Essays in English exam examples. criteria for evaluating a written statement with elements of reasoning. The most gross mistakes in the essay

Aspect

Maximum points

Solving a communicative problem (content)

Text organization (structure)

Grammar

Spelling and punctuation

The maximum number of points you can get for an essay is 14 points.

Before thinking about the correct fulfillment of each criterion, first let's make our essay in English testable. The most important thing here is volume.

Formally, your essay in English should fit into 200-250 words. This is not to be taken literally and to panic if you have written 198 words. However, keep in mind that the essay will not be checked if the number of words in it is less than 180. If you get more than 275 words, then the reviewer will count 250 words from the beginning of the essay, draw the rest and check everything up to the line. That is, in the first scenario, you lose the entire essay; at the second, most likely, you will lose the conclusion, which is also important.

First of all, your essay in English should cover ALL aspects of the assignment, and should also be written in an appropriate style (neutral). It should be logically divided into paragraphs and correspond to the plan proposed in the task.

In order not to get confused in the process of writing your essay, you need to spend 5-7 minutes thinking about the plan and preparing all the arguments. Traditionally, we will divide the essay into five paragraphs.

Paragraph 1. Introduction

There should be a problem statement here. Since the statement of the problem has already been stated in the assignment, your task is to correctly retell it. It is to REPRESENT, not to paraphrase.

Tip: Do not reread the task 10 times until the wording is hammered into your head. Then writing an introduction in your own words will be very, very difficult. Read the given situation in the task once or twice, make sure you understand it correctly. Close the prepared situation and try to retell it in English exactly as you understood it, as if you were telling a friend about it who did not understand what it was about. ATTENTION: after you have done this, be sure to open the situation and make sure that your retelling essentially matches the situation given to you. Now you can go further.

Instead of the banal Some people think ... Others think ..." can be used:

Some people claim that ..., while others argue that ...

After you have described the essence of the problem, you can directly ask the question, which you will answer in your essay. For example: “What is better: ... or ...?”, “What should we do: ... or ...?” it. d.

In the last sentence of the introductory paragraph, you should state the purpose of your essay. This can be done, for example, like this:

In this essay I will try to look upon this issue.
In this essay I will try to express my opinion on this issue.
In this essay I would like to express my point of view on this issue.
In this essay I will try to answer this question. (This is the easiest option, if it will be difficult for you to remember the previous two, remember it)

Paragraph 2. Your opinion

It is most logical to start this paragraph by expressing your position on this issue. Useful phrases (be sure to follow this punctuation!):

In my opinion...
From my point of view, ...
To my mind...
Personally, I think that...
I'm certain that...
As far as I am concerned, ...

Next, you need to give 2-3 arguments confirming your point of view. Arguments can be any, if you correctly interpret them. That is, such that it would be difficult to argue with them (within reasonable limits, of course).

Tip: It is better to give 2 arguments and justify them in detail and give examples in support of them than 3 short and not fully disclosed. Remember that the number of words in an essay is limited.

Here we should not forget about the means of logical connection of sentences. The first argument is good to start with:

Firstly...
To start with, ...
To begin with, ...
First of all...

After you have formulated the first argument, you need to confirm it and / or give an example to support it. Here are the simplest models for how this can be done:

because...
argument. That is why...
argument. For example, ...

If you started with “Firstly...”, then the second argument should begin with the word Secondly...

If the first argument came with the phrases “To start with, ...”, “To begin with, ...”, then the second one can be started with the following words:

Moreover, ...
Furthermore, ...
Besides, ...
In addition, ...

The second argument must also be supported by an example or proof.

Paragraph 3. Contrasting opinion

You will begin the paragraph with the statement of the opposite opinion on the proposed topic or issue. You can do it like this:

Others believe that ...
Some people argue that ...
However, some people think that ...

This is followed by 1-2 arguments confirming the opposite opinion. I advise you to think of two first. And how much to write in the end: 1 or 2 - decide in the process, based on the resulting size of your essay.

Tip: You will then have to challenge the opposite arguments, so when you come up with them initially, think about how you will challenge them. If you have nothing to object to the invented argument, it is better to immediately replace it with another one so as not to do this while writing an essay. It's also limited!

