In Part 2 you choose one of several tasks, and the article is a popular one. You answer an announcement in a magazine or on a website that asks readers about their experiences and opinions on a topic.
Your readers chose to read it, so it has to be engaging: a catchy title, a lively voice and a personal touch. The register is usually neutral or informal, depending on the publication.
The announcement usually asks two or three questions. They are your content points, so answer each one fully, with reasons and examples. A question like What advice would you give? needs real, practical advice, not a vague comment.
Start with a title that makes people want to read on, then an opening that speaks to the reader: a rhetorical question, a surprising fact or a bold statement. Your first two lines decide whether anyone reads the third.
Unlike an essay, an article is personal and opinionated. Share your experiences, use you to involve the reader and let your feelings show. Contractions and phrasal verbs are welcome; slang and text-speak are not.
Match the publication: a teen magazine can be chattier than an education website.
Plan a short introduction, one paragraph per question and a memorable ending. Link the paragraphs so the piece reads as a whole: What's more, On top of that, That said, Above all, In the end.
Vivid vocabulary beats safe words: breathtaking, rewarding, a real challenge. Mix your structures too: rhetorical questions, conditionals (If you've never tried it, ...), not only... but also, and an idiom or two where it sounds natural.
Examiners use four criteria: Content (every question answered), Communicative Achievement (engaging, with the right tone for the readers), Organisation (clear paragraphs, smooth links) and Language (range and accuracy).
Traps to avoid: an essay with a title on top, no title at all, only two of the three questions answered, or an ending with no final thought for the reader.
You see this notice on a website for young people: "Getting outside. How much time do you spend outdoors? What is your favourite outdoor activity, and why? How could young people be encouraged to spend more time outside?" Write an article answering these questions.
Switch Off and Step Outside Be honest: how many hours did you spend looking at a screen yesterday? If you're anything like me, the answer is probably too many. Until last year, I hardly ever went outside except to walk to school. Now I spend almost every weekend outdoors, and it's all thanks to a bike. It started when a friend persuaded me to join her mountain-biking group. I fell off twice on my first ride, but racing down a forest track was an incredible feeling. What I love most is that you can't think about anything else while you're riding, so it's the perfect way to switch off. So how can we get more young people outdoors? Schools could organise weekend trips, and towns could turn empty land into free sports areas. Above all, though, we need company. Nobody wants to go hiking alone, but with friends it becomes an adventure. Next time you reach for your phone, why not grab your trainers instead? You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.
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