etc. 
  • do not use slang, such as wanna, gonna, ain't, u, etc. 
  • do not use informal linking words at the start of your sentence, such as but, and, so, or, etc. 
  • only use the word 'you' when you are actually addressing the person you are writing to. No general statements using the word 'you', such as 'don't you agree?' or 'you can see that this causes a problem'. 

Slide 12 - Slide

Writing
How to act? 
Step 1: read the assignment thoroughly and decide whether you agree or disagree
Step 2: think about who you are writing for. Should you write formally or informally? 
Step 3: take 5 - 10 minutes to plan and organize your essay. Make an outline of what you are going to mention in the introduction, what your arguments are going to be, and what you will say in the conclusion
Step 4: think of appropriate vocabulary you could use in your essay 
Step 5: write a draft version, then check the amount of words you've used and re-read your essay
Step 6: think of an appropriate title for your essay 
Step 7: write your second draft 




Slide 13 - Slide

Easy essay structure 

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Over to you
Your first essay.
On paper.
Option 1:
individually
Option 2:
Pairs or groups of three.
Each student writes
one paragraph.

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Essay writing continued

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Step 2: decide whether your essay should be formal or informal. In this case, you are writing for your teacher. Will the style have to be formal or informal?

Slide 18 - Open question

Step 3: make an outline.
Think of a third topic you could talk about.

Slide 19 - Mind map

Step 3: think of what you could say
about 'having a parents as a teacher'.

Slide 20 - Mind map

Step 3: think of what you could say
about 'making friends'.

Slide 21 - Mind map

Step 4: think of appropriate
vocabulary you could use.

Slide 22 - Mind map

Step 5: write a first draft
Think of all the information you've just received. Write an essay according to the assignment. 

If you need some extra guidance. Watch the Youtube video from the link in the next slide, and/or read the example essay from the links in the slide after.  

Slide 23 - Slide

Slide 24 - Video

Slide 25 - Link

Slide 26 - Link

Slide 27 - Link

Slide 28 - Link

Slide 29 - Link

Cambridge Writing part 1: Essay

Slide 30 - Slide