Do you sometimes run out of time during writing exams? Do you start writing quickly… and then realize you forgot to plan or check your work?
Don’t worry — you’re not alone! In the PET Writing Part 2, you have 45 minutes to write one text: an article, essay, letter, blog post, or report. That sounds like a lot, but without a good plan, it can disappear fast!
In this mini-lesson, you’ll learn a 5-step plan to help you:
understand the task ✅
organize your ideas 🧠
write clearly ✍️
and check everything before time’s up! 🔍
Let’s go step by step and learn how to make the most of every minute!
🔍 Read the prompt carefully 🧠 Identify the type (essay, blog, etc.), the purpose (inform, describe, persuade), and the reader (friend, teacher, website readers)
🪶 Start with the body paragraphs (main ideas + examples) 📌 Then write the introduction and conclusion (or opening/closing lines for letters/blogs) ✨ Use clear paragraphs
📝 Check for: • Spelling • Grammar • Punctuation • Repeated words or awkward phrasing
✨ Tips
Don’t start writing immediately. Planning helps you write faster and better.
Leave space between lines to make editing easier.
Use linking words (however, because, in addition) to get a better score.
Check register: Use contractions for informal writing, full forms for formal.
If unsure about spelling, choose a simpler word you know.
🟢 Step 1: Understand the Task in 5 Minutes
(Part of the 5-Step Writing Workflow)
Before you plan or write anything, stop and read the task carefully. Use your first 5 minutes to make sure you understand what to write, who you are writing to, and what you must include.
🧠 Follow These 3 Simple Steps to Understand the Task:
What to Do
Why It’s Important
Read the task slowly (twice)
📖 The first time you get a general idea. The second time, you look for details.
Underline the important words
✏️ Highlight the type of writing, the topic, and the bullet points.
Answer 3 golden questions
✅ These questions help you stay on task and avoid losing points.
✅ Ask Yourself These 3 Golden Questions
❓ Question
✅ What to Look For
1. What do I have to write?
Is it a letter? Article? Blog? Report? Essay?
2. Who is going to read it?
A teacher? A friend? Everyone online? A company?
3. What 2 or 3 things must I say?
Check the bullet points and make sure you include all of them!
📚 Example Task Breakdown
Task: Your teacher has asked you to write a blog post about your favorite sport. You should: – say what the sport is – explain why you like it – say how someone can learn it
✅ Step-by-Step Analysis
1. What is the type of text? 🟦 Blog post
2. Who is going to read it? 🌐 Other students / people online → Use friendly, informal language
3. What 3 things do I need to include? 🔹 Name the sport 🔹 Give reasons why you enjoy it 🔹 Say how someone can learn it
💡 Pro Tips to Follow the Instructions
📌 Underline or highlight the 3 bullet points.
✅ Check them off as you write your draft.
🚫 Don’t write about something else or skip a question. You will lose marks!
💬 Common Phrases to Use in the First Paragraph
“In this blog post, I’m going to tell you about…” “Let me tell you why I love…” “If you’ve never tried it before, here’s how to learn…”
⏱️ After 5 minutes, you should: ✔️ Know what type of text you’re writing ✔️ Understand who it’s for ✔️ Know exactly what 2–3 things you must write about
🧠 Reminder:
Understanding the instructions is 50% of the test! Take your time, read carefully, and follow the plan. You can do this! 💪
⏱️ Step 2: Plan Your Writing in 5 Minutes
(Part of the 5-Step Writing Workflow)
Before you start writing, take 5 minutes to plan. This helps you organize your ideas and write faster and better!
🧠 Follow These 3 Simple Steps to Plan in 5 Minutes:
What to Do
How It Helps
Read the task again and underline keywords
✔️ Make sure you understand what kind of text you must write (article, email, blog, letter, etc.) and what 3 things you need to include.
Brainstorm 2–3 main ideas
✍️ Quickly think of examples, ideas, or reasons for each bullet point in the task. Write short notes (not full sentences).
Make a quick outline
📋 Plan your 3–4 short paragraphs. Decide what to write in each paragraph and what linking words or useful phrases to include.
