This document provides instructions and prompts for two writing tasks. The first task asks you to write a 150-200 word letter to a friend or family member about your first week in a new job. It provides options of topics to include, such as how you got the job or what you like/dislike about it. The second task asks you to write a 250-300 word article arguing either that breakdown of marriage will undermine society or criticizing the view that corporal punishment is necessary for criminals. It again provides topic options to discuss in the article. The document emphasizes sticking to the topic, using proper structure and punctuation, and writing within the specified word counts.

1. The WritingTest
Task 1
By PresenterMedia.com

2. Write an enthusiastic letter to a friend or your parents
after the first week in your first job. Write between
150–200 words.
You should write about (tick where appropriate):
O
p
t
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1
- how you got the job.
- what you do.
- what you like about your job.
- what you don’t like about your job.
- the people you work with.
- what you did to get the job.
- the last job you had.
- the job you would really like to have.

3. For this task did you include any of the following words or
expressions? Tick where appropriate.
to work shifts, part time, full time, working hours,
overtime, clock in, out, knock off
my responsibilities involve, my job involves
to be in charge of, responsible for, deal
with, handle
salary, wages, paid holiday, holiday entitlement,
sick pay, income tax, perks,
meet deadlines, paperwork, red tape, bureaucracy,
working relationship, rapport, pecking-order, work
mates, colleagues, talk shop, close-knit team
other

4. Write a letter to a friend from your hospital bed, describing
your way of life for the past few weeks, before and since
your operation. Write between 150–200 words.
You should write about (tick where appropriate):
O
p
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- the accident you had which put you in the hospital
- your routine before and after the operation.
- your plans for when you get out of hospital.
- the illness you have been suffering from.
- the people who are looking after you.
- the medical care you are receiving.
- what you have been doing the past few weeks.
- the National Health Service.

5. For this task did you include any of the following words or
expressions? Tick where appropriate.
to be laid up, to feel under the weather, to be/feel
sick, poorly, peaky, rough, faint, dizzy
to have your pulse, temperature, blood pressure
checked, to undergo surgery, be put on a drip
aches and pains, bruises, cuts, grazes,
inflammation, infected
diagnosis, injection, prescription, bandage,
painkillers, tablets, tranquilizers, lack of privacy
admit to hospital, ward, waiting room, hospital
corridors, in casualty, in the operating theatre
(restricted) visiting hours, bland food, bed pan
other

6. Make sure what you say is relevant -
stick to the point!
Get sidetracked.
Organise your writing in paragraphs. One sentence for each paragraph.
Keep sentences short and watch
punctuation: capital letters, commas,
etc.
Use connectors and vocabulary just for
the sake of it!
Respect the number of words. Write too little or too much.

7. Task 2
The Writing Test

8. Write an article on the following subject: If the
institution of marriage breaks down, so will our
society. Write about 250-300 words.
You should write about (tick where appropriate):
O
p
t
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1
- different kinds of marriages and families.
- the divorce rate.
- the (un)importance of marriage to our society.
- the advantages and disadvantages of being married.
- how marriages have changed over the centuries.
- what marriage meant and means nowadays.
- other.

9. You have just read an article supporting corporal
punishment with the headline “A short, sharp shock is
the only answer for most of today’s criminals”. Write to
the newspaper, putting the opposite view and criticising
what was probably in the article. Write about 250-300
words.
You should write about (tick where appropriate):
O
p
t
i
o
n
2
- the arguments in favour of corporal punishment.
- the arguments against corporal punishment.
- different examples of corporal punishment.
- the (in)effectiveness of other forms of punishment.
- the rise in criminal activity over the last few years.
- other.

10. Make sure what you say is relevant -
stick to the point!
Get sidetracked.
Organise your writing in paragraphs. Write one sentence for each paragraph.
Keep sentences short and watch
punctuation: capital letters, commas,
etc.
Use connectors and vocabulary just for
the sake of it!
Respect the number of words. Write too little or too much.