Writing: Exercise 6 (Writing a Report)
From 2019 onwards, Exercise 6 could also be a report-writing task.
You will be given a particular context and asked to write a report on it. You are expected to write 150-200 words, and the exercise is worth 16 marks.
Let’s look at a sample question:
Follow these steps to answer the question:
- Read the question carefully and ensure that you know what it is asking for. It may be helpful to underline the important points in pencil.
- Make a plan and spend not more than 5 minutes on it. It should give you a rough idea of the details you want to include in your report, what you want to write in your introduction, body and conclusion. Remember, the purpose of a report is to reflect on and evaluate something, so make sure you keep that in mind when drawing up your plan.
- Come up with a title. It should be brief and relevant and will give you a good start.
- Write a strong, but concise, introduction . This paragraph should include the most important details of the event that you are reporting on – the ‘ who ‘(your class), ‘ what ‘(a trip), ‘ when ‘(last week? last month?), ‘ where ‘(large recycling centre) , ‘ why (learn about recycling)’ and ‘ how ‘(if applicable).
- You need to then organise your body according to what the question is asking for. For example, you are asked to write a report on what you did on the trip (write about three points. Example: spoke to employees, visited sorting unit, watched a plastic recycling process etc.) and what you learned from it as well (write about two points. Example: only 50% of materials brought in are recycled, recycling helps the environment). You could have one paragraph on the former and one on the latter. Be clear.
- The ending paragraph should briefly conclude the report. In the sample question above, you are asked to write a suggestion for improvement , so this could be your conclusion. Write a couple of sentences outlining your views on how the trip went (example: very informative or too long) and one or two suggestions (example: hands-on-experience, watch a video etc.).
Other tips:
- You can use the picture prompt as well as the written prompts, but you can score higher marks for your own ideas.
- Keep the language reasonably formal and direct , but there’s no need to use jargon or big words.
- Keep in mind that the exercise is to write a report. Be direct and straightforward in your approach. Don’t overthink your points and add unnecessary comments and opinions of your own.
- Keep your points concise. There should be only 150-200 words, after all.
Time Management
For the core paper 1 , take about 20 minutes to finish this exercise, 5 minutes to plan, 10 minutes to write and 5 minutes to check your writing.
For the extended paper 2 , take 30 minutes for the whole exercise. Take 5 minutes to plan your report, by coming up with points to be included in the introduction, body and conclusion. Use 20 minutes for writing the report and the final 5 minutes to proofread and edit your report.
Notes submitted by Iman, Lintha and Sarah.
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Report writing: Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language
Cambridge IGCSE ESL English as a Second Language
Report writing
Cambridge IGCSE ESL Examinations
This article focuses on the new topic of formal writing in the revised pattern of examinations starting from 2019 in Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language which needs to be answered together with a few basic rules related to formal register. It then describes various features you should include when you use the formal register. It also focuses on specific phrases and expressions used for reporting accurately, giving opinions and making recommendations, and also to put forward your views and arguments too.
Apart from friendly letters or emails, you need to produce either a report, a review or a school magazine article which you need to be completed in a formal register. You should never forget that your readers or audiences will be a group of students or your teachers so you have to present the facts and recommendations in a formal or semi-formal tone depending on the topics.
Formal language structure is the most important part of your writing that you need for making formal writing. An exam type question usually contains function words, for example, write a report giving suggestions or recommendations and opinion.
Language Tips
The best way to master the formal language is that learning to use phrases associated with language functions, for example, it is high time that a government increased the tax.