📝 Example: Planning an Article
Task: Write an article about a place you love in your city.
You must say: – why you love it – what people can do there – why people should visit it
✅ Step-by-Step Plan (5 minutes):
1. Underline task keywords ✔️ Article ✔️ Place I love ✔️ Why I love it / What people do / Why others should visit
2. Brainstorm ideas
Place: City park
Why I love it: relaxing, trees, birds, quiet
Activities: walk, picnic, play sports
Why visit: beautiful, free, fun for all ages
3. Outline paragraphs (Use for Draft)
Paragraph
What to Write
Intro 🟩
“Do you want to relax in nature? Let me tell you about my favorite place…”
Body 1 🟨
Why I love it (calm, peaceful, fresh air)
Body 2 🟦
What people can do (walk, picnic, sports)
Body 3 🟪
Why others should visit (good for families, beautiful, free)
Ending 🟥
Invite the reader: “Try it and see how amazing it is!”
⭐ Helpful Phrases to Add in Your Plan
I love this place because…
You can…
It’s a great place to…
I think everyone should visit because…
✅ Now you’re ready to write! You’ve used your 5 minutes wisely — and you won’t get lost while writing! Keep your plan next to you and follow it step by step.
✍️ Step 3: Write (25 minutes)
(Part of the 5-Step Writing Workflow)
Now it’s time to start writing your draft! But here’s a secret: don’t start with the introduction! Start with the main part (body) — it’s easier and helps you stay focused.
🧠 Follow These 3 Simple Steps to Write in 25 Minutes:
What to Do
Why It Helps
Write the body paragraphs first
🧱 These are the most important parts. Each paragraph should cover one bullet point from the task.
Write the introduction and ending
✨ Start with a short introduction and finish with a closing sentence or line (especially for letters or blogs).
Read it once slowly and fix anything confusing
👀 Make sure it sounds clear and you didn’t forget anything. This is your first check before the final edits.
✅ Tips for Writing the Body Paragraphs First
Each bullet point = one clear paragraph. Here’s how to organize them:
Paragraph
What to Write
Useful Phrases
Body 1
Answer the first bullet point
“One reason I love this place is…” “The weather is usually…”
Body 2
Answer the second bullet point
“People usually go there to…” “You can also…”
Body 3 (optional)
Answer the third bullet point
“It’s a great place because…” “Another reason is…”
✏️ Keep your sentences short and clear: Subject + Verb + Idea Example: I love summer because the weather is warm and sunny.
✨ Writing the Introduction and Ending
After your body paragraphs are done:
🟩 Introduction (1–2 sentences)
Say what the topic is and invite the reader.
“Would you like to visit a beautiful park in my city?” “In this blog post, I’ll tell you about my favorite sport.”
🟥 Ending (1–2 sentences)
Close the text in a friendly or polite way.
“That’s why I really love it!” “I hope you visit it soon.” “Let me know if you try it!”
🧠 Remember:
✅ Start with the body (main part) ✅ Use short paragraphs (1 per bullet point) ✅ Use linking words (first, then, also, because, so) ✅ Use the right tone (formal/informal) based on the task
🎯 Goal for this step: Have a full draft with a clear beginning, middle, and end. You’re almost there! Now it’s time to check and polish in Step 4. 🧽
🔍 Step 4: Check Structure & Language (5 minutes)
(Part of the 5-Step Writing Workflow)
You’ve written your draft — great job! Now, take 5 minutes to make sure your writing is clear, well-organized, and uses the right style.
🧠 Follow These 3 Simple Steps to Check Your Writing:
What to Do
Why It Helps
Check paragraphs and layout
📑 Make sure your text has clear paragraphs for each idea or bullet point. It looks neat and is easy to read.
Check register and tone
🎭 Make sure your writing is formal or informal, depending on the task. For example, letters to a friend are informal; reports or formal letters are formal.
Check if you answered the task fully
✅ Have you written about every bullet point in the question? Did you keep the right length and format?
