ARTICLE B1 Preliminary (PET):

1. Title

2. Introduction
– start with an engaging question for the reader

3. Body
– answer questions given in the task

4. Final sentence
– give a final comment

Content

 Is the article about the topic stated in the task?

 Does it answer the question(s) in the task?
 Does it include all relevant information in about 100 words?

Communicative Achievement

 Does the text use the conventions of an article (addressing the reader directly, expressing an
opinion, sharing personal information)?
 Is it written in a style suitable for the magazine stated in the task (often for a school, club or
website and therefore informal)?
 Is the purpose of the writing clear?

Organisation

 Does the text use paragraphs appropriately to organise the ideas?

 Does the text use other organisational features of an article (for example, a title, introduction of the
topic)?
 Are the ideas presented in a logical order? Is the text easy to follow?
 Does the text use a variety of linking words or cohesive devices (such as although, and, but,
because, first of all, finally, as a result etc., and referencing language)?
 Is punctuation used correctly?

Language

 Does the text use a range of vocabulary?

 Does the text use a range of simple grammar accurately (such as basic tenses and simple clauses)?
 Does it use some complex grammatical structures (such as relative clauses, passives, modal forms
and tense contrasts)?
 Is the spelling accurate enough for the meaning to be clear?

You see this notice on an English-language website:

FILMS
 What kind of films do you enjoy?
Do you prefer watching them at the cinema or at home? Why?
Write an article answering these questions and we will put it on our website!

Write your article.

------Step 1: Analyse your task quickly

Task analysis is very simple. All you have to do is two things:

Firstly, find the questions you have to answer in your task.

FILMS
What kind of films (question 1) do you enjoy?
Do you prefer watching them at the cinema or at home? Why? (question 2)
Write an article answering these questions and we will put it on our website!

Secondly, find the topic of the article (which in this example is Films & Cinema)

So, now you need to brainstorm all the vocabulary that you can think of related to films.

For example: animated, romantic films, a big fan, drama, adventure movies, popcorn,
screen, Netflix

If you prepare some words in advance, it will be much easier for you to write an article!

------Step 2: Add a Title

Every excellent article starts with a good title, don’t worry though it doesn’t have to be
super special or super interesting. It is okay if your title is simple and just gives a general idea
of what the article is about.

Here you can see three examples of a title

Home cinema or the big screen?

How to best watch the films you love?

Home or cinema — How do you watch your favourite films?

As you can see two titles started with how … – how–to articles are just very popular so it is
good idea to use that form for your title.

-------Step 3: Introduction

The role of the introduction is mainly to catch the reader’s attention, it can be done in the
simplest way by asking a question. Why this way is good? Because at the same time, you
will show the examiners that you can use the present perfect tense.
Here you can see example introduction

Have you ever screamed (present perfect) during a horror film? Or have you
watched (present perfect) a comedy and laughed until you cry?

-------Step 4: Body (answering the questions)

Here you answer the main questions that we identified in Step 1.

1. What kind of films do you enjoy?

2. Do you prefer watching them at the cinema or at home? Why?

Remember these paragraphs should be the longest in your text and they should contain most
of the information.

Also, we use the vocabulary that we prepared earlier in Step 1.

animated, romantic films, a big fan, drama, adventure movies, popcorn, screen, Netflix

See the example answer below, with additional annotations you may find useful:

I know many people who love animated or romantic films, but for me, there is nothing better
than an amazing drama or adventure movie (answer 1) like ‘Indiana Jones’ because I’m a big
fan of stories with fascinating plot.

In my opinion, watching a film at home isn’t the same as going to the cinema (answer 2) to
enjoy a great movie on a huge screen with popcorn and cola. (answer 2) If it wasn’t so
expensive, I would go every week.

– vocabulary related to topic of films/cinema

– interesting grammar

-------Step 5: Final sentence

Finish your article with a nice final sentence. It doesn’t have to be anything special you can
simply summarize your article or you can also try to be a little bit funny or end in a
more surprising way.

Everybody loves films, I think you can enjoy them anywhere, even if not at the cinema, it’s
still Netflix!
 Remember: the more interesting your article is the higher your marks might get!

Model Article:

Home cinema or the big screen?