Some general tips for formal writing
1. When writing formally it is appropriate to include formal tone and register
2. You should not use the words and phrases that belong to the friendly register.
3. No slang words or phrases.
4. No humor because topics are serious of nature or factual.
5. No personal style (should be impersonal)
6. You should always keep your audience in your mind.
Basic tools for informal writing
Time fixer Phrases
I soon as we reached there…
We arrived at the site…
Once we all arrived
Phrases for introduction
The aim of this report is to highlight what we learned…
The report aims to highlight…
This report aims to investigate …
This report aims to recommend…
The purpose of this report to highlight…
This report aims to present what we learned from the trip…
Phrases for generalisation
A significant number of students…
I love the number of parents…
Almost all students…
A vast majority of students…
A large number of teachers…
Phrases for the positive side
Many students were captivated to see…
It was fascinating to see…
We all got insight into the importance…
We managed to study fascinating facts about…
The vast majority of students were stunned as they discovered …
Phrases for negative sides
It was appalling to see…
However many people felt that it was
Notwithstanding the boons, it was totally saddening to see that…
A large number of students found that the trip was a bit haphazard…
Opinion phrases
I strongly believe that…
I vehemently believe that …
Phrases for recommendations
I would recommend that…
Perhaps we could also consider asking…
For the reasons, I have mentioned I highly recommend visiting…
I am convinced that they…
In the remaining sections, we examine in detail performing languages which have been traveling to interactions positive signs recommendations and opinions
For more tips and model answers: mail us : [email protected]
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Formal Report Writing for IGCSE First Language English
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Sarah O’Rourke
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IGCSE ESL Report Writing: Tips and Guidelines
IGCSE ESL Report Writing is essential to the Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) examination.
It is a formal piece of writing that requires the writer to present information, findings, and recommendations on a particular topic or issue. The report should be structured and organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
The IGCSE ESL Report Writing has undergone revisions, with the latest pattern of examinations being introduced in 2019.
The revised pattern of examinations requires students to write a report of approximately 200-250 words based on a given topic or situation.
To write an effective IGCSE ESL Report, the writer must consider the audience and the report’s purpose. The report’s tone should be formal, and the language should be clear and concise.
The report should be well-structured, with headings and subheadings that help the reader navigate the information presented.
The report should also include an introduction that provides a brief overview of the discussed topic or issue.
The introduction should be followed by the main body of the report, which should present the findings, observations, and recommendations.
The main body of the report should be well-organized, with each paragraph focusing on a particular aspect of the topic.
Table of Contents
Essential Components of a Report
When writing a report, several essential components must be included to ensure the report is effective and informative.
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These components include language, vocabulary, tone and register, fact and opinion, purpose and audience, introduction, and range.
Language and Vocabulary
The language and vocabulary used in a report should be formal and appropriate for the intended audience.
The writer should use correct grammar and avoid slang or colloquial language. It is essential to use technical terms and jargon only if the audience is familiar with them.
Tone and Register
The tone of a report should be formal and objective. The writer should avoid using emotional language or personal opinions.
The register should be appropriate for the intended audience, and the writer should use linking words and phrases to connect ideas and maintain coherence.
Fact and Opinion
A report should present factual information and avoid personal opinions. If opinions are included, they should be identified and supported by evidence.
It is essential to distinguish between fact and opinion to ensure the report’s credibility.
Purpose and Audience
The purpose of a report is to provide information and make recommendations. The writer should consider the audience and tailor the report to their needs and expectations.
It is crucial to identify the report’s purpose and ensure that all information included is relevant and supports the purpose.
Introduction and Range
The introduction of a report should provide background information and introduce the topic.
The writer should also identify the scope and limitations of the report. The range of the report should be appropriate for the purpose and audience, and the writer should ensure that all relevant information is included while avoiding unnecessary details.
IGCSE ESL Exam Overview
The IGCSE ESL exam is designed for learners whose first language is not English.
The exam assesses the learner’s ability to use English effectively in academic and social contexts. The exam is divided into two papers: Reading and Writing and Listening and Speaking.
Revised Pattern
The IGCSE ESL exam has been revised to include a new pattern. The revised pattern consists of two papers: Core and Extended.
The Core paper is designed for learners with a basic understanding of English, while the Extended paper is designed for learners with a more advanced understanding of English.
Listening and Speaking Test
The Listening and Speaking test assesses the learner’s ability to understand spoken English and communicate effectively in English.
The test includes Listening Questions 1-5, Listening Exercises 3 & 4, and Listening 5 (Extended).
In the Extended paper, students need to view videos and respond to questions related to the material.