✅ What to Look For When Checking Paragraphs and Layout
Does each paragraph talk about one main idea?
Are paragraphs separated by a line or indent?
Does your text have a clear introduction and ending?
✅ How to Check Tone and Register
Task Type
Tone to Use
Examples
Letter to a friend
Informal
Use “Hi,” “I’m writing to tell you…”
Formal letter/report
Formal
Use “Dear Sir/Madam,” “I would like to inform you…”
Blog post/article
Usually informal
Use “You can,” “I think…”
✅ How to Check Task Completion
Did you write about all the bullet points?
Did you follow the instructions for format and style?
Is your text long enough but not too long? (Around 100–120 words)
💡 Quick Tip: Use a Checklist
Before moving to Step 5, ask yourself:
Have I answered all parts of the question?
Is my writing organized with clear paragraphs?
Does my writing have the right tone?
Did I use linking words to connect ideas?
🎯 Goal for this step: Make sure your writing is clear, organized, and fits the task. This helps you get a higher score!
📝 Step 5: Proofread & Edit (5 minutes)
(Part of the 5-Step Writing Workflow)
🎉 You’re almost done! Before you hand in your writing, take 5 more minutes to catch small mistakes and make your writing smoother.
This step can help you gain extra points by fixing simple errors!
🧠 Follow These 3 Simple Steps to Proofread & Edit:
What to Do
Why It Helps
Read your text slowly, out loud (if possible)
👂 You’ll hear if something sounds strange or is missing.
Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation
✏️ Look for small mistakes you can fix quickly (missing “s”, wrong tense, no capital letters).
Replace repeated or awkward words
💡 Make your writing clearer by changing words you used too often or that don’t sound natural.
✅ Common Mistakes to Look For
❌ Check This
✅ Fix It Like This
“He go to the park”
→ “He goes to the park”
“I like the city. The city is nice.”
→ “I like the city because it’s nice.”
“i” or “monday”
→ Capitalize → “I” and “Monday”
Missing punctuation
→ “Hello!” not “Hello”
Double words
→ “She she likes” → “She likes”
🧹 Quick Editing Checklist
Use this list while you read:
Did I spell all words correctly?
Did I use correct verb tenses?
Did I capitalize names, places, and “I”?
Did I end my sentences with periods or question marks?
Did I avoid repeating the same word too many times?
✨ Pro Tips
Use a ruler or your finger to go line by line.
If a word looks strange, write it again and choose the version that “looks right.”
Don’t worry about using fancy words — just make sure it’s clear and correct!
🎯 Goal for this step: Make your writing easier to read and fix small mistakes before the examiner sees them. These small improvements make a big difference! 💪
QUIZ
Ready to test what you learned? 🎯 This short quiz will help you check how well you remember the 5-step writing plan for PET Part 2.
⏱ You’ll answer questions about time, structure, and writing tips. 💡 Take your time and read each question carefully.
In English, regular verbs in the past tense end with -ed (e.g., worked, wanted, played), as do some adjectives (e.g., tired, excited, relaxed). However, the -ed ending is pronounced in three different ways depending on the sound that comes before it: /ɪd/, /t/, or /d/.
😕 This can sometimes confuse learners, but don’t worry—by understanding a few simple rules, you’ll be able to pronounce them confidently! 😄
Voiced vs. Voiceless Sounds
Before we dive into the rules for -ed pronunciation, it’s helpful to understand the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds.
🔊 Voiced Sounds: These are sounds that make your vocal cords vibrate. To feel this, put your hand on your throat and say the letter Z—you’ll notice a vibration. This is because Z is a voiced sound.
🔇 Voiceless Sounds: These sounds do not make your vocal cords vibrate. Say the letter S and you’ll notice no vibration in your throat—it’s only air passing through your mouth. This is a voiceless sound.
How to Pronounce -ed Endings
There are three possible ways to pronounce the -ed ending in English:
1. /d/ Sound
If the verb ends in a voiced sound (like /b/, /g/, /v/, or any vowel sound), the -ed is pronounced as /d/.
