Skills for Life
Level 1
Writing Examination Report - Test 051
September 2005
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
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CB1 2EU United Kingdom
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Skills for Life Writing (Level 1) Examination Report
This report is based on candidate performance on Skills for Life (Writing) tests between May 2005 and
December 2005. It also includes data collected from a questionnaire completed by candidates, which asks
them to supply details of their age, gender, experience of English and first language(s).
The report is intended as an aid to teachers and colleges in preparing candidates for future Cambridge
ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) tests. It includes a number of sample candidate answers accompanied by
examiner comments.
Level 1 (Test 051)
The four tasks in this test were an application form to be a student advisor, a letter to the council
complaining about disturbances caused by a new takeaway restaurant, a report to the college principal
explaining why students are absent or late and a leaflet for students encouraging them to use the college’s
computer facilities.
There were 36 marks available on the paper, 9 for Task 1, 12 for Task 2 and 15 for Task 3. This
information is provided on the question paper. The breakdown of marks available for each assessment
focus (Text, Sentence and Word) is shown below:
Text
Sentence
Word
Task 1
3
3
3
Task 2
6
3
3
Task 3
6
6
3
Overall most candidates performed well on the paper with 76.7% scoring the 21 or more marks required to
pass. The average mark was 24.4. Candidates scored most highly in the Word focus, where the average
mark was 6.4 out of 9. Candidates performed well in the Word focus on all the questions but the strongest
performance was seen in Task 1, which focused on familiar vocabulary of studying and accommodation.
This was also a task where candidates could choose the topic they wrote about. They did less well in Task
2, where some candidates made errors when they attempted more ambitious collocations. Candidates
generally also performed well on Text focus answering questions fully and organising their answers well.
The average mark was 10.5 out of 15. This was done best on Task 1 but was done less well on Task 3,
where some candidates struggled with addressing all the points and organising their answers. Candidates
performed least well on Sentence focus scoring 7.5 out of 12. Most managed to produce appropriate
complex and compound sentences but, in Task 3 especially, some candidates made errors in word order,
noun-verb agreement and prepositions.
Candidates performed best on Task 1, where most had a great deal to say on topics they clearly felt
comfortable with. Stronger candidates used paragraphing well and gave detailed answers. Task 2 was also
done well and most candidates successfully adopted the right tone and style. Weaker candidates did not
state how they felt about the situation or adopted an inappropriately abrupt tone. Candidates were less
successful on Task 3 where in Task 3a, although they demonstrated a good range of vocabulary, weaker
candidates did not use cohesive devices clearly or were too abrupt in their tone. Task 3b was generally
done well with candidates tailoring their style of writing to both purpose and audience.
Approximately 72% of candidates were female and the largest proportion (53%) were aged between 31 and
50. Though the largest proportion of candidates had been learning English for more than five years, a
sizeable group (18%) reported that they had been learning English for less than two years. Speakers of at
least 65 first languages took this version of the test, the most common being Polish (16.4%), Spanish
(9.9%), French (7.2%), Czech (7.1%), and Slovak (5.7%).
1
Recommendations for Candidate Preparation
All Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life tests are based closely on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum and cover
all the Basic Skills Standards in each mode at each level. Therefore, by following the Adult ESOL Core
Curriculum, teachers will be preparing their students for the tests. Candidates will benefit from being
reminded of the following Dos and Don'ts:
Do
•
make use of the guidelines which tell you how much to write and how much time to spend on each
task.
•
read the task instructions carefully and check that you have done what the instructions say.
•
think carefully about the intended audience and adopt an appropriate tone and style.
•
plan your answer carefully to make sure you have balanced the points.
•
make sure you use paragraphs and organise your answer appropriately.
•
make use of appropriate opening and closing formulae (such as Dear Miho and Yours sincerely) in
letters and emails.
Don’t
•
worry if you run out of space: your Centre will provide extra paper which will be marked in the
normal way.
•
waste time writing out a rough answer – use planning instead.
•
forget to spend time checking your answers.
Sample Scripts
Sample scripts are provided for each task at each level. Please note that it is not possible to reproduce the
original candidate answers, and so any references in the commentaries to quality of handwriting will not be
reflected in the samples provided.
