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Description
An activity for introducing the Academic Writing paper which allows students to explore what
will be expected of them in both tasks.
Time required: 55 minutes
Additional § a number of sample tasks 1 and 2, a few sample scripts – if
materials possible, use some from the C.U.P. series of past IELTS papers for
required: which bands have been awarded and examiner contents given;
otherwise use photocopies (names removed) of past students
essays which you have banded and prepared comments for
§ activity cards cut up
Aims: § to introduce Task 1 and Task 2 on the Academic Writing paper
§ establish the differences between them, what they both involve and
how they are assessed.
Procedure
1. Put students into groups of 3 or 4. Hand out some sample Task 1 and Task 2 tasks
to each group, preferably enough for each student to have one each. Make sure that
each group has access to a variety of tasks.
2. Ask students to spend 10 minutes looking at the tasks, swapping them over within
the group and discussing what each task involves.
3. Elicit a few ideas about what each task involves – be open to any comments students
choose to make at this stage.
4. Write the assessment criteria on the board for both tasks. Try to elicit what they
mean, with prompting, from the class.
5. Divide the class into pairs and hand out some sample scripts to the class. Give the
same script to a pair of students. If scripts are limited, giving the same script to the
whole class is fine. Ask students to read their script and assess it using the above
criteria. Students discuss together in pairs. Monitor the class to check they are on the
right lines but do not challenge any of their assessment at this stage. Teacher should
ask checking questions to steer students, who are having difficulty assessing the
script(s), in the right direction.
6. When you are satisfied that the pairs have gone as far as they can with assessing
the scripts, provide them with the marks awarded. If they express any doubts at all
about these marks, reinforce the marking judgement with brief reference to the
criteria and/or examiners’ comments.
© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further
information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo
© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further
information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo
Key to Classroom Activity
Task 1
Write an introductory and summarising statement
Spend 20 minutes in total
Write at least 150 words
Describe some information or data shown in a table, graph, diagram, chart etc
Task achievement is assessed
Task 2
Spend 40 minutes in total
Write at least 250 words
Discuss a problem, opinion or issue
Task response is assessed
Support your ideas and claims
Worth more marks
Write a separate introduction and conclusion
Tasks 1 and 2
Grammatical range and accuracy are assessed
Coherence and cohesion are assessed
Lexical resource is assessed
Leave time at the end to check
Don’t simply copy words and phrases from the question paper, but try to use your own words
at all times by paraphrasing the question.
Use academic language and style
Read the instructions carefully and make sure you answer the question
Plan your answer
Write clearly
Write in pen or pencil
Write on the answer sheet
© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further
information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo
Decide if the fact on each card is true of Task 1 or Task 2 or both Tasks 1 and 2 on the
Academic Writing paper. Place each card under the appropriate heading.
TASK 1
TASK 2
TASK 1 AND 2
© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further
information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo
© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further
information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo