Writing Test 

- HOW TO FACE A WRITING TEST -

Each individual writer has their own aims and needs and their own way of approaching various parts of the writing process. However, whether you are writing a short essay, an article, a report or a research paper, the overall process is generally the same.

PRELIMINARY PHASE

The first thing you have to do is asking yourself some planning questions the will help guide the rest of the process.

• What is the purpose of this piece of writing?
• To answer a specific essay, examination or research question.
• To convince other of your point of view.
• To communicate hyour knowledge or understanding to others, such a teacher, an examiner.
• Who is my audience? The answer will help you choose the appropriate level of formality.
• A teacher/ professor
• Fellow students/ colleagues
• An employer
• The general public

PRE-WRITING PHASE

• Explore
• Mind maps
• List of interesting things, concepts, facts, questions, etc.
• Conversations with colleagues
• Research
• Books and journals
• The media
• Websites
• Interviews and questionnaires
• Scientific studies
• Organize
• Decide how many words you will give to each parto of the essay/report
• Collect or prepare any visual aids such as charts or diagrams that you may need

WRITING PHASE

• Draft
• Remain focused on your main idea. If you change it, adapt your original plan.
• Follow your outline, modifying if necessary
• In early drafts, concentrate on structure rather than spelling and punctuation
• Review/Edit: CRITICAL EYE
• Have you answered the question or achieved your original puspose?
• Have you introduced your subject, developed it logically and come to a conclusion?
• Is your supporting evidence appropriate and complete?
• Have you used heading for a better understanding?
• Are the relationships between ideas clear?
• Is each part the right lenght?
• Is the level of formality appropriate for your readers?
• Have you chosen words carefully using the correct collocations?
• Have you avoided repeating the same words?

PRESENTATION PHASE

Check for:

• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Grammatical mistakes
• Font size
• Margins
• Line spacing
• Paper size

EXAMINATIONS´ TIPS

In an exam, you will not have time for all these stages, but your answers will be more successful if you follow the next tips:

• Brainstorm ideas
• Organize and plan your ideas acoording to what you've been asked. Answer all you've been asked. - CONTENTS
• Try to organize your writing in a coherent and cohesive way - COHERENCE AND COHESION
• e.g. be clear and concise
• Use the appropriate vocabulary and linguistic register according to the level required for you examination (B1, B2, C1...). - VOCABULARY
• e.g. word choice, short forms, sentence structure
• Pay attention to the grammatical structures and grammatical mistakes - GRAMMAR
• Be particularly careful with punctuation marks, spelling, lowercase and capital letters, paragraphs, and the like.
• Re-read, check and edit your writing.