Tip: When challenging arguments, you should not repeat anything written in the second paragraph. So if you can't come up with a counterargument without repeating yourself, try coming up with something else. Alternatively, you can come up with other arguments “for” while the essay has not yet been written. In any case, it's better to think it through initially while you are planning an essay, rather than in the process of writing!

Paragraph 4. Your counterarguments

The point of this paragraph is to explain why you disagree with the opposing opinion. You can start a paragraph, for example, with a sentence:

I can't agree with this opinion because ...
I'm afraid I can't agree with this idea because ...

ATTENTION: if you gave two arguments in the previous paragraph, then both must be refuted. You can distinguish them with the following phrases:

as for...,
speaking about...,
As far as ... is concerned,

Tip: When refuting opposing arguments, it is best to offer ways to solve them, and not prove their incapacity. For example, if someone believes that pets are dangerous, then one should not argue that they are, in fact, harmless. It is better to turn this disadvantage into dignity, saying that, on the other hand, they are excellent guards in country houses.

Paragraph 5. Conclusion

The most common mistake many students make is that they simply state their opinion in the conclusion. This is not enough. After all, the conclusion applies to the entire essay, not just the second paragraph.

Thus, in conclusion, it is necessary to summarize everything that was said in the essay and express your point of view. You can also give your recommendations on the existing problem. Most importantly, the conclusion should not contain any new information.

In conclusion...
To sum up, ...
To conclude...

Further, we let the reader understand that there are two points of view on this problem, and despite the opposite point of view, we still adhere to our own. For example, you can do this in the following way:

Despite the fact that ..., I'm convinced that ...
Taking into consideration different opinions on this issue, I believe that ...

Essay language design

After you have written the USE essay in English, be sure to review it again for possible errors. From my experience of the most common mistakes, I advise you to pay attention to the following things:

Go through each noun separately. If the noun is countable and is in the singular, it must be preceded by an article! Most likely, you should have it undefined (but see for yourself from the context).

Go through all the introductory words and phrases and make sure there are commas after them. Before the word ‘that’, on the contrary, there should not be a comma: “I think that...”, “Others believe that...”.

If the subject is expressed in 3 person singular ( he/she/it), do not forget to add the ending -s to the verb!

About the "smart" words a separate conversation. There is a separate item in the evaluation criteria: Vocabulary. Believe me, it's better not to use a smart word than to use it incorrectly and get minus points for it.

Tip: If you don't know a lot of "smart" vocabulary, push it to the maximum into pre-memorized phrases. For example, instead of the banal “for example”, you can use “for instance”; instead of “I think” use “I believe / suppose / presume”. That is, in fact, you need to come up with vocabulary that you can definitely use in your English essay, no matter what topic you come across.

The assignment contains a statement. You need to write an essay-reasoning in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each begins with a new paragraph):

  1. Introduction. Here you should indicate the problem indicated in the assignment. It is important to paraphrase it, not rewrite it word for word. For example, task “In order to get a good academy one should go abroad” can be reformulated like this: “Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy” . This thesis should also be supplemented with a small comment-explanation. You can end the introduction with a rhetorical question.
  2. Expression of one's own opinion. In this paragraph, it is necessary to briefly reflect your personal attitude to this problem and back it up with 2-3 detailed arguments. It is important that the arguments are convincing, capacious and logical. Arguments are introduced using universal linking words and phrases.
  3. Expression of opposite opinion. The third paragraph of the essay should contain the point of view of the opponent. This thesis also needs to be supported by 1-2 arguments. It is important that the opponent has 1 fewer arguments (i.e., if you have three arguments in the 2nd paragraph, there should be two in the 3rd), because our goal is to prove ourselves right.
  4. Disagreement with the opinion of opponents. Here you should refute the opponent's opinion, express your disagreement and support it with 1-2 counterarguments. Remember that you are giving counterarguments to the opponent's arguments, their number should be the same (2 arguments of the opponent = 2 of your counterarguments).
  5. Conclusion. The last paragraph should contain a generalized conclusion regarding the issue under discussion, which is also supplemented by a commentary. You can use a generic phrase that will make the reader think about the problem.

Below is a table with sample introductory words and phrases.

