ECCE2 2021 Writing Models
ECCE2 2021 Writing Models
General Comments
In the ECCE writing section, you have a choice of two options: to write either an email/letter or an
essay. As of 2021, there will be no more newspaper articles given as a stimulus. The email has been
added as an option so as to update the topic – otherwise, there is no difference between it and the
letter. The rating criteria are the same: examiners consider content and development, organization
and connection of ideas, linguistic range and control and communicative effect.
No length is stated – you are expected to write about a page in 30 minutes. Generally speaking, you
should have at least three paragraphs and preferably up to five. Get plenty of practice writing an
email or essay in thirty minutes. It is important for you to decide which topic you will do as quickly as
possible, spend a few minutes planning what you want to write, and leave a few minutes at the end
to correct careless mistakes. The register is always formal or semi-formal in the ECCE writing tasks.
Email/Letter
You are given a situation and a specific reason for writing your email. You are also told who to
address the email to. It is important to keep your audience in mind. In your opening, you should
clearly state why you are writing and what the main idea of your email is. In your ending, you should
thank the reader for their attention/interest and sign off appropriately with expressions such as “I look
forward to hearing from you” or “Please contact me personally for further information”. You should
have learned these expressions in advance so you can use the most appropriate ones. In general,
there is a situation which you must give your opinion about and make suggestions. The email often
takes the form of a problem-solution task, and it is important to try to imagine the situation is real and
be as creative as possible. Come up with realistic ideas and support them with personal examples.
Do not make a list of ideas that you string together with linkers such as “Firstly”, “Moreover”, etc.
Instead, try to the give your writing a natural flow where the ideas are expanded and illustrated and
are placed in a logical flow. Also, be as accurate as possible with grammar, spelling and vocabulary.
Essay
You are given a topic and asked your opinion about it. You can either take one side and explain
why you believe this, or examine both sides and then give your opinion. Always explain WHY.
Supporting your opinions and giving examples are as important as the ideas themselves. Make sure
your paragraphing makes sense, which can only happen if you have taken a few minutes to plan
your essay before writing. As with the email, do not make a list of ideas that you string together with
linkers such as “Firstly”, “Moreover”, etc. Instead, try to give your writing a natural flow where the
ideas are expanded and illustrated. Also, be as accurate as possible with grammar, spelling and
vocabulary. Think about the topic and address it as realistically and creatively as you can. Examiners
are always pleased by original thought that deals with the topic fully in a well-organized way.
Model Compositions u 1
Model Compositions for ECCE BOOK 2 Tests 1-7
Practice Test 1
Yours faithfully,
John Landis
Practice Test 2
Task 1: Email Task 2: Essay
The local Humane Society announced that it When it comes to deciding what job you
can no longer afford to care for the 30 dogs would like to do, salary is a more important
and 40 cats that it has at its shelter. They want consideration than job satisfaction.
community members to suggest what the society • Write an essay on whether you agree or
can do to avoid having to put the animals down. disagree with the statement above.
• Write an email to the Humane Society to • Include specific reasons and details to support
explain your opinion. your ideas.
• Start your email, “Dear Members of the
Humane Society.” Model Essay
Yours faithfully,
Lena Clarke
Model Compositions u 3
Model Compositions for ECCE BOOK 2 Tests 1-7
Practice Test 3
Practice Test 4
Task 1: Email Task 2: Essay
A wealthy businesswoman has donated two Children should not be allowed to have
million dollars to your high school. The Parent smartphones until they are at least 12 years old.
and Teacher Association (PTA) wants students to • Write an essay on whether you agree or
suggest how the money should be spent. disagree with the statement above.
• Write an email to the Parent and Teacher • Include specific reasons and details to support
Association to explain your opinion. your ideas.
• Start your email, “Dear Members of the PTA.”
Model Essay
Model Essay
Nowadays, it seems that every young person
Dear Members of the PTA, has a smartphone. However, at what age should
children be allowed to have them? Although some
I am a tenth-grade student and Vice-President of people argue that even children under the age
the Student Council. I am writing to suggest how of 12 should be allowed to have one, I strongly
the PTA should spend the generous donation disagree.
recently made by a businesswoman. I believe the
money should be used to make an indoor athletic Of course, there are some arguments that can
stadium for the following reasons. be made for young children having smartphones.
