e3 Writing Report 2009

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Skills for Life

Writing Entry 3

Examination Report

2009 Test 087

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Skills for Life Writing Examination Report: Entry 3

This report is based on candidate performance on one version of the Skills for Life Writing Entry 3 tests in2008/9.

The report is intended as an aid to teachers and colleges in preparing candidates for future CambridgeESOL Skills for Life Writing tests. It includes a number of sample candidate answers accompanied byexaminer comments.

Test 087

The three tasks in this test were an email to a friend about collecting clothes from a dry cleaners, a letter ofapplication for a restaurant job and a report for a teacher about education in a country you know.

There were 36 marks available on the paper: 9 for Task 1, 12 for Task 2 and 15 for Task 3. The breakdownof marks available for each assessment focus (Text, Sentence and Word) is shown below.

Text Sentence Word Total

Task 1 3 6 0 9

Task 2 6 3 3 12

Task 3 6 6 3 15

Total 15 15 6 36

Scores were highest for Word focus and lowest for Sentence focus.

Task 1 Email about co llecting c lothes from dry c leaners

This task was well answered by most candidates.For Text focus, the majority of candidates were able tocover the three points well, with stronger candidates achieving a polite and/or persuasive tone.Occasionally, candidates confused the time frame (writing about the past) or the perspective (writing ascollector of the clothes), but reached Band 2 providing the content points were addressed. Most candidatesorganised the points effectively and paragraphed accordingly.

For Sentence focus, most candidates were able to achieve at least Band 2. The limited word length made itdifficult to achieve a great deal of complexity, but stronger candidates achieved Band 3 through effectiveuse of cause and effect linkers and polite request forms.

Word focus was not assessed in this task.

Task 2 Letter of application to a restaurant

This task was generally dealt with effectively by most candidates. For Text focus, most candidatesaddressed all the points. Most candidates seemed familiar with the format, tone and phrasing of a standardletter of application and were thus able to achieve at least the middle band. Band 3 candidates wereassured in register and organisation. Band 2 performance was characterised by inconsistency in register,or poor paragraphing. Where candidates wrote about a job they had applied for, or suggested the job toanother, the mark was held in Band 2.

For Sentence focus, strong candidates demonstrated a sound knowledge of present (perfect) and pasttenses when describing current abilities and experience. Some were also able to construct indirectquestions. Band 2 candidates tended to mix tenses, confuse ing and ed endings (I am interesting in ...),

and mix adverbs (hard v hardly). The few Band 1 candidates had basic difficulties with full stops or wrotein excessively short sentences, or generally did not seem to be of the level to construct grammaticallyacceptable sentences.


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For Word focus, the familiarity of the topic and genre enabled most candidates to achieve the middle or topband. Good use was made of descriptive language, e.g. sociable, kind and confidence. Weakercandidates tended to make spelling errors with topic-specific words, which tended to impede.

Task 3 Report on education in a count ry

There was a wider range of candidate performance in this task. For Text focus, most candidates were ableto address all bullet points adequately. Better answers expanded appropriately on the good and bad points

of education in their countries, were effectively paragraphed with good opening and closing frames, andmanaged to convey a sense of enthusiasm for the subject. Band 2 answers tended to be poorlyparagraphed, disorganised and often repetitive. Other Band 2 answers were sometimes underlength orfailed to speculate on future developments.

For Sentence focus, stronger candidates showed a sound use of complex sentences and linkers. Therewas also appropriate use of tenses when describing their own experiences and speculation about thefuture. Middle band answers showed inconsistency in tenses or in word or phrase order. Weaker answersomitted key words (auxiliaries and verbs) or were poorly punctuated, both of which impeded meaning.

For Word focus, most candidates were able to achieve Band 3. Stronger candidates showed a good range.At Band 2, words were occasionally misspelt but were immediately recognisable. At Band 1, misspellings

were frequent and impeded meaning.


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Recommendations for Candidate Preparation

All Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life tests are based on theAdult ESOL Core Curriculumand cover all theBasic Skills Standards in each mode at each level. Therefore, by following the Adult ESOL CoreCurriculum, teachers will be preparing their students for the tests. Candidates will benefit from beingreminded of the following Dos and Don'ts:

Do

Do read all the task instructions carefully.

Do make sure you know all the task types by looking at practice tests.

Do make sure that your handwriting is clear and easy to read.

Do read the task carefully and plan an answer which addresses all the content points of the task.Try to develop each point fully.

Do consider who you are writing to and try to write in an appropriate style and tone.

Do think carefully about whether the task requires you to ask, describe, invite etc and make sureyou do this in your answer.

