Macmillan Publishers 2003.

Sample Essay

Sample Question

You have just spent the evening in an English-speaking friends house. Now you are writing a letter to thank this friend. Tell your friend what you particularly enjoyed about the evening, invite your friend to spend an evening in your home next week, and say what you plan to do then. Finish the letter using about 100 words. Dear ,

Thank you for the wonderful evening I had in your house.

Sample Essay

Dear Diana

Thank you for the wonderful evening I had in your house. I

had a great time with you, and your family is very kind.

I would like you come and spend an evening with me. I think

it would be nice if I first cook the real Italian pasta for you.

And then, if you will agree we can watch the video dance

course I bought this morning. We will dance until we are too

tired!

I would like you enjoy yourself, as much as I did round your

house. It was really good fun making the cake and then letting

your friends eat some, it wasnt very nice was it?

Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to

come so I can organize the evening better.

Lots of love

Patrizia

Macmillan Publishers 2003.

Assessment

Examiners comment: very good This student has completed the task very well. All three points in the instructions have been covered. The student has elaborated on plans for the evening at her house, and the thing she particularly enjoyed about the evening at her friends house. In organizing her letter, this student has decided to talk about the first point in the instructions last. It is perfectly acceptable to do this (as long as the letter is coherent), although it is advisable to deal with the points in the order they are given in the instructions. The letter has a good closing sentence, even though the tone of it is a little formal. The student signs off with an appropriate phrase (Lots of love) and a signature. The student demonstrates good control of language. A range of tenses and structures is used, together with some complex sentence patterns and linking devices (first, and then, until, as much as, so). There are a few errors (e.g. like you come, if you will agree) but these do not impede communication. The phrasing of the invitation is completely appropriate (I would like you come and spend an evening with me) and there is a good range of vocabulary relevant to the topic (e.g. great time, kind, cook, watch, dance, enjoy yourself, really good fun). The ideas in the letter are clearly organized into paragraphs.

Examiners comment: very good