Reading and Writing Exercises
The Reading and Writing paper assesses the learner’s ability to read and write in English. The paper includes six exercises: Exercises 1 & 2 (Extended), Exercises 3 & 4 (Extended), and Exercises 5 & 6 (Extended).
The exercises include short answer, gap-filled, matching, and multiple-choice exercises. In Exercise 4, learners must write a summary of a given passage. Exercises 5 and 6 include a gap fill parts A and B, respectively.
The IGCSE ESL exam syllabus covers various topics, such as education, technology, and social issues.
The exam assesses the learner’s ability to use English accurately, focusing on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and text organization. The test also checks how well learners can use different words and sentence structures.
Effective Report Writing Tips
Report writing is an essential skill that students need to develop for their IGCSE ESL exams. Here are some effective report-writing tips that can help students write a successful report:
Understand the purpose of the report : Before starting to write a report, it is essential to understand the purpose of the report. The report should provide information and suggestions to the reader, and the language should be formal.
Think about the audience : It is crucial to think about the audience that the report is for. The report’s tone should be formal, and the language used should be appropriate for the audience.
Use linking words : Use linking words that suit a formal type of writing, such as ‘Firstly,’ ‘Furthermore,’ or ‘In conclusion.’ These words help to connect ideas and make the report more coherent.
Use reported speech : Use reported speech rather than direct speech. Reported speech is more formal and appropriate for a report.
Organize the report : The report should be well-organized and structured. Use headings and subheadings to make the report more readable.
Provide evidence : Provide evidence to support the report’s findings and suggestions. This evidence can be in statistics, quotes, or examples.
Proofread the report : Finally, it is essential to proofread the report before submitting it. Check for grammatical and spelling mistakes, and ensure the report is well-structured and coherent.
Additional Resources
There are various additional resources available online that can help students improve their IGCSE ESL report writing skills.
These resources include videos, crosswords, word searches, puzzles, emails, letters, speeches, and articles.
Videos and Crosswords
There are many educational videos available on platforms such as YouTube that guide report writing. These videos cover various aspects of report writing, such as structure, tone, and language.
Additionally, IGCSE crosswords can help students improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Word Searches and Puzzles
IGCSE ESL word searches and puzzles can be fun and interactive for students to improve their language skills.
These activities can help students learn new vocabulary, improve their spelling, and enhance their problem-solving abilities.
Emails, Letters, Speeches, and Articles
Apart from report writing, students also need to be proficient in other forms of writing, such as emails, letters, speeches, and articles.
Many online resources guide how to write these forms of communication effectively. These resources cover structure, tone, language, and formatting.
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Writing non-fiction - Eduqas Writing a report
Non-fiction texts are those that deal with facts, opinions and the real world. Many non-fiction texts follow specific conventions of language and structure.
Part of English Language Writing
Writing a report
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IGCSE (0500): Formal Report
Subject: English
Age range: 11-14
Resource type: Lesson (complete)
Last updated
18 September 2021
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Exercise 6: Writing an essay for examination from 2024 (Ultimate Guide)
Exercise 6 of the Reading and Writing paper of the IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) exam (0510/0511/0991/0993) is always a formal or semi-formal writing. It can be an article, an essay, a report, or a review.
In this article, you will discover how to write an almost-perfect essay that impresses the examiner and gets you the highest band. So, are you ready? Let’s dive in!
So, what is an essay?
An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject. The purpose of an essay is to present an argument or point of view about a particular topic and give examples or reasons to support it. The topic will be a question or an issue which people generally have different opinions about.
The essay could present both sides of the argument, or just one, depending on the instructions given in the task. So, if the instructions ask you to give your opinion, you can address just this one point of view, or you can discuss the arguments for and against. But if the task instructions state that arguments for and against should be included, then you should address both points of view.
The Tone and Register of an Essay
In the exam, the essay is usually for your teacher, so the tone and register should be formal or semi-formal . Therefore, it should avoid language that is too idiomatic and colloquial.
Now, before diving into the details of how to write a successful essay, let’s first explore a few differences between articles and essays.