2
Level 1 Script A
Task 1
(About 10 minutes)
You read this advertisement in your college newspaper and decide to complete the application form.
Could you be a Student-to-Student Advisor?
We need student volunteers who can give advice to other students.
Could you offer advice on studying, accommodation, looking for work, childcare or other aspects of
life in the UK? If so, why not join us?
If you are interested, please fill in the application below.
Tell us what topics you could offer advice on and why you think you are able to advise on these
topics?
(Write about 80 words.)
To Honourable principal.
I like to apply about the Student Advisor. I am interested doing that
volunteers job. If I will be given choice for this job I will give advice on studying. I have quiet
a good knowledge about different aspect or fields of studying. So according to the
students interest I can give much information about different subjects in study.
I would be so glad if I will get this opportunity to help the students.
Yours sincerly
(Total: 9 marks)
3
Level 1 Script A
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
Task fully completed.
3
Sentence
focus
Candidate shows some control but there are a number of
inaccuracies.
1
Word
focus
An appropriate range of vocabulary used effectively.
3
4
Level 1 Script B
Task 1
(About 10 minutes)
You read this advertisement in your college newspaper and decide to complete the application form.
Could you be a Student-to-Student Advisor?
We need student volunteers who can give advice to other students.
Could you offer advice on studying, accommodation, looking for work, childcare or other aspects
of life in the UK? If so, why not join us?
If you are interested, please fill in the application below.
Tell us what topics you could offer advice on and why you think you are able to advise on these
topics?
(Write about 80 words.)
I can give my advice to the other students, because one day : I was in their position. I had
a lot of helps from my tutors, they gave me a lot of advices. Now it is time for me to share
those advices with the other students. I could offer advice on their studying, like:
choosing a right subject, in a right level or I can help them in their English, in the other
words, language support. I hope I could convince you
(Total: 9 marks)
5
Level 1 Script B
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
Task fully completed. Text is coherent and clearly organised.
Intended audience fully informed.
3
Sentence
focus
Shows evidence of ability to construct complex sentences.
Grammar sufficiently controlled for meaning to remain clear.
2
Word
focus
Range of correctly spelt vocabulary appropriate to task.
3
6
Level 1 Script C
Task 2
(About 25 minutes)
You see this article in your local newspaper about the area where you live.
New take-away restaurant upsets residents
Residents in Oak Lane held a meeting yesterday to discuss what to do about the problems
caused by Brown’s Fish Bar, a take-away restaurant which has just opened in the area.
Local residents have complained about the amount of noise and litter. They say that the
noise continues until after midnight and that in the morning there is rubbish in the streets.
You agree that the new restaurant has caused serious problems. You decide to write a letter to the
council describing the situation, explaining how you feel about it and asking the council to take action.
Write about 150 words. You do not need to write the address or the date.
On behalf of Oak Lane residents, I’m writing to inform the council about the outcome of
the meeting that has been held as a result of the new take-away restaurant.
The Brown’s Fish Bar has opened recently in a residential area where it’s occupied by
working family; the new take-away is causing lots of noise specialy during it’s late opening
hours and weekends, it is hard to go to sleep with all the noise comming from the
coustumers as well as the amount of Litter found each morning in the street and in our
gardens.
As a resident in what used to be quiet and homely area I would invite you as the council
to spend a night as a resident in Oak Lane to be able to evaluate the damage this
take-away has brought to our area. Please help!, all residents had signed on the complain
letter hopping an action will soon be taken by the council.
(Total: 12 marks)
7
Level 1 Script C
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
Task fully completed but inappropriate format.
5
Sentence
focus
Language mostly controlled and complex language is
attempted.
3
Word
focus
Impressive range of vocabulary marred by basic spelling errors.
2
8
Level 1 Script D
Task 2
(About 25 minutes)
You see this article in your local newspaper about the area where you live.
New take-away restaurant upsets residents
Residents in Oak Lane held a meeting yesterday to discuss what to do about the problems
caused by Brown’s Fish Bar, a take-away restaurant which has just opened in the area.
Local residents have complained about the amount of noise and litter. They say that the
noise continues until after midnight and that in the morning there is rubbish in the streets.