First and foremost, they may need to
At present, all athletic activities are dependent communicate with parents or siblings, especially
on weather conditions, since they take place in emergency situations. They may be at a
outdoors. This means in winter, when it rains friend’s house and need to talk to their parents, or
frequently, PE does not take place and our high they may get lost and need assistance. Children
school teams cannot train. This is the first and also argue that they deserve to have smartphones
most important reason why an indoor facility is for entertainment reasons, such as surfing the
needed: so that physical education can continue net, playing video games or watching videos
regardless of weather conditions. Such a stadium online. They complain that since their friends have
could have a professional-sized basketball court, phones, why shouldn’t they?
but also function as two volleyball courts, a dance
hall or martial arts arena. In this way, it would However, personally I am against the idea of
benefit many students and sports activities. In children of all ages having a smartphone because
addition, it could be built easily as there are I believe it is dangerous. Firstly, they are young
prefabricated structures that do not require much and can more easily get addicted to their phones.
time or expense to set up. Some teenagers even end up playing games
until late at night because they cannot control
If an indoor athletic facility were built, all students themselves, a problem which would be even
would benefit, but so would the community. worse with young children. In addition to this,
Students could dedicate more time and energy phones are dangerous to their safety. It is easy for
to their physical health, instead of sitting young children to be victims of internet predators
at computers and desks all day long. This or cyber bullies. Both their physical and mental
would also help decrease their stress levels health are at risk if they have phones that they
and increase concentration levels. Moreover, can access at all times.
conferences and social events such as dances
could be held in this facility. This would save the To conclude, I strongly believe that young children
students money as they would not be required under twelve should not have a smartphone, and
to book restaurants or dance halls for special in fact, whenever they are online, they should be
events. Finally, community events could also be supervised by adults. They simply lack the critical
held here, so everyone would enjoy this new judgment to use smartphones wisely and could
space. easily become victimized by dangerous strangers.
Yours faithfully,
John Smith
Model Compositions u 5
Model Compositions for ECCE BOOK 2 Tests 1-7
Practice Test 5
I am writing this email to present my ideas on Of course, there is no denying that education
whether or not a zoo should be built in Freedom plays a crucial role in helping a society to develop
Park. This is not an easy issue to decide as there and for citizens to be happy. First of all, education
are both negative and positive points to consider. is the key to a successful life, and in countries
where education is lacking, the quality of life is
On the one hand, a zoo will bring many benefits also very low. This is because education gives
to our community. First of all, it will be a tourist you the ability to get a better job and function
attraction, which means that our city will receive effectively in society. Another important point
visitors. This will lead to jobs being created and worth considering is that education teaches you
revenues for the city. Moreover, a zoo offers an to socialize with others and how to cooperate to
educational experience to young people. It is one achieve your goals. If our society is to survive, we
thing to learn about animals and quite another to must learn to work together and do things for the
see them in front of you. This will help children to common good. In school, we can learn not only
understand the importance of protecting wildlife, the three Rs, but also how to get along with one
especially endangered species. another and appreciate rules and teamwork.
On the other hand, there are several reasons that However, this does not mean that other aspects
make me less enthusiastic about the idea. First of society are not important. To begin with, a
and foremost, zoos keep wild animals in captivity. country cannot survive if it has a weak health
These are animals that should be running free in system. Citizens must have decent healthcare or
nature, not living their lives as exhibits for human they cannot feel secure. This means being able
entertainment. In addition, I am not in favor of to see doctors and buy medicines at affordable
having strangers visiting our city just to see a zoo. prices as well as having access to emergency
I think our city is already crowded enough as it is, treatments in case of disease or accident. Another
and I can only imagine the traffic problems that important factor is employment. If people do not
will be created. Finally, Freedom Park is our city’s have work, they cannot have a basic quality of
largest park and offers many wonderful activities life. It is also a fact that unemployment leads
to our citizens, such as hiking and jogging. Many to poverty and higher crime rates. For these
of these will be limited if half of the space is used reasons, the economy of a country must be
for a zoo. strong and the government should ensure that
employment is available to all.
