Scoring the writing test

Grammatical Range and Lexical Range &

Task Achievement
Task achieved at a high level
Intention: Entirely clear
Instructions: Completely
followed
Appropriacy Coherence Cohesion
Accuracy Accuracy
Structure:
Cohesive devices: Grammatical Structures: Complex
Style & Format: Ideas sequenced logically
A wide range of cohesive Spelling: Very good
Appropriate to genre, no and accurately Wide range of lexis to complete
devices used naturally, Word order: Correct
Scoring the writing test

Effect: A positive effect on irrelevant information the task, some original lexical
efficiently and appropriately Punctuation: Used properly
the target reader Purpose: solutions
5 to link words, clauses, throughout
Outcome: Sure to achieve a Register: Clear
sentences and paragraphs Errors: Very few, none
successful outcome Good awareness of Lexis used appropriately with
of them impedes
Content: All relevant details register and formality level Information: isolated misuse
Reference: meaning,
included appropriate to genre Well organised into a
Skilled use message
Some original ideas coherent text
or presentation
4
Grammatical Structures: Simple
but mostly correct, some attempts
Task achieved, some gaps Structure: at complex structures with some
Style & Format:
Intention: Clear in most areas Some confusion in logical Cohesive devices: mistakes that do not impede
Usually appropriate to
Instructions: All important ones and accurate sequencing Adequate amount of comprehension
genre with little or no Sufficient range of lexis to
followed devices used to link words, Spelling: Some mistakes
irrelevant information complete the task
Effect: A generally positive Purpose: clauses, sentences mostly that do not
3 effect on the reader Mostly clear appropriately impede
Register: Lexis used mostly appropriately
Outcome: Likely to achieve a comprehension
Limited exponents but with occasional misuse
successful outcome Information: Reference: Word order: Mostly correct
awareness of register is
Content: Many relevant Adequately organised into Limited use Punctuation: Mostly effective
shown
details included a mostly coherent text Errors: Some, but do
not significantly
impede meaning
2
Task unachieved Structure:
Intention: Very unclear Style & Format: Muddled Grammatical Structures: Very
Cohesive devices: Poor range of lexis to complete
Instructions: Many not followed Inappropriate to genre, or simple with frequent and serious
Minimal the task
Effect: Negative minimal evidence Purpose: mistakes
1 Outcome: Will not achieve a Unclear Spelling: Very poor
Reference: Lexis used inappropriately in
successful outcome Register: Word order: Often wrong
Simple / none most cases
Content: Omission, Minimal Information: Punctuation: Often wrong
irrelevance Very confused
Task unattempted / partially No meaning or the
Not enough language to No effective use of cohesive Little or no evidence of grammatical
attempted meaning conveyed is No relevant lexis organised into
0 make an assessment, or devices and reference, or knowledge of simple structures, or
Not enough language to make an irrelevant, or under 20 sentences, or under 20 words
under 20 words. under 20 words under 20 words
assessment, or under 20 words words
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Scoring the writing test Page 2

Sample Answers
Task One:
Formal letter – 174 words
Dear Mr Mayor,

I read in the local newspaper about the decision taken by the Town Council
on 2 July to close our municipal theatre. I would like to strongly oppose this
decision

The closure of the building would not only deny the town a theatre, but would
also take away the film club and the library. People from our town would have
to travel over 50km to the nearest cultural centre, which would be particularly
difficult for both the young and the old. Until now the theatre has functioned
as the only meeting place for the community, so closure would undermine
community cohesion.

The theatre’s closure would also end 80 years of town history and would make
the long-serving and hardworking theatre staff unemployed.

I can understand that the council made its decision for financial reasons, but
in view of the pain and inconvenience that will be caused, I believe a false
economy has been made.

I, therefore, request that you refer the matter back to the council for further
consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Bridget Reninson