Revision for the Writing Test

1. Revision for the Writing Test Watch and listen carefully.

2. Writing Test • You will do two writing tests and a spelling test and all these added together will make your writing score which is out of 50 marks. Don’t lose marks by forgetting the following:

3. VCOP • Vocabulary • Connectives • Openers • Punctuation

4. Vocabulary • Don’t use boring words! Don’t write said or nice or big but bellowed or exquisite or gigantic!

5. Connectives • To be a level 4 remember to use a range of connectives eg however, subsequently, as a result, therefore, furthermore, thus consequently, lastly, finally or eventually.

6. Openers • Start all sentences with a different word so it is not then, then and then or I, I and I! • Think about your sentences before you write!

7. Punctuation • Show the marker you can use: • full stops . • commas , • apostrophe Jim’s coat I’m • speech marks, “Hello” • exclamation marks ! • question marks ? • ellipses …

8. Level 5 • Can you also use • Dash • Hyphen • Colon • Semi colon • Brackets • If you can… you should!

9. Paragraphs • Organise your work into paragraphs and can you link the flow of your text so it all makes sense and follows on in a chronological and logical manner.

10. Get marks • Up to 20 marks are for making it lively, interesting and imaginative. • 12 marks for sentence structure and punctuation. • 8 marks for organisation.

11. Spelling and handwriting • Then spelling is worth up to 7 marks so listen carefully and try hard. • Handwriting is worth 3 marks. • Try to ensure people can read it clearly.

12. Types of writing • There are lots of different types of writing and you have to do 2. One will be fiction and one will be non fiction.

13. Recount • A recount tells you about something that has happened in the past. It may include personal opinions or comments. Eg letters, diaries, newspaper articles and news reports.

14. Instructions • Instructions tell you how to do something in a step by step way with imperative verbs and clear instructions. Eg instructions for a board game, building models, recipes, directions, how to repair something.

15. Non-chronological report • Non-chronological reports give facts about a subject eg encyclopedias, information books, posters, leaflets and travel guides.

16. Explanation • Explanations tell the reader how or why things happen or how and why something works eg leaflets, posters, manuals, letters, diagrams and information books.

17. Persuasion • Persuasive writing will try to influence the way someone thinks about a person or subject eg advertising posters, articles, leaflets and SPAM email.

18. Balanced argument/discussion • Both viewpoints are given and the readers are left to make up their own mind eg newpaper articles, newspaper letter pages, magazines, information leaflets and posters.

19. Story • Introduce characters and setting. • Build up to the characters doing something. • Problem • Resolution • Ending

20. CHECK YOUR WORK • Leave some time to read your work to yourself and you will probably see any mistakes you need to change. Remind yourself of the VCOP things you haven’t used yet!

21. Well done • If you can work at a steady pace and think about your writing in the planning time and before you write you should do really well!