Differences between an article and an essay
An essay is very similar to an article with only a few key differences.
An article is usually published in a newspaper or a magazine, so as far as the exam is concerned, the audience is often students at your school (school magazine article), or sometimes your teacher or the local newspaper.
The audience of an essay is often your teacher (who requested the essay in the first place).
An article is generally written to inform and persuade the reader that a certain viewpoint is correct.
An essay is generally written as a response to a question or a proposition (often by your teacher). It presents an argument or point of view about a particular topic and gives examples or reasons to support it.
Tone and style:
Articles generally have a more objective tone and style, focusing on presenting information in a neutral or balanced manner.
Essays are generally subjective, reflecting the writer’s opinion and perspective.
An article may have a heading to grab the reader’s attention (though not compulsory in the exam).
An essay does not require a heading.
The format of a one-sided argument essay
A one-sided argument essay can have two formats, depending on whether you include a counterargument from the opposing viewpoint or not.
Paragraph 1: Introduction (including your opinion)
Paragraph 2: First point supporting your opinion with an explanation
Paragraph 3: Second point supporting your opinion with an explanation
Paragraph 4: State a counterargument (an idea from the opposing viewpoint) and counter the counterargument (i.e., explain why this counterargument is invalid). In other words, state a point made by people who have a different opinion from yours and explain why they are wrong.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion (including your opinion again but in different words)
Paragraph 2: One or two points supporting your opinion with an explanation
Paragraph 3: One or two points (different from those of the previous paragraph) supporting your opinion with an explanation
Paragraph 4: Conclusion (including your opinion again but in different words)
The format of a two-sided argument essay
Paragraph 1: Introduction (without your opinion)
Paragraph 2: One side of the argument
Paragraph 3: The other side of the argument
Paragraph 4: Conclusion (including your opinion)
Introduction
The purpose of the introduction is to inform the reader about the main point (topic) of the essay and engage the reader to make them interested in the topic. The main components of an effective introduction are:
- Topic sentence
Start your essay with a brief topic sentence that outlines the argument that the essay will discuss. Give forceful statements rather than “I think that”, “maybe” or “perhaps”. For example, “Teenagers love fast food.”, “Nowadays, music plays an indispensable role in our lives.”, etc.
To write an effective topic sentence, you might use adverbial time phrases and generalizations . Here are some examples of each.
Adverbial time phrases
- Nowadays/these days/currently
- Every day/week/year
- Recently/for many years/decades
- In the past
- 10 years ago
- In the last (few/five) (days/weeks/months/years/decades)
Generalization
- A large number of / The vast majority (of)
- Several/some
- Not many/hardly any/ few
- In almost all cases
- In the majority of cases
- In a large number of cases
- In most cases
- In some cases
- On the whole/ Overall
- Rhetorical question(s)
Use rhetorical questions (questions that don’t require an answer but make your reader think) to get the reader interested in the topic and encourage them to read on. For example:
- How much longer do animals have to suffer?
- Could you live with yourself if you missed out on this opportunity?
- How could we possibly stand the …?
- What would happen if …?
- Could your conscience cope with …?
- Is it really worth …?
- Do you want to be part of …?
- Should students do sport at school?
- Should teenagers completely avoid fast food?
- We all love convenience food. But is it the best thing for our waistlines, our wallets and our world?
- Your opinion (if it is a one-sided argument essay)
If you are writing a two-sided argument essay, DO NOT give your opinion in the introduction.
If you are writing a one-sided argument essay, you MUST give your opinion (whether you support or oppose the viewpoint expressed in the statement).
Here are some opinion phrases to help you express your opinion.
- In my opinion/view
- From my perspective
- From my point of view
- I concur/agree
- I believe/think (that)
- It seems to me that
- I am in favour of
- I am against the idea of
- I am strongly opposed to
- I disagree/cannot accept
You may also kill two birds with one stone and begin your essay with a rhetorical question that introduces the topic to the reader, thus acting as a topic sentence. Here are some examples.