Examples:
played → /pleɪd/
lived → /lɪvd/
opened → /ˈəʊ.pənd/
Here, the -ed sound blends smoothly into the word without adding a syllable.
2. /t/ Sound
If the verb ends in a voiceless sound (like /p/, /k/, /f/, /s/), the -ed is pronounced /t/.
Examples:
worked → /wɜːkt/
laughed → /læft/
danced → /dɑːnst/
Notice that there is no extra syllable—just a /t/ sound at the end.
3. /ɪd/ Sound
If the base verb ends in /t/ or /d/, the -ed is pronounced as a separate syllable, /ɪd/ (it sounds like “id,” as in kid).
Examples:
wanted → /ˈwɒn.tɪd/
needed → /ˈniː.dɪd/
invited → /ɪnˈvaɪ.tɪd/
Here, the -ed forms an extra syllable at the end of the word.
Quick Summary
Practice Makes Progress!
🗣️ Now, let’s practice! Try saying these sentences aloud and focus on how the -ed endings sound:
She danced all night. (/t/)
He opened the door. (/d/)
They waited for the bus. (/ɪd/)
Board Game
🎲 Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their piece on the board.
🛑 When a student lands on a square, they say the past form of the verb
🗣️ Example: hated /hei tid/ -> id
👂 The other players listen and decide if the answer is right or wrong.
✅ If the answer is right, the student stays on that square.
❌ If the answer is wrong, they go back to their previous square.
🏆 The first student to reach the finish square wins the game!
By learning and applying these rules, you’ll start to feel more confident in your pronunciation. Over time, you’ll know exactly when to use /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/! Keep practicing!
A review is a piece of writing where you share your opinions and experiences about a particular place, service, or product. It provides valuableinformation to potential visitors or users, helping them make informed decisions.
The Rating System
A rating system is a tool to communicate your overall opinion concisely. Here’s a basic guide to a five-star rating system:
★☆☆☆☆ – Very poor (I hated it )
★★☆☆☆ – Below average (I didn’t like it)
★★★☆☆ – Average (I didn’t like it but I didn’t hate it)
★★★★☆ – Above average (I liked it)
★★★★★ – Excellent (I loved it)
Useful Phrases and Vocabulary:
Introduction:
I recently visited/ explored…
I had the opportunity to visit…
Let me share my thoughts on…
Positive Expressions:
I was impressed by…
The highlight for me was…
It exceeded my expectations in…
Negative Expressions:
I was disappointed with…
It fell short of my expectations in…
I found it lacking in…
Overall Opinion:
In conclusion…
To sum up…
All in all…
Recommendation:
I highly recommend…
I strongly recommend this place because…
I would suggest…
If you enjoy…, you’ll definitely like…
Comparisons:
In comparison to…, I found…
Unlike…, this was…
When compared to…, this stood out as…
Personal Experience:
From my perspective…
Personally, I feel…
In my opinion…
Rating Explanation:
I would give it a rating of…
On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate it…
My overall rating is…
Now that you know which parts should be included in a review of a place 📍⭐, let’s see an example:
Pro tips for writing a review of a place
Start with a clear introduction
Provide specific details about the ambiance, service, or products.
Balance positive and negatives
Use descriptive language (include a wide variety of adjectives and adverbs
Remember to share your personal opinion and your evaluation.
Time to practice
You see this announcement in a travel magazine.
Review wanted!
Write a review about a place that you have recently visited. It could be a restaurant, a park, a city, or a hotel. You should also provide a score for the place.
Type your answer in the box below, and I’ll give you personalized feedback.
Learning goal: To find and write down as many words as possible within a set time frame using the letters in a grid.
Boggle is a word game designed for two or more players. It consists of a square grid of lettered dice, each showing a different letter. The goal of the game is to find as many words as possible by connecting adjacent letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally within a set time frame.
How to play Boggle
👀 Watch the following video to learn how to play Boggle
The Cornell Note-Taking Method is a widely used system for taking notes that can be adapted to suit the needs of English learners. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the Cornell Note-Taking Method:
Start by dividing your paper into three sections: the main notes section on the right-hand side, a smaller section on the left-hand side for questions and keywords, and a summary section at the bottom of the page.
