cae essay rubric

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CAE Writing: The Marking Criteria Explained

To understand the marking criteria we must first take a look at the criteria that Cambridge publish.

We can see that Cambridge divide the marking criteria into 4 parts. In this blog, we will dive into each of these points and have a look at what you need to consider when planning your answer.

Content is about how well you have fulfilled the task so,

for part 1, read the instructions, the three points outlined in the notes and the three provided opinions carefully. Decide which two points you want to respond to in your answer. Your decision should be based on whether you can expand and develop these two points by providing relevant examples or subsidiary points

to make sure that the reader is fully informed, decide early on which of the two points you will say is most important, and note down one or two reasons for this choice. A good place to state this final decision will be in the last paragraph.

for part 2, underline the two or three points you need to respond to in each task. To make sure that the reader is fully informed, make notes for each of these points in your plan

Communicative Achievement

Communicative achievement is about

Achieving your communicative purpose (e.g. it is clear that you are making a complaint, suggesting alternatives, making a series of recommendations?)

holding the reader's attention (by using an appropriate register, tone and format, and communicating your ideas and arguments in a way that the reader can follow without difficulty).

So for both parts, choose a register and tone that is appropriate, e.g. impersonal language and an objective tone for factual tasks, informal language when writing to friends, polite language when you are trying to persuade someone in authority

Organisation

Organisation is about the overall coherence in your writing, so

decide whether the task requires an introduction and a conclusion and/or headings.

organise your main points into separate sections or paragraphs, and make a note of subsidiary points below each main point.

note down some cohesive devices that you are confident in using (e.g. moreover, therefore, one example of this) that you can use to show the relationship between sentences, main points and ideas.

before writing your answer in full, review your plan and ask yourself whether someone reading your writing would get a sense of logical order.

Language is about your use of vocabulary and grammar, so

choose the two points in Part 1 and a task from Part 2 that will allow you to show off a range of vocabulary.

think about how you can vary the grammatical structures you use.

avoid repeating the same words and phrases by using synonyms and paraphrasing instead.

avoid making too many mistakes with basic English.

If you follow the points above you will give yourself the best chance to maximise your writing score.

If you need further help with your writing you can contact Exam English Prep for help and guidance by emailing [email protected]

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Cambridge C1 (CAE) Writing Part 1: Guide to Writing the C1 Essay

• July 15, 2024
• Cambridge C1 Writing

To successfully write a C1 level essay in the CAE exam, please do the following:

Step 1:  Understand the Prompt Step 2:  Plan Your Essay Step 3:  Write the Introduction Step 4:  Write the Body Paragraphs Step 5:  Write the Conclusion Step 6:  Review and Edit Your Essay

What you will find in this guide:

C1 essay for the cambridge c1 advanced cae.

Writing the C1 essay can be a difficult task, especially when it’s for an important exam like the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE). But don’t worry, with the right approach and preparation, you can master the art of essay writing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate through the process.

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s understand why mastering essay writing matters:

Showcasing Your Language Proficiency : The essay is your chance to demonstrate your language skills. It’s not just about grammar and vocabulary; it’s about coherence, clarity, and effective communication.

Structured Thinking : Essays require organized thinking. You’ll learn to structure your ideas logically, making your arguments more compelling.

Impressing the Examiners : A well-crafted essay catches the examiner’s attention. It’s your opportunity to shine and leave a lasting impression.

The first part of the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing Paper is an essay. This is a compulsory task, meaning there is no choice of tasks in this part. The essay is your first opportunity to demonstrate your writing prowess and your ability to construct coherent arguments in English.

The essay should be structured with an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction sets the stage for your argument, the supporting paragraphs delve into the details, and the conclusion wraps up your thoughts. This structure is key to producing a well-organized and persuasive essay.

The word count for the essay is 220–260 words. It’s important to stay within this limit to demonstrate your ability to express your ideas concisely. Overwriting or underwriting can lead to penalties, so it’s crucial to practice writing within this word count.

Planning your response is a vital step in acing the essay. Before you start writing, take a few minutes to understand the prompt, brainstorm ideas, and outline your essay. This will help you write a focused and coherent essay.

The essay prompt will include two bullet points that you need to cover in your essay. Selecting and developing around these bullet points is a crucial part of the task. Make sure you address both points adequately in your essay.