STRUCTURE OF THE ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

Paragraph Offer Sample
1. Introduction Problem designation nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy.
In today's world
the issue of … is considered to be a matter of common concern/the main concern of …
Comment on the problem Some people believe that … while others think…
On the one hand, ... on the other hand ... .
A rhetorical question Where is the truth?
Who is right?
2. Expressing one's own opinion Thesis In my opinion, …
As for me, I believe that…
My personal view is that…
1 argument to begin with,
to start with,
firstly,
2 argument What is more
Furthermore,
Secondly,
3 argument finally,
Additionally,
thirdly,
3. Expression of an opposite opinion Thesis However, there exists another point of view on this issue.
Nevertheless, one can consider this problem from another angle.
1 argument first of all,
The first thing to be considered is …
2 argument Another fact is that…
besides,
4. Disagreeing with the opinion of opponents Thesis + 1st counterargument Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because …
Nevertheless, I cannot agree with this statement, because…
2nd counterargument Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that…
Finally…
5. Conclusion Conclusion in conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of… is still to be discussed.
Taking into consideration all mentioned above, It is impotant to understand…
A comment As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

USE 2017 IN ENGLISH. UNIVERSAL ESSAY TEMPLATE

Nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. Some people believe that … while others think … . Who is right?

In my opinion, … . To begin with, … . What is more, … . Additionally, in addition… .

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all, … . Besides, … .

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because… . ….

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of … is still to be discussed. As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

SAMPLE TASK AND READY ESSAY USE IN ENGLISH

  • Comment on the following statement:

In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad.

What is your opinion? Write 200–250 words. Use the following plan:

− make an introduction (state the problem)

− express your personal opinion and give 2–3 reasons for your opinion

− express an opposing opinion and give 1–2 reasons for this opposing opinion

− explain why you don't agree with the opposing opinion

− make a conclusion restating your position

Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy. Some people think that one can get a better education only in another country, others believe that it is possible to study at home. Where is the truth?

In my opinion, studying abroad is more advantageous because one can gain useful experience. To begin with, it can have a positive impact on students’ self-discipline as youngsters become more initiative and acquire quickness in comprehension. Moreover, it gives them a chance to learn more about the culture of the other country and improve their language skills. Additionally, it is a splendid opportunity to make new friends.

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all it is very expensive to study abroad. Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that, children have to adapt to many things, thus, it can be stressful for them.

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because there are a lot of exchange programs wich are funded by government, therefore, students can study abroad for free. Besides, a person should learn to cope with stress if he or she would like to go the university to broaden their mind.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of studying abroad is still to be discussed. I believe that one should analyze and compare all pros and cons before making a proper decision where to get an education.

RULES FOR WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE USE

  • count the words

Be sure to meet the specified volume: 200-250 words (a deviation of 10% in both directions is allowed, i.e. 180-275 words). If the essay is ≤179 words, then 0 points are given for the task. If ≥276 words, then only the first 250 words are checked. Remember that 1 word is everything between two spaces. Hyphens (-), and apostrophes (') are not spaces, so world's, open-minded, UK are counted as one word. Practice writing letters on exam papers - this way you will learn to determine the number of words by eye and spend less time counting them.

  • Write in a formal style

You can't use abbreviations (only full forms) I am, cannot), as well as start sentences with informal linking words well,also, but). Use the impersonal forms of the verb ( one should). A rich vocabulary and a variety of grammatical and syntactic constructions demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the English language.

  • Get the timing right

Give yourself 40 minutes to complete this task: 20 minutes for draft, 15 minutes for writing. for a clean and 5 min. for word count and verification. Be sure to proofread your essay before submitting!

Believe in yourself and everything will work out! Good luck!

The ability to write an essay requires a fairly high level of knowledge of the language. And few people know this art. We will give you some very useful tips to write an essay or essay in English that will come in handy more than once in your life.

Preparation

It's difficult, but start early. The sooner you start thinking about the topic of the essay, the more time you will have to collect material. When your brain is set to think about a question, the information seems to catch your eye.

The same thing happens when you memorize a new word: it begins to seem that it occurs more often in the text. The thing is that you become more receptive to a certain type of information, paying more attention to it.

To begin with, it is best to sketch out what you know about the topic of the essay: perhaps you know even more than you thought. This will give you ideas on which direction to go next. To act purposefully, make a plan and formulate pre-set questions. When you start to study the material, you will have new, more specific questions, and you will be able to look for answers already to them.