During a class or while reading a text or listening an audio, take notes in the main section on the right-hand side. Write down key points, ideas, and details that you think are important.
Use the left-hand side to write down questions that come to mind as you take your notes. These could be questions about the material you’re learning, or questions that you want to ask your teacher or classmates later on.
In the summary section at the bottom of the page, write a brief summary of the main points you’ve taken notes on. This will help you review and remember the information later.
After the class or reading/listening session is over, review your notes and try to answer the questions you wrote on the left-hand side. This will help you solidify your understanding of the material.
Finally, use the summary section to review the main points of the lecture or reading, and to prepare for future assignments or exams.
Overall, the Cornell Note-Taking Method is a flexible and effective way for English learners to take notes and organize their thoughts. With practice, it can become a valuable tool for academic success.
Now that you know what the Cornell note-taking method is let’s see two examples:
A movie review is an informal piece of writing that describes and evaluates a movie. Movie reviews are usually written by experts giving their opinion about the movie and published in newspapers, magazines, or blogs.
Parts of a movie review
1. Title
This should include the movie title and an eye-catching heading
2. Introduction
This paragraph should include the name of the movie, the genre, the director, the stars and any prizes they have won. You can also include information about the place and the time the movie is set and filmed. The purpose of this paragraph is that you engage the reader and give them a general idea of the type of movie you are going to review.
3. Summary
This part should include an outline of the main events along with general information about the characters and the plot. Your summary should NOT spoil the film. Therefore, you should not mention anything about the ending of the movie.
4. Analysis
In this section you should share your opinion about the movie. Your review should examine the plot, the actors, the special effects and the soundtrack. You can also compare the movie you are reviewing to a similar film in the same genre. In this section you can also give examples of the good elements and the bad elements in the movie.
5. Conclusion
In this part you should summarize your thoughts on the good and bad elements of the movie. Finally, you should evaluate the movie (give stars ⭐⭐⭐, thumbs up 👍 or thumbs down 👎) and make a recommendation. You should mention why you recommend/ don’t recommend the movie.
Now that you know which parts should be included in a movie review 🎞️🍿, let’s see an example:
Check the movie trailer out to learn more about “Little Boy”
tragic violent too boring too scary uninteresting too slow too long weak flawed second-rate third-rate silly disappointing bloody predictable confusing ordinary disgusting
Don’t forget to include the names of the characters, the year the movie was made and if the movie or the actors have won any awards (For example, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an MTV Movie Award, etc).
Never ever mention the ending!!! You don’t want to spoil the movie.
Remember to share your personal opinion and your evaluation.
You see this announcement in your English school magazine.
Review wanted!
Write a review about a movie you enjoyed or a film that you didn’t like. It could be a recent film or a movie that you watched a long time ago. Explain that is it about, why the main character is interesting/ boring and if you recommend it or not.
Type your answer in the box below, and I’ll give you personalized feedback.
Si tienes dificultades para escribir de forma coherente en inglés, quizás el problema sea que también tengas problemas para escribir correctamente en español.
Algunas de las causas de este problema pueden ser:
Falta de vocabulario: desconoces los sinónimos y antónimos de las palabras.
Desconocimiento de la gramática básica: no sabes las conjugaciones básicas ni en qué contextos utilizarlas. No sabes como expresar la misma idea usando diferentes estructuras gramaticales. Tampoco sabes distinguir entre diferentes grupos de palabras, por ejemplo: sustantivos, verbos, adjetivos, adverbios, artículos y preposiciones.
Desconoces las reglas básicas de puntuación: no sabes como estructurar una oración simple ni como conectar tus ideas de forma coherente en un párrafo. Tampoco sabes como usar conectores para hilar tus ideas de forma fluida.
Al extrapolar estas deficiencias al inglés, entonces terminas escribiendo frases muy largas e incoherentes que son muy difíciles de entender.
Un consejo que quizás suene aburrido, es que estudies un poquito de gramática básica en español. No tienes que volverte experto en gramática, pero si saber lo más básico.