Understanding the C1 Rubric

The Cambridge C1 Advanced Writing paper is scored based on four key criteria 1 :

• Content : This assesses how well you have fulfilled the task, if all the content is relevant to the task, and if the target reader is fully informed.
• Communicative Achievement : This checks if the writing is appropriate for the task, if it uses the right register and tone, and if all the points are communicated effectively.
• Organisation : This looks at the way the text is organised, if it uses the right conventions of the communicative task, and if the text is coherent and cohesive.
• Language : This assesses the range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, the level of accuracy in their use, and the appropriateness of the language to the task.

Challenging Areas in Writing the C1 Essay

Though you can prepare for the writing part through practice, there are some factors that some candidates deem challenging. Here’s a list of some of those difficulties. 

Time Constraints: The allocated time for essay writing is very good but some candidates find it a significant challenge. Crafting a well-structured and thoughtful essay within the given time frame requires efficient time management skills, and if you can’t do this during the exam time, you won’t get the score you deserve.

Lack of Ideas: Some candidates find it challenging to generate ideas when confronted with unfamiliar essay topics. This may happen to everyone as you don’t know what the question will be about.

Lack of Clarity:

Many candidates are used to using unclear and generic ideas in their writing. This significantly hurts their score because an essay that is not elaborated with specific ideas often lacks clarity, and coherence does not get a C1 level score.

Grammatical Accuracy: Maintaining grammatical precision is a common struggle. Candidates are often so focused on the content and the ideas they need to write about to the point where they forget about grammatical rules. This leads to errors that can impact the overall quality of the essay.

Use of Vocabulary and Grammar Forms: A noteworthy challenge is the effective use of a diverse range of vocabulary and grammar forms, particularly for candidates operating both at and below the C1 level. Striking the right balance and demonstrating linguistic proficiency can be demanding.

Logical Progression of Writing Content: Ensuring a logical flow in the progression of ideas within the essay is another hurdle. Crafting a well-organized and coherent narrative requires a strategic approach to presenting arguments and supporting details.

Spelling: Spelling errors can detract from the overall impression of an essay. Achieving accuracy in spelling, especially under time pressure, poses a challenge for some candidates.

Sample Question

How to Overcome Challenges:

To address the lack of ideas and time constraint issues:.

Create an Outline: Develop the habit of outlining your essay before writing to minimize thinking time during the exam.

Read More Essays: Read as many essays, on as many topics, as possible. By reading more essays you can familiarize yourself with different arguments and example ideas for various essay topics.

Regular Practice: Practice responding to diverse essay prompts regularly to enhance idea-generation skills.

To Address Grammatical Accuracy:

Practice with Feedback: Regularly practice essay writing with a teacher or language partner to receive corrective feedback on grammar and sentence structure.

Review and Edit: Allocate time at the end of the exam to review and edit your essay, focusing on correcting grammatical errors.

To Address the Vocabulary and Grammar Issues:

Diversify Vocabulary: Expand your vocabulary by reading a variety of materials to improve the effective use of diverse words.

Seek Expert Feedback: Seek feedback from teachers or language experts to refine the use of complex sentence structures and uncommon words in your essays.

Guide to Writing the Essay in Part 1

Step 1: understand the prompt.

The first step in writing an essay is to understand the prompt. Read it carefully and make sure you know what is being asked of you. Identify the type of essay you need to write – it could be argumentative, descriptive, or another type. This will guide your approach to the essay.

Step 2: Plan Your Essay

Once you understand the prompt, start brainstorming ideas related to the topic. Don’t rush this process – take your time to come up with as many ideas as possible. Once you have a list of ideas, organize them into a clear, logical order. Make sure that you know how you are going to explain them (using very specific arguments and examples). Also, choose a few C1 Level words and grammar structures to use in your essay because you need to show that your writing is at C1 level. This will form the backbone of your essay and help you do a great job at writing your essay.

Step 3: Write the Introduction

The introduction is your chance to grab the reader’s attention. Start with a hook – a surprising fact, a quote, or a question. Provide some background information about the topic to give context to your essay. End the introduction with a clear thesis statement that outlines your main argument or focus.

Step 4: Write the Body Paragraphs

The body of your essay is where you make your arguments. Each paragraph should focus on one main idea that supports your thesis. Back up your points with very specific evidence and examples. Use transitional phrases to link your ideas and ensure your essay flows smoothly.

Step 5: Write the Conclusion

The conclusion is your final chance to leave an impression on the reader. Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new way. Provide a final thought or implication for the reader to consider. This should leave the reader with a sense of closure and completeness.

Step 6: Review and Edit Your Essay

Once you’ve finished writing, it’s time to review and edit your essay. Check for clarity, coherence, and cohesion. Correct any grammatical or spelling errors. Make sure you have fully answered the prompt and followed the essay structure.

Important Point

The key to mastering essay writing is practice. Write practice essays and get feedback. Learn from your mistakes and continuously improve your writing skills. Remember, the key to a good essay is a clear structure, strong arguments supported by evidence, and a thorough understanding of the topic. With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to acing your Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) exam. 

Tips for Success

Understanding the rubric is the first step. Here are some tips to help you excel:

• Practice : Regular practice can help you get familiar with the format and expectations of the paper.
• Feedback : Seek feedback on your writing from a teacher or a knowledgeable friend. They can provide valuable insights on areas of improvement.
• Self-assessment : Try to assess your own work using the rubric. This can help you understand the criteria better and improve your writing skills.

Sample C1 Essay Question and Answer

Write an essay discussing two of the ways in your notes that adults can influence younger people’s behaviour. You should explain which way you think is more effective, giving reasons to support your opinion.

Ways adults can influence how younger people behave: • giving rules • setting an example

Sample Outline (Planning)

• Adults influence behavior
• Giving Rules = Clarity and consequences BUT Risk of superficial compliance
• Setting an Example = Emotional impact and role modeling LEADS TO Cultivating trust and responsibility
• Effectiveness A. Long-term impact B. Internalization of values C. Adaptability

Sample Vocabulary to Use

• Cultivating trust
• Internalization of values
• Adaptability

Sample Answer

The influence of adults on the behavior of younger individuals is crucial for societal development as they play a significant role in shaping values, attitudes, and actions. Two prominent methods through which adults exert influence are by giving rules and setting an example. In this essay, I will explore these two approaches and discuss which one is more effective in molding the behavior of younger individuals.

One traditional method to influence the behavior of younger people is providing a set of rules and guidelines. Rules serve as a framework that defines acceptable and unacceptable behavior, helping establish boundaries and expectations. The rationale behind this method is that explicit guidelines leave little room for ambiguity, making it easier for younger individuals to understand the expectations placed upon them. While rules provide clear boundaries, they may be perceived as restrictive and authoritarian, potentially leading to rebellion or superficial compliance without true understanding or internalization of values.

On the other hand, setting an example is a more nuanced and subtle approach to influencing behavior as actions speak louder than words. The power of setting an example lies in its ability to evoke emotional responses and connect with individuals on a deeper level. Observing positive behavior in role models fosters a sense of trust, admiration, and inspiration, which can lead to the internalization of values. Setting an example taps into the emotional and psychological aspects of behavior formation, cultivating a genuine understanding of values and fostering a sense of personal responsibility.

In conclusion, both giving rules and setting an example are essential tools for adults seeking to influence the behavior of younger individuals. While rules provide structure and clarity, setting an example offers a more profound and lasting impact. The ability to inspire and motivate through personal conduct creates a foundation for genuine understanding and internalization of positive values. This approach is adaptable to different situations and contexts, promoting a more holistic and integrated understanding of ethical and responsible behavior.

CAE Writing Paper – Tips, Format & Tasks | C1 Advanced | engxam.com

How to write an essay? | C1 Advanced (CAE) | engxam.com

CAE Writing (engexam.info)

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Essays | CollegeVine Blog

9 Essay Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them – Oxford Royale (oxford-royale.com)

Cambridge English Writing Assessment Scale

C1 Advanced Handbook for teachers for exams

CAE Writing Exam Grading Rubric

Your Experience

How was your experience preparing for Cambridge C1 Advanced CAE writing part 1? Did you find writing the essay easy or difficult? Share your experience in the comment section below.