How to overcome the "fear of a blank slate"

Even the most experienced writer at the beginning of work on a new work is sometimes visited by feelings of indecision and fear. But, as they say, the main thing is not in the desire and not in the ability: just start writing. It doesn't matter where you start: the main thing is not to stop writing and for the time being do not worry about style and spelling. Make preliminary sketches of the main ideas of the story and after that proceed to the design of the structure of your future creation.

If you write on a computer, it will not be difficult for you to swap fragments of what you have written, grouping them differently. If you prefer paper and pen, leave a space of one or two lines between abstracts so that you can add something later.

You can even take scissors and cut the sheet into strips to make this process easier. Try to arrange the future essay in the order of development of the main idea. If as a result you get the “golden three”: the beginning (introduction), the middle (the main part of the essay) and the ending (conclusion), then you did everything right.

General essay structure

Introduction

The introduction should contain some commentary on the topic of the essay - perhaps definitions of key concepts or an explanation of how you understand the question. Also in this section, you need to list which aspects of the topic you will consider and why.

Remember that an essay is not a novel, so you need to choose only a few main arguments that reveal the topic. The introduction should give a clear idea of ​​what will be discussed next, and the teacher should see that you are answering a specific set of questions.

So a good introduction should:

  • demonstrate your intention to answer the question;
  • show that you understand the topic;
  • outline the structure of your answer and the main aspects that you will consider (your plan);
  • confirm that you have done some research and cite one of your sources;
  • fully correspond to the topic;
  • be concise and occupy about 8-9% of the total text (for example, 120 words in a 1500-word essay).

Note: For those who find it easier to navigate not in the number of words, but in the number of characters, the following formula is useful: on average, one English word is taken as 6 characters (including spaces), that is, a 500-word essay contains approximately 3000 characters with spaces.

Start your essay with a key phrase that will indicate the direction of your answer. For example:

  • This essay deals with... ( « This essay is about... » )
  • This assignment will examine... ( « This work examines... » )
  • This report will analyze... ( « This report analyzes... » )

Use the same or similar wording as in the essay topic. If the question sounds like "Discuss recent developments in communication technology" ("Consider current developments in communication technology"), then in the introduction you can write: "This essay will consider recent developments in the field of communication technology ..." ("In this The essay will examine current developments in communication technology...”). More certainty: leave no room for the reader to doubt.

You can also use these words and expressions to highlight your work plan, for example:

  • The essay is divided into four sections... ("This essay consists of four parts...")
  • It will first consider...
  • It will then continue to describe...
  • The third part compares...
  • Finally, some conclusions will be drawn as to...

Main part

The main body should explain each of the arguments using examples and illustrations. Information should be clearly divided logically (for this, the text is divided into paragraphs). You need to think over the structure of the essay and make sure that the body of the essay logically leads to a conclusion.

Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize the ideas expressed. Here it is necessary to answer the question formulated in the topic of the essay. Or, depending on the topic, indicate the prospects or consequences of the problem under consideration.

Also, in this section, you can formulate related topics worthy of further reflection and express personal views - if they are supported by the arguments that you have given earlier.

A good conclusion is:

  • not just summarizing. The conclusion should be a thoughtful conclusion to the work, for example, applying what has been written to a real situation.
  • quintessence, that is, a short list of the main ideas. It is worth referring to the introduction and draw parallels using the same keywords or images, but using a different wording. Do not repeat word for word.
  • reinforcing the ideas of the main part of the work. Different types of essays require different conclusions. A short work does not need a detailed repetition of the main ideas, but a longer one may need it.
  • perhaps a suggestive question, a vivid image, a quote, if appropriate.
  • as an option - a forecast of results or consequences, a possible solution, a call to action.

However, there are points that should be avoided in the conclusion of the essay:

  • come up with completely new ideas. If they are really important, include them in the body.
  • use an apologetic tone. Be confident in your statements. Avoid phrases like "I may not be an expert" or "At least this is my opinion" ("I may not be an expert" or "At least I think so").
  • focus on too small details.
  • refute the validity of previous arguments.