Do allow time to check through what you have written.

Dont

Dont use a pencil.

Dont worry if you make a few grammatical errors in tasks. Communicating the message is the mostimportant thing.

Dont write answers which are much shorter or longer than the recommended number of words.

Dont spend too long on one answer.

Dont write a full, rough copy of your answer. Just write brief notes to plan your answer.

Sample Scripts

Sample scripts are provided for each task in the question paper. Please note that it is not possible toreproduce the candidate answers in the original handwriting, and so any references in the commentaries toquality of handwriting will not be reflected in the samples provided.


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Entry 3 (Test 087) Sample Scripts and Commentaries

Entry 3 Script ATask 1 (About 15 minutes)

You have left some clothes at the dry cleaner's but you can't collect them. You ask your English friend,Charlie, to help you.

Write an email to Charlie. In your email:

tell Charlie why you can't collect your clothes

ask him to go to the dry cleaner's for you

describe the clothes.

Write about 60 words.

dry cleaner'sSubject:

To: [email protected]

Dear Charlie.Hello! How have you been?My life is getting difficult. I dont have any time. Its not

easy to me. I have been worked so hard, and when Ileave my job I arrive at home so tired. I just watch TVand go to bed.I apologize your help you know I left my clothes at thedry cleaners but I cant collect them. Because when my

job ends the dry cleaners has already openned. Couldyou do me a great favor? Take my clothes at the dry. I

need it.There are about 15 clothes: 5 skirt 2 blues, 1 black and2 Pinks / 5 trousers - both are Jeans. /5 T-shirt 3 whites,1 black and 2 reds.Thank you so much. CJ will call you later.See youRuth

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Entry 3 Script A Task 1

Commentary Band Mark

Textfocus

Three points are covered with elaboration.Coherent and organised into paragraphs.Openned instead of closed seems to be a slip.

3 3

Sentencefocus

There is average control. Sentences are short butmeaning is mostly clear.Complex sentences are present but sometimes flawed,e.g. Because as a linker is misplaced.

2 3

Wordfocus

Notassessed inthis task

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Entry 3 Script BTask 1 (About 15 minutes)

You have left some clothes at the dry cleaner's but you can't collect them. You ask your English friend,Charlie, to help you.

Write an email to Charlie. In your email:

tell Charlie why you can't collect your clothes

ask him to go to the dry cleaner's for you

describe the clothes.


dry cleaner's

Subject:

To: [email protected]

The key of the house is under the brick, nearthe front door. The cleaners ticket is on thecupboard in the living room, behind the table.At the cleaners is two jeans, six Tshirt, fourtowell, two jackets, and one cover.

Than you for your help!

John!

I needed to fly to Berlin this morning, and Icant collect my clothes from the cleaners. Ifyou have time, please go to the cleaners andcollect my clothes.

Hi Charlie!

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Entry 3 Script B Task 1


Textfocus

Candidate addresses all points.Well organised and clear.Appropriate register.

3 3

Sentencefocus

Language is generally accurate with use of complexsentences, e.g. If you have time

3 5

Wordfocus

Notassessed inthis task

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Entry 3 Script CTask 2 (About 15 minutes)

You read an advertisement for a job in a new restaurant.

JOE S DINERWe have many jobs available in our new restaurant

chefs waiters cleaners kitchen staffFor more information write to:

Mr Juan Suarez

Write a letter to Mr Suarez. In your letter:

say what job you want

say why you think you are a good person for the job

ask about the pay

ask about the days and hours of work.

Write about 90 words. You do not need to write the address or the date.

Dear Mr Suar ez,

I am wr i t i ng i n r esponse t o the adver t i sement f or a j ob i n your anew

r est aur ant .

I am i nt er est i ng ver y much i n t hi s j ob, as I have wor ked as chef s

qui t e of t en bef ore. I had been wor ki ng i n a f amous r est aur ant i n my

t own where I gai ned my exper i ence. as you wi l l see i n my encl osed cv.

I wonder i f I coul d ask you some quest i on, coul d you t el l me wi l l I

pai d f or t hi s j ob. I woul d l i ke t o ask you about how many days wi l l I

be at wor k and how many hours of wor k per a week.

I hope t hat you see t hat I am sui t abl e f or t hi s j ob, and I hope t o

hear i ng f r om your soon.

Your s si ncer l y,


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Entry 3 Script C Task 2


Textfocus

Text is coherent and well organised into clearparagraphs.Appropriate beginning and ending.Misses direct reference in introduction to job title.

3 5

Sentencefocus

Some good use of expression, sentence linking andappropriate language.Minor errors with more complex structures (e.g.passive).

