CAMBRIDGE

E X A M I N AT I O N S , C E RT I F I C AT E S & D I P L O M A S

CAE
C E R T I F I C AT E I N A D VA N C E D
ENGLISH
PA P E R 2

S A M P L E PA P E R S

English as a
Foreign Language
PA P E R 2 W R I T I N G S A M P L E PA P E R

Section A

1 You are a member of the student welfare committee at your college. The committee has recently
received a memo from the college Principal, announcing major cuts to the existing sports
facilities. The committee is opposed to these cuts and has prepared the poster shown opposite.

You have offered to write an article for inclusion in the next college newsletter in order to ensure
that students have as much information as possible, and to get their support. You have also been
asked to reply briefly to the Principal’s memo, informing him of the results of the survey and
making him aware of the committee’s opposition to the cuts.

Read the poster opposite and the principal’s memo on page 6, to which you have added your
comments. Then, USING THE INFORMATION CAREFULLY, write the article and letter as
instructed on page 3.

S–O–S
Save our Sports!
This college is planning to
• sell off the sports field
• hire out the sports hall to the public
How do you feel about this?
Our survey shows that most students
use these facilities frequently:

More than
three times 60%
a week
Once a week
or less
Two or three
33% 7%
times a week

We must fight this decision together!

0150/2/S97

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 3

To: The Student Welfare Committee From: E G Baton, Principal

REVIEW OF SPORTS FACILITIES

We didn’t
As you know, the college has been forced to consider various cost-
cutting measures recently. Not true
–
NB our
sur vey

In connection with this, my colleagues and I have been discussing the

college sports facilities. In our view, these are very much under-used.
We have estimated that a small number of students use the sports hall
and the sports field seems to be used only twice a month for football
matches.
All day? what about practice?!

Due to this apparent lack of student interest, I have decided on some

immediate changes. I intend to make the sports hall available for hire to
the public during the day. I would also like the committee to introduce a
student membership charge - students will be required to pay for these
facilities.

Unfair
Finally, the sports field has been put up for sale.
At least one buyer is interested in the site for building development.
Never!!
I trust the committee will support my decision.

E.G. Baton

Principal.

Now write:

(a) an article for the college newsletter (approximately 150 words);

(b) an appropriate letter to the Principal (approximately 100 words).

You should use your own words as far as possible.

0150/2/S97

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 4
Section B

Choose one of the following writing tasks. Your answer should follow exactly the instructions given. Write
approximately 250 words.

2 You have seen the following announcement of a competition on your college noticeboard and have
decided to enter.

TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA FREE!

We are offering students the chance to win a FREE PLACE at our school. Any students interested in
taking up this opportunity should write, IN ENGLISH, to our school, stating WHAT particularly appeals
to them about Australia and HOW they think they will benefit from their studies here.
We will choose the best entry and offer the winner six weeks’ free English study plus accommodation
and return air fare.

Prestige School of English, P O Box 942, Perth, Western Australia.

Write your competition entry.

3 An English language magazine has just run a competition to find the reader with the most interesting
hobby or pastime. You were asked to judge the competition, which attracted more than 500 entries. The
editor of the magazine now wants you to write an article naming the prizewinner and the runner-up*. Write
about the hobby or pastime of each of the two people selected and give your reasons for choosing them
as prizewinners.

Write the article.

*runner-up: the person who comes second in a competition.

4 This is an extract from a letter which you receive from the World Opinion Organisation.

We are carrying out an international survey on families around the world and the
importance of family relationships. Please write us a report for our survey outlining the
typical family situation IN YOUR COUNTRY and suggesting how you think the

Write your report.

5 You have been asked to write an information leaflet for visitors to your company. You should give a brief
history of the company, describe its main activities and plans for the future and mention any other points
that you think are important.

Write the text for the leaflet.

0150/2/S97

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MARK SCHEMES & SAMPLE SCRIPTS WITH EXAMINER COMMENTS

The accuracy of language, including spelling and punctuation, is assessed on the general impression scale for all tasks. Criteria for
assessing specific range of language and task achievement are outlined below.

Part 1
The testing focus of Part 1 is on content, effective organisation of the input, appropriacy of the piece(s) of writing to the intended
audience, and on accuracy. Some use of key words from the input is acceptable, but candidates should have re-worded phrases
as far as possible. The range will be defined by the task.

QUESTION 1

TASK-SPECIFIC MARK SCHEME Letter: formal letter layout with appropriate opening and
BAND 3 DESCRIPTORS (SATISFACTORY) closing formulae (addresses not needed). Suitable linking of
ideas and clear paragraphing.
Content (points covered)
For a mark of 3 or above, both tasks must be attempted and Range
use made of the information in the poster and the memo
Article: language of giving information, opinion and
across the two tasks. N.B. It is not necessary to include all
persuasion.
the handwritten notes on the memo, even for a 5.
Letter: language of disagreement and opinion.
Article: must inform students of Principal’s intentions and
encourage them to oppose these plans.
Letter: must state students’ /committee’s opposition to the Register
Principal’s plans.
Article: consistently informal or neutral, with rallying tone
that will encourage students to take action.
Organisation and Cohesion Letter: formal with polite opposition.

