HOW TO MAKE YOUR WRITING MORE INTERESTING 3 Make the sentences more interesting.

Use the words

from the box. Can you think of any other words
To make a sentence more interesting, we can add more to use?
details.
but early the next morning
large really suddenly
1 Look at how the second sentence adds information.
Match the new information (1–8) with the
descriptions (A–H). 1 It started to rain.
2 I called Max, he didn’t answer
• I went to Spain.
his phone.
1
Last year, I went to Spain, 2 which is my favourite
country. 3 We set out for London .
• I like warm weather. 4 I ordered a cup of coffee and a slice
I like warm weather, 3 but I don’t like cold weather. of cake.
• I’ve got an exam tomorrow. 5 The film was boring!
I’ve got an 4 important exam tomorrow, 5 so I had to
walk to school. 4 Join the two parts of the sentences with and, but,
so or because.
• George was happy. we didn’t play tennis – the weather was bad
George was 6 really happy 7 because it was his
We didn’t play tennis because the weather was bad.
birthday.
• I read the letter. 1 I was very tired – I went straight to bed
• I read the letter 8 slowly and carefully.
A adding a contrasting idea 3
B giving a reason 2 We all went to the party – everyone had a great time
C saying when something happened
D giving the result of an action
E using a relative clause to give extra information
3 Paul wanted to come with us – he couldn’t
F using an adjective to describe something

G using an adverb to make an adjective stronger 4 We all laughed – it was so funny

H using adverbs to describe how something happens

2 Complete the table with the words from the box.

and beautiful because but completely

delicious easily later that day loudly
modern quickly so the next day
this morning wonderful yesterday

adjectives adverbs linking time

words expressions
WRITING PART 1: AN EMAIL
1 Read the exam task. What information should you include in the email?

Read this email from your English-speaking friend Sam,

and the notes you have made.

From: Sam

Hi,
!
Guess what? Do you remember the sports competition I entered last month?
They announced the results yesterday, and I’ve won two tickets to go and watch an
international sports event!
Would you like to come to the event with me? We can choose to go in July or August.
We have to book which sport we want to see in advance. There are football and
basketball matches. Which sport do you prefer to watch?
They sell lots of souvenirs at the stadium. What do you think we should buy?
Bye for now,
Sam

Write your email to James, using all the notes.

Hi, Sam,
Thanks for your email. That’s amazing news about the competition! Well done!
Yes, I love sport, so it would be incredible to go to a big sports event with you. I can go
with you in July, but I can’t go in August because I’m on holiday then.
I’m a big football fan, so I’d love to see an international football match. It would be
brilliant to see some of my favourite heroes in action.
Why don’t we buy football shirts as souvenirs? We can wear them at the match!
See you soon,
Tom
 3 Correct the underlined mistakes in the sentences
giving good or bad news. Use the Key language and
Opening an email:
ideas box to check your answers.
Closing an email: 1 I afraid I won’t be able to come to your party.
2 Guess that I’m doing next week?
Responding to an email: 3 I’m sorry, and Dan won’t be here when you visit.
4 You’ll be pleased hear that I’ve now finished all my
Responding to good news: exams!

How exciting! Well done!

Responding to bad news:
4 Choose the correct linking words in italics.
1 I finish work at six o’clock, because / so I can meet
you at 6.30.
Making a suggestion: 2 My sister Martha is also / as well coming home for
the holidays.
3 I’m not very good at singing, because / but I still
Making an offer or promise: enjoy it.
4 I’m a bit disappointed because / so my exam results
weren’t brilliant.
Making a request: 5 I’ll find the document also / and send it to you in
an email.
Giving good or bad news:

…? I'm
Linking words and phrases:
and but so because also as well
Informal language:
contractions: I’m you’re he’s
informal words and phrases: awesome great keep in
touch take care I guess ...
exclamation marks to show emotion: That’s great news!
Wow!

2 Match the beginnings and endings of these sentences.

Then decide if each sentence is a suggestion (S),
an offer (O), a promise (P) or a request (R).

1 Could you A I’d definitely accept the job.

2 If I were you, B some useful addresses if you

want.
3 I can send you C be there to help on the day.

4 Don’t worry, I’ll D let me know what time you’re

arriving?
5 Read the exam task. What information must you include in your email?

Read this email from your English-speaking friend Logan,

and the notes you have made.

Logan

Hi,
The weather forecast looks good next weekend, so my family’s having a barbecue to
celebrate the end of the school year. Would you like to come?
I’d like to invite everyone in our English class. What kind of food do you think our
classmates would like to eat at a barbecue?
I’d also like everyone to play some outdoor games after we eat. What game do you think
would be best for our classmates?
See you soon,
Logan

Write your email to Logan, using all the notes.

6 Before you write your reply to Logan, complete the

table with ideas.
7 Write your email, using your notes from Exercise 6.
Write about 100 words.

Paragraph 1
8 Check your email and make changes if necessary.

