Writing Tasks 2016 – 2018

Task A: Informative Writing

Context: The individual

Topic: Leisure activities

Format: The candidate writes an article for a magazine about his/her hobbies.

Purpose: To display the ability to research, plan and inform.

Timing: One hour

Topic: Leisure activities.

(Guidance for candidates)

You have been asked to write an article about your hobbies for the school
magazine.

Your work must include information on all of the following:

• The leisure facilities in your area

• Your favourite hobbies/activities with family/friends

• Why hobbies/activities are important and their benefits

• An interesting hobby/event you experienced recently [e.g.

activity/cinema/concert/show] and your opinions

• A new hobby/leisure activity you would like to take up in the future and
reasons
Writing Tasks 2016 – 2018

Task B: Persuasive Writing

Context: The Individual

Topic: Health and lifestyle

Format: The candidate writes an article in order to give advice on how to

maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Purpose: To display the ability to present information and persuade an audience.

Timing: One hour

Topic: Health and lifestyle

(Guidance for candidates)

You have been asked to write an article on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Your work should include information on all of the following.

• What makes up a healthy lifestyle

• Why it is important to have a healthy lifestyle

• What you have done recently to maintain a healthy lifestyle

• The disadvantages of unhealthy lifestyles

• What schools can do to help young people to maintain healthy lifestyles

Writing Tasks 2016 – 2018

Task C: Comparative Writing

Context: Citizenship

Topic: Travel and tourism

Format: The candidate writes an article about a recent holiday.

Purpose: To display the ability to research and provide comparisons

Timing: One hour

Topic: Travel and tourism

(Guidance for candidates)

You have been asked to write an article about a recent holiday or trip.

Your work should include information on all of the following:

• The type of holidays or trips you prefer and why

• Benefits of holidays and trips

• Details of a very enjoyable recent trip or holiday

• Why you preferred this trip/holiday to others you have had

• Your ideal holiday/trip, at home or abroad and why

Writing Tasks 2016 – 2018

Task D: Informative Writing

Context: Citizenship

Topic: Festivals and customs

Format: The candidate writes an article for a youth magazine about how
Christmas is celebrated.

Purpose: To display the ability to research, plan and inform

Timing: One hour

Topic: Festivals and customs

(Guidance for candidates)

You have been asked to write an article for a youth magazine about the
celebration of Christmas.

Your work should contain information on all of the following:

• The background to the celebration of Christmas

• How you and your family traditionally celebrate Christmas

• Memories of your best Christmastime with family or friends

• Aspects of Christmas which you do not like and why

• Another traditional festival celebration you are looking forward to

Writing Tasks 2016 – 2018

Task E: Comparative Writing

Context: Employability

Topic: School life

Format: The candidate discusses the experience of an educational exchange

visit.

Purpose: To display the ability to research and provide comparisons.

Timing: One hour

Topic: School life

(Guidance for candidates)

You went on an educational exchange programme visit outside Northern

Ireland and you spent time in a placement school.

You have been asked to complete an Information Form.

Your work must include information on all of the following:

• Why you wanted to take part in the educational exchange

• Favourite aspects of your placement country/region and why

• The daily school routine in the country/region compared to your own school

• What subjects/classes you visited and why you enjoyed them

• How the school systems are different from the Northern Ireland school
systems and any interesting observations
Writing Tasks 2016 – 2018

Task F: Informative Writing

Context: Employability

Topic: Part-time work

Format: The candidate writes an article for the school website about part-time
work

Purpose: To display the ability to research, plan and inform.

Timing: One hour

Topic: Future plans.

(Guidance for candidates)

You are to write an article for the school website about the experience of
part-time work and future plans.

Your work must contain information on all of the following:

• Why part-time jobs or voluntary work are valuable

• Details of part-time work, voluntary work or work experience you have done
in the past

• What new skills have you gained through part-time or voluntary work

• How will this part-time work prepare you for your future career path and
why

• What aspects of a career are important to you [helping others, money, new
opportunities, any others]