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UPDATED TO 2022 SYLLABUS

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SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE WRITING SYLLABUS
CAIE CHECKPOINT ESL

marked wrong by the examiner as you didn’t follow

the question’s requirements.
1. # Overview Ideally, you should spend no more than 5 minutes here.

To succeed in Paper 2 (Writing), you should be able to do the 3. Email

following on a range of topics:

Plan and write written work efficiently 3.1. Part 2

Write an email/essay with accurate grammar and
vocabulary (Question 6)
Use the correct style and register (text type) when writing
Develop arguments that make sense, supported by
Here, you will be given an email-writing task.
examples and evidence where necessary
You will be asked to write an email to your English-
Use appropriate layout (correct format) and punctuation
speaking friend, and you’ll be given three points to
when writing include.
Ideally, you should write 35-45 words for this task, and it
Information on the Writing test: is essential not to write more than that.
You should spend about 15 minutes in this section.
This time given to complete this paper is 50 minutes
The total mark for this task is 10, which consists of:
Recommendations on how much time to spend on each
up to 5 marks for content
part is included.
up to 5 marks for language
The total mark for this paper is 35.
You may not use dictionaries.
When marking your email, an examiner will refer to a
1.2. General tips for English tests table like the one in the next card to find out how well
you did.

When practicing past papers before the exam, make sure to 3.2. Mark scheme for Email writing
underline the words that you do not understand and use a
dictionary to find out the meaning. This will help to Simplified
strengthen your English-language skills. You may refer to the
Online Cambridge English Dictionary or the Oxford English Marks
CONTENT LANGUAGE
Dictionary (any edition) for reference. However, you will not (Band)
be able to use a dictionary in the Checkpoint test. The reader is clearly
informed properly.
When following the guide in the next chapter, make sure to All three points have
5 Language is accurate
keep a copy of a past exam paper. This will help you been clearly covered.
for the message to be
understand the exam format properly.
understood clearly.
All three points are
Response shares
2. Short Answer 4
covered, but there
features of both Bands
might be some lack of
3 and 5
clarity (not so clear)
2.1. Part 1
The reader is informed
All three points are in a generally
(Questions 1-5)
attempted OR Two appropriate way.
3 points are clearly Language errors may
In this question, you will be given two sentences for each
covered, and one part is sometimes make
question.
unattempted. communication of the
The first sentence will already be completed for you.
message difficult.
Your task is to complete the second sentence so that it
means the same as the first sentence. Only two parts of the Response shares
An example will be provided for you in this part to 2 message are features of both Bands
demonstrate how to answer the question.
attempted. 1 and 3
Remember to use no more than three words when
answering the question.
This means that if your answer is grammatically
correct but more than three words in length, it will be

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Marks
(Band)
CONTENT LANGUAGE 4. Essay
The reader is informed
in a basic way, which 4.1. Part 3
needs a lot of
explanation to (Question 7)
Only one part of the
1 understand the
message is attempted.
message. Language In this final part of the paper, you will be asked to write a
errors make the story OR an essay on a given topic.
message difficult to Ideally, you should write 100-120 words for this task, and
understand it is essential not to write more than that.
Email not attempted or Email not attempted or You should spend about 30 minutes in this section, which
0 not understandable by not understandable by includes planning time.
the examiner the examiner The total mark for this task is 20, which consists of:
up to 5 marks for Content
3.3. Format for Email writing up to 5 marks for Communicative Achievement
up to 5 marks for Organisation
up to 5 marks for Language
When writing your response, you should follow the format
below.
When marking your response, an examiner will refer to a
Start with “Dear …. (your friend)” table like the one in the next card to find out how well you
Cover all three bullet points asked in the question did.
Be clear and keep the email short, as you can only write
about 35-45 words. 4.2. Mark scheme for Essay writing
Finish your email with “Yours sincerely” or “Your friend”.
Keep the complete response in 1 paragraph only, as the Simplified
length of the email is short.
Marks
You do not have to include word count as part of your CONTENT COMMUNICATION ORGANISATION LAN
response.
(Band)
Candid
An example response is also included, on the next card. a ra
si
All content is Text is
3.4. Sample response (Email) Candidate holds eve
related to generally well
the reader’s vocab
the task. The organised and
Question taken from a past paper 5 attention, and gra
reader fully flows, using a
ideas are easy to Error
understands wide range of
[1110/02/O/N/2018] understand pre
the content. vocabulary
You want to invite your English-speaking friend Sam to a How
party next Saturday. Write an email to Sam. mea
In your email you should und
Performance
invite Sam to the party next Saturday 4 features of Band 3 and
shares
tell Sam where the party will be
explain what the party is for

Write 35-45 words.

