2 Aptis Writing For Projector PDF

Pro-ELT Upskilling Project
Aptis Writing Exam: Analysis, Guidance

& Practice
Task 1 3 marks - 3
minutes
1a) Task 1 requires you to complete a simple form with your personal details. You should
have no difficulty getting all 3 marks. But the writer of the answer below will not get full
marks. See how many mistakes you can find:
You want to join a library. Fill in the form. You have 3 minutes.
Aptis Library
Full name: A. Ibrahim
Date of birth: 24 04 1984
Day Month (write in full) Year
City / Town / Village: Malaysia (Asia)
First language: bahasa melayu
Interests (list 3): to read book
and newpapers
atletic
1b) Here’s a checklist you can use when completing task 1
Checklist for Task 1

 Use capital letters where appropriate.
 Write using full words.
 Provide the correct information.
 Use (verb)+ing when describing interests (e.g. fishing, reading novels, etc.).
 Check your spelling carefully when you finish.
Task 2 5 marks - 7
minutes
2a) Read the answer below and compare it with the checklist underneath. How many
marks out of 5 do you think the writer will get?
You are a new member of a library. Fill in the form. Write in sentences. Use 20-30 words.
You have 7 minutes.
Aptis Library
Please tell us about what you like to read and when you would like to use the library.
© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities.
British Council Malaysia is a branch (995232-A) of the British Council, registered as a charity in England and Wales (209131) and Scotland (SC037733)
I like to read novels, history books and biographes mainly, but I also enjoy to
read magazines. I’d like to use the library in the evenings and on Saturday
mornings.

 Use full sentences with capital letters, full stops and other appropriate
punctuation.
 Answer both parts of the question.
 Stay within the word count (20-30 words).
 Check for any grammar errors.
 Check your spelling carefully when you finish.
Task 3 7 marks -
10 minutes
Understanding the task

3a) Read the task below and discuss these questions. Guess if you’re not sure:
• How many answers will you have to write?
• Do you have 10 minutes per answer or 10 minutes for all your answers?
• Will the computer respond to your answers?
You are a member of a library. You are talking to M. in the online library chat room. Talk
to M. using sentences.
Use 30 to 40 words per answer. You have 10 minutes.
Hi! I’ve just joined the library. I joined because I wanted to get some recommendations of
good books to read. Why did you join?
Pos
That’s interesting. What are the best things about being a member? t
Pos
t
I know what you mean. What do you think about the new reading café they’ve just
opened?
Pos
t
3b) Here are 7 sentences from an example answer. Working in pairs, try to put them in
the right boxes in the right order. Then check that each answer is the right length:
1. They can really help you to find something that you’ll enjoy reading.
2. I’ve only been once, but it’s really nice.
3. I joined because my sister was a member and she was always showing me really interesting books.
4. You can take library books in there and see if you enjoy them before taking them out.
5. My only criticism is the music they play - it can be quite distracting!
6. The books are obviously the most important thing, but it’s also nice being able to consult the
librarians when you’re there.
7. I thought the membership fee would be expensive, so I was really surprised when she said it was
free!

 Give yourself about 3 minutes for each reply and keep an eye on the time.
 Reply fully to each piece of input.
 Check each of your replies for errors of grammar and spelling before you post
them.
 Include a nice range of vocabulary, but don’t go off topic.
 Use a few conjunctions to link your ideas together (but, so, although, etc.).
 Keep your replies informal (contractions are OK), but punctuate fully and don’t use
‘text slang’ (C U l8er, etc.).
Task 4 9 marks - 30
minutes
4a) Read the exam task and the example answer. How many marks do you think it would
get?
You are a member of a library. You have just received the following email from them.
Dear Library Members,
Due to high membership, two new rules will be introduced from today:
• members are only allowed to take out 2 books at a time, instead of 4 books
previously allowed
• all members will be charged $5 per day for books that are overdue, increased
from $1
We hope you understand these changes are in the interest of all members. Please feel
free to email us about this: library@aptis_library.com
Write an email to a friend. Write your feelings about the new rules and suggest possible
alternatives. Write about 50 words. You have 10 minutes.
Subject: Library blues!
Hi Susan,
I’m really brassed off about the new library rules. 2 books aren’t enough for fast readers like me, and the
$5 overdue fees are ridiculous!!!
Why don’t they charge us to be members? That would keep membership numbers down, wouldn’t it? Not
only that, it’d give them money to buy more books!
Cheers,
Ali
Also write an email to the library, explaining your feelings about the new rules and
suggesting possible alternatives. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes.
Subject: New Library Regulations
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the new library regulations. While I understand that your
library has limited financial resources, the changes you have introduced are, I feel, unwarranted.
Firstly, two books are not sufficient for fast readers like myself. I will now need to make two visits to the
library per week, instead of one. Secondly, the $5 per day overdue penalty seems extremely harsh, and
represents a large increase on the previous penalty.
May I suggest an alternative solution to your problem? If you were to charge a small membership fee, this
would reduce the number of members while also providing a modest income to purchase more books. I would
imagine a fee as small as $20 per annum would suffice.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Ali Mohammed
4b) Notice the difference in register between the two emails. The first uses an informal
register, the second uses formal. Working in pairs, find equivalents in the first email to
the underlined expressions / words in the second email.
4c) Notice what does and what doesn’t change when we switch between formal and
informal registers. Working in pairs complete the following table.
What changes? E.g. informal Formal equivalent