“Have you ever thought how school life would be if the school day started later? In my perspective, this will have countless benefits.”
“Should students do sport at school? This is a question which people have different opinions about.”
One-sided essay structure:
Body paragraph 1: First idea supporting your opinion with an explanation
Body paragraph 2: Second idea supporting your opinion with an explanation ( should be different from the first idea )
Body paragraph 3: State a counterargument (an idea from the opposing viewpoint) AND counter the counterargument (i.e., explain why this counterargument is invalid). In other words, state a point made by people who have a different opinion from yours and explain why they are wrong.
Body Paragraph 1: one or two points supporting your opinion with an explanation
Body Paragraph 2: one or two points (different from those of the previous paragraph) supporting your opinion with an explanation
When introducing the counterargument in the 3 rd body paragraph, use any of the following phrases.
- Opponents of this idea claim/assert/argue that …
- Those who disagree/are against these ideas may say/insist that …
- Some people allege/argue/contend that …
- Some people may suggest/point out that …
- A common counterargument is that …
- It can be argued that …
When countering the counterargument in the 3 rd body paragraph, use any of the following phrases depending on the context.
- Although true to a certain extent, …
- While this may be true to some extent, …
- While it is true that …, it is important to consider…
- While some may believe that … recent studies have shown that …
- What this invalid argument misses is …
- What these people fail to notice/take note of is …
- The evidence, however, disproves this argument because …
- However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that …
- However, a closer analysis reveals that …
- However, this flawed argument overlooks the fact that …
Two-sided essay structure:
Body paragraph 1: One side of the argument either in favour or against ( mention 2 different ideas )
Body paragraph 2: The other side of the argument either in favour or against ( mention 2 different ideas )
General guidelines for both kinds of essays:
- Read the question carefully and draft a plan for your essay in the blank space below the question using a pencil. Here are some steps to follow.
- Separate the blank space into two parts, one for and one against.
- Jot down any points that come to your mind in the correct part, along with any interesting vocabulary or expressions suitable for the task. Remember to write briefly and in bullet points.
- Decide whether you will write a one-sided essay or a two-sided essay. If the instructions in the question state that you must include arguments for and against, then choose the best 2 points supporting each side and write a two-sided essay. If it’s not mentioned that you must include arguments for and against, then the choice is yours.
- Consider how you will begin your essay and how you will engage the reader at the start. For example, write some variations of the topic sentence and rhetorical questions that you could use.
- Choose the most effective ones and begin writing. Remember to spend no more than 5 minutes on the plan.
- Start your body paragraphs with a topic sentence rather than just jumping into the advantages or disadvantages (especially if you’re writing a two-sided essay). This helps to organize your writing and makes the purpose of the paragraph clear to the reader. For example, in an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of fast food, it is better to start your first body paragraph with a topic sentence like “There are some obvious advantages of fast food. Firstly, …” rather than just getting into the first point and writing, “To begin with, it’s quite tasty.”.
- You can use the few prompts given in the question, but it is better to use your own ideas if you want to get higher marks. If, however, you are out of ideas, use the ideas in the question and make sure to paraphrase them (write them in different words) and develop them well.
- Support your ideas with reasons, evidence, or examples . Keep in mind that the examiner knows the evidence or examples will be made up and doesn’t expect these to be correct. Yes, you can make up your own statistics! Just make sure it’s not overly unrealistic.
- Keep to the topic (don’t wander away from the main subject of the essay). Remind yourself constantly by looking again at the question.
- Use a variety of linking words and cohesive devices (mainly formal) to create a smooth and logical flow in your writing. Here are some examples.
When presenting the first point (used in the 1 st body paragraph of both one-sided essays and two-sided essays)
- There are some obvious advantages of
- Those in support of … believe that …
- People who think … say that …
- The main argument in favour of/against is
- The main point/reason is
- The most important point/reason is
- The first point/reason is
- First of all
- First and foremost
When adding more points to the same side of the argument
- In addition,
- Furthermore,
- Additionally,
- Not only … but also…
- As well as.