Concluding, although a zoo may offer some
benefits, I feel that the drawbacks outweigh them. All in all, although education is important,
I believe strongly that the Council should not healthcare and employment are also top priorities.
go forward with the plan, as many citizens will It is difficult to say which is the most vital since
be deprived of the most beautiful green area in all three are needed for a person to live well and
our city. I hope that my opinion will be taken into happily.
consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Jane Harris
Practice Test 6
Task 1: Email Task 2: Essay
Your local Board of Education is concerned about the Children should be required to do household
rise of childhood obesity both locally and throughout chores as soon as they are able to do so.
the country. They want students to suggest two ways • Write an essay on whether you agree or
in which schools could help fight this trend. disagree with the statement above.
• Write an email to the Board of Education to • Include specific reasons and details to support
explain your opinion. your ideas.
• Start your email, “Dear Members of the Board
of Education.” Model Essay
Model Email “Johnny have you taken out the trash?” asks a tired
mom to her son. If this question seems strange to
Dear Members of the Board of Education, you, you probably believe that children should not
I am a tenth-grade student and I am writing be made to do chores around the house. Based on
this email to suggest ways in which schools my own personal experience, I strongly disagree
could combat childhood obesity in our city, and and believe that doing household chores is good
nationwide. Obesity at a young age is a serious both for the family and for children themselves.
issue as it results in many health problems, both
now and in the future. My suggestions are that we First and foremost, children need to learn
offer cooking and nutrition as a subject at school responsibility. Learning how to do some chores
and that we employ a counselor who will deal around the house that are assigned to them
specifically with weight issues. will make children think twice about leaving
dirty dishes around. It will also create more
My first suggestion is that cooking and nutrition empathy because they will learn to think about
be offered in high schools as a course. This class other people. If, for example, they have to clean
would give young people the opportunity to learn a bathroom, they will learn not to leave the
how to cook healthy and delicious food. Much of the bathroom in a mess. Finally, they will also learn
obesity problem has to do with the consumption of valuable skills that they need when they leave
junk food and fast snacks. If children do not know home and live on their own. A parent who does
how to prepare dishes by themselves, they are everything for their children only teaches them to
doomed to eating this kind of food for the rest of be incompetent and to lack self-confidence, and
their lives. Along with the practical lessons, there of course, to be lazy and expect everyone else
could be classes which teach students about the to do things for them. Is this how you want your
nutritional content of foods, how harmful white sugar children to grow up? Ever since I started doing
is and how diseases like diabetes come about. A chores, I have become more capable at things
part of these classes could be taught using the very and show more interest in my home. I have even
effective documentaries and videos that have been started cooking and enjoy it very much. Best of
made on these subjects. all, my parents do less work and have more time
to spend with me, so it is a win-win situation.
However, there must be extra help offered to
students who are struggling with serious weight Of course, the chores must be ones that young
problems. They usually suffer from stress or people can handle. Otherwise, they will not do
other psychological issues and use food as a them properly and they will feel incompetent.
way to feel better. For this reason, another thing Some people argue that if children do chores,
that might be done is for each school to have they will not have enough time for their
a counselor to offer psychological support for homework, but I disagree with this. Homework
people with eating disorders. This person could is theoretical knowledge, while helping around
help obese teens confront their issues and get to the house teaches them cooperation, empathy
the heart of their problems. and survival skills. These are lessons far more
important than the ones we learn at school.
I would like to thank the Board for reading my
In any case, if they reduce their time spent on
email. Childhood obesity is a serious problem that
electronics, they will have plenty of time to do
must be dealt with as soon as possible by getting
some household chores.
to the root of the crisis. Whatever programs
are offered will go a long way toward giving all
Concluding, doing chores is an important part of
students the tools they need to understand the
a child’s upbringing. I do them and will definitely
issue and to live healthier, more active lives.
expect them of my own children, as in this way
Yours faithfully, they will become stronger, more capable and more
empathetic adults, as I hope to be when I grow up.
Tom Morris
Model Compositions u 7
Model Compositions for ECCE BOOK 2 Tests 1-7
Practice Test 7