You agree that the new restaurant has caused serious problems. You decide to write a letter to the
council describing the situation, explaining how you feel about it and asking the council to take action.
Write about 150 words. You do not need to write the address or the date.
Dear sir/madam
I am writting to you to ask you to solve my problems. In the last month, two takeaway
shops opened cross our street. Before that our street were one of the most cleanest
street in this town, but now after opening of those two take away shope, you can’t even
walk in the street. All the street is full of rubbish and no one is happy. This is not the
only problem, the other problem is: these takeaways restaurant are open till midnight,
and they cause a lot of noises. One of these restaurants serves alcohol as well, so after
10pm we have to deal with drunk people, they are drunk and they can’t understand that
this area is not city centre, its accomodation area and they are people in their house
trying to sleep or rest or having a quite night away from the noises. We want you to solve
our problem, I hope that I had enough reasons to convince you that it is a serious
problem.
You sincerely
(Total: 12 marks)
9
Level 1 Script D
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
In spite of some misinterpretation, there is sufficient detail to
achieve purpose.
3
Sentence
focus
Sentence grammar sufficiently controlled for meaning to remain
clear. Punctuation inconsistent at times.
2
Word
focus
Candidate uses vocabulary appropriate to task. A number of
misspellings but they do not cause confusion.
2
10
Level 1 Script E
Task 3a
(About 40 minutes)
The Principal of your college, Ms Bellamy, is worried about attendance and punctuality in the college.
Many students are often absent from their classes or arrive late for their lessons. You have been at the
college for some time so Ms Bellamy has asked you to speak to other students and write a report for her.
Write a report for Ms Bellamy:
●
●
●
explaining why you think some students are often absent
saying why you think some students are often late
suggesting ways in which the college should help students with these problems.
Write about 180 words.
Ms Bellamy,
I investigate the problem of the student of coming late or often absent from the college.
After I asked all the student and take their opinion I think the main problem of the students
are often absent:
1) They go to bed late and most of the student go to bed after midnight.
2) They are watching TV or play video games till late.
3) Some of the student have a lot of homework and they got course work from the college
so they do their work till late night.
I think some students are often absent because they go to bed after midnight so they
can’t wake up in the morning. I think some of the students are often late because they play
video games, watching TV or doing their homework till late night so they wake up in the
morning about half an hour before the college start. I think the college should help students
with these problems by instead of the college opening time 9.00 clock to chang in to 9.30.
So the student who do their homework or coursework they got more time so they can arrive
college on time. I think for the people who go to bed after midnight for them student we
have to put leaflet and the time tables on every floor of the college. These timetable can help
them with their routine so they can manage their timetable which help them to wake up early
and go to bed early as well.
(Total: 15 marks)
11
Level 1 Script E
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
Task fully completed despite some repetition.
5
Sentence
focus
Some evidence of ability to construct complex sentences and
sentence grammar sufficiently controlled for meaning to remain
clear.
3
Word
focus
Range of appropriate vocabulary used effectively.
3
12
Level 1 Script F
Task 3a
(About 40 minutes)
The Principal of your college, Ms Bellamy, is worried about attendance and punctuality in the college.
Many students are often absent from their classes or arrive late for their lessons. You have been at the
college for some time so Ms Bellamy has asked you to speak to other students and write a report for her.
Write a report for Ms Bellamy:
●
●
●
explaining why you think some students are often absent
saying why you think some students are often late
suggesting ways in which the college should help students with these problems.
Write about 180 words.
Dear Ms Bellamy
You asked me to write a report for you about these subjects:
● Explaining why I think some students are often absent.
● Saying why I think some students are often late.
● Suggesting ways in which the College should help students with these problems.
I went around and I asked 155 students about these problems in our college. There were
diffrent problems and reasons about why they are often late or absent. I am a student in
the same college, when you are 16 or above, in the life you have more responsibility, and more
responsibility means more problems. When you turn to 16 its a big step in your life. we have
to deal with a lot of problems that we haven’t even think about them. I explained all these to
say that, each of these students in the college has diffrent problems, we can’t expect them
to be the same student as they were in school. The only thing that is common in all these
students is that they have responsibility, in a day they have to deal with a lot of things.
