TIPS TO WRITE AN ESSAY

Writing an Essay at the CPE Cambridge exam:

-   Read both pieces of text.

-   Underline the 2 key points in each paragraph , points 1+2 and 3+4.

-   Decide how far you agree with these points.

-   List some relevant ideas.

-   Plan your answer in 4 or 5 paragraphs.

Layout of an essay :

-          Introduction ( short summary of both pieces of text)

-          Paragraph 1 summarising points 1 and 2

-          Paragraph 2 summarising points 3 and 4

-          Conclusion 

Sentence openers :

-          The first text suggests that…..

-         
The second text raises the issue of …..

-          The writer is of the opinion that….

-          Additionally, it is ragued that…..

-          The two texts contrast differing views of…..

-          According to the first passage…….

-          Personaly, i …………….

-          The second text put forward……

-          I believe that………

-          In conclusuon , it is my opinion that……

Linking points and arguments

-          As opposed to

-          In the sense that…..

-          For this reason……..

Making generalisations :

-          On the whole….

-          In general…..

-          For the most part….

-          As a rule……

-          It is often that….

-          It is usually the case that…..

-          People to regard…..

-          The reality is that…..

Being specific:

-          With respect to...

-          In the case of...

-          As regards...

-          In terms of….

-          With the exception of…..

-          From the ….. point of view….

-          They are seen as…..

-          As far as ……are / is concerned……

Raising an argument:

-          Considering…..

-          On the question of….

-          No one would dispute…….

Giving one side:

-          One argument in favour of this is ….

-          In support of…..

-          It is true that……

Giving the other side:

-          At the same time….

-          In actual fact…..

-          On the other hand….

-          In contrast to….

-          Set/ weighed against this is…..

Attitude :

-          Personally...

-          Unfortunately...

-          Obviously...

-          Evidently...

-          Presumably...

-          Naturally...

-          fortunately..

Quantity:

-          a great deal of...

-          to some / a large extent...

-          a large number of….

By SYB

IDIOMS FROM A TO Z

Using different English Idioms will help you to impress the examiner in the CPE Speaking Exam. You can also use idioms in your writings but take into consideration that idioms are informal. This means that it is a good idea to use them in a friendly letter or in a light-hearted article, but not in a formal document like an essay or a report. Click to see How to write a Report and How to write an Essay.

List of idioms from A to Z

A

A chink in sb´s armour.
Example: She is the best student in the class but her poor spelling is the chink in her armour.



B

Spill the beans.
Example: I know you have a secret. C´mon tell me. Spill the beans.

C

Let the cat out of the bag.
Example: You are not good at keeping secrets. Tell us now. Let the cat out of the bag.





That´s the way the cookie crumbles.
Example: I can´t believe she decided to go to the graduation dance with Sam instead of me. But well, that´s the way the cookie crumbles.



D

Look like a million dollars.
Example: She looks amazing in her new dress. She looks like a million dollars.

E

Let´s play it by ear.
Example: Let´s make no plans for today. Let´s just play it by ear.



A white elephant.
Example: Nobody uses the computer in the teachers´ room. It´s a white elephant.


F

Fair-weather friend.
Example: He is never there when I need him. 
He is a fair-weather friend.



G

Sour grapes. 

H

Learn something by heart.

Example: When we were at school our teacher made us memorise the multiplication table. I learnt it by heart.

I

The tip of the iceberg.







K

Kith and kin.

L

M

Once in a blue moon.

Example: I don´t see him too often. He comes to visit once in a blue moon.

N

On cloud nine.
Example: She has just got the promotion she wanted and she is on cloud nine.

O

On the house.

Example: We don´t need to pay for that bottle of wine. The restaurant will pay for it. It´s on the house.

Is on me.

Example: I will pay for everybody´s drinks. They are on me.

P

A hot potato.
Example: The issue has become a political hot potato.


R

Like a red rag to a bull. Example: Asking about her ex-boyfriend was like a red rag to a bull. She got really angry all of a sudden.