Otro consejo que también es de gran ayuda es la lectura. ¡LEE! Generalmente un buen lector, también es un buen escritor. Mientras más leas, más variedad de recursos léxicos (frases, palabras, expresiones) tendrás. Al mismo tiempo, tu cerebro aprenderá de forma natural a organizar y categorizar ideas y pensamientos.
Uno de los errores más comunes al escribir en español es el uso excesivo de las comas.
Veamos el siguiente ejemplo tomado del blog de Diana P. Morales, escritora española y ganadora del premio Ignotus 2020.
EL LABERINTO DE LAS COMAS
“Aquel era un bonito día de primavera, uno de esos en los que apetece salir a pasear y gozar del placer que te brinda la naturaleza, Laura viendo todo esto desde la ventana de su habitación decidió salir a dar un paseo, poniéndose un calzado, cómodo, salió a la calle dispuesta a caminar por los senderos del monte, contenta, feliz, pensando en sus cosas, el día se estaba terminando, ella seguía caminando sin darse cuenta de las horas que pasaban”
Vamos a analizar por qué este texto es confuso y difícil de leer:
Las frases son muy largas.
No se puede distinguir en dónde comienza una idea y en dónde termina.
Este párrafo tiene muchas ideas, pero están todas mezcladas en un solo párrafo.
Este párrafo tiene muchísimas comas.
Truquitos para evitar este error:
Un consejo para darnos cuenta si la información que hemos incluido en un párrafo es confusa, es que leas en voz alta el párrafo. Debes dar una pausa muy breve para las comas y una pausa mucho más larga para los puntos.
También podemos pedirle a otra persona que lea el texto en voz alta, así nos podremos dar cuenta si nuestras ideas son coherentes y si hemos usado los signos de puntuación correctos.
¿Cómo usar las comas (,) de forma correcta?
Ahora brevemente te explicaré como usar las comas de forma adecuada en español (secreto: el uso de la coma es muy similar en inglés, aunque hay algunos casos un poquito diferentes). Las comas se utilizan para separar frases y hacer pequeñas pausas en una oración o párrafo.
Una frase u oración es un conjunto de palabras que tienen un sentido lógico y están compuestas de:
Un sujeto ( el que realiza la acción)
Un verbo (la acción realizada)
Un complemento (es opcional ). Puede ser:
un objeto directo (¿qué?)
un objeto indirecto (¿a quién?)
un adverbio de lugar y tiempo
Podemos combinar varias frases (oraciones) entre sí para formar una oración compleja. Para poderlo hacer necesitamos un nexo que puede ser:
Una conjunción: Palabra que se utiliza para unir dos o más partes de una oración o dos o más oraciones. Ejemplo: María estudiaba mientras su madre cocinaba
Una coma (,): María estudiaba, su madre cocinaba y sus hermanos jugaban en el patio.
NOTA: La coma se usa solamente para separar ideas que ocurren al mismo tiempo. (He ahí la importancia de saber un poquito de gramática y tiempos verbales). Un error muy común que cometen los estudiantes es usar comas para separar ideas que ocurren en tiempos diferentes.
Ejemplo: María estudiaba, su hermano fue al parque, su madre lava la ropa,son una familia feliz.
Truquitos para evitar este error:
1. Reemplazar las comas por conjunciones
Si tienes duda si poner una coma o no, intenta remplazar la coma por una conjunción (y, mientras, ni etc.)
Ejemplo: María estudiaba mientras su hermano fue al parque y su madre lava la ropa y son una familia feliz.
Como te puedes dar cuenta, la oración anterior es incoherente. Es decir, carece de sentido y es muy confusa.
Si la coma no se puede sustituir por una conjunción, entonces será necesario que reestructures tus oraciones.
2. Usar frases breves
Las frases breves son claras y concisas. Evitan la confusión.
Las frases breves llaman la atención y son fáciles de leer.
Una vez que hayas dominado la escritura de frases breves, notarás que poco a poco podrás escribir frases más largas que sean elocuentes y muy interesantes.