• Omid Kalantar

Omid Kalantar is an English Language Teaching (ELT) professor and researcher at Universidad Nacional de Educación (UNAE) in Ecuador. He has extensive experience coaching exam candidates prepare for TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge C1 Advanced, iTEP, PTE, and Duolingo for more than a decade. He is also a former Cambridge Examiner. His expertise and research interests include various issues in applied linguistics, advanced level language proficiency, fluency, accuracy, and complexity in language production, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), materials development and curriculum design, and psycholinguistics. A complete list of his scholarly articles can be accessed on Google Scholar linked below.

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iRubric: CAE Writing Exam rubric

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How to write an essay? | C1 Advanced (CAE)

Writing an essay is the first part of the C1 Advanced (CAE) Cambridge writing paper and it is obligatory.

You need to answer the question with between 220-260 words. In the text, you need to analyse a question using different points of view. It is a semi-formal/formal text and should be impartial until the conclusion.

What the examiner wants to see is a balanced argument that is both interesting and easy to read .

Check our Writing Guide – to see how to write a CAE essay in detail.

C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay: Writing Structure

Fce, cae, cpe, practice, write & improve, c1 advanced (cae) essay: how to write an essay.

If you have two main points to make, you can give your essay a clear structure by dividing it into four paragraphs.

Step 1:   Introduction

The first paragraph of an essay provides the introduction. It states what is to be discussed and why. Your main points are briefly introduced. This paragraph need not be lengthy.

Introduction: We often hear about the many benefits of health and fitness. However, less often do we hear concrete suggestions for how to improve participation rates, particularly among young people. In this essay I will discuss two possible actions that governments could focus on in order to promote health and fitness to youth today.  (main points are briefly introduced.)

Pay attention to language style and register!

One of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced writers involves using too personal language writing an essay. 

Me, myself, I

Everybody likes to talk about themselves, but when (for example) you’re writing about environmental issues, you should be talking about the environment and not about yourself.

The way word you is used in informal speech ‘You should have seen it!’ ‘if you know what I mean’ is not appropriate in formal writing. At best it sounds chatty and informal; at worst, disrespectful or even offensive. The word you points a finger at the reader. But the readers are not friends of yours, and you have no right to make assumptions about them.

Step 2: Main content

Paragraph 1.

In this paragraph, more background information is provided in greater detail. Your first, often the strongest main point is expanded upon. Bring in and refute any arguments against your point of view.

Paragraph 1: The first possible action is to improve physical education teaching in schools. Local students have at times complained that… (Describe the first point/argument from the notes)

Paragraph 2

The second paragraph provides your second key point, lying it into the theme of your essay. Again, bring in opposing points of view and support your second key point with Information and background.

Paragraph 2: A second option would be to attempt to change the overly competitive attitudes that seem ingrained in many of the sports… (Describe the second point/argument from the notes)

Remember about “linking” in the essay!

Between paragraphs:

To begin with, I would like to put forward […] The first possible action is, to improve physical education …[…] A second option would be. …  competitive attitudes that […]

Within a paragraph:

[…] which activity is better than the others. Another reason for not financing sports […]

For and Against or just one side?

There are two approaches you can choose to write your essay professionally .

For and against

This is the traditional approach where a writer discusses points in favour of their position and against. Typically this means that one point will be used to contrast the general position.  There are advantages to this method.

One side only

Step 3: conclusion.

The final paragraph is used to summarise or conclude your essay. It shows how the two key points you have presented compare or relate to each other. It also clearly re-states your initial position from the introductory paragraph.

Conclusion: In summary, either approach would be a step in the right direction. In my view, it would be wise to prioritize dealing with reducing competitiveness first because I believe it would help young people feel better about the sports they already do. They could then, in turn, influence their friends to join in.

Get Your (CAE) Essay Checked!

C1 advanced (cae) essay: example answers, cae essay sample 1.

Your class has attended a panel discussion on facilities which should receive money from local authorities. You have made the notes below:

Which facilities should receive money from local authorities?

• sports centres
• public gardens

Some opinions expressed in the discussion:

• “Museums aren’t popular with everybody!”
• “Sports centres mean healthier people.”
• “A town needs green spaces – parks are great for everybody.”

Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes. You should explain which facility it is more important for local authorities to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer.

