Formal

How to write a REPORT

style

To evaluate something objectively using research, draw conclusions and recommend a

course of action based on the objective evaluation.
Structure
• Title
• Introduction: State the aim of the report. Say how you collected the information.
• Heading
• Paragraph 2: Include 3 points under the heading (numbers or bullet points)
• Heading
• Paragraph 3: Include 3 points under the heading (numbers of bullet points)
• Recommendations: express opinions and recommendations impersonally

Introduction Presenting a list

• The aims of this report are to…/ The
aim of this report is to…
• This report is intended to…
• In order to prepare for/create this
report, … were interviewed
• … were asked to complete a
questionnaire
• They gave/suggested the following
reasons:
• They made the following points:
• The main reasons for this are:
• … for the following reasons:
• The key strengths mentioned were:
• The main problems given were:

Reporting results Giving a balance of opinions

• Most people seem to feel that… • Unfortunately, the majority…
• Several people said/told me/ • While many felt…, there were several…
suggested/thought that… • That is not to suggest that…
• Many people I interviewed…
• The (vast) majority of people felt that…
Making recommendations
• A minority suggested that…
• I would therefore recommend that we…
• It would seem that (+ verb -ing)
• We would suggest…
The school where you study English
• We could think about…
has decided to spend some money
• I would recommend (+ verb -ing)
on either buying more computers or
improving the library. You have been • We should 

asked to write a report for the school
director describing the benefits to
the school of both these options,
and recommending which one the
school should spend money on.
140-190 words

1
Use of money for school improvements
Introduction
The aim of this report is to compare the advantages of buying additional computers and
of improving the library, and to suggest which would be best. I asked students for their
views.

Buying more computers

Some students thought that this was a good idea, saying computers were useful for:
- Practising writing
- Using the internet
- Playing games
Others said that they preferred to use their own computers at home or use their phone.

Improving the library

The majority of students preferred this suggestion, for the following reasons:
1. Many do not have a quiet place to work at home. The library could be a good place for
private study, but at present there are not enough tablets and chairs for everyone.
2. More up-to-date reference books are needed, even though most students use electronic
dictionaries.
3. They want to be able to read books written for young people, without having to buy
them.

Recommendations
It was felt by most students that improving the library would be more useful and that
adding to the workspace and buying more reference books would benefit the majority of
students.
I would therefore recommend spending money in this way