3 3

Wordfocus

Occasional misspellings, but some appropriatevocabulary for the task.

3 3

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Entry 3 Script DTask 2 (About 15 minutes)

You read an advertisement for a job in a new restaurant.

JOE S DINERWe have many jobs available in our new restaurant

chefs waiters cleaners kitchen staffFor more information write to:

Mr Juan Suarez

Write a letter to Mr Suarez. In your letter:

say what job you want

say why you think you are a good person for the job

ask about the pay

ask about the days and hours of work.

Write about 90 words. You do not need to write the address or the date.

Mr Juan Suarez:

With reference to your advertisement in local radio I am writing to apply for waiter in your

new restaurant.

I am a student and I can speak English fluently. I have got time to do a work. My course

has just been changed that is a good information. Honestly I am really sociable

and kind. I have made a large number of friends in England, I think it is depends on my

personility. When I heard your need a waiter, I have got a confidenece to do the work I believe

that I can do it very well. I will treat every customer by very polite manner. I know the

customers are most important for our restaurant.

I want to ask for salary about what your pay, and the days and hours of work. I will arrange

other things in my life. I would appreciate if your consider me.

Im looking forward to hearing from yours.

Yours faithfully

Phoebe


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Entry 3 Script D Task 2


Textfocus

Covers all four points but somewhat unbalanced.Has opening (although Dear is omitted).Has some paragraphing and register is appropriate.

2 4

Sentencefocus

Sufficient control of grammar for message to becommunicated.Full stops are not consistently used as sentenceboundary markers, e.g. friends in England, I think itis

2 2

Wordfocus

Handwriting is legible and spelling is OK.Some good vocabulary is used, e.g. treat everycustomer.

3 3

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Entry 3 Script ETask 3 (About 25 minutes)

Your class is doing a project about education. Your teacher asks you to write about education in acountry you know.

Write about:

what you think is good and bad about education in that country

how you think education in that country will change in the future.


Report about Venezuelas education:

In Venezuela as in all Suth America the education is a big problem why many children dont go

to the school. and the schools have few teacher well prepared, these in the public schools, but

in the private schools they are very expensive for all poblation.

Now I am going to say you about the Universitys, the Universitys in Venezuela are centralization

only in the most important cities in Venezuela as Caracas and Valencia, they are good University

but they are many demanded for many students and only can study there few students for

example in facultat of Medicane there is only 100 place, and take this exam maybe 5 000 000

students.

The Privates University are very expensive and only groups of the people in Venezuela can pay

this.

I hope the Gouveronament of Venezuela do something about this, because One Country

without well education doesnt have future.

Jos

Journalist


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Entry 3 Script E Task 3


Textfocus

Covers bad points; brief references to good points andhope for future change: an unbalanced answer.Well organised into paragraphs.

2 3

Sentencefocus

Shows some evidence of ability to construct compoundsentences with simple conjunctions.Sentence grammar is sufficiently controlled with isolatedlosses of clarity.

2 3

Wordfocus

Vocabulary is appropriate to the task.The majority of common words are correctly spelt.

3 3


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Entry 3 Script FTask 3 (About 25 minutes)

Your class is doing a project about education. Your teacher asks you to write about education in acountry you know.

Write about:

what you think is good and bad about education in that country

how you think education in that country will change in the future.


Educat i on i n my count r y i s on wer y hi ght

l evel and i t al ways was. I n my opi ni on i s

much i si er t o apl l y on any ot her uni ver si t y

t hen f ew year s ago. Now t her e ar e more and

mor e new school s new col l eges and uni ver si t ys

Now you can apl l y t o any of t hi s wi t hout exam.

Of cour se t her e ar e a l ot of f amous

uni ver si t ys wher e t he exam i s wer y har d t o

pass. Some st udent s whi ch pass exam r esi gn

af t er one semest r because i t s t oo har d.

Even st udent s whi ch ar e st udyi ng i n pr i vet

school gi ve up because t hey can t handl

i t . Those st udent s whi ch ar e st r ong and

gr aduat can easl i e f i nd a j ob. I don t know

how i t l ooks i n ot her count r ys and I can t

compare t hi s


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Entry 3 Script F Task 3


Textfocus

Candidate omits third point and it is unclear whetherthey are talking about good or bad points.Only one paragraph.

1 2

Sentencefocus

Despite some minor errors, candidate shows ability toconstruct compound sentences, e.g.Even students which are studying in privet school giveup because they cant handl it.

3 5

Wordfocus

Range of vocabulary is good, but inaccurate spelling,e.g. handl and easlie.

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e3 Writing Report 2009

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