Student’s CAE Essay Answer:

[Introduction]

In regard of a recent discussion about the facilities, which are financially supported by local authorities, I would like to write a few of my personal thoughts. Whether we are talking about sports centres or public gardens, there is no doubt that they are both a good thing to have in the city and should both be supported somehow. The only question then is which one of these is more important, what are the pros and cons of each one?

[1 st body paragraph ]

Let me start with the sport centres as I think these are a bit more problematic. Obviously, in our times where lots of people spend days sitting in their office staring at a computer, some sort of physical training is very important. We have to balance that shift in our lifestyles. The problem I see with supporting the sports centres is the number of activities that you can do at these days. There is almost countless list of either individual or team sports that we can think of, and each centre is usually designed for a specific type or at least a group of sports similar in its nature. Therefore I think that it is too difficult to support them equally and we can’t say which activity is better than the others either. Another reason for not financing sports as much as green parks is their commercial use. What I mean by that is that we usually pay for everything the centre offers us to do and therefore they are more able to last from their own money than gardens.

[2 nd body paragraph]

Regarding of the green spaces, the situation is much clearer I think. Every city needs gardens where people can sit and relax, but nobody is going to pay a tax for just walking around.

[Conclusion[]

These factors lead me to my conclusion, that the public gardens are definitely a facility which should be financed from public money, whereas in the case of sports centres, the situation is questionable.

CAE Essay Sample 2

Your class has attended a panel discussion on the action governments can take to promote health and fitness among young people. You have made the notes below.

Action to promote health and fitness among young people

• improve teaching in schools.
• improves attitudes to competitiveness.
• improve the image of sports.

Some opinions expressed during the discussion

• ‘There need to be specialist sports teachers for children and students of all ages.’
• ‘Some young people are put off by the pressure to compete.’
• ‘A lot of young people don’t think it’s cool to take part in sports.’

Write an essay for your tutor, discussing two of the actions in your notes. You should explain which action you think is more important, giving reasons to support your opinion.

We often hear about the many benefits of health and fitness. However, less often do we hear concrete suggestions for how to improve participation rates, particularly among young people. In this essay I will discuss two possible actions that governments could focus on in order to promote health and fitness to youth today.

The first possible action is to improve physical education teaching in schools. Local students have at times complained that the curriculum is rigid and emphasizes repetitive activities instead of team sports and enjoyment. Better role models and more adventurous options could lead to improved attitude and participation. Naturally, employing specialist sports teachers would incur considerable cost.

A second option would be to attempt to change the overly competitive attitudes that seem ingrained in many of the sports competitions for youngsters. When adults such as parents and teachers focus on winning above having a good time, it puts undue pressure on the participants. They may feel a sense of failure if they lose and also be less inclined to try a new sport.

[Conclusion]

In summary, either approach would be a step in the right direction. In my view, it would be wise to prioritize dealing with reducing competitiveness first because I believe it would help young people feel better about the sports they already do. They could then, in turn, influence their friends to join in.

C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay: Writing Topics

Cae example topic 1.

In class you have had a discussion about inequality and work. You have made the notes below:

Do the privileged few get a head start in life?

• Stability in the home
• Work contacts and opportunities
• Time to hone one´s skills

Write an essay discussing two of the points given and explain the reasons behind your answer.

CAE Example topic 2

Recently, you have held a discussion in a university plenary about work-life balance. You have made the notes below:

Work is the pillar of society though it is obvious that people need to disconnect. Where is the balance?

• Fulfilling one´s potential
• Supporting family members
• Using one´s time productively

Write an essay using two of the points and say what might be the most effective way of achieving a healthy work-life balance

CAE Example topic 3

You have discussed young people and their future work prospects in class. You have made the notes below:

What might be the most effective strategy to prepare young people for work?

• Work placements
• Workshops in schools
• Establishing links with local businesses

Write an essay discussing two of the points and say which should be implemented into the national curriculum.

Practice Tests Online

C1 advanced (cae) essay: tips.

• PLAN your essay.
•  REVISE your essay to correct mistakes.
• The final paragraph is the best place to express your opinion clearly
• Add quotations, statistics, facts. examples and other relevant data to support your points.
• The tone and register can be formal or semiformal depending on your treatment of the topic. If your essay is written in a formal register, only bring in informal expressions when you use a direct quotation to support your argument.
• Punctuation is important in essays and can be a powerful tool for expressing subtle or emphatic points. Short sentences make for a peachy style but get irritating if they are over-used, long sentences need careful use of commas, semi-colons and desires to achieve flow and rhythm.