Article: early mention of the issue. Clearly organised with

suitable paragraphing. Better candidates will attempt to Target Reader
engage the reader’s attention.
Article: will be clearly informed and prepared to take action.
Letter: will understand the students’ position.

C A N D I DAT E A

Save Our Sports

Our College wants to sell off sports facilities.

The student welfare committee has recently been confronted by a memo from
our Principle, in which he showed his intention to hire the sports hall to the
public and to sell the football field.

Principal Baton backed his decision by saying the college had to save - a fact
we had never heard of - and that the sports facilities are under-used. The
committee has conducted a survey to prove that this is not the case. Over sixty
percent of the students use the sports hall more than three times a week. And
though there are only two football matches a month the field is used for
training.

We need your help! Support the committee that we can use our sports facilities
further on and don’t have to pay membership for our own sports centre. Show
the Principal your enthusiasm and interest. I am sure that, if we stand together,
we will get our sports back.

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 The Student Welfare
Committee
Christopher Halle

Einstein College 12 June 1997

E.G. Baton, Principle

Dear Mr Baton,

I am writing to you to express the committee’s concern about your plans for the sports
facilities. You asserted a lack of student interest. So we conducted a survey which
proved the contrary. Sixty percent of the students use the sports hall more than three
times a week and the football ground is also used for training between the matches.
Therefore the committee decided to oppose your intention, at least in this form. Students
would not be able to practise if the hall were open for public all day and it is certainly
not fair that they should pay besides the high school fees. The committee also had not
heared that the college had to cut costs.

But I am sure we can talk about this matter and would be glad if we could arrange a
meeting between you and the committee.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Halle
CHRISTOPHER HALLE
(Student Welfare Committee)

EXAMINER COMMENTS

Content Register
Article: Fully completed. Article: Could perhaps have adopted a more rallying tone
Letter: Fully completed and particularly resourceful. from the outset, though this comes through at the end of the
article e.g. We need your help! Support the committee...
Letter: very controlled indignation e.g. to express the
Organisation and Cohesion
committee’s concern. Good formal language throughout.
Article: A well thought out approach to organisation. Three
logical paragraphs which define the context, set out the facts,
and call for action. Target Reader
Letter: Well organised. Links the committee’s opposition and Article: Would be informed.
a positive suggestion for future discussion. Letter: Might be prepared to negotiate.

Range Accuracy
Article: Good evidence of range e.g. conducted a survey; if Article: Not a flawless performance e.g. we can use our
we stand together. sports facilities further on...
Letter: Good range e.g. proved the contary; decided to Letter: Generally accurate but one or two slips e.g. besides
oppose; at least in this form. Extremely diplomatic - But I am the high school fees.
sure we can talk about this matter...

Impression Mark 5

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Part 2

In Part 2, candidates have more scope to display their linguistic competence and there is more latitude in the interpretation of the
task. The assessment focus is mainly on content, range and style/register, with attention paid to how successfully the candidate
has produced the text type required.

QUESTION 2

TASK-SPECIFIC MARK SCHEME Range

BAND 3 DESCRIPTORS (SATISFACTORY)
Language of description, opinion and explanation.

Content (points covered)

The competition entry must address both parts of the Register
question: Must be consistent, but could range from fairly informal to
• state what appeals to the candidate about Australia; fairly formal. Should have enthusiastic tone.
• explain how the candidate will benefit from studying
there.
Target Reader
Would be informed and would consider shortlisting the entry
Organisation and Cohesion for competition.
The piece of writing should be clearly organised with
suitable paragraphing. N.B. Acceptable to open and close
the entry in letter format to the school.

C A N D I DAT E B

Australia, a different way of life

First of all Australia seems to be one of the ideal place to live on earth.

This country offers a huge varieties of wild and weird animals such as the Kangourou and the
koala.

Who has never dreamt to study in a country with a warm and welcoming climate.

Farthermore the Australia has been choose to be the next olympic country. It shows, beyond the
shadow of a doubt that Australia is a fair country

But, above all, what can lead to believe that studying in such a country is benefit is the kindness
and the good spirit state of the people.

All this point make me want to study in Australia.