Have you ever cried at the cinema? Or have you watched a comedy and laughed until you
cry?
I know many people who love animated or romantic films, but for me, there is nothing better
than an amazing drama or adventure movie like ‘Indiana Jones’ because I’m a big fan of
stories with fascinating plot.
In my opinion, watching a film at home isn’t the same as going to the cinema to enjoy a great
movie on a huge screen with popcorn and cola. If it wasn’t so expensive, I would go every
week.
Everybody loves films, I think you can enjoy them anywhere, even if not at the cinema, it’s
still Netflix!

Student’s Answer:

Films
There are many types of films, most adults like to watch romance films and most children
likes to watch cartoons but for me, I like to watch romance and musical films.
I prefer watching them at the cinema because of the sound effects and the screens are so much
bigger than our house one, sometimes the film even look so real. When you are going to an
outting with your friends, you can buy the food and the drinks there but I don’t like to eat the
popcorn there.
However, when my parents don’t want to go to the cinema, I have no choice but to watch it at
home.

Grade: 4-5/5

Content: 5
Communicative Achievement: 4
Organisation: 4
Language: 4

B1 Preliminary (PET) Article: Things to Focus On

The examiners are looking at the following criteria:

Language Communication
This part of the assessment focuses on the use of They are looking at the communication of
vocabulary and grammar. ideas; it must be clear, relevant to the question
and the target reader, use good simple language
You need to show flexibility in their use and also
include cohesive devices such as because, as, but, with some complex grammar.
however, for example, like, and, in addition etc.

To get a good grade in this part your grammar and

vocabulary need to be accurate, appropriate and
easy to understand.

Organization Content
The organisation aspect of the evaluation refers All of the content in the writing should be
to how clearly you present your ideas. aimed at answering the question.

If it is a letter, it must resemble a letter. You need It should be easy to understand and also take
to do it with paragraphs, the paragraphs must not into account who is reading it. E.g. if it is a
be too short and they need to be set into separate letter to a friend, it must
topics. be informal and familiar.

If you write a story it can be all in one paragraph

but it needs to include a beginning, middle and
end.

ARTICTLE B1 Preliminary (PET): Useful Phrases & Expressions

Engaging the reader:

Have you ever thought about…?

How would you feel if …?
What would you think of…?
Are you one of those people who …?
If the answer is …, you should….
What do you reckon to …?
What would live be like if…
Just think for a moment…
Just imagine…

Making the article lively and interesting (use adverbs):

importantly
surprisingly
worryingly
the most amazing
absolutely
suddenly
amazingly
fantastically
frighteningly

Developing your points:

Another advantage of …
On top of all that…
What is more, …
Above all,,,
The reason I think this is…
The reason I feel this way is…
On top of that, …
Let’s start with …

Giving your own opinion:

In my opinion, …
In my eyes, …
To my mind, …
As far as I am concerned, …
Speaking personally, …
From my point of view, …
As for me / As to me, …
My view / opinion / belief / impression / conviction is that …
I hold the view that …
I would say that …
It seems to me that …
I am of the opinion that …
My impression is that …
I am under the impression that …
It is my impression that …
I have the feeling that …
My own feeling on the subject is that …
I have no doubt that …
I am sure / I am certain that …
I think / consider / find / feel / believe / suppose / presume / assume / reckon that …
I hold the opinion that …
I dare say that …
I guess that …
I bet that ….
I gather that …
It goes without saying that ….

Justifying opinions

because…
the reason is…
the reason I believe that is…
the facts suggest…
the evidence shows…
taking into account what I have seen…

Making recommendations and suggestions:

It would be a good idea to…

Wouldn’t it be better to…?
Why don’t we…?
What about… ?
How about… ?
Shouldn’t we… ?
Let’s consider…
Why not… ?

HOMEWORK:

You have seen this advertisement in the school magazine.

Restaurant
Which is the best restaurant you have ever been to?
Write an article giving your opinions.
The best articles will be published in the magazine.
Write your article in about 100 words.

You have seen this advertisement in the school magazine.

 Technology
Is technology a good thing or a bad thing?
Write an article giving your opinions.
The best articles will be published in the magazine.
Write your article in about 100 words.

You have seen this advertisement in the school magazine.

Your Favourite Possession

We would like to know something about your favourite possession.
Write an article for the school magazine explaining why this possession is so special to you.
The best articles will be published in the magazine.
Write your article in about 100 words.