C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay: Writing Checklist

After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.

How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:

• Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
• Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
• Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?

Communicative Achievement

• Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
• Have I used a suitable mix of fact and opinion?
• Have I used a suitable style and register (formal or informal) for the task?

Organisation

• Have I used paragraphs appropriately to organise my ideas?
• Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre of the text (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
• Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words, pronouns, etc. to refer to different things within the text?)
• Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
• Have I used a wide range of vocabulary?
• Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
• Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures?
• Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
• Is my use of grammar accurate?
• Is my spelling accurate?

More than Practice Tests

C1 advanced (cae) essay: marking criteria, c1 advanced (cae) essay: useful phrases, words & expressions.

We will finish it with useful advanced vocabulary (words to use in an essay) mostly used to organize information. Although it is taking a shortcut, if you learn several expressions/words for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent essay with a perfect structure.

To start essay: Introduction

It is often said that … ….is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion. ….is a topic that is often discussed but rarely solved. Many people feel that … We live in an age when many of us are… More and more families/people are choosing to … The trend nowadays is towards +ing Over the past/last ten years or so, … Recent research indicates that the number of …is increasing. Statistics indicate that— Hardly a week goes by without another report of .. appearing in the media. This raises the issue of whether …………….. Although most people would generally agree that …………… few

Topic sentences

First Paragraph

…. clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on… It is common knowledge that… plays a crucial role in… It is undoubtedly the case that… There is little doubt that… … is widely believed to contribute to… It is generally considered that… Recent research suggests that… Studies have shown that… has an impact/influence on… Few people would contest/dispute the fact that…

Second Paragraph

Another factor to consider is… On the other hand/In contrast… It is often claimed that… All the evidence suggests that…

Stating your opinion

As I see it, It seems to me that ………… I would also say that …. I am convinced that …………… I am inclined to believe that ……………… There is no doubt in my mind that ……………… One of the drawbacks of ……. is ………. However, one of the benefits is that …………

Changing topic

As regards the causes for this, ………….. Concerning the causes for this, ……… As for the causes, ………..

Presenting arguments

One justification often given for ……….. is that…………….. Advocates/Proponents would claim that ……………… Those who object to …………….. often argue that ………………. Another objection is that …… However, it should not be forgotten that ………….. ……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that …………….. From the point of view of …………….. According to ………………..

Describing causes

One factor which has led to ………… is ………….. One of the factors which has brought this about is ……… The problem often stems from ……………….. The situation has been exacerbated by ……………. ………….. has only made the situation worse. One consequence of ……………. is …………….

Proposing steps and measures

As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ……… The first step to be taken would be to …….. To alleviate the situation people should ……….. In addition they ought to …………… This can only be dealt with if ………… To overcome this problem, ………….. Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve. Individuals can do a great deal to ………… The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of …….. It is vitally important that ……… Legislation should be introduced to control …………….. It would be a grave error if we ……………..

 To conclude an essay: Concluding

In light of the above, Taking all this into consideration/account,… As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc. … is the most effective way to… due to the fact that… Despite the fact that… undoubtedly plays a role in… I firmly believe that… is more effective due to the fact that… its advantages outnumber/ outweigh those All in all it seems to me that ……….. The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that ………………….. All things considered! …………. On balance! , tend to believe that ………… The world would surely be a better place to live in if …………..

What is your level of English?

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Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE): How to Write an Essay

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Introduction

An essay in the C1 Advanced Writing paper is usually written for an academic tutor and may be written as a follow-up to a class activity, such as attending a seminar or watching a documentary. The main purpose of the task is to underline relevant salient issues on the stated topic, and to support an argument with subsidiary points and reasons. An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development and an appropriate conclusion. It should hold the target reader’s attention and communicate complex ideas using an appropriate range of vocabulary and structures. Source: Cambridge English C1 Advanced handbook for teachers

Essays are part of the first section of the CAE Writing paper. The task is mandatory, which means that you always have to write an essay unlike the other texts ( emails/letter , proposals , reviews , reports ) where you can choose which one you would like to tackle in the exam.