According to many teachers, the conclusion is the most important part of the essay. In it, you demonstrate that you have a good command of the material and thoughtfully approached the consideration of the problem. Don't worry if the conclusion forces you to rewrite other parts of the text. Actually, this is a good sign!

As a general idea of ​​the length of each section, you can use the following formula (this is a recommendation, but not a hard and fast rule):

  • Introduction - 7-8% of the essay volume
  • Conclusion - 12-15% of the essay volume

Do not overuse complex words and expressions, but avoid slang and abbreviations. In general, try to write in short, simple sentences, breaking them up with longer ones from time to time. The goal is to state the essence clearly and clearly so that the reader can easily follow the course of thought and not be distracted by extraneous reasoning (also read about styles in English).

Needless to say, there should be no grammatical and spelling errors in the essay - make every effort to do so. In addition, you need to remember that you are not writing for yourself, but for another person, so punctuation, division into sentences and paragraphs, general structure- all this should help the reader.

Avoid elements of colloquial speech:

  • do not use abbreviations (don "t, they're, it's), always use the full form;
  • do not use slang and colloquial expressions (kid, a lot of/lots of, cool);
  • write to the point and do not deviate from the topic;
  • try to avoid phrasal verbs (get off, get away with, put in - more about phrasal verbs), use one-word synonyms;
  • avoid too general words (all, any, every), be specific and precise;
  • do not abuse brackets, exclamation marks.

Stick to the academic style:

  • if possible, avoid first-person personal pronouns (I, my, we, our);
  • avoid too categorical judgments and generalizations;
  • support what is said with quotes and data indicating sources;
  • Gender equality is important in English: when talking about an abstract person, use person instead of man. Whenever possible, it is better to pluralize the subject and use the pronoun they instead of he or she;
  • use the active voice whenever possible, do not complicate the sentences. For example, instead of "Crime was increasing rapidly and the police were becoming concerned," write: "The rapid increase in crime was causing concern among the police." police").

Strive to give the text objectivity:

  • use impersonal constructions: It is believed that... (“It is believed that ...”) , It cannot be argued that ... (“Undoubtedly ...”);
  • use the passive voice if you do not want to indicate the performer of the action: Tests have been conducted ("Tests were conducted ...");
  • use non-categorical verbs, for example: suggest (offer, suggest, express an opinion), claim (assert, declare), suppose (consider, believe, assume);
  • to show your attitude to the issue, but to avoid personal judgments, you can use adverbs: apparently (obviously), arguably (probably), ideally (ideally), strangely (strange), unexpectedly (unexpectedly);
  • use modal verbs would, could, may, might to soften the categoricalness;
  • to avoid generalizations, use qualifying adverbs: some (some), several (several), a minority of (smaller part), a few (several), many (many).

paragraphs

Each paragraph usually touches on one aspect of the main idea. The two paragraphs may touch on different aspects, but be interrelated - for example, cause and effect, positive and negative sides, the state of affairs before or after.

Sometimes the first sentence of a paragraph is introductory, that is, explaining what will be discussed.

Connectivity

The logical transition from one paragraph to another sometimes causes serious difficulties for the author. To preserve the coherence of the text, it is necessary to guide the reader, give him signals. Introductory and linking words that perform various functions can help with this. For example:

  • opposition: but, however, on the other hand, yet;
  • example: for example, that is;
  • addition: similarly, moreover, furthermore, in addition;
  • conclusion: therefore, consequently, as a result, thus;
  • enum: then, after that, ultimately.

Quotes and links

When you quote a book or other written source, or convey information in your own words, you must indicate the name of the author and the date of publication. You can do this in the following way:

  • According to Smith (1998), writing a good essay is difficult at times, but definitely not impossible. (“According to Smith (1998), writing a good essay is sometimes difficult, but certainly possible.”)
  • Writing a good essay is difficult at times, but definitely not impossible (Smith 1998). (“Writing a good essay is sometimes difficult, but certainly possible (Smith 1998).”)

Checking and editing

"Lifehack": You can dictate an essay on a sound recording device yourself and listen to it. Often this is how it is possible to detect inconsistencies in grammatical structures or inconsistencies in the logical course of things.

Be sure to use a spell checker in a text editor, but don't forget to proofread the text yourself. For example, Word sometimes misses rather curious errors that can greatly spoil the impression of your written work. If you're not sure about something, look it up in a dictionary.