The only think that you can do is, trying to understand them and help them to get through
their problems. We can also arrange support lesson for them, so they can reach the lesson
that they have missed. I hope that my report was useful.
Your sincerely
(Total: 15 marks)
13
Level 1 Script F
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
Candidate has completed the task, though there is not much
reference to absence or lateness in the explanation that is
given. Text is coherent and organised into paragraphs.
4
Sentence
focus
Candidate shows control over a range of verb forms and
grammar is sufficiently controlled for meaning to remain clear.
Punctuation is sometimes inaccurate and full stops and capital
letters are not always used as sentence boundary markers.
4
Word
focus
Candidate uses a range of appropriate vocabulary effectively
and the majority of words relating to this topic are spelt
correctly.
3
14
Level 1 Script G
Task 3b
(About 40 minutes)
Students at your college are expected to use the computer room for at least 2 hours a week as part of their
language learning. Some students do not use the computer room very often.
You are interested in IT so the Principal of the college has asked you to write a leaflet persuading students
to use the computer room more.
In the leaflet you should:
●
●
●
describe the different things students can do with the computers
explain how using computers can help them improve their English
say why it’s important for everyone these days to use computers.
Write about 180 words.
―IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPUTER―
* The computer has become an important part of our life
* It is useful for everybody. Everyone can use during the school. Everyone can get the
information from the different part. The students can use the computer in different ways.
*They can study – If they don’t understand about the certain things they can get guidance
from the computer.
*If the students don’t know how to operate, then tell us our IT technicient. They will teach
you how to operate it. The student can play game, can listen music, can talk to their friend
though the Internet, they can send message to anyone. They can draw pictures. One can
correct their their spelling as well. We can improve our English using computer. There are
many testes, puzzles trickey questions and their solutions are inside as well. So that one
can get their results promptly.
In morder life computer has become necessary to learn. Now a days people call
“illitrate person is that person who don’t know the computer” This sentence shows the
importance of learning the computer. The computer has made the world smaller! Through the
e-mail one can send their message to any part of the world within a few seconds. So use the
computer in the computer room more than 2 hours a week.
(Total: 15 marks)
15
Level 1 Script G
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
The candidate has developed all three points. The text is
coherent but it is not very clearly organised into paragraphs.
5
Sentence
focus
Control over a range of verb forms. Sentence grammar
sufficiently accurate for meaning to remain clear though there is
indiscriminate use of pronoun reference.
3
Word
focus
Candidate uses vocabulary appropriate to task and the majority
of relevant words are spelt correctly.
2
16
Level 1 Script H
Task 3b
(About 40 minutes)
Students at your college are expected to use the computer room for at least 2 hours a week as part of their
language learning. Some students do not use the computer room very often.
You are interested in IT so the Principal of the college has asked you to write a leaflet persuading students
to use the computer room more.
In the leaflet you should:
●
●
●
describe the different things students can do with the computers
explain how using computers can help them improve their English
say why it’s important for everyone these days to use computers.
Write about 180 words.
Need help to use the Computer?
Don’t be afraid to ask?
We are here to help.
Come to the Computer room and find all the support you need to break your fear. Using a
computer is easy and helpful to manage your work and choice of many way to present that
work, no need to worry about spelling, it will be done by a press of a botton. inhance your
vocabulary, learn more sentences or any other part of a language by visiting many website
and all there for you.
Nowaday Computers are the modern way people use to buy or to communicate or even to
find job all over the world. Come to the centre and read the newspaper on line not only
English ones, you chouse the language and it’s available to you. Computers bring the world
to your hous, college or to your mobile.
Don’t be isolated from the new life style you need to be part to be able to act as one. Join
or visit the college Computer room and try the free of charge the service and the help of a
group of a specialist people are their to help.
(Total: 15 marks)
17
Level 1 Script H
Commentary
Mark
Text
focus
Task fully completed, although layout could be improved.
5
Sentence
focus
Control of a range of verb tenses and good use made of
imperative forms.
5
Word
focus
Good use of vocabulary appropriate to task. Occasional basic
spelling errors, e.g. hous and their instead of there.
2
18