- Another noteworthy point is …
- Apart from that
- What is more
When contrasting ideas (typically used to introduce the opposite viewpoint in the 2 nd body paragraph of a two-sided essay
- Some people argue that …
- Nevertheless
- Even though
- In spite of
- On the other hand
- On the contrary
- By contrast
When giving examples
- For example
- For instance
- One clear example is
- To illustrate
- In other words
When reasoning:
- Results and consequences: as a result, consequently, therefore, thus, hence, for this reason, as a result (of), which means that, etc.
- Reasons and causes: owing to, because (of), on account of, due to, since, as, etc.
When highlighting and stressing
- Particularly
- In particular
- Specifically
The purpose of the conclusion is to sum up what you have said and express (or re-express) your opinion.
In the conclusion:
- Briefly summarize your main points using concluding phrases. Here are some examples.
- In conclusion
- To conclude
- To reiterate
- On the whole
- All things considered
- After weighing the benefits and drawbacks
- I believe that …
- Thus, I am of the opinion that …
- Given these points
Remember to use different words from those used to express the points in the body.
- Give your final opinion (regardless of whether it’s a one-sided or a two-sided essay) and any solution or suggestion if applicable.
The solution or suggestion might be part of your opinion if you’re writing a two-sided essay and want to take a balanced view on the issue rather than siding with one side. For example, “Overall, I believe eating fast food occasionally isn’t a problem, but fresh home-cooked food is best.” Use the opinion phrases stated earlier in the Introduction section to express your opinion, and if it’s a one-sided essay, make sure to use different words from those used in the introduction.
- End with a strong, impactful statement that leaves the reader with something to think about. This could be a rhetorical question or a statement that encourages the reader to decide what they think about the same viewpoint. For example:
- “To conclude, I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should pursue higher education. Why not embrace this invaluable opportunity to fast-track your career, build your confidence, and broaden your social circle?”
- “Overall, I believe eating fast food occasionally isn’t a problem, but fresh home-cooked food is best. Do you not think so?”
- “After weighing the benefits and the drawbacks, it is apparent that convenience food, while palatable, may negatively impact other areas of your life. Think about this before you reach for your next snack!”
It’s worth mentioning that this step is PREFERABLE . So don’t stress too much about ending your essay with an impactful statement or a rhetorical question. Just make sure that the conclusion reflects the argument presented in the main body of the essay and that your final opinion is clear to the reader.
Points to keep in mind
- Read the task carefully to make sure that the ideas and supporting information you include are relevant to the topic. Students often lose focus and write about wider, more general issues associated with the topic, which significantly affects their marks.
- Organize your essay into 4-5 paragraphs . Leave a line between paragraphs or indent the first line of each new paragraph. Don’t do both!
- Take care of spelling, punctuation, and grammar . This is important as the examiner will look at the accuracy of your language.
- Use a combination of simple, compound, and complex sentences . A series of long sentences will make your writing difficult to read, and a series of short simple sentences will make your writing boring to read. Balance is the key.
- Use a wide range of formal vocabulary, including some advanced and less commonly used ones .
- Include a range of topic-related vocabulary to show that you have a good understanding of the topic.
- Use a wide variety of formal linking words to link ideas in sentences and paragraphs. Examples have been mentioned earlier.
- Use advanced punctuation sparingly (1-3 in the whole essay), for example, colon (:) and semicolon (;).
- Include language appropriate for expressing opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing. In addition to mentioning your opinion in the introduction and/or conclusion, your viewpoint can also be included in the body paragraphs (whether it’s a one-sided or a two-sided essay) by:
- Mentioning personal examples or experiences (which implies that you agree with this point of view)
- Explicitly agreeing while presenting a point in the body paragraph. Here is an example: “People who think sports lessons are a good idea say that students need exercise, and I agree that doing sports helps to make you healthy and avoid getting overweight.”
- Aim to complete towards the maximum word limit (approximately 160 words). Exceeding the word limit slightly (15-20 words) is fine as long as you write accurately and complete the task within the correct time. If you exceed the word limit by any number of words, be it even 100, no marks will be cut directly, but you increase your chances of making more mistakes and spending more time than required for this exercise, which may affect your mark indirectly. If you write towards the lower limit or below, you are highly unlikely to achieve the highest band for Content as your content is not well developed.
- Spend about 30 minutes on this exercise : the initial 5 minutes for planning and the last 2-3 minutes for checking your work for simple spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes.
- Write legibly
Don’ts
- Do not write a heading.
- Avoid colloquial or ‘chatty’ language (which includes informal vocabulary, abbreviations, or slang such as how r u, OMG, BTW, etc.).
- Avoid listing (firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc.). There is no problem in writing “firstly”, but avoid writing “secondly” and “thirdly”.
- Avoid repetition of vocabulary and beginning your sentences with the same words . Sometimes, students write 3 or more sentences in a row starting with “The”!
- Avoid including too many different ideas in your essay. It is better to include fewer ideas and develop one or two in greater depth rather than writing many ideas which are not well-developed.
- Avoid writing an overlong introduction and conclusion. It would be more effective to utilize the limited word count to develop your ideas within the body of the essay. Also, avoid pre-learned language for these parts of the essay, as this may not be totally relevant or might sound unnatural.
- It’s preferable to avoid contractions , but they can be used as the essay can have a semi-formal tone and register. In both cases, remember to be consistent throughout. So, if you used contractions, use them throughout your whole essay, and if not, avoid them altogether.
Practice a lot of past papers and get feedback on your writing. We know that essay writing is newly added to the syllabus, but you can still practice writing essays in response to past years’ article writing questions as they are very similar.
Finally, don’t forget to check out our samples page and if you find this helpful, please share it with your friends.
Good luck! Go get that A*!
17 responses to “Exercise 6: Writing an essay for examination from 2024 (Ultimate Guide)”
Appreciate this post! Very helpful to me as a teacher.
Thank you! We really appreciate your positive feedback!
Thank you so much for giving us the ideas how to write an essay. Specially, phrases how to begin sentences from each paragraph
You’re welcome 🙂 We’re glad it helped!
Wonderful materials for my students who are going to take the exam next May. Thank you so much
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! We’re glad our notes are benefiting your students! Good luck to them!
Thank you so much for your help! Could you also post some sample essays, it would be very helpful for us!!
Hi Sara, thank you for your comment! We will definitely consider adding them after completing the review writing notes which we are currently working on.
What do you mean by do not write a heading? Do you mean we shouldn’t have a title for the essay?
Yes, an essay doesn’t require a title. Trying to come up with one will use up your exam time unnecessarily.
Is there going to be direct deduction of marks if written?
yes no title in essay
Hello, I’m having my exam in 4 months and I can’t believe I didn’t know about this website before, seriously I wholeheartedly appreciate what you do, I heard there’s a service where you can correct or give feedback on pieces of writings and grade them, is it available?
Thank you so much for your nice comment! We really appreciate it! Our marking service was available, but unfortunately, it is now suspended as it requires a lot of time and effort, which we can’t provide at the moment. We apologize for this! And we wish you good luck with your exam!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORT AND TIME CREATING THESE SUPER AMAZING NOTES AND TIPS FOR WRITING EXERCISES
Thank you for your kind words! We’re really glad you found them helpful!
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From 2019 onwards, Exercise 6 could also be a report-writing task. You will be given a particular context and asked to write a report on it. You are expected to write 150-200 words, and the exercise is worth 16 marks. Read the question carefully and ensure that you know what it is asking for. It may be helpful to underline the important points ...
Exercise 6 of the Reading and Writing paper of the IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) exam (0510/0511/0991/0993) is always a formal or a semi-formal writing. It can be an article, a report, or a review. In this article, you will discover how to write an almost perfect report that impresses the examiner and gets you the highest band.
The audience of a report is often someone in charge, for example a teacher, or an employer, so the language and tone of a report tends to be more formal. Tips for writing a report . Language - think about: • the audience that the report is for - are you writing this report for one reader, or for a group of people such as the organisers of ...