And another useful technique: before you finish the work, set it aside for a couple of hours (even better - for a day) so that you can then return to it with a fresh look. This is another reason why you need to start writing an essay in advance, with enough time left.

In task 40 of the written part of the exam in English, a certain statement is given. You need to write an essay-reasoning in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each begins with a new paragraph):

1. Introduction.

Here you should indicate the problem indicated in the assignment. It is important to paraphrase it, not rewrite it word for word. For example, task « In order to get a good education one should go abroad can be reformulated like this: Nowadays , the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy . This thesis should also be supplemented with a small comment-explanation. You can end the introduction with a rhetorical question.

2. Expressing one's own opinion.

In this paragraph, it is necessary to briefly reflect your personal attitude to this problem and back it up with 2-3 detailed arguments. It is important that the arguments are convincing, capacious and logical. Arguments are introduced using universal linking words and phrases.

3. Expressing an opposite opinion.

The third paragraph of the essay should contain the point of view of the opponent. This thesis also needs to be supported by 1-2 arguments. It is important that the opponent has 1 fewer arguments (i.e., if you have three arguments in the 2nd paragraph, there should be two in the 3rd), because our goal is to prove ourselves right.

4. Disagreement with the opinion of opponents.

Here you should refute the opponent's opinion, express your disagreement and support it with 1-2 counterarguments. Remember that you are giving counterarguments to the opponent's arguments, their number should be the same (2 arguments of the opponent = 2 of your counterarguments).

5. Conclusion.

The last paragraph should contain a generalized conclusion regarding the issue under discussion, which is also supplemented by a commentary. You can use a generic phrase that will make the reader think about the problem.

The structure of the essay in the exam in English

Paragraph

Offer

Sample

1. Introduction

(introduction)

Problem designation

nowadays,

the problem of … causes great argument and controversy.

In today's world

the issue of … is considered to be a matter of common concern/the main concern of …

Comment on the problem

Some people believe that … while others think…

On the one hand, ... on the other hand ... .

A rhetorical question

Where is the truth?

Who is right?

2. Expressing one's own opinion

Thesis

In my opinion, …

As for me, I believe that…

My personal view is that…

1 argument

to begin with,

to start with,

firstly,

2 argument

What is more

Furthermore,

Secondly,

3 argument

finally,

Additionally,

thirdly,

3. Expression of an opposite opinion

Thesis

However, there exists another point of view on this issue.

Nevertheless, one can consider this problem from another angle.

1 argument

first of all,

The first thing to be considered is …

2 argument

Another fact is that…

besides,

4. Disagreement with the opinion of opponents

Thesis + 1st counterargument

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because …

Nevertheless, I cannot agree with this statement, because…

2nd counterargument

Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that…

Finally…

5.Conclusion

Conclusion

in conclusion,

I would like to say that

the problem of… is still to be discussed.

Taking into consideration all mentioned above,

It is impotant to understand…

A comment

As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

Universal English Essay Template

Nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. Some people believe that … while others think … . Who is right?

In my opinion, … . To begin with, … . What is more, … . Additionally, in addition… .

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all, … . Besides, … .

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because… . ….

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of … is still to be discussed. As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

Rules for writing an essay in the exam

1. Count the words

Be sure to meet the specified volume: 200-250 words (a deviation of 10% in both directions is allowed, i.e. 180-275 words). If the essay is ≤179 words, then 0 points are given for the task. If ≥276 words, then only the first 250 words are checked. Remember that 1 word is everything between two spaces. Hyphens (-), and apostrophes (') are not spaces, so world's, open-minded, UK are counted as one word. Practice writing letters on exam papers - this way you will learn to determine the number of words by eye and spend less time counting them.

2. Write in a formal style

You can't use abbreviations (only full forms) I am, cannot), as well as start sentences with informal linking words well, also, but). Use the impersonal forms of the verb ( one should). A rich vocabulary and a variety of grammatical and syntactic constructions demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the English language.

3. Get the timing right

Give yourself 40 minutes to complete this task: 20 minutes for draft, 15 minutes for writing. for a clean and 5 min. for word count and verification. Be sure to proofread your essay before submitting!