Writing a perfect essay with a discursive focus (CAE Part 1)

Writing Part 1 is the first part of the C1 Advanced (CAE) Cambridge writing paper and requires a combination of language proficiency, critical thinking skills, and familiarity with the exam format.

As it requires critical thinking, discursive essays must be supported by reasoned arguments on a given topic.

• Content, namely, to answer a question fully and do what is asked to do by informing fully a target reader;
• Communicative achievement – to use appropriate conventions of a communicative task and more complex ideas;
• Organisation – to build a piece of writing logically in paragraphs, by using appropriate cohesive devices, with ideas clearly stated and supported with examples, opinions, statistics, etc. 
• Language – to use a wide range of sophisticated grammar structures and vocabulary accurately and appropriately.

• read a task carefully and make the following considerations whether there are any specific requirements, who is the target reader, what style is required, underline two points that are going to be developed in the essay, what arguments can be put forward to support the points chosen;
• brainstorm ideas and think about relevant arguments, examples, statistics, expert opinions, and supporting evidence that can be used to illustrate bullet points effectively;
• make a well-structured plan of what is going to be written, keeping in mind the number of paragraphs (introduction, 2–3 main body paragraphs, and conclusion). It will serve as an outline and will help not to leave a topic, structure an essay coherently and easy to follow for a reader and, therefore, get maximum score for Content criterion;
• plan time to allocate a sufficient amount of it for planning, writing, and editing.

• follow their plan, write an introduction generally exposing a topic, main body paragraph, following a structure – a topic sentence with the main idea + supporting sentences developing the topic sentence and a conclusion where a writer's opinion may be given on the issues discussed in the essay;
• keep in mind that a formal tone should be used;
• use sophisticated vocabulary and grammar constructions that are appropriate for the C1 level;
• link ideas with cohesive devices to make it smooth and easy to follow;
• remember about spelling and punctuation.

• take time to edit their essay paying attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation, as well as structure, clarity of ideas and logic;
• double-check that an essay remains focused on the topic;
• proofread before submitting.

You must answer this question. Write your answer in 220–260 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet. 

Firstly, in B the first sentence doesn’t restate the topic of the essay. 

Secondly, personal opinion cannot be expressed in the introduction, moreover, it is not asked in the task. 

Finally, one of the offered opinions in the task was copied.

• It is often said that ___
• ___is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion.
• ___is a topic that is often discussed but rarely solved.
• Many people feel that___
• We live in an age when many of us are___
• More and more families/people are choosing to___
• The trend nowadays is towards +ing
• Over the past/last ten years or so, ___
• Recent research indicates that the number of ___ is increasing.
• Statistics indicate that ___
• Hardly a week goes by without another report of ___ appearing in the media. This raises the issue of whether ___
• Although most people would generally agree that ___ few 

• ___ clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on ___
• It is common knowledge that ___ plays a crucial role in ___
• It is undoubtedly the case that ___
• There is little doubt that ___
• ___ is widely believed to contribute to ___
• It is generally considered that ___
• Recent research suggests that ___
• Studies have shown that ___ has an impact/influence on ___
• Few people would contest/dispute the fact that ___

• Another factor to consider is ___
• On the other hand/In contrast ___
• It is often claimed that ___
• All the evidence suggests that ___

1. Are there any new points mentioned?
2. Is there a writer’s opinion?
3. Does the paragraph summarise the two points presented in the essay?
4. Does it state ‘which aspect you think is more important’?

1. No. In conclusion, new ideas cannot be added, only those mentioned in an essay.
2. Yes. The writer’s opinion can be added in this part of the essay. Moreover, it is asked in the task.
3. Yes. Sentence 1 – provide information, Sentence 2 – influence opinion
4. Yes. By using the phrase ‘at the forefront of their agenda’

• In light of the above, ___
• Taking all this into consideration/account, ___
• As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc. ___
• ___ is the most effective way to ___ due to the fact that ___
• Despite the fact that ___ undoubtedly plays a role in ___ 
• I firmly believe that ___ is more effective due to the fact that ___ 
• Its advantages outnumber/ outweigh those___
• All in all it seems to me that ___
• The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that ___
• All things considered ___
• The world would surely be a better place to live in if ___

• As I see it, ___
• It seems to me that ___ I would also say that ___
• I am convinced that ___
• I am inclined to believe that ___
• There is no doubt in my mind that ___
• One of the drawbacks of ___ is ___
• However, one of the benefits is that ___

Editing, reviewing and proofreading are of paramount importance since it is always neglected by candidates. Believe it or not, but if students reread their essays, they will increase scores for sure.