CAMBRIDGE FIRST CERTIFICATE (FCE)

ESSAY
Mistakes collected from my own students’ essays.

DOS:
 Structure the essay into 4 or 5 paragraphs:
Introduction (1) –
Main body (2 or 3) –
Conclusion (1).

 Use the correct linkers for each paragraph ( to add info or link similar ideas, to contrast, to talk
about advantages and disadvantages..) you can find many in your book or on the internet as well.

 Use linkers and vocabulary adequate to level.

 The conclusion is a sort of repetition of the introduction, but with different words. Make sure that
you point of view is perfectly clear in the conclusion  After all the things that you analyzed in the
essay, you choose a position (for or against).

 Use a good handwriting: the examiner won’t make an effort to understand your handwriting. If they
don’t understand it, they will not correct your writing and you will fail.

DONTS:
 Avoid contractions.

 Do not write in the introduction things like “I am going to talk about in the essay…” “I will explain
later…” etc. It is not needed. This is exactly what the essay is for: to talk about a topic. So, just talk
about it, without writing that you will.

 Do not write things like “We all know”… we actually have no idea if everybody knows the info you
give. Maybe someone does not know! What you can use instead is “It is well known”, that makes
the utterance more impersonal.

 Avoid questions. “is it true? Let’s see..” “are they ok? Let me explain”, ”Why? Well…”…Just explain.

 Avoid the language elements that you would use in spoken language: the essay is the most formal
piece of writing, while spoken language is mostly informal. Elements such as “well, let’s, like, and
more, things like that, allright, ok” are not good to be used in an essay.

 Avoid to speak directly to the reader, like “I am sure you already have an opinion”. This makes the
essay much more informal. Have your target reader in mind but do not address to them directly.

 Do not start the introduction with “in my opinion, personally etc..”. You can talk about your opinion
later, but first you must introduce the topic.