EXAM PRACTICE

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http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/first/preparation/exam-preparation-emails/

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Essay by a CAE student

IN FEAR OF A BLANK PAGE

By Josefina Guller (CAE - 2002)

You enter the examination room, sit at your desk and look down: in front of you lies a white page and a task to fulfill. You look up. The invigilator glances at the clock on the wall and proceeds to write down the starting and finishing time on the blackboard. The finishing time. The “dead” line. The time when you will have no more time. You look down again. The defying white page is still there, untouched.

Petrifying before a blank page is not a rare experience. This syndrome is commonly suffered by students who face an exam or a task which contains a deadline. The fact of knowing you must comply with it within a certain time limit leads to what is called a “blocking”. A blocking consists of a mental lagoon, an empty mind, a wall that stops the flow of ideas.

Facing a white page is no easy battle to win. Therefore, training must begin at the earliest stage possible. Learning how to bend a sword ( or a pen) and developing the necessary skills to do so properly will be of much help, but it is practice what will grant you victory and allow you to shatter the “blank” enemy.

It is my belief that this syndrome, from  which, unfortunately, I suffer periodically, can be cured. Moreover, it can disappear without leaving trace. But this demands an enormous effort and the will to succeed ( on the part of the sufferer).

Should you find yourself in the blockers’ group, do try to overcome this fear of blank pages. It is a skill you will need in the future, for we live in a world full of unwritten paper.

And remember: “We have nothing to fear

but fear itself.” (G. Roosevelt)

Josefina Guller was a student at St. Trinnean’s, an excellent one…but Writing sometimes worried her. Here’s what she wrote about it

Emails and informal letters

Informal letters/emails  = Conversation.

 

·         ask a lot of questions,

·          show interest and enthusiasm

·         imagine a lot of shared information

 Use grammatical expressions and vocabulary appropriate to your level. Even if there are no mistakes in you writing, you will not be able to get a good grade if you use only the language that you learnt at elementary level.

o    USE CONTRACTIONS, EXCLAMATION MARKS & DASHES

o    INTRODUCE EACH PARAGRAPH with a suitable INTRODUCTORY PHRASE/TOPIC SENTENCE

o    SHOW ENTHUSIASM with strong adjectives and adverbs  absolutely fantastic / an absolute nightmare.

o    More sophisticated adjectives  "inexpensive"  "reliable" Don’t use GOOD-BAD-NICE-

o    Phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions Things have been getting on top of me at work lately. / It’s been ages since we last managed to meet up. / What have you been up to lately? / Let me know what you think. / I’ll fill you in when we meet next time / I’m up to my neck in homework. / You can come over for a bite any time./ Let’s go out for a bite one of these days.

Linking Words / Connectors

Ø  To introduce a topic: Well, you’ll never guess who I bumped into yesterday. / I know how much you love…….., so ……. /

Ø  To introduce a topic which has nothing to do with the purpose of your letter/email: By the way, did you know that Tom’s got a new job? (Generally the last paragraph!)

Ø  To change topic:  Anyway, (topic sentence)

Ø  To introduce surprising or bad news: Actually, he came to the party after all. / I’m really sorry but I can’t make it. / To tell you the truth, I don’t really like sports much.

Ø  To summarize what you’ve already said: Anyway, we had a really good time in the end. Well, to cut a long story short, we didn’t get there on time.

Ø   To be honest / Honestly   Surprisingly  

Useful Language

Ø  Use conditional sentences to make suggestions If you let me have your number, I’ll give you a call at the weekend

Ø  Use polite question forms for requests: Do you think you could….? Would you mind if ….?

Ø  Use question tags to check information Nobody else knows, do they? You don’t mind, do you?

BEGINNINGS:

•       Thanks for your email. Glad to hear ….
•       It was great to hear from you after such a long time.
•       Just got your email/letter. I’m delighted/so happy to hear that….
•       What a surprise to get an email from you after so long! Can’t believe….
•       It was so nice to hear from you after all these months.
•       That's great news about.. I'm so happy for you.
•  

MAIN PARAGRAPHS

• Of course I want to …
• You ask me about….
• As for….
• You want to know…
• Regarding….
• Anyway, I’ve been thinking …                     
• I’m thrilled to tell you ….
• I’d like to know a couple of things about…
• By the way, did you know that …
• I’ve also been wondering
• Finally, you mention that ….
• I was thinking it’d be great if….

CLOSING

• Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! / I guess it’s time I got on with that studying I’ve been avoiding.
• Anyway, don’t forget to let me know the dates of the party. / I’ll try and phone you at the weekend to check the times. /We  must try and meet up soon / I can’t wait to hear from you/ Text me as soon as your plane lands
• If you have more questions, please let me know. I’ll be happy to answer them.

• Thanks again for/Once again thank you…..We’ll keep in touch.
• Do keep in touch and let me know…./ Keep in touch, I always look forward to your letters.
• Don’t hesitate to drop me a line if ….
• Please, let me know what you think about my plans.
• Please, drop me a line as soon as you can
• Let me know how it goes
• Well, that’s all for now. Please, write back.

Making suggestions and recommending

Why don’t you …? Maybe you could …?

 How about …?
You can’t leave New York without (doing sth)
I’m sure you will enjoy …..  If you like, we can …
Do visit ….                                                                    Don’t forget to  (Strong Recommendation)
 I’m told that … People say that … (if you heard it)

The best thing to do is …

Other useful phrases

You'd be more than welcome to come and stay some time. How about the 15th of June?

I'd love to come and stay with you, thanks for the invitation.

I'd love to accept your invitation but unfortunately I have an exam that week. Perhaps another time.

I must go, as it's getting late and I have an early start tomorrow.