EXAMINER COMMENTS

Content Register
At 112 words the task is inadequately covered. If each of the The register is appropriate for an article.
points made had been expanded and explored, the content
might have been adequate for the task set.
Target Reader
Would not consider shortlisting the entry.
Organisation and Cohesion
The candidate has written sentence paragraphs. These read
Accuracy
more like the sub-headings of a longer article.
Frequent basic errors e.g. one of the ideal place; a huge
varieties; the Australia has been choose; All this point.
Range
Some range has been demonstrated by the candidate e.g. Impression Mark 1
beyond the shadow of a doubt.
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QUESTION 3

TASK-SPECIFIC MARK SCHEME Range

BAND 3 DESCRIPTORS (SATISFACTORY)
Language of description, evaluation and opinion. Vocabulary
relating to the hobbies chosen.
Content (points covered)
Must:
Register
• name the winner and runner up;
• give details of the hobby or pastime of each; Consistently neutral, formal or informal.
• say why they have won (this may be implicit).

Target Reader
Organisation and Cohesion Would be informed.
Early reference to the competition. The article should be
clearly organised with suitable paragraphing.

C A N D I DAT E C

If you are an usual reader of their magazine, maybe you’ll remember our competition ‘The most interesting
hobby’; the entry forms were included in the last issue and now it is time to reveal the winners.

I’ve chosen two amazing collectors, but who are they? and what do they collect?

Let’s start with the runner-up, Jane Hemsworth, from Bramley: she collects cigarrette’s packets! She is
always looking for a new brand, a new strange size or shape of these little boxes which hasn’t any interest
for most of us. ‘Have you ever realised how interesting the design of the letters are?’ she asked me;
nevertheless she is a Graphic Designer. But you don’t know everything, she is a non-smoker!

And the 1st prize winner, Richard James, from Chelsea: he collects helmets!; every single one you are able
to name is already in his collection: helmets for bycicles, motorbikes, for jokeys, the different ones used in
the construction of buildings ... and WAR HELMETS! It was his grandfather who gave him his first pieces
from the II World War and since then, Richard is specially interested in these sort of helmets.

More than 500 entries were registered in this competition; the selection was hard but, in the end, I decided
that the two prizewinners mentioned above were the ones with the most amazing and amusing hobbies.

EXAMINER COMMENTS

Content Register
The task has been completed, even though it is slightly Consistently and appropriately informal. The tone is lively
underlength. The prize winners are named and their hobbies and addresses the reader directly.
described in detail. The final sentence gives a clear, if brief,
explanation as to why these two entries won the
Target Reader
competition.
Would be informed.

Organisation and Cohesion

Accuracy
Good opening and conclusion, which are linked well to the
body of the article. The descriptions of the hobbies are There are some non-impeding errors e.g. cigarrette’s packets;
appropriately paragraphed. nevertheless; jokeys; bycicles. There are also several basic
errors e.g. ...how interesting the design of the letters are;
...and since then, Richard is specially interested in...
Range
Some good relevant vocabulary relating to magazines and Impression Mark 3
competitions e.g. in the last issue; to reveal the winners.

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QUESTION 4

TASK-SPECIFIC MARK SCHEME Range

BAND 3 DESCRIPTORS (SATISFACTORY) Language of description, opinion and possibly comparison
and contrast. Range of tenses. Vocabulary relating to
Content (points covered) relationships.
Must describe the current typical family situation in the
candidate’s own country (one aspect of this is sufficent) and
Register
mention how this might change in the future. N.B.
Candidate’s own view of what should happen is an Neutral to formal. Must be consistent throughout.
acceptable interpretation.

Target Reader
Organisation and Cohesion Would be clearly informed.
Clear organisation of main points. Appropriate introduction
and conclusion. N.B. Acceptable to start and end the report
in letter format, or write as a newspaper report.

C A N D I DAT E D

The family in France

Nowadays, in France, the average number of children is two per family, whereas elderly people used to
have five or six sisters and brothers or even more when they were young, at least in my region: Brittany,
where children were useful in farms as they were growing up.

More and more people divorce, and afterwards remain single, live with someone, or get married
another time. If they have children, these live generally with their mother but it occurs more and more
that they live with their father. That is probably due to this trend that there are less and less weddings.
Young people prefer living with a mate without marrying him or her, or if they marry, they do it later
than their parents who used to do it around the age of 20. That is why they usually have their first child
later than their parents.

Grand-parents are still important in French families, but when they get older, they do not usually come
and live in their children’s place as before. They are healthy enough to live alone or they go to
residences for old people. Children sometimes live in towns further from their parents’ place than
before, but their place is still the one where we like to stay at the week-ends or the holidays.

Unfortunately, I think that this trend of living further from their parents than before will get worse in the
years to come, because of the unemployment rate. Indeed even if young people tend to live longer in
their parents’ house, they have to search a job not only in their town but sometimes in the whole
country, and when they find one, they leave, even abroad sometimes, because it is so hard to get
something!

I think that the average number of children will remain the same or will decrease, as people have their
children older and perhaps do not want to give birth to future unemployed people.

Finally, I think that the number of divorces, and people who live together but unmarried, will increase.

