Cambridge English: Proficiency

Writing Task (go to Checklist)

Writing Paper Part 2. Task Type: Report

Question
Your local community group is interested in the views that local people hold about crime in your area. You have been asked to write a report for the chairman of the community group. You should address the following points:

Write your report for the chairman. (around 280 - 320 words)

What you need to do to pass
Read our checklist first to understand what the examiner is looking for in a good answer.

Ideas for writing
Ask yourself the following questions to help you get started:

• First make a list of common crimes that are likely to concern young people:
  Examples
  - mugging
  - car crime (theft or vandalism)
  - physical assault
  Look at your list and decide which ones you are going to focus on. Choose at least three.
• For each crime, brainstorm why young people are likely to be afraid and how they and the community group can take precautions.
  Example notes:
  mugging - items like money, mobile phones, MP3 or personal CD players
  precautions - try to hide valuable items, travel with a group of friends, learn self-defence (individual)
  - better street lighting (action for the community group)
  Make notes like these for all of the crimes in your list.
• It is usual in a report to use subheadings. How can you divide your report into sections with appropriately succinct headings?
  E.g. 1. Fears of crime
  2. Precautions to avoid becoming a victim
  OR
  E.g. 1. Mugging
  2. Car theft
  3. Burglary

Drafting and proofreading your work

You should look at your first draft of the task and decide:

• Have you answered the question fully?
• Is the layout and organisation appropriate for a report?
• Is the language accurate with a good range of structures?
• Is the style appropriate and consistent throughout?
• Will the chairman be informed about the fears of young people and crime?

If the answer is 'no' to any of these questions then you will need to do some more drafting!