Back in 2019 I created a website called The Way Experience with resources for teachers that EOIs all around the country use to prepare their official students.
But then I realised that I could help a lot more people and I created EOI Por Libre to help you succeed at your EOI Exam.
One of the things that I have seen with my official students over the years and that I continue to see now with many of my students at EOI Por Libre is that they feel insecure in their writing test.
They want to have a Writing Guide to plan each kind of writing.They want to know which types of writing they can find in the exam, with specific examples. They want to use the right connectors. They want to make their writing stand out.
And I am pretty sure you probably share their concerns.
Alright! So, let’s get started and let’s keep it straight and to the point.
In the EOI exam you will find two types of writing tasks, a WRITTEN PRODUCTION TASK and WRITTEN INTERACTION TASK.
But, what is the difference between them?
A WRITTEN PRODUCTION TASK:
In the written production task, you will be asked to produce a text with a particular intent. It may be a letter to ask for information or a letter to the editor, or a composition in the form of an essay. A context or situation is sometimes provided, but not always. And you are not responding to any previous input.
WRITTEN PRODUCTION EXAMPLES ARE: an essay giving your opinion about online education, an article about eating trends, a restaurant review, or a proposal for a more eco-friendly city…
A WRITTEN INTERACTION TASK: This task is also called COPRODUCCIÓN.
As the name indicates, you’ll have to interact with someone, in written form, so you’ll need to respond to some kind of message that you have previously received.
Interactions usually come in the form of an email, a short letter, a request .
A context is always provided, and oftentimes you are given two or three points you need to refer to.
WRITTEN INTERACTION EXAMPLES ARE: An email asking you to provide tips for a trip, a request for information about what to do in your city, or a reply to a comment in an online forum about online education, consumerism or how to do your bit for the environment.
And this is very important. You will have to do both tasks, the production task and the interaction task.
And now pay attention to this:
In some autonomous communities you can choose between two options, usually in the interaction part, but in others, in most of them actually, you can’t choose.
Now, which are the types of writing tasks that you can find in the EOI EXAM?
9 TYPES OF POPULAR WRITING TASKS
- Formal Letters or Emails
Examples of formal letters are: a Letter to the editor, a complaint letter, or a letter to request information.
- Informal Letters or Emails
Examples of informal letters are: a Letter or email to a friend for travel arrangements, an email or letter to invite someone to a celebration, an email to plan
- Articles, to give your opinion, or to inform about a topic
As with any writing, make sure your introductory paragraph is engaging. Make sure your opening statement is disruptive or includes a rhetorical question. We’ll see this in depth in the video about articles.
- Reports
Now, what is a report? They’re usually official documents outlining the facts of a topic, typically written by someone assigned to investigate it.
Typical examples are:
- Description of a situation as it is now and recommendations about to improve it. For example, how to make your city more eco-friendly. Or how to make remote work more efficient in your company.
- Evaluation of data or analytics. Of charts and graphs describing a trend in education, in consumer habits or in how happiness is connected with income.
- Proposals
But, what is a proposal?
A proposal is “a detailed description of a series of activities aimed at solving a certain problem”. (Aquí poner: Description of activities to solve a problem)
A proposal is a way to pitch an idea and state your requirements.
For example, A proposal to improve your school, to make your city more eco-friendly, to ask for better sport facilities, and the like.
- Job Application Letter or Resume
Then we have job application letters, in which you offer your experience, your knowledge and your skills. So you need to know two things here:
The structure of an application letter and the nice structures and vocabulary and expressions that are going to make a difference.
And we’ll see all this in the video about application letters.
- Essays (Argumentative, Pros & Cons, For & Against)
Essays are easy when you have continuous practice and individual feedback.
- Reviews
What is a review?
A Review is basically somebody’s opinion about something: a book, a film, a theatre play, a concert or a restaurant.
A good piece of advice is to judge what you are reviewing for what it is, based on reasonable expectations. And to express your honest opinion, avoiding being nasty about it.
- Stories or anecdotes
And finally, stories or anecdotes.
There are other writings that you can find in the exam, like a biography, for example, or describing someone you admire, especially in B1 and B2, but they are less common.
THERE IS ONE THING THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO BE AWARE OF: How to use the GRAMMAR TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
And you may wonder… But how can I do this, Toya?
Look, each task has a different purpose, which means that you will need to use structures that are appropriate for that purpose, whether it is giving advice, giving your opinion, a recommendation, writing a proposal, and so on.
And I will tell you all about which structures to use for each kind of writing in the series that we have created for you at EOI Por Libre. A series of videos called: “EOI WRITING EXAM TASKS”, that will help you prepare for your EOI Writing Test, with clear, effective strategies to succeed in your writing exam.
In our free App you will find resources like readings, listenings and audios about the topics of the EOI Exam. You will also have scripts that you can read while you listen and that will help you expand your vocabulary, structures, phrasal verbs and collocations, so you can use them later more naturally.
I’m sure you’re gonna love it!! You can download it TOTALLY FREE.
And remember, PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT so keep up with the hard work and see you soon!
