Make the most of your Writing test:

• analyse each task properly and spend some time making notes

• highlight or underline key words in the tasks to make sure that you focus on what you have to do

• plan your answers

• use paragraphs clearly; put one idea in each paragraph

• do not repeat ideas using different words

• do not copy whole sentences from the question – you will receive no marks for this

• keep to the topic; do not write about unrelated subjects

• manage your time; remember, Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1

• spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and approximately 40 minutes on Task 2

• pay attention to the number of words required for each task; you will lose marks if you do not write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2

• learn to recognise how long 150 and 250 words look in your handwriting; you will not have time to count during the test

• you must write your answers in full; answers written in note form or in bullet points will lose marks

• pay attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation; you will lose marks for mistakes

• avoid informal language

• do not memorise model answers; examiners are trained to recognise them and your test will be invalid

• spend several minutes re-reading and correcting your answers