BAND 1SKILL WRITINGDESCRIPTOR Write mainly simple sentences that lack accuracy and with

minimal use of writing conventions.

Task: Write 5 simple sentences on any one of the following topics,

a. My Best Friend

b. My Favourite Teacher

c. My Family

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BAND 2SKILL WRITINGDESCRIPTOR Express simple ideas using mainly simple sentences on a

limited range of topics with simple vocabulary and writing conventions with some textual organisation.

Task: Based on the pictures and notes given, write a short paragraph of the boy and his kitten.

A small boy-found a kitten crying by roadside- leg hurt-took kitten home-cleaned leg-put kitten in box-gave kitten food-parents not happy-about kitten-boy promised-would look after kitten-feed it

Suggested answer:

A small boy was walking home from school. He found a kitten crying by the roadside. The kitten’s leg was hurt and it was bleeding. The small boy took the kitten home and cleaned its leg. Then he put the kitten in a box and gave it some food to eat. The kitten was very hungry so it ate up all the food. When his parents came home, they were not happy about the kitten. They asked the boy to take the kitten out. The small boy promised his parents that he would look after the kitten and feed it.

BAND 3SKILL WRITINGDESCRIPTOR WRITE A TEXT EXPRESSING ONE’S OPINIONS USING

A RANGE OF SIMPLE SENTENCE PATTERNS, SUFFICIENT WRITING CONVENTIONS AND VOCABULARY WITH A LITTLE CREATIVITY.

Task:

Exercising is the key to a healthy lifestyle. With various forms of exercises available today, one can choose the activity he or she likes the most.

Based on the pictures and notes given below, choose the form of exercise you would like to take up and give reasons for your choice.

When writing your essay,

.-you should state your choice

- use all the words or phrases given

-elaborate on the given notes to make it more interesting

-you may add any other relevant information

-your essay must not be less than 120 words

Suggested answer:

All forms of exercise have health benefits for the body. The best exercise should be the kind that you enjoy and will do often. Both cycling and walking are good forms of exercise but given a choice, I would definitely choose walking.

For walking, I only need to buy a good pair of walking shoes Hence, it is a cheaper form of exercise compared to cycling as no apparatus is needed. Walking involves the whole body as it is a weight bearing form of exercise. When you walk, your body is the only one working out. This means you will be burning up calories. This is why walking is considered a better form of exercise for burning calories. Walking is also better for weight loss.

Finally, I have chosen walking as my form of exercise because it is safer as I have only myself to think about and not my bicycle.

BAND 4SKILL WRITINGDESCRIPTOR WRITE A TEXT ON SOME TOPICS EXPRESSING

ONE’S OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF SENTENCE PATTERNS, WRITING CONVENTIONS, VOCABULARY AND CREATIVITY.

Task:

Your younger brother who is studying in a boarding school is facing some problems. Write a letter to him, giving him advice on how he can overcome some of his problems, Include these points in your letter. Remember to include one point of your own.

-organise your time

-make use of the facilities available

-follow the school rules

Suggested answer:

28, Lorong Sentosa 1,

Taman Sentosa Baru,

34080 Taiping,

Perak

30 April 2014

Dear Roshan,

How are you? I hope you are not feeling so homesick anymore. Everyone at home is fine and we sincerely hope the same with you. Mum and dad send their regards to you. Mum wants to know if you are getting enough sleep and rest.

Life in a boarding school is very different from home. It is more difficult and you face many problems. However, all these problems can be overcome. First, make sure that you organise your time wisely. Divide your time for doing homework, studying, washing clothes and others. If you have a schedule, you may find it easier to finish all that you have to do and still have some time for yourself.

There are a lot of facilities available in a boarding school. Make full use of them and you will not have any regrets. The library is fully equipped with the latest reference books and computers. It sounds like a comfortable place to study and gain knowledge which will prove useful in the future.

On of the most important things to remember is to follow the school rules. The rules may seem tiresome but they instill self-discipline and are good for character building. If you break the school rules you may be suspended or expelled.

I hope my advice will help you to solve your problems. Please write whenever you have the time. Take care.

Your loving sister,

Anna

BAND 5SKILL WRITINGDECSRIPTOR Produce a good piece of writing on a variety of topics

expressing one’s opinions and thoughts with some creativity using a variety of sentence patterns, writing conventions and some sophisticated vocabulary and display some critical thinking skills.

Task:

Study the two pictures showing the past and present in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur. Write an essay and compare the pictures. Use the notes given to write your essay.

When writing your essay:

-use all the notes given

-elaborate on the given notes to make it more interesting

-add any other relevant information

-make sure your essay is not less than 120 words

Suggested answer:

The two pictures shown here tell us about how far and how much Malaysia has progressed throughout the years. We have progressed for the better and we are proud of our achievements. The first picture depicts an era gone by. Yes, we may call it old-fashioned, backward but in those days, but in those days, the pew-war buildings along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman were the latest.

It is so pleasant to see such a beautiful wide road, a road that is not jammed ! Bicycles ! Yes, bicycles were an important mode of transportation. There was no pollution to choke the riders. I just cannot believe that there were coconut trees that lined this famous road. Nowadays , we can only see these trees in abundance in the villages.

The second picture shows the transformation of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, It is no more a peaceful, leisurely road. It is now overcrowded with high-rise buildings, concrete slabs here and there. The road is busy and choked with heavy traffic. The green lung is nowhere to be seen an Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is now a one-way traffic road.

Modernisation has transformed Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman into a road choked with bust traffic, air pollution and concrete jungle. It is no more the quiet and peaceful road as it used to be before. This is the price we have to pay for modernisation.

BAND 6SKILL WRITINGDESCRIPTOR Produce an excellent piece of writing on a variety of

topics expressing one’s opinions and thoughts creatively and critically using an extensive variety of sentence patterns, writing conventions incorporating sophisticated vocabulary and displaying the ability to paraphrase using own words.

Task:

Read a book of your choice, then write a review of the book using the guidelines below.

Title:

Author:

Publisher:

Introduction:

Synopsis:

(HOTS) Personal Opinion:

Suggested Answer

TITLE The Railway Children

AUTHOR Edith Nesbit

PUBLISHER Wells Gardner, Darton

INTRODUCTION

This story revolves around a family with three children, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis who live happily in a villa in London until their father had to leave on business, as their mother tells them, but no one knew the facts. They move into a tiny house in the countryside and their mother made a living as a writer.

SYNOPSIS

One day, the children meet Perks the porter after finding a railway track behind their house. They befriend the station master and spend much time there.

Every day they wave at the 9.15 train to London and, assuming their father was there , they want to convey their good wishes. They also manage to avert an accident by waving a petticoat to stop the train. They also prevent a house from catching fire and rescue a young boy who lies unconscious in the tunnel with a fractured leg.

Alas, Roberta recognizes one of the men from the 11.54 train as their father, and the family is happily reunited.

PERSONAL OPINION

I love the story because it teaches me about determination and courage. The family is very close and supportive towards each other because they did not want to see their mother upset. The courage the children show really impresses me as a reader. They were so brave in saving the train from the awful accident.