Scribd
Upload
16 views3 pages

ESSAYS – FCE EXAM

The document provides guidelines for writing essays for the revised FCE exam, emphasizing the importance of a clear conclusion and structured argumentation. It outlines the necessary components of an essay, including the introduction, body, and conclusion, while encouraging the use of linking words and complex sentence structures. Additionally, it offers useful expressions for introducing opinions, contrasting views, and concluding effectively.

Uploaded by

teixidomohamedipaula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views3 pages

ESSAYS – FCE EXAM

The document provides guidelines for writing essays for the revised FCE exam, emphasizing the importance of a clear conclusion and structured argumentation. It outlines the necessary components of an essay, including the introduction, body, and conclusion, while encouraging the use of linking words and complex sentence structures. Additionally, it offers useful expressions for introducing opinions, contrasting views, and concluding effectively.

Uploaded by

teixidomohamedipaula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

ESSAY WRITING FOR THE REVISED FCE EXAM

Points to consider:
1. Essays are formal writings.
2. Before you start writing you must decide on your conclusion. Everything in your
essay must be related to this conclusion. Your opinion is also your conclusion.
You must state your opinion in the conclusion; however, it is preferable to also
state your opinion in the introduction.
3. You need to cover the points given and add another point of your own.
4. You can give your opinion – you don’t have to agree with the statement.
5. Make notes about the ideas you would like to include. Remember you have to say
what you think, and give reasons for why you think so, using comparing and
contrasting language. Make sure all the reasons are relevant to your argument.
6. You can contrast the other side of the argument; however, you should then
demonstrate why it is wrong or irrelevant. This helps to make your argument
even stronger.
7. Structure: introduction – body – conclusion.
 Introduction: state your opinion or demonstrate your argument.
Summarise your reasoning, which you will then expand on in your body.
 Body: summary sentence + reasons + examples. You can also contrast the
opposing argument, demonstrating why it is invalid, to gain extra points.
 Conclusion: restate your opinion, expand and hypothesise about the
future if possible…
8. Use linking words.
9. Use complex structures: passive, present perfect, if sentences, modals, relative
clauses…
10. Allow enough time after you have finished writing to check that you have
included the ideas in the notes and your own idea.
11. Always reread your essay to check for mistakes and to make any minor changes.
12. Length: between 140 and 190 words.

Castells Immerscom School of English - Passeig Pere III, 87 - Estudi 9-11. 08242, MANRESA
[email protected] |www.castellsimmerscom.com | Tel: 938 757 356 | Fax: 938 757 943
Useful expressions:

Introductions
Some people claim/believe/say
It is sometimes said that…
The question is…
We often read/hear that…

Stating your opinion


In my opinion,
As I see it,
From my point of view…

Making the extra points


What’s more…
In addition…
Furthermore…

Introducing a contradictory point


Although/Even though…
Despite
Despite the fact that…
However,

Contrasting views for and against


On the one hand…on the other
While it is true that…
You could also argue that…
Nevertheless,
However,
One advantage is…
Another disadvantage is that…
Even though…

Concluding
On balance…
I feel/believe that…
In my opinion…
Summarising…
To sum up,…in conclusion…

A “FOR AND AGAINST” ESSAY

There are two ways to structure a “for and against” essay. You can either contrast an
argument for and against in each paragraph OR give all the arguments for in one
paragraph and then all the arguments against in the next paragraph.

Castells Immerscom School of English - Passeig Pere III, 87 - Estudi 9-11. 08242, MANRESA
[email protected] |www.castellsimmerscom.com | Tel: 938 757 356 | Fax: 938 757 943
Useful expressions:

Giving arguments for


On the one hand…
You could argue that…
While it is true that…
I agree that…

Giving arguments against


On the other hand…
An arguments against this is…
However…
One disadvantage is that…
Nevertheless…

General expressions
Another reason for/against…
First,…secondly,…thirdly…
In addition…
Finally…

Concluding
So, on balance, I believe that…
In my opinion,…
To sum up, I feel that…

Castells Immerscom School of English - Passeig Pere III, 87 - Estudi 9-11. 08242, MANRESA
[email protected] |www.castellsimmerscom.com | Tel: 938 757 356 | Fax: 938 757 943

You might also like