To DISCUSS

a subject.

To EXPRESS
your opinion

To give
REASONS for
your opinion

ESSAY
 TITLE
The title will ask you to write one of two types of essay:

1. An essay in which you are asked to discuss a statement and give your
opinion.

2. An essay in which you are asked to discuss which of two things is better.
 TITLES
School holidays should be shorter. Do you agree?

Is it better to visit places in your own country or a foreign

country when you go on holiday?

Is it better for students to study subjects they really enjoy or subjects

which will be useful when they leave school?

Some parents teach their children at home rather than sending

them to school. Is this a good or a bad thing for the children?

Every country in the world has problems with pollution and

damage to the environment. Do you think these problems
can be solved?

Young people should stay at school until they’re 18. Do you agree?
 NOTES
Is it better to visit places in your own country or a foreign country when
you go on holiday?
The notes outline three areas you must cover. The final note will always be your
own idea.

Notes:

Write about:

1. advantages of holidays in your country

2. why people visit other countries
3. …. (your own idea)
 LENGTH

140 - 190 words

IMPORTANT:
You’ll lose marks
● If you haven’t written enough because you may not have answered the question nor
discussed all the notes.
● If you’ve written too much because the examiner will stop reading after about 200 words
and he/she may not read important things you have written at the very end.
You should CONSIDER ...
- cover the two points you are given in the notes as well as your own idea.
- express your opinion clearly.
- give reasons and examples to support your idea.
- organise your ideas in a logical way using paragraphs and linking sentences
and paragraphs appropriately.
- use an appropriate register. So, NO CONTRACTIONS allowed, and formal
tone
- Avoid using the word (and derivatives) of YOU
- use accurate spelling and punctuation.
- use less common lexis and complex structures.
Expressing:

Agreement or disagreement, give opinions on a question, compare and contrast ideas and
opinions, give examples and reasons, draw conclusions.

Language:

FORMAL, no idiomatic expressions, no contractions.

Use of linkers
Complex structures and phrasal verbs

Format:
5 paragraphs:
1. Introduction
2. Note 1 of task
3. Note 2 of task
4. Note 3 of task (always asked to add your own idea)
5. Conclusion
 Some useful language
Making a point:
Many people feel that … / First and foremost, … /
It is widely believed that …
It would be ideal if … / Another argument in favour is … /
It is clear from the facts that ...
The benefits of ... outweigh the disadvantages. /
On the whole, I think …

Contrasting points
On the other hand … / Other people think … /
An opposing argument is …
 Some useful language
Giving opinions
I personally feel that … / I find it hard to see why … /
I certainly don't believe that … / It is difficult to believe that … /
I object to the cloning of animals.

Organising and linking your ideas

First of all, … Secondly, … In addition, … / Moreover, … Furthermore …
So … As a result, … Therefore, … / However, … On the one hand… /
On the other hand … / On the whole … While it is true to say … /
Finally, … To summarise, … In conclusion
 TIMING

40 minutes
25 minutes to write draft,
15 minutes to improve, add
complexity, organise, etc (proofread)