Essay writing is not that difficult…

…if you know what you are doing. For most students, essay writing feels like this huge obstacle that they won’t be able to clear when, in fact, it is not as bad as you might think.

Just like every other writing task in C1 Advanced you can apply a specific structure because the different tasks share the same characteristics. Obviously, the topic changes and the input you get from the question differs, but, essentially, it is like repeating the same task over and over again. For this, you can become pretty good at essay writing in a short time just by practising regularly until most of it becomes almost automatic for you.

Long story short, in this article I’m going to take you by the hand and guide you through all the different aspects of essay writing. We’re going to see what a typical essay task looks like, the structure and language and, of course, common problems and mistakes you should avoid on your way to mastering essays.

What a typical essay task looks like

As mentioned earlier, essay tasks in C1 Advanced look very similar to each other and once you understand what those common features are, you will see that everything becomes a lot easier. A typical task might look like the one below:

Every essay writing task looks like this with the content changing, but the structure staying exactly the same.

There are also a few things highlighted for you in bold which are definitely important for you to consider when you plan and, later, write your text.

First of all, in the bigger box there is always the question you have to answer and three option s to choose from and, as the rubric tells you, you have to pick two of them . These two points need to be discussed and compared and then you explain (with reasons!) which option you think is better, more suitable, nicer or whatever the task asks you to do (Here: Which facility is it more important for local authorities to give money to?).

Apart from that, you are also gifted a few ideas in the smaller of the two boxes . You can use these in your essay (You don’t have to.), but make sure that you don’t just copy them word for word. Instead, paraphrase them and make them your own, or simply come up with your own ideas.

If you have ever written a Cambridge B2 First essay , you will immediately see the similarities between the tasks, but in C1 Advanced there is less support for you and you have to make more decisions on your own before you can even start to make a plan for your text. Read the whole task very carefully and then choose wisely based on what feels best for you in any given case .

Formal or informal language in an essay?

I’ll keep this short for you because this works in every single task: Keep your language formal , which means no contractions ( I’m , don’t , etc.), no colloquial expressions ( Hey, what’s up? , I liked it heaps ., etc.), and no slang or phrasal verbs that convey informality ( I’m bursting vs. I have had enough to eat; carry on vs. continue).

How to organise your essay

OK, we know now what we have to do and what kind of language we have to use so it’s time to look at the organisation and structure of a good essay.

When organising a piece of writing you should always think about what it is that you have to include in your text. In a C1 Advanced essay there are basically four things:

• First topic point
• Second topic point

From that, we can make four paragraphs and this applies to every single essay you are going to write to practise or in the official exam.

Let’s have another look at our example from earlier. The three options are museums, sports centres and public gardens. Museums and sports centres are both buildings and probably similar to talk about so I’m going to choose sports centres and public parks, just because we can contrast them better in my opinion.

Adding our two topic points to the list from before, this specific essay structure looks like this:

• Sports centres
• Public parks

So there you go. I think that the process up this point is fairly simple and from there most students jump right into the deep end and start to write their essay – but not so fast!

Plan before you start writing

One of the most crucial yet most undervalued tools for excellent writing is a good plan. Unfortunately, I see too many students skip this step and they often end up revising their texts over and over until they run out of time and the result is still not satisfactory.

Please don’t make the same mistake. It takes around five minutes to make a plan which helps you organise your thoughts and ideas in a way that makes sense. You will be able to focus on your language and arguments instead of worrying about possibly forgetting to include content while saving you time. It works and you should do it as well.

To make your plan just take the list we created above and add a couple of thoughts to each point so you know what you want to write about.

• Introduction (panel discussion, local authorities, sports centres & public gardens –> Which one is more important?)
• Sports centres (public health, wide variety of activities, social aspect)
• Public parks (green lung of the city, place to relax from city life, social outdoor activities)
• Conclusion (sports centres better choice –> more variety, more social, greater health benefits)

It took me 4 minutes to create this plan. I used the idea from the task for sports centres (“Sports centrs mean healthier people.”), but I paraphrased it (public health) while the idea for public parks seems too vague for me so I left it out. Remember that it is optional to include these thoughts in your essay. if you feel that you have better ones, go for it.

