❖ Methodology ❖ Section III ❖ Writing ❖

Writing Section (10 pts)

The most discriminating section. With strong methodology, you can score 8-10/10. Without it, 2-3 even with good ideas.

Possible writing tasks

Argumentative essay (for/against): brain drain, technology, women working, etc.
Advantages/Disadvantages essay: internet, mobile phone, social networks, studying abroad.
Formal email/letter: to UN Secretary General, NGO director, school principal, newspaper editor.
Informal letter/email: reply to a friend, share news, give advice.
Book or film review: present, summarise, recommend.
Continuation of a story / situation: less common.

Evaluation grid — what the corrector checks

Criterion	What is graded	Weight
Content	Relevant ideas, on-topic, complete	~3 pts
Organisation	Paragraphs, linkers, structure	~2 pts
Language	Grammar, tenses, sentence structure	~2-3 pts
Vocabulary	Range, accuracy, relevance	~1-2 pts
Mechanics	Spelling, punctuation, capitalisation	~1 pt

The 30-minute writing process

0 - 5 min — Plan. Write a quick outline: intro (1-2 sentences), body (2-3 arguments), conclusion (1-2 sentences). Note key vocabulary on scrap paper.
5 - 25 min — Write. Don't stop to perfect each sentence. Get all your ideas down.
25 - 30 min — Revise. Read each sentence: tense correct? subject-verb agreement? spelling? punctuation? word count?

Universal structure

Whatever the topic, every text has 3 parts:

Introduction (2-3 sentences): present the topic + state your position / purpose.
Body (3-5 sentences per paragraph, 2-3 paragraphs total): develop your arguments / ideas with examples.
Conclusion (2 sentences): restate your view + final thought.

Universal linkers — memorise these

Adding: Moreover · Furthermore · In addition · Besides · What's more
Contrasting: However · Nevertheless · On the other hand · Despite · Although
Causing: because · since · as · due to · owing to
Consequence: therefore · thus · consequently · as a result · so
Examples: for instance · for example · such as · namely · to illustrate
Order: First and foremost · Secondly · Lastly · Finally
Concluding: To sum up · In conclusion · All in all · To wrap up

Word count — strict but flexible

Typical limit: 80-120 words for an essay; 100-150 for a letter.
Going 10% over is OK. Going 50% under = serious penalty.
Quality > quantity. A focused 100-word text beats a rambling 200-word one.

How to score 8-10/10

Memorise 4-5 "passe-partout" introductions that fit many topics.
Use 4-5 different linkers in your text. The corrector counts them.
Vary your sentence structures: don't start every sentence with "The…" or "I…".
Include 1 complex grammar structure: passive voice, conditional, relative clause. Shows you can handle advanced grammar.
Include 1 idiom or fixed expression: "It goes without saying", "There is no doubt that".
End strongly: don't end with "thank you" — finish with a real, forceful conclusion.

Common writing mistakes

Off-topic: the writer wrote about something else. Penalty = -50%.
No paragraphs: a wall of text with no structure.
"I think" repeated 10 times: vary with "In my view", "From my perspective", "I believe".
Translating from French/Arabic: "I have 17 years" instead of "I am 17 years old".
Mixing tenses: starting in present, switching to past, no consistency.
Forgetting the format: a formal email needs "Dear Sir" — not "Hi" or no greeting at all.

Universal "passe-partout" introductions

For an argumentative essay

"In today's world, the issue of [X] has become more important than ever. While some people believe [position A], others argue [position B]. In my opinion, …"

For an advantages/disadvantages essay

"[X] has become an essential part of our daily lives. Like every coin, it has two sides — its undeniable benefits and its serious drawbacks."

For a formal email

"Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to express my deep concern about [X], which I believe deserves your urgent attention."

❖ Pro tip

Practice writing under real exam conditions: 30 min, no dictionary, no help. The first writes are painful — but by the 5th, you'll write a clean, structured essay almost automatically.