Aquí te comparto un ejemplo ilustrativo sobre como suena un párrafo compuesto solo de frases breves y otro que tiene una combinación de frases breves y frases largas pero coherentes.
Espero que esta explicación te ayude a visualizar y organizar tus ideas al momento de escribir.
An article is an informal/ neutral piece of writing that is written for a specific audience. The purpose of an article is to share an opinion, or knowledge on a particular topic, or offer suggestions and pieces of advice to the readers. Newspapers, magazines, and journals usually publish articles. For that reason, articles have to be easy to read.
Parts of an Article
Title: It should be short and informative. Try to choose an interesting title, so the reader wants to read your article to learn more about the topic.
Author’s name: A line having the name of the person who wrote the article (optional)
Main paragraphs: This is the main part of your article, it should include the following parts:
Introductory paragraph: Here you introduce the topic. The introduction should be short, catching, and interesting.
Descriptive paragraph: Here you give examples and reasons.
Additional information: only if needed.
Conclusion: This is the ending paragraph of the article that should be a summary of your article.
Steps to write an article
1 Think of the topic that you are going to write about carefully.
2 Identify the target audience. Who are going to read your article: students, young people, adults, elderly people, or professionals?
3 Find the objective of writing the article. Do you want to give advice? Are you going to give some useful tips? Do you want to teach your readers how to do something?
4 Identify the details that are more significant and think of some examples.
5 Organize your ideas and arrange the information and the facts in a coherent and logical way.
Now that you know the parts of an article and the steps to follow, let’s see an article sample for the B1 Cambridge writing test.
You see this announcement in your English school magazine.
Articles wanted!
Write an article telling us how to make your home safer when children visit you. What are the most dangerous places in a house for children? Why? The best articles answering this question will be published next month.
Useful language for writing an article
For the introductory paragraph:
Have you ever thought about …?
What would you do if …?
Do you like + verb+ing …?
How important is it for you to …?
What would life be like if …?
Giving your opinion:
In my opinion, …
From my point of view, …
As far as I’m concerned, …
I guess that …
I’m under the impression that …
I have no doubt that …
I have the feeling that…
Giving advice:
Don’t forget to …
Remember to…
Make sure you…
You should + base form
You should have + past participle
Never + base form
What about if …?
Let’s consider…
Why don’t you …?
Adding more details and examples:
Above all…
In addition, …
Above all, …
On top of that, …
Moreover, …
Another advantage/ disadvantage of …
Reasons:
… in case
… so (that)
… because it might + base form
The evidence shows (that) …
The facts suggest (that) …
Writing Practice 1
You are going to write an opinion article for a school magazine about the best places to visit in your city.
Plan the content
1 Think of at least 2 interesting/ touristic places
2 Think of an interesting introductory paragraph
3 Write your introduction
4 Write your descriptive paragraphs. Write one paragraph per place
5 Write your conclusion
6 Type your answer in the box below, and I’ll give you personalized feedback.
Checklist
Introduction:
Did you write a clear introduction that introduces the purpose of the opinion article?
Does the introduction include a sentence with your opinion on the best places to visit?
Body paragraphs:
Have you included separate paragraphs for each recommended place?
Did you provide detailed descriptions of each place, highlighting their attractions and unique features?
Have you supported your opinion with specific examples or personal experiences for each place?
Conclusion:
Does the conclusion summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs?
Does it restate your opinion on the best places to visit in the city?
Does it provide a strong closing statement or call to action?
Writing Practice 2
You are going to write an article for a school magazine. Choose one of the titles below>
How to stay safe if you are hiking in the mountains.
How to stay safe on a day at the beach.
How to stay safe online.
Plan the content
1 Think of at least 3 useful tips
2 Think of an interesting introductory paragraph
3 Write your introduction
4 Write your descriptive paragraphs. Write one paragraph per tip.
5 Write your conclusion
6 Type your answer in the box below, and I’ll give you personalized feedback.
Pro tips for writing a review of a place
Time to practice
Writing Practice 1