Section B: The 90-Word Writing Task

Step 1: Strategic Selection

• Evaluate both question options and choose the one where you possess the most specific vocabulary and can easily manipulate the required tenses.

Step 2: Pre-Writing Planning

• Spend 2-3 minutes noting down key verbs for each time frame (e.g., a perfect tense verb for the past, a 'going to' structure for the future) and relevant connectives.

Step 3: Content Expansion

• Use the 'Opinion + Reason' formula for every bullet point to ensure development; for example, instead of just stating an activity, explain why it was enjoyable or boring.

Step 4: Linguistic Variety

• Incorporate intensifiers (e.g., 'very', 'quite'), negatives (e.g., 'never', 'not'), and conjunctions (e.g., 'however', 'because') to create a sophisticated flow.

• The 'Mention All' Rule: Always ensure you have written at least one sentence for every bullet point; missing a bullet point significantly caps your potential score for content.

• Tense Verification: After writing, perform a 'tense sweep' to confirm that the verb endings and auxiliary verbs correctly match the intended time frame of the bullet point.

• Word Count Management: Aim for approximately 90 words; while going slightly over is acceptable, being significantly under usually indicates a lack of development and variety.

• Third-Person Inclusion: To show higher-level control, try to include a sentence about someone else (e.g., 'my friend thinks...' or 'we went...') to demonstrate plural verb agreements.

• Tense Drift: A common error is starting a bullet point in the correct tense but drifting back into the present tense for the rest of the paragraph.

• Word-for-Word Translation: Attempting to translate complex English idioms directly into the target language often leads to nonsensical phrasing; aim for 'meaning transfer' using known structures.

• Ignoring Small Words: Forgetting essential small words like 'not' ($ne...pas$) or 'very' ($très$) can change the meaning of a sentence or make it appear overly simplistic.

• Over-complication: Trying to use overly complex grammar that hasn't been mastered can lead to 'communication breakdown' where the examiner cannot understand the message.