Write the email below.

Dear Sam,
I would like to invite you to a party next Saturday, on the 24th
of July. The party will be held at my house, at Surrey Street.
The party is for my mother’s 40th birthday party. I hope you
can join me at the party!
Yours sincerely,
Tom

Marks given for the response above: 10/10 marks

(5/5 for Content, 5/5 for Language)

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Marks Your English teacher wants you to write a story. Your story
CONTENT COMMUNICATION ORGANISATION LANGUAGE
(Band) must begin with the sentence:
Candidate uses
As the competition started, Stef felt very excited.
everyday
vocabulary
Write your story in 100-120 words in an appropriate style
Some parts appropriately,
below.
are not fully sometimes
covered/do Candidate uses Text is It was her first time participating in a Geograbee competition.
overusing
not make easy to connected and The Geograbee is an annual Geography spelling bee held in
certain words.
3 sense. The understand ideas makes sense, different parts of the world each year. Stef’s mother had
Uses simple
reader does in generally using basic heard about this competition and was interested. She told
grammatical
not fully appropriate ways linking words her daughter, who agreed to participate in the Geograbee.
forms. Errors
understand may be The Geograbee is divided into two segments. The first
the content. segment is where participants have to spell the names of all
noticeable,
however 193 countries correctly. Only Stef and another girl managed
meaning is tostill
finish successfully.
understood second segment was the Grand Final. The final two
The
Performance participants were asked to spell difficult geographical words.
2 features of Band 1 and Band The3 first participant to reach 12 points wins. The other girl
shares
misspelt the last word, unlike Stef who correctly spelt all of
The
the words correctly. She was overjoyed as she received the
candidate
Candidatewinner’s
uses trophy from the host of the competition.
does not Text is
basic
understand connected
Candidate uses vocabulary Marks given for the response above: 20/20 marks
the task fully using basic and
1 simple ideas in appropriately
/ some parts frequently uses
simple ways \n Uses simple
4.5. Format for Essay writing
of the the same
grammatical
answer not linking words
forms
related to You will have to write an essay based on your thoughts to
the task. your English teacher on a topic discussed in class.
Content is You will be given a sentence from which you’ll have to
not related write an essay in your own opinion.
to the task at You should start the essay by writing your opinion about
all. The the topic given in the question.
0 Performance below Band 1
reader does You should then go on to explain why you think that way
not about the topic given.
understand End your essay with your conclusion, and summarise
the content. what you said in the entire response at the end.
The completed essay must make sense and must be
4.3. Format for Story writing relevant to the topic given in the question.
You do not have to include word count as part of your
response
You will be provided with a sentence, from which you
must use to begin the story. An example response is also included, on the next card.
Continue the story from the first sentence and finish the
story. 4.6. Sample response (Essay)
The completed story must make sense and must be
relevant to the sentence given in the question.
In your English class, you have been talking about reading.
You do not have to include word count as part of your
response. Your teacher has asked you to write this essay:

Why should young people read more than play with their
An example response is also included, on the next card. handphones or iPads?

4.4. Sample response (Story) Write your essay in 100-120 words in an appropriate style
below
Question taken from a past paper
In my opinion, young people should read more and spend
[1110/02/O/N/2017] less time on their handphones or iPads. There are many

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reasons for this, and some of which I would like to discuss On the other hand, playing with handphones or iPads has no
below. educational benefit; it wastes time and is only meant as a
Reading helps young people, especially people whose first time-pass and young people are better off reading books.
language is not English, to learn new vocabulary and how to In conclusion, reading has much more benefits than wasting
use grammar in sentences properly. It can also help to your time playing on your handphone or iPad.
improve the reader’s speaking ability and to converse in
proper English with others, especially native speakers. Marks given for the response above: 20/20 marks

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