ONLINE CLASS – WRITING FOR FCE
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FCE WRITING INTRODUCTION
You have 80 minutes to write two texts.
• The first text will always be an essay and should be 140-190 words long.
• The second text can be informal email or letter, a formal email or letter, a
report, or a review and should be 140-190 words. Candidates choose one from a
choice of three questions.
*ESSAY (140-190 words)
OVERVIEW
• Essays are about giving information, giving your opinion and comparing and
contrasting.
• Some types of questions:
o “STATEMENT” Do you agree?
o What do you think about “STATEMENT”
o STATEMENT A or STATEMENT B……? Do you agree?
o Do you think that “STATEMENT….?
HOW TO MAKE A PLAN
o Try to 5-10 minutes planning your essay.
o The Essay should have 5 paragraphs.
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Structure Language Notice
Paragraph 1: Introduction “Nowadays, some people Formal - neutral
+ Paraphrase the question believe ...” language.
Paraphrase the question in “Many people say that ….”
your own words, in 1 or 2 “It is undenied that …”
sentences maximum. (you do
not need to write more than 2
sentences)
+ Express your opinion to
answer the question “I strongly/personally agree/
disagree with this statement
by following reasons”
“There are 3 following
simple reasons which
present my point of view”.
Paragraph 2: “First/ Firstly, the Making additional
Idea 1 + reason + example (large)number of people points:
thinks about/ that ….” “Furthermore…”
“While some young “In addition…’
teenagers expect ….”
Paragraph 3: “Some people think/believe Expressing contrast:
Idea 2 + reason + example that...” “On the other hand….”
“It could be argued that...” “However,…”
Paragraph 4: “As we know, ....
Idea 3 (your own idea) “Finally,……...
+ reason + example “Besides,………….
Paragraph 5: Conclusion “To sum up, I believe that...”
Give your opinion of the essay “In conclusion, I think
question and tie everything that ...”
together. Make sure that you
answer the question.
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ONLINE CLASS – WRITING FOR FCE
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*FORMAIL EMAIL/ LETTER
Writing formal letters generally:
Greetings:
Dear Sir/Madam (1)
Dear Mr Brown (2)
Dear Ms/ Mrs/Miss Jones (2)
Reason for writing:
I am writing in response to your article/ advertisement/ letter
I am writing with regarding your article/ advertisement/ letter
I am writing on behalf of
Ending the letter
I look forward to receiving your reply
I look forward to your reply
I look forward to hearing from you
Yours faithfully (1)
Yours sincerely (2)
+ STEP 1: SOLUTION or GREETING
(a) If you know the name of the person you are writing to use the title (Mr, Mrs, Miss
or Ms) and the surname only.
If you are writing to a woman and do not know if she uses Mrs or Miss, you can
use Ms, which is for married and single women.
Examples: " Dear Mr TRAN,"
"Dear Mrs Flanders"
"Dear Miss Skinner"
"Dear Ms Van Houten"
(b) If you do not know the name of the recipient of the letter begin with " Dear
Sir/Madam"
+ STEP 2: OPENING
The first paragraph states the reason(s) for writing and, if needed, what you are
responding to (an advert, a prospectus.....).
Main content
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The rest of the body will be organised in paragraphs that will make reading easier and
the effect on the target reader will be better.
WARNING: For any type of formal letter, paragraphing is just a matter of common
sense, group ideas logically (covering two points or questions in one paragraph, two
other points or questions in another paragraph ….)
You should aim for 3 to 5 paragraphs.
+ STEP 3: CLOSING
The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. You usually state what you
would like the recipient to do, make a reference to a future event, offer to help ....
+ STEP 4: FINAL SALUTATION
Depending on how you started your letter, you will end your letter with
(a) Yours sincerely,
(b) Yours faithfully,
(see STEP 1)
+ STEP 5: Sign your name and then print your name clearly underneath on
another new line.
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ONLINE CLASS – WRITING FOR FCE
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*INFORMAL EMAIL/ LETTER
HOW TO MAKE A PLAN
1st paragraph: Introduction
o Use a first name, invent it if it's not give
o Start with a fixed phrase showing the situation with reader
o Mention an email or letter you have received from the person you are
writing to or refer to shared experience or add a general comment
o Say what you've been doing recently
2nd paragraph
o Add some specific details to include in each paragraph
o Ask question directly
o Use some exclamation marks (but not too many) .
o Use contractions
3rd paragraph
o Start a new paragraph, as the topic has changed slightly
o Use an informal linking expression
o Use a range of appropriate vocabulary and informal expressions
Final paragraph
o Close the letter by making an excuse to finish
USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR AN INFORMAL LETTER/EMAIL
1st Paragraph: Introduction
o Many thanks for your letter/email (it was really nice to hear from you
again)
o I thought I'd better write (and give you some details about)
o It's been a long time since we wrote to each other
o I thought I'd drop you a line …
o How are you and your family?
o How was your holiday?
2nd Paragraph
o I know you're longing to hear all about (my holiday)
o You remember I told you in my last letter (that I was going to...)
3rd Paragraph
o Anyway,
o However,
o Well,
Final paragraph
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o Once again, thanks very much for your help – give my love/ regards
to (your family)
o Please write/ drop me a line soon – I look forward to (meeting up soon)
o All the best/ Best wishes.
Notice: Don't write " yours sincerely/ yours faithfully" (only use for formal letter)
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*REPORT
HOW TO MAKE A PLAN: (BASED ON STRUCTURE)
1. Give a title to your report
o This needs to be clear and simple. Straight to the point and helps the
reader know what you will be discussing in the report.
2. An introduction
o State the aim of your report
o Make sure you mention where you got the information from.
3. The main body
o Remember, headings and using listing/ numbering points make it much
easier to read.
o When you write, make sure that you use a wide variety of phrases and
write in an impersonal way.
o Make sure that all of your ideas are factual. This is not an article or a
review so using extreme adjectives is not required here.
4. A conclusion
- Only give the recommendation/ suggestions at the end of the report.
- Make a generalised point of view, not a detailed argument.
HEADLINE
Introduction
Body
TITLE • Heading 1
• Heading 2
• (Heading 3)
Conclusion
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ONLINE CLASS – WRITING FOR FCE
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*REVIEW
HOW TO MAKE A PLAN
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Brief Description 1
Paragraph 3: Brief Description 2
Paragraph 4: Your Opinion (positive or negative)
Paragraph 5: Conclusion: Recommendations
1. Introduction
o Make your review more interesting with personal comments
o Mention the title, the type of book/play/film ect, the setting (when/where),
type
o of restaurant, the theme, the main characters,
REMEMBER: A review is special style of article written for publiciation in a magazine,
newspaper, etc giving a brief description and evaluation of the film, book, play, TV/
radio programme, ect. It may be formal or semi-formal in style, depending on its
intended readership, and is usually written using present tenses.
2. Brief Description
o Go into more detail about what you are reviewing
3. Your Opinion (positive or negative)
o Be descriptive
4. Recommendations
o Would you recommend this film/book/place/restaurant?
o Who to?
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*ARTICLE
HOW TO MAKE A PLAN
1. A HEADLINE o Keep it short (2-5 words)
o No need for a complete sentence
o Make it clear
2. An introduction o General statement about the topic
o Keep the reader’s attention
o Start with a question, problem or quotation
3. A main body o Describe issues in detail and use one paragraph
per issue.
o Use linkers, sequencing and sophisticated
vocabulary
4. A conclusion o An ending can state an opinion, give the reader
something to think about, summaries the article or
even end with a quotation.
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