Often longer in formal I’m really annoyed by… I am writing to express my
Length of
sentences emails. dissatisfaction with…
No change (except in - -
text slang’ - ‘CU L8er’).
Spelling
Use standard spellings in
Aptis exam.
Vocabulary
choice
Verb tense
choice
Linking
expressions
(conjunctions &
discourse
markers)
Punctuation
Use of
paragraphing
Directness of
criticism
Salutations and
valedictions
(how we open
and close
emails)
4d) Now try doing the exam task yourself, using the blank forms on the next page. When
you’ve finished, swap answers with another teacher and use the Checklist for Task 4 to
evaluate each others’ answers.
 Complete both parts of the task for both emails (i.e. explain your feelings and
suggest alternatives)
 Use Informal and formal registers appropriately
 Check each of your replies for ‘impeding errors’ (i.e. errors that make it difficult to
understand)
 Include a good range of vocabulary appropriate to the task
 Structure both emails well - include appropriate salutations, paragraphing and a
logical order of ideas
Extension - Skills Audit for Aptis Writing Exam

To perform well in the Aptis writing exam, you’ll need the following skills. Notice that they
are not all related to English language proficiency. For each one, write a number between
0 and 5. ‘5’ = I can do this well. ‘0’ = I can’t do this at all.
____ I can type quickly in English on a computer (over 30 words per minute)
____ I can spell well in English (without spell checker) and punctuate what I type correctly
____ I can proofread my texts for spelling and grammatical errors
____ I know how to write in both formal and informal registers
____ I am aware of the important ‘text genres’ in the Aptis exam (complaint letter, chat
room post, etc.)
____ I understand what I have to do in all 4 Aptis writing tasks
____ I know how to complete the exam on the Aptis website (I’ve practised using the
example test)
How will you improve the skills that you have self-evaluated at 3 or lower? Discuss in
pairs.
Key to Selected Questions / Tasks

2a) Despite the two mistakes (biographes - spelling / enjoy to read - verb agreement) the
answer would get the full 5 marks according to the mark scheme, due to the generally
accurate, natural English, good grammar and punctuation and full task completion.
3a) You will have to write 3 answers, with 10 minutes in total for all 3. The computer will
not respond to your comments, but will produce pre-prepared, generic comments. Don’t
worry if they don’t follow very well after your contributions.
3b) Answer 1: I joined because my sister was a member and she was always showing me
really interesting books. I thought the membership fee would be expensive, so I was
really surprised when she said it was free!
Answer 2: The books are obviously the most important thing, but it’s also nice being
able to consult the librarians when you’re there. They can really help you to find
something that you’ll enjoy reading.
Answer 3: I’ve only been once, but it’s really nice. You can take library books in there
and see if you enjoy them before taking them out. My only criticism is the music they play
- it can be quite distracting!
4a) It would get full marks - 9/9. It’s a model answer.
4c) Suggested answers:
What changes? E.g. informal Formal equivalent
Often longer in formal emails. I’m really brassed I am writing to express

Length of
off about… my dissatisfaction with…
sentences
Contractions should’ve should have
Spelling
No idiomatic language in formal emails. No rules, keep regulations, reduce the

Vocabulary slang or local varieties of English in formal numbers down, number of members,
choice emails (e.g. ‘bucks’, ‘mate’, ‘wassap?’ etc.) ridiculous, buy, harsh, purchase, New
Library Blues! Library Regulations
Little change. Both use would for hypothesising - -
and present simple to describe current state.
Verb tense
Conditionals may become more unreal and
choice
convoluted in formal emails (E.g. If you were
to…).
Linking Spoken conjunctions more common in informal and, not only Secondly, while…
expressions email (and, but, etc.). Discourse marking that…
(conjunctions & adverbials more common in formal emails
discourse (however, nevertheless, therefore, etc.)
markers)
Main change is less use of contraction in formal I’m really annoyed I am writing
emails. Keep all other areas standard (e.g. They didn’t even
Punctuation
capitalisation, full stops and commas, etc.). ask us!!!!
Other informal features could include !!!.
Little change, if any. They should paragraph - -
Use of
both (with vertical spaces, rather than old-
paragraphing
fashioned indents).
Arguably more direct in informal email, but this are ridiculous seems extremely harsh
Directness of
may be caused by indirect recipient.
criticism
Obviously changes. See e.g.s. In formal emails, Hi Susan, Dear Sir or Madam,
Salutations and
‘Kind regards,’ ‘Yours sincerely,’ and ‘Yours Cheers, Ali Thank you for your
valedictions
truly,’ should be fine. The above e.g. goes for attention….
(how we open
the conservative ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ -> ‘Yours Yours faithfully,
and close
faithfully,’. Note also full name in formal and
emails)
extra line at end of formal email. Ali Mohammed

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Pro-ELT Upskilling Project

Aptis Writing Exam: Analysis, Guidance

1b) Here’s a checklist you can use when completing task 1

Checklist for Task 1

© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013

Checklist for Task 2

Understanding the task

© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013

Checklist for Task 3

Dear Library Members,

Subject: Library blues!

© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

What changes? E.g. informal Formal equivalent

© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013

Extension - Skills Audit for Aptis Writing Exam

© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013

Key to Selected Questions / Tasks

4a) It would get full marks - 9/9. It’s a model answer.

4c) Suggested answers:

What changes? E.g. informal Formal equivalent

Often longer in formal emails. I’m really brassed I am writing to express

No idiomatic language in formal emails. No rules, keep regulations, reduce the

© Jason Anderson for The British Council, 2013

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