FCE WRITINGS

Article
Review
Essay
Letter
Criteria // points 0 pts 1pts. 2pts. 3pts. 4pts.
Register and Format Incorrect register Less of the Half of the More than 75% of All of the
and formula characteristics of characteristics of the characteristics characteristics of the
the structure are the structure are of the structure are structure are present
present. present present
Organization/ linking Lack of linking Only 1 linking device 2 linking devices Between 3 and 4 5 or more linking
devices devices or linking used correctly used correctly. linking devices used devices used
devices used correctly correctly
incorrectly
Grammar Mistakes Frequent errors Little evidence of The errors present A number of errors Generally accurate,
which impede language control. distract the reader may be present, but
communication. and may obscure they do not impede
communication at communication.
times.
Grammar Structure Only one grammar Two grammar 3 grammar structures 4 grammar structures 5 or more grammar
structure present structures present or present or used present or used structures present or
and used correctly. used correctly. correctly. correctly used correctly.
Contents and The st. doesn´t Only 1 content point Less than half of the More than half of the All content points
instructions follow instructions or and instruction contents and content points and and instructions
misinterpretation of included. instructions are instructions included.
the task set. included included.
and/or
some irrelevant
material.
Vocabulary No common idioms, 1-2 Common idioms, 3 Common idioms, 4 Common idioms, 5 or more Common
collocations and/or collocations and/or collocations and/or collocations and/or idioms, collocations
phrasal verbs used phrasal verbs used phrasal verbs used phrasal verbs used and/or phrasal verbs
correctly. correctly. correctly. correctly. used correctly.

Neatness Handwriting is messy Handwriting is neat

and/or difficult to and easy to read
read
Score Mark

___ / 26 pts
Symbol Kind of error Example Correct sentence

Sp. Spelling My freind is old My friend is old

WO Word order The car red The red car
Gr. Grammar Your car is gooder than mine Your car is better than
mine
A Article I like the cheese I like cheese
Prep. Preposition Don’t laugh of me Don’t laugh at me
Voc. vocabulary Don’t worry me. I’m making Don’t disturb me. I’m
the homework doing the homework
T Verb tense Last week I’ve been to Madrid Last week I was in Madrid
𝛾 Missing Word Look at that bird. – Is singing Look at that bird. It is
singing
Agr. Subject/verb He never get angry He never gets angry
agreement
P Punctuation My favourite band is AC/DC it My favourite band is
is so good. AC/DC. It is so good.
_____ Unclear I very often trying new I try new things very often
meaning or
syntactic error
[] Sentence is too long. Split it up
 USEFUL LINKING WORDS
ADDING (AND):
as well as – furthermore – in addition (to) -

e.g: I enjoy doing sports and listening to music.

I enjoy doing sports as well as listening to music.
I enjoy doing sports. Furthermore I like listening to music.
I enjoy doing sports in addition to listening to music.
 GIVING EXAMPLE (FOR EXAMPLE):
for instance – such as

e.g: People enjoy movies. For example, Star Wars,

Harry Potter or Finding Dory.
Most people enjoy movies such as Star wars, Harry
Potter or Finding Dory.
Most people enjoy movies. For instance, Star Wars,
Harry Potter or Finding Dory.
EXPRESSING REASON (BECAUSE)
AS - SINCE

e.g:
John didn’t come to school because he was sick
John didn’t come to school as he was sick
John didn’t come to school since he was sick
 TO EXPRESS RESULT (SO)
Therefore – Consequently– As a result
e.g.
We were hungry, so we stopped at a café for a snack.
We were hungry. Therefore, we stopped at a café for a snack.
We were hungry; consequently, we stopped at a café for a snack.
We were hungry. As a result, we stopped at a café for a snack.

TO GIVE YOUR OPINION (I THINK)

In my opinion – To my concern –I believe - I would say that – As far as I am concerned.
e.g.
I think my English teacher is the best.
In my opinión, my English teacher is the best.
To my concern, my English teacher is the best.
I believe my English teacher is the best.
I would say that my English teacher is the best.
As far as I’m concerned, my English teacher is the best.
TO EXPRESS CONCLUSION (IN CONCLUSION)
All in all – In brief – In short – To conclude – To finish – To sum up –
To summarize
e.g.
In conclusion, being locked in a castle with talking dishes and furniture
may have been the best thing that ever happened to Belle.
All in all,
In brief,
being locked in a castle with talking dishes and
In short, furniture may have been the best thing that
To conclude, ever happened to Belle.

To finish,
To sum up,
To summarize,
 CONTRASTING (BUT)
Although – Even though – While – Whereas – However – Nevertheless
– Despite – In spite of – On the one hand – On the other hand

ALTHOUGH - EVEN THOUGH – DESPITE – IN SPITE OF

e.g.
I didn’t buy the dress although I thought it was beautiful.
I didn’t buy the dress even though I thought it was beautiful.
I didn’t buy the dress despite thinking it was beautiful.
I didn’t buy the dress in spite of thinking it was beautiful.
Although I thought it was beautiful, I didn’t buy the dress.
Even though I thought it was beautiful, I didn’t buy the dress.
Despite thinking the dress was beautiful, I didn’t buy it.
In spite of thinking the dress was beautiful, I didn’t buy it.
 While – Whereas
e.g.
While Berlin is a noisy city, my home town is quite peaceful.
Whereas Berlin is a noisy city, my home town is quite
peaceful.
Berlin is a noisy city while my home town is quite peaceful.
Berlin is a noisy city whereas my home town is quite peaceful.

However – Nevertheless
e.g.
The results of the FCE exam were very good. However, there
is always room for improvement!
The results of the FCE exam were very good. Nevertheless,
there is always room for improvement!
 On the one hand – On the other hand

e.g.
I’m not sure if I’m taking the FCE. On the one hand, I have to work
hard to pass it. On the other hand, passing it opens new
opportunities for my future.

I’m not sure if I’m taking the FCE as I have to work hard to pass it.
On the other hand, passing it opens new opportunities for my future.