Today's class

In today's class we looked at an overview of the whole CPE exam, and completed a text with some basic information about it.

Then we looked specifically at the first part of the Reading comprehension paper. We looked at the procedure for completing the three short texts with one word for each gap, to be chosen from four possible options. We tried a sample of one of these exercises. We noticed the importance of identifying the kind of word required in each case. In other words: is it an example of collocation? Is it part of a phrasal verb? Is it part of an idiom or set phrase? What part of speech is it?

Then we looked at the first (compulsory) part of the writing paper. We looked at two sample questions, and we discussed some aspects of what the examiner might expect in each case. Then we looked at a sample answer, and found examples in it of the kind of thing that makes a good answer to part 1 of the Writing paper. Then I set another part 1 question for homework. (for next Tuesday)

Bear in mind the criteria that examiners use to decide whether a composition is good or not:

CONTENT:
Does the text answer the question? Does it address all the relevant points?
REGISTER:
Is the style appropriate for the type of text which it is supposed to be?
VOCABULARY RANGE AND ACCURACY:
Is there a good range of vocabulary, or is the vocabulary very simple? Are the words precisely correct for the context? Are they correctly spelt?
GRAMMAR RANGE AND ACCURACY:
Is there an attempt to use less simple structures? Is the grammar accurate?
ORGANISATION:
Is the text adequately divided into paragraphs? Are the sentences and the paragraphs cohesive, with adequate use of linking phrases?
FORMAT:
Is the format appropriate for the kind of text that it is supposed to be?
EFFECT ON THE READER:
Would the reader understand the main points adequately? Does the text hold the readers interest?