S

Move at a snail´s pace.

Example: I arrived late because the train was moving at a snail´s pace.

Get something out of one´s system.



T

Bark up the wrong tree.

Example: Sorry I can´t help you with your homework. I´m bad at mathematics. You are barking up the wrong tree.

W

Under the weather.
Example: Claudia is not going to school today because she´s feeling a bit under the weather.

Have a whale of a time.
Example: We had a whale of a time in Mexico. Yes, indeed, it was a fantastic trip.




Visit our Facebook Page for more idioms!

MEDICAL VOCABULARY: PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS

Learning these medical vocabulary will help you when taking the CAE and CPE exams. Knowing this vocabulary will prove useful when dealing with the Reading and Use of English Papers.

A SLIPPED DISC

A SPLITTING HEADACHE

Example: Are you going to the party? 

No, sorry. I´ve got a splitting headache. 

I feel like going to bed early tonight.

A SPRAINED ANKLE
Example: He won´t be in the office until next week. He´s on medical leave because of a sprained ankle.










A TORN LIGAMENT

EYE STRAIN

Example: If the problem is eye strain, I think you should turn off the computer and take a good rest. You should go to see the doctor tomorrow.

TENNIS ELBOW

WRITER'S CRAMP

Example: Many people who work at a computer develop writer´s cramp, which causes pain in the fingers, wrist and forearm.

Surf our web for more vocabulary practice. We recommend "Idioms from A to Z". 

IDIOMS: PARTS OF THE BODY

Improve your level of English. Learn these idioms with parts of the body.

BE A PAIN IN THE NECK

Example: I can't stand those naughty children. They are a pain in the neck.

BREAK A LEG

Example: Very good luck in the show. 

Break a leg !

COST AND ARM AND A LEG

Example: That new Bruno Mars CD was very expensive. It cost me an arm and a leg.

IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER

Example: I talked to him but he didn´t listen. I think my words went in one ear and out the other.

ITCHY FEET

Example: I´m getting itchy feet again. I´m bored with the city. I´m planning to travel again soon.

HAVE A BIG MOUTH

Example: I would never tell Elena a secret. She has a big mouth.

KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND

Example: I know exactly how he is going to react. I know him like the back of my hand.

LEARN SOMETHING BY HEART

Example: In the school they expected us to have a very good memory. They made us learn the names of the planets by heart.

LOSE YOUR HEAD

Example: Try to stay focus. Calm down, don't lose your head.

SWEET TOOTH

Example: My grandmother loves apple pies, cakes and all kinds of desserts really. She definitely has a sweet tooth.

TURN A BLIND EYE TO SOMETHING

Example: I think they teacher let us copy in the exam. Really, she just turned a blind eye to it.

CAE/CPE Vocabulary practice

You need to improve your English to be ready to take the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate in Proficiency in English (CPE) University of Cambridge exams. 

Try doing these Idioms and Vocabulary exercises and then visit our pages to check your answers. Very good luck in successfully passing these English exams. 

Father´s Day Post. Idioms and phrasal verbs

"Such father, such son" goes the saying. I´m not so sure about that. I reckon I´m not exactly a chip off the old block. I mean I don´t think I take after my dad a lot. But I learnt that´s not necessarily a bad thing, we are different but we appreciate each other a lot.

We are celebrating Father´s Day in this part of the world tomorrow (3rd Sunday of June) and I got mine a Bruno Mars CD (mind you it cost me an arm and a leg and I hope he likes it!). What did you get yours? :)

CPE REPORT SAMPLE

CPE Exam. Write a report 280-320 words

You belong to an international film club and have been asked to write a report for the club members including information about the main events held over the last twelve months, the present plans for activities in the coming years and a summary of the current financial position of the club in respect of money received and payments made.

