Part 5WritingSection 1 of 8
5.1What the task is
You are given a statement and a question about it, and you write an essay of at least 250 words in 40 minutes. This task carries twice the marks of Task 1, so it deserves twice the time and should be done first if you are worried about the clock.
| Criterion | What the examiner is looking for |
|---|---|
| Task Response | You answer the exact question asked, take a clear position, and support it |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Clear paragraphing, logical progression, linking that fits the meaning |
| Lexical Resource | Range and precision of vocabulary, including some less common words used correctly |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Variety of structures and control of them, including punctuation |
The single biggest cause of a low Task 2 score
Answering the question you wish you had been asked. If the question asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, an essay listing advantages and disadvantages without ever saying which is greater does not answer it, however good the English is. Underline the question, and read it again after your introduction.