Tips for writing a report ' • Cambridge IGCSE ® Language Think about the audience that the report is for. The tone of the report should be formal. Use linking words which suit a formal type of writing, such as 'F irstly', 'Furthermore' or In conclusion' . Use reported speech rather than direct speech.
Here is a quick video looking at the features of formal report writing. I end the video with a model of a simple report.#FirstLanguageEnglish #ReportWriting ...
Cambridge IGCSE / IGCSE (9-1) English as a Second Language 0510/0511 \ 0993/ 099 1 (for examination from 2024) Writing a report Overview. The purpose of a report is to give information and suggestions to the reader. Reports are a mixture of fact and opinion.
Organisation. Identify and group the key information, facts and details your report needs to include before you start writing - the structure of a report is usually in three parts. For example: An overview - briefly introduce the topic of the report and the key areas you will consider. Your reader should be able to understand what you will ...
🌟 FREE EARLY ACCESS - download the exemplar and take the quiz here: https://taughtly.co.uk/courses/formal-report-writing-for-igcse-first-language-english/ ?...
Report writing . Cambridge IGCSE ESL Examinations. This article focuses on the new topic of formal writing in the revised pattern of examinations starting from 2019 in Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language which needs to be answered together with a few basic rules related to formal register. It then describes various features you should ...
This video takes you through formal report writing as per the Cambridge specifications. Use this resource for the revision of your First Language English exa...
Read my A* exemplar for formal report writing. Formal Report Writing - Review Quiz. 10 minutes. Watch the video lesson and then take this review quiz for formal report writing - how much can you remember? Learn how to write a formal report for IGCSE First Language English with my free video lesson, PowerPoint and review quiz.
The revised pattern of examinations requires students to write a report of approximately 200-250 words based on a given topic or situation. To write an effective IGCSE ESL Report, the writer must consider the audience and the report's purpose. The report's tone should be formal, and the language should be clear and concise.
Tips for writing a report . Language. Cambridge IGCSE™ • think about the audience that the report is for , e.g. the head teacher, organisers of an event, etc. • the tone of the report should be impersonal and relatively formal • your report should also be informative
From 2019 onwards, Exercise 6 would including be a report-writing task. They will be given a specialized context and asked to written a report on a. You be expected go write 150-200 words, and the exercise is worth 16 marks. 0511 Writing a report (for examination from 2024) - Cambridge IGCSE / IGCSE (9-1) English as a - Studocu.
Learn and revise the best techniques for writing a piece of non-fiction with this BBC Bitesize GCSE English (Eduqas) Language study guide.
IGCSE (1st Language) Report Writing - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Worksheets to guide students on how to write a report with samples
Subject: English. Age range: 14-16. Resource type: Lesson (complete) File previews. pptx, 2.14 MB. docx, 13.89 KB. Are you looking for a detailed resource to teach and learn how to approach the Formal Reports question based on CIE 0500 English First Language specification? This is what you need. This resource contains:
Cambridge IGCSE™ / IGCSE (9-1) / O Level. This resource has been developed to support your teaching of writing skills, including teaching learners how to create and compose a variety of text types. The text types focused on in this resource are: article, email, report, letter, speech and essay. As the resource focuses on the text type rather ...
IGCSE (0500): Formal Report. Subject: English. Age range: 11-14. Resource type: Lesson (complete) File previews. mp4, 64.74 MB. This resource covers an understanding of the Do's and Don'ts of a formal report with the help of student's response. Creative Commons "Sharealike".
Exercise 6 of the Reading and Writing paper of the IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) exam (0510/0511/0991/0993) is always a formal or semi-formal writing. It can be an article, an essay, a report, or a review. In this article, you will discover how to write an almost-perfect essay that impresses the examiner and gets you the highest band.
Here is a walkthrough on how to write a newspaper report for paper 1 (the extended writing response!)It's a tough text type, so grab your pen and notebook an...
IGCSE Report Writing - Free download as Powerpoint Presentation (.ppt / .pptx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online.
Two text types that every student dreads! It's been a while since either of them have made an appearance - could this be the year?!Here's a short video looki...