(respond to the invitation) Have you answered all the questions and included
all the necessary information?
Have you used a suitable phrase to open and
close your email?
Paragraph 2 Have you tried to make your writing more
(suggest some food) interesting by adding details?
Have you used informal language?
Have you used linking words and phrases?
Have you counted your words?
Paragraph 3
(explain your idea for a game)

Useful phrases I can use

 WRITING PART 2: AN ARTICLE

KEY LANGUAGE AND IDEAS FOR ARTICLES

1 Read the exam task. What should your article be
about? What information should it include? Use adjectives for describing people and things:

Use linking words and phrases:

and but so because although also as well …
Articles wanted!
Use an introductory sentence for each paragraph:
My favourite city
What’s your favourite city?
hobby.
What’s so special about this city?
Give your opinion:
What city would you love to travel to in the future?
Tell us what you think!
Write an article answering these questions
and we will publish the most interesting ones
on our website. 2 Choose the best introductory sentence in italics for
each opening paragraph.
1 There are many benefits to keeping fit. / I don’t really
do enough exercise. Doing regular exercise is good
MODEL ANSWER for your heart, and it helps you to lose weight. It can
also improve your mood, especially if you feeling
My favourite city is Paris because it is tired or unhappy.
so lively and interesting. It is also full of
surprises. 2 Some older people are not used to the internet. / The
Paris is a city of variety. It has many internet has changed people’s lives in many ways.
beautiful old buildings, but it also People can now go online to do their shopping and
feels modern. You can visit expensive book restaurants and holidays. Students also have
designer shops or small, traditional access to lots of information that was difficult to
markets. There are hundreds of find before the internet.
restaurants which serve French food, 3 Teaching is a very difficult job. / I would like to
or different food from around the become a teacher. Students are not always
world. You can meet all kinds of people, interested in learning, and teachers have to work
too. There is something for everyone. hard to encourage their students to study. Also,
I would love to travel to New York in the there are sometimes problems with bad behaviour
future because I’ve seen the city in so from students.
many films, and I would love to visit it
in real life.
3 Complete the table with the adjectives from the box. 6 Write your article, using your notes from Exercise 5.
Write about 100 words.
Can you add any more adjectives?

amusing delicious freezing frightening 7 Check your article and make changes if necessary.
old-fashioned peaceful quiet stormy Have you answered all the questions and included
tasty tight all the necessary information?
Have you used adjectives to make your article
clothes films food countryside weather interesting to read?
Have you expressed a personal opinion?
Have you used linking words and phrases?
Have you counted your words?

4 Read the exam task in Exercise 5. What should your

article be about? What should it include?

5 Before you write your article, complete the table

with ideas.

Articles wanted!
My perfect job
What makes the perfect job?
Is it being creative, travelling, meeting people, or
something else?
How important is it to earn a lot of money?
Tell us what you think!
Write an article answering these questions and we
will publish the most interesting ones on
our website.

Paragraph 1
(answer the first question)

Paragraph 2
(give more details)

Paragraph 3
(give your opinion about money)

Useful phrases I can use

WRITING PART 2: A STORY

1 Read the exam task. Which is the best way to continue the story (1, 2 or 3)? Why?
• Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.
• Your story must begin with this sentence:
I opened the letter from my cousins in Brazil.

1 I have three cousins who live in Brazil, and I get on very well with them.
They are all very keen on football.
2 They said they were coming to visit me, and they were arriving on the 15th – today!
3 I think Brazil is a really interesting country, and I would love to go there one day.
There are lots of amazing wild animals there.
MODEL ANSWER

I opened the letter from my cousins in Brazil. They said they

were coming to visit me, and they were arriving on the
15th – today!
.
I was really excited. First, I cleaned everything in the flat.
Then I went to the supermarket to buy food. After that,
I made a cake to make them feel welcome. By evening, I was
completely exhausted. I picked up the letter again to check
the time of their flight, and that’s when I noticed the date.
They were arriving on July 15th, but today was June 15th!
We had a wonderful time together in July, and all laughed
about the mistake I had made!

KEY LANGUAGE AND IDEAS FOR STORIES

Use past simple verbs for the main events:

Use past continuous verbs for longer actions in the past:

I was waiting for the bus. The sun was shining.
Use past perfect verbs for background events:

expressions:
First then later …

friendly kind tall

busy quiet modern

Adverbs to describe how someone does something:

quickly slowly
Adverbs to comment on what happened:
luckily fortunately unfortunately
 Read the exam task. Before you write your story,
2 Complete the sentences with the correct form of
the verbs in brackets. Use the past simple, past
5 complete the table with ideas.
continuous or past perfect. • Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.
• Your story must begin with this sentence:
1 I packed my bags and then (call) a taxi Last week, I went to the zoo.
to take me to the airport.
2 Sara (wait) for me when I got to the
restaurant.
3 I could finally relax because I (pass) all
my exams!
4 I found an old key while I (walk) along
the beach.
5 James was late because he (forget) to
set his alarm.
6 I opened the door and then quickly
(close) it again.

3 Choose the correct time expressions in italics.

I was really scared when my car broke down near the

forest. 1 Then / First, I tried starting the car, but that
didn’t work. 2 Finally / Then, I tried to call a friend, but
I had no signal on my phone. 3 Next / Aker, I decided to
wait for another car so I could ask for help.
4
An hour later / Before an hour, I was still sitting there!
Suddenly, I heard the sound of another car.
5
Finally / Aker, someone came to help me and I got
home safely.

4 Complete the sentences with adjectives from the box.

curly disappointed entertaining

messy smart spicy

1 The room was and not very clean.

2 She was wearing a very nice, jacket
and skirt.
3 He cooked some delicious, food for us.
4 The show was fun and very .
5 She introduced me to a tall young man with
hair. Write your story, using your notes from Exercise 5.
6 I was very when she didn’t call me. 6 Write about 100 words.

7 Check your story and make changes if necessary.

Does your story have a clear beginning, middle
and ending?
Have you used verbs in the past simple, past
continuous and past perfect?
Have you used time expressions to order
the events?
Have you used adjectives and adverbs to make
your story interesting?
Have you written about 100 words?