TASK 2 WRITING- INFORMATION

1. Make sure to write at least 10 essays, under exam conditions without any cheating or looking up
material online. Use a variety of questions and look at high scoring essays. Always refer back to
the official marking scheme, regardless of how tedious it is in the beginning.
Keep the grammar simple but complex enough. It sounds strange but it is essential. Make sure to
vary your grammar, but stick to structures that you have practised, that you know make sense
and don’t overcomplicate a sentence and try something new in the exam.

 READ THE QUESTION MULTIPLE TIMES. MAKE SURE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE QUESTION
IS ASKING
o How many reasons/point do the want
o Do they want your opinion, too
 PLAN YOUR ESSAY
o Force yourself to slow down and take 4-5 mins to make a little plan
o Think it and write it down so you don’t forget and make a little checklist
o It can look a little like this
 What does the question want? How many points? My opinion?
 What is my position? For or against? Think and see what your stance is
 Remember how to start an introduction. Short and swift. Use the same
structure. Blanket statement. This essay will….
 What are my points? Remember this structure reason explanation 
effect  link outcome to your main point
 Where can I use my complex sentences? What are the keywords specific to
this topic
 Read each sentence and screen for mistakes at the end of sentence and the
end of each paragraph.
 Write the second paragraph using the same structure as you use above
 Write your conclusion. Make a short and swift and mention your opinion if it
is needed. No new points or ideas.

Some examples
 Use a sentence starting with
o While
 E.g. While many disagree with children taking any form of jobs, I suggest easing
children and adolescent into work to encourage them to develop a sense of
responsibility and appreciation for hard-earned money.
 While can be used very nicely in a conclusion or introduction.
o If
 If countries allow children to work, it would be vital to introduce laws overseeing
such type of labour in order to protect this vulnerable group of society.
o However/in contrast
 In contrast, other believe global trade is harmful
 Best used at the beginning of the second paragraph
2. Breakdown task- e.g. discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions
 Why has it increased?
 What are the solutions?
3. Structure to answering a question
 Write an idea then follow up with a reason- explanation  effect conclusion
o E.g. why do we need to allocate money to public services example= important
because you can open more hospitals and thus quality of life as more capacity
to care for patients
 If not  hospital waiting lists and more lost hours of work thus more
sick days
 Conclusion = spending is very important
 Introduction
o 3 step rule
 1. Blanket statement
 2. Rephrase question
 3. ‘This essay will discuss/expand/explain/explore…..’
o Introduce the topic- paraphrase it! E.g. if the topic is about global trade then
 Tell reader what will be in your essay
 Global trade is an ever increasing phenomenon. Nowadays, all types of goods
are exchanged between nations all over the world, including products used on a
day to day basis. Although this ensures a wide variety of products available,
there are some disadvantages. ( this essay will discuss the benefits, and how
they trump some of the drawbacks
 One body paragraph-
 Many products, including foods, are exclusively produced by certain
countries abroad.
 Trade between different countries ensures that people all around the
world have access to products unavailable to locals.
 Example – Pineapples alongside other vegetables are the product of a
few countries only, e.g. Costa Rica being the main exporter of pineapple
due to their geography. Thus if trade was to be stopped, these goods
would not be available
 Second example, global trade allows exchange of ideas and technologies
and thus advancement of poorer countries, I.e. relations between
poorer and richer countries improve thus more likely to share expertise
in form of scholarships for example. This will then in turn share
invaluable skills to those people returning to their home countries which
they could use to help build certain sectors and thus boost the economy

o Second- body paragraph

  Mention the opposing view but make sure your main view, i.e. first paragraph
still has better and stronger point as you are showing that you agree with global
trade (my stance in this essay).
 Start with an introductory sentence
 In contrast there are those that oppose global trade vehemently. They
suggest that global trade leads to more pollution due to the extra miles
needed to transport these goods from all over the world. Tomatoes
grown in Spain, for example, have to be flown in to the UK using planes
which run on kerosene and thus produce toxic fumes. In contrast to
vegetables grown in the UK, those arriving from Spain thus have a higher
carbon footprint. While pollution needs to be addressed, government
policies should add additional tax to less eco-friendly modes of transport
and use this money to encourage research into renewable resources in
order to offset the carbon footprint.
 Depending on word count and what the question asked for e.g. reasons or one
reason, you may add another point against your stance. This is why it is
important to read the question in detail and for a couple of mins before starting
the essay so you don’t miss anything
o Conclusion
 In conclusion, while some drawbacks are present, I strongly agree with
encouraging global trade as it allows advancement throughout the world, while
enriching countries with goods and services unavailable locally. I, therefore, see
more good than harm in trade between countries all over the world and foresee
even greater breakthroughs as a result in the future.

 Paragraph structures
o 7 types
o Double questions
o To what extent do you agree Two single idea paragraphs
o Discuss both views
o + give you opinion

o Problems and causes

o Disadvantages and advantages two double idea paragraphs
o + opinion
 The double idea is because more than one problem needs to be mentioned and more than one
cause also
 A single idea is requires a more in-depth analysis
o Introduce a single idea reasons evidence and conclusion referring to the initial idea
as stated in 2.
o E.g. studying online is much more convenient than attending campus (idea) as students
can plan out their day according to their needs. In essence, one can now organise their
own study schedule according to their sleeping habits, work schedule and familial
 obligations. Only possible if attendance and ones’ physical presence is not necessary. If
online courses would be unavailable, individuals with the aforementioned obligations
would not be able to join a significant number of university courses i.e. students with
disabilities or students with children.
 Double idea paragraphs is when causes/ideas/solutions/ are mentioned
 So when they ask for more than one entity
o ‘’What are the causes and solutions for world hunger?’’
o 1 double paragraph for causes. 1 double paragraph for solutions for world hunger
o Structure
 Introduce set of ideas (both advantages/ causes)
 Explain first advantage + give evidence
 Explain second advantage + evidence
 Refer back to the two ideas in conclusion
 Example
 There are two essential (advantages/reasons/causes/ problems) why
studying is expensive
 Firstly, the tuition fees are steadily increasing and form a large financial
burden on student; in some countries, including the UK, a student may
leave with 5 figure debts arising for tuition costs alone.
 Secondly, living expenses are ever rising, especially in major, urban
cities, so that it accounts for roughly 40% of the overall debt acquired
during education.
 In essence, the financial burdens plaguing students the most are the
ever increasing tuition fees, as well as the burdensome living costs
accounting for 90% of all student debts.
 Write one paragraph each whatever the question
 And opinion in conclusion
 State opinion in the beginning of the conclusion e.g. ‘’in conclusion,
despite some drawbacks, I agree with…..’’
 Vocabulary
o Use synonyms- not necessarily directly but words or phrases that would replace that
singular word
 Lying (indirect) distorting the truths or (direct)t  deceptions/ fabrications
 Use it accurately, do not use synonyms that are not equal e.g. when talking
about schools, do not refer to kindergartens or college students
 If you cannot change it, rephrase it and use pronouns
 Uncommon words/key words to each topic
 Read through common topics and search for keywords
 Write three relating to each topics e.g. in obesity
o Dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles, health epidemic