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EXAMINER COMMENTS

Content average number of children is two per family; due to this

The task has been fully completed. It is informative, and trend.
deals well with both the current family situation, and how it
might change in future. Register
Consistently and appropriately neutral.
Organisation and Cohesion
There is an absence of report features, such as headings, but Target Reader
the writing is appropriately paragraphed, with an
Would be well informed.
introduction and conclusion. It is well-organised and on the
whole coherent, though at times the sentences are long and
a little difficult to follow e.g. Indeed, even if young people Accuracy
...because it is so hard to get something!
Occasionally awkward e.g. That is probably due to this trend
that there are less and less weddings. A few non-impeding
Range errors, e.g. search a job.

There is evidence of range. The language of comparison is

good e.g. whereas; more and more people. A range of Impression Mark 4
relevant topic vocabulary has also been used e.g. ...the

QUESTION 5

TASK-SPECIFIC MARK SCHEME Range

BAND 3 DESCRIPTORS (SATISFACTORY) Language of description and giving information. Vocabulary
appropriate for the company chosen. Range of tenses.
Content (points covered)
Must address the three points:
Register
• brief history of the company;
• its main activities; As appropriate to the context. Must be consistent throughout.
• its future plans.
Target Reader
Organisation and Cohesion Would have a clear picture of the company.
Clear organisation and layout, with
headings/bullets/numbered points an advantage.

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C A N D I DAT E E

AN INFORMATION LEAFLET:

PICKY

A WARM WELCOME TO PICKY, THE WORLDS BIGGEST PRODUCER OF TOOTH-PICKS.

THE COMPANY WAS FOUNDED IN 1637 BY A MAIN CALLED DAVID PICKY. DAVID PICKY WAS A
SAILOR AND ON ONE OF HIS MANY TRAVELS HE SAW THAT THE NATIVES WERE PICKING THEIR
TEETHE WITH SOME OLD BONE. PICKY GOT AN IDEA AND STARTED TO WORK ON IT AS SOON AS
HE REACHED DOVER. HE STARTED UP HIS OWN FACTORY AND NOW WE ARE THE LARGEST
EXPORTER OF TOOTH-PICKS.

OUR MAIN EXPORT IS THE ORDINARY TOOTHPICK MADE FROM WOOD. WE PRODUCE ABOUT
117 MILION PICKS PER DAY AND WE MAKE ABOUT 1 MILION PICKS FROM ONE TREE. THAN WE
ALSO HAVE THE MOST LUXORIOUS OF THE PICKS AND THATS THE ONE WE NAMED ‘THE QUEEN’,
WHICH IS MADE FROM SOLID GOLD. SINCE GOLD IS A SOFT METAL, WE HAVE TO SPRAY IT WITH
A SPECIAL MIXTURE THAT MAKES IT HARD AND RESISTANT.

THE MIXTURE IS OF COURSE SECRET AND IT IS ONLY OUR WINDOW CLEANER WHO KNOWS THE
INGREDIENTS.

HERE AT PICKY WE ALSO HAVE THE BIGGEST MOULD, NOWERE AT PRESENT IS THERE A BIGGER
ONE. IN THE MOULD CAN WE MAKE UP TO 1000 PICKS AT A TIME, BY SQUEESING BITS AND
PIECES OF WOOD. THE PROCESS IS VERY DELECAT, SO OUR WORKERS NEEDS TO WEAR SILK
GLOVES. WHEN THE TOOTH-PICKS ARE PACKED IN TO BOXES THE WORKERS MUST MAKE SURE
THAT ALL THE TOOTH-PICKS IN THE SAME BOX HAVE THE SAME COLOUR. IT WOULD HAVE A
DEVESTATING EFFECT TO OUR REPURTATION IF ONE OF OUR BOXES CONTAINED A SLIGHTLY
DARKER OR LIGHTER COLOURD PICK THAN THE OTHERS IN THE BOX.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED YOUR VISIT AT PICKY AND DO NOT FORGETT TO PICK UP YOUR
OWN SAMPLE FROM THE RECEPTION.

EXAMINER COMMENTS

Content Register
An attempt at the task has been made, but the text omits to Friendly and welcoming tone.
mention future plans, so it cannot achieve more than
Band 2.
Target Reader
Would be interested and partially informed.

Organisation and Cohesion

Accuracy
The candidate has organised the writing e.g. there is a
welcoming introductory sentence, appropriate paragraphing Mostly spelling errors e.g. milion; luxorious; colourd;
of the main content points, and a good conclusion to the repurtation. Also mistakes in verb agreement e.g. our workers
leaflet. needs.

Range Impression Mark 2

There is certainly evidence of range e.g. was founded;

mould; it would have a devestating effect. The language is
ambitious e.g. Since gold is a soft metal, we have to spray it
with a special mixture.

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