Cambridge English: First

Writing Task (go to Checklist)

Writing Paper Part 2. Task Type: Article

Question
You have seen the following announcement in an international magazine for 16-25 year olds:

Write your article for the magazine (around 140-190 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:

• Do you think it is better for young people to spend time on their computers instead of watching television? Start your article by listing some of the benefits of using a computer compared to watching TV:
  You can surf the internet to find out information of your choice - not so with TV It's more sociable than TV - you can make contact with people through email or discussion groups
• Are there any arguments that can be made against computers?
  Too much choice compared to TV?
  Not as relaxing as TV - you have to think too hard
  Can be expensive if you spend too much time on the internet
  You spend time on your own instead of with the rest of the family
• Should young people be doing other things with their leisure time apart from being on a computer or watching TV? Make a list of two or three things (sport, seeing friends, etc) that they could also do.
• What is your opinion overall? Make sure that this will be clear to the reader.

Drafting and proofreading your work

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

• Have you answered the questions? Will the reader be clear about your opinion?
• Is the layout and organisation appropriate?
• Is the language accurate with a good range of structures?
• Will the reader enjoy reading your work?
• Is the style OK?

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