The international film club annual report (title)

The aim of this report is to give our club members an overview of the current annual activity and inform you of our future projects for the coming year. In addition, we have included an insight of our financial annual budget. (Note: Reports tend to be formal in style, so avoid using contractions)

Events of the year (subheading/ or subtitle)

The growing enthusiasm for Italian films is such that we considered necessary to organise a whole weekend on the subject. No need to say that organising it was really worth the effort. We had a high number of members participating who enjoyed a wide range of films courtesy of our Italian partners.

Additionally to this event, we achieved great success in our annual dinner. Not only new contracts were signed with our current international partners but also with many new ones.

Extending our video library (subheading/ or subtitle)

Due our successful meetings, which included a talk by a famous film director, we are now going to be able to provide our club with a large quantity of new films.

For that, we plan to build an extension of the video library for next year with a section dedicated to all these new Italian films.

Healthy finances (subheading/ or subtitle)

It can be said that our financial position this year is in good stead:

- We have been granted 15000€ by the national organisation to help us develop a more enriched library.

- 32 new members have subscribed this year.

As a result, the coming money amounts to more than 20000€ this year

Regarding the expenses:

- The films rentals cost no more than 5000€ this year

- We have reduced  on stationery  expenditures spending only 700€

Conclusion

Our activity is really blooming and there is no doubt that our project will be undertaken for the coming year trouble free. We also believe your ideas will be helpful to make the club still more enjoyable. Therefore we suggest taking a bit of your free time to fill the idea form available at the entrance of the club.

By SYB ( CPE blogger from France )

A LETTER OF APPLICATION (CAE)

This is an example of how to write an application letter for the CAE exam. The useful language is in bald. Very good luck in the exam!

Dear Sir

I am writing to you regarding a job advertisement I saw on my college bulletin board two days ago. I am really interested in applying for the position of children carer in your summer camp in the United States.

I am the right person to do the job as I have been working at public and private schools with kids and teenagers of different ages and backgrounds for over 20 years. I have got extensive experience in this field. I consider myself a well-trained and highly-qualified childminder and I assure you that I am capable of working with big groups of children.

In addition to this, I am a talented artist. I can teach the children to play the guitar and the violin as well as to make handicraft. It is important for young people to develop their creativity and find their natural talents.

I hope you will give my application serious consideration as consider myself a strong candidate. I have a great sense of responsibility and genuinly care about children. I also have a lot of pacience.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully
E.O

CAE: A CHARACTER REFERENCE LETTER

To whom it may concern.

Mariela Lopez

Mariela and I have been working at "Peru Travel" for about 15 years. She has proved to be a well-qualified travel agent during all the time she has rendered services to this company.

Mariela is the kind of person who can work with others as she displays sensitivity and sympathy. She is always willing to collaborate not only with the boss, but also with her colleagues. In addition, she has got a very strong sense of responsibility and rarely takes time off or asks for permission for personal matters.

I am certain that Mariela is the most elegible applicant for the travel agent position in your enterprise as she is a very organised person who is always informed of all the documents, files, tasks and formalities concerning her field. She can manage her time effectively and work under pressure. She is an industrious and innovative member who is capable of enhancing the name of the company. I assure you that she will know how to pursue all the goals your enterprise sets. 

From my point of view and for all the reasons I have outlined above, Mariela would be an asset as a travel agent in your company. She is devoted to her work and she enjoys it a lot. I have no hesitation in recommending her for the position.

E.O
( An English teacher/ guess blogger from Peru )

VOCABULARY: 5 IDIOMS TO DO WITH LOVE

First of all I want to apologise for not having posted anything in a while. I´m accommodating my best friend who lives in Dusseldorf -Germany while he is on holidays here in Lima, and that has kept me quite busy and apart from blogging. 

Todays´ post is inspired in a musical we went to see last night: "Sweet Charity". Have you seen it? Are love stories your cup of tea? I hope idioms are at least!

5 IDIOMS TO DO WITH LOVE

1 To find your better half

2 A match made in heaven

3 To be head over heels

4 To tie the knot 

5 To be the apple of someone´s eye