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The different parts of an essay

So far, we’ve looked at a typical essay task and we put everything in order. The next step, of course, is to put our pen to paper and turn our ideas into a great essay. Please be aware that these are simply my recommendations and if you feel that they are helpful, you’re welcome, and if not, modify them or change whatever you think makes more sense for you.

The introduction to your essay serves several different purposes. It presents the topic/question to the reader and puts it in context, introduces the topic points you are going to discuss and creates interest and anticipation in the reader.

All of this sounds like an awful lot of stuff to include, but with a little bit of practice you’ll find out that it is a fairly repeatable process. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll produce one great introduction after another without having to think about it too much.

With all that being said, let’s look at a possible introduction for our example task.

In recent years, public funding for local facilities has become more problematic for many towns, which has become more obvious to me after listening to a panel on the financial needs of several different local facilities like sports centres and public parks. As these places battle for funds, the main question is which ones deserve the money more.

Let’s have a closer look at this intro. At the beginning the whole issue is put into the context of the financial problems many local authorities have experienced. Sports centres and public parks as our two topic points are included as well and, last but not least, a question is asked to create a little more interest in the reader.

With all our boxes being ticked we can now move on to the next part of the essay.

After you finish your introduction, you can turn your attention towards the main topic paragraphs. These are called ‘the body’ of you essay. I always compare it to a hamburger where the introduction and the conclusion are the bread bun while the patty, lettuce, tomatoes and sauce are the body. You want to make your essay tasty so make sure that the body is just as great as your intro.

Your topic paragraphs should be longer than the introduction and conclusion, but at the same time balanced and about the same length between the two of them. Remember, however, to stay within the limit of 220-260 words total.

A couple of characteristics that are useful and important for every topic paragraph are the following:

• Start with a topic sentence that makes it clear what the paragraph is about.
• Always support your arguments with reasons and/or examples .
• Avoid being too personal unless you give your own opinion at the end of the paragraph.

This is not rocket science, but let me show you what I mean in a couple of examples.

It is widely known that sports centres provide many different benefits to the local community. Someone on the panel mentioned that, from a public-health standpoint, it is crucial to offer opportunities to exercise in order to keep everyone healthy physically as well as mentally due to the social character of sports. In addition to that, exercise comes in many different shapes and forms, from team sports to individual activities like swimming, so there is something for everyone to enjoy in a dedicated group of people. While green spaces in a town or city have their own benefits, it can be difficult to maintain such large areas in order to keep parks pleasant and inviting to everyone. Nevertheless, considered by many as the green lung of a city their use as a refuge from hectic city life cannot be debated, and groups of people as well as individuals can be seen following their favourite pastime or socialising with others, which makes the discussion about allocating funds even more difficult.

At the beginning of each paragraph it immediately becomes clear what to expect as I mention sports centres and public parks (green spaces, parks). I managed to include all the points from our plan and I supported my arguments with some examples . Also, you can see that, for example, I didn’t use the word ‘I’ in these paragraphs at all even though my opinion on each point is pretty clear. Instead, I used more general statements (“It is widely known that…”, “considered by many as…”, “…can be seen”) which help convey your opinion without simply stating it .

Last but not least, both parts are balanced in terms of their length, but I don’t want you to think that they have to be perfectly equal. If there is good reason to give one part a little bit more attention over the other, that’s fine. For example, you can say in your essay that one of the ideas is more complex than the other, which tells the examiner that you actually thought about this instead of just having messed up your text. Be clear about it and think it through before you even start writing.

Finally, the conclusion of your essay is there to summarise and to give your opinion on the topic as well as to answer the question in the task (Which facilities should receive money from local authorities?). Your opinion can be nuanced and doesn’t have to be simply black or white as long as you can justify what you say.

In our example, a conclusion might look something like this:

Taking into account all the positions from above I come to the conclusion that funding should be allocated to both facilities as they provide essential resources to the local community. However, due to their more social character and possibly greater public health benefits I would give more funds to sports centres.

There you have it. The conclusion summarises the findings from the body of the essay and I answered the question giving my opinion. That’s really all you have to do in order to finish off your text well.

Time to start practising

With all the information provided in this article I hope you feel ready to start your journey to become an excellent essay writer. As you can see, the structure is clear and the tasks are always similar. Practise regularly in order to improve until essay writing becomes second nature for you.

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

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