Module 2. WRITING. Tips

Here is a comprehensive Writing Exam Guide designed for C1  and C2 levels.

I have structured this to show the progression in difficulty. C1 requires clear argumentation and organization. C2 requires synthesis, nuance, and style.

📝 C1/C2 Writing Exam: Health, Sports & Habits

1. The Core Difference

• C1 (Advanced): You must show you can organize an argument, use linking words effectively, and use complex grammar. You usually write about solutions to a problem.

• C2 (Proficiency): You must show sophistication. You are not just solving a problem; you are evaluating abstract concepts, reading between the lines, and using idiomatic language.

LEVEL 1: C1 ADVANCED (CAE)

Part 1: The Compulsory Essay

Time allowed: 45 minutes (approx.) Word count: 220–260 words

Instructions: You have attended a panel discussion on how to discourage bad habits and promote a healthy lifestyle among young professionals. You have made the notes below:

Methods to promote healthy lifestyles:Government Regulation (taxes on sugar/alcohol)Corporate Responsibility (gyms in offices)Media CampaignsSome opinions expressed in the discussion:"You can't force people to be healthy; it has to be a choice.""Companies lose money when employees are sick, so they should pay for the gyms.""Adverts are the only way to reach the smartphone generation."

Task: Write an essay discussing two of the methods in your notes. You should explain which method would be more effective, giving reasons in support of your answer.

📜 C1 Development & Tips

Structure Guide:

1. Introduction: Hook the reader. State the problem (sedentary lifestyles/bad habits) and outline the two methods you will discuss.

2. Paragraph 1 (Method A): Discuss Government Regulation. Use a linking word (Conversely, Furthermore). Acknowledge the "nanny state" argument but defend the health benefits.

3. Paragraph 2 (Method B): Discuss Corporate Responsibility. Focus on productivity and stress relief.

4. Conclusion: Weigh them up. Choose one as the winner.

Useful Vocabulary (C1):

• Sedentary lifestyle (Not moving much)

• Dietary requirements

• To take a toll on (To damage)

• Preventative measures

• Well-being

Part 2: The Proposal (C1 Elective)

Word count: 220–260 words

Task: You are a member of a local sports club that is losing members. The club director has asked you to write a proposal suggesting ways to modernize the club and attract younger people. You should mention:

• Current bad habits of the target demographic.

• New sports or classes to introduce.

• Improvements to the facility.

C1 Tip: Use headings! A proposal must look functional. Use persuasive language ("I strongly suggest," "It is vital that...").

LEVEL 2: C2 PROFICIENCY (CPE)

Part 1: The Compulsory Essay (The Synthesis Task)

Time allowed: 45 minutes (approx.) Word count: 240–280 words

Instructions: Read the two texts below. Write an essay summarizing and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.

Text 1: The Cult of Wellness The modern obsession with 'wellness' has morphed from a genuine desire for health into a status symbol. Expensive cold-pressed juices and boutique spin classes exclude the majority of the population, turning health into a luxury commodity. Furthermore, the relentless pursuit of the 'perfect body' often masks a deeper psychological malaise, fostering anxiety rather than alleviating it. True health is becoming lost in the noise of consumerism.

Text 2: The Inertia of Comfort While some obsess over kale, the silent majority is succumbing to the inertia of modern convenience. The ubiquity of delivery apps and streaming services has engineered movement out of our daily existence. The human body, designed for endurance and agility, is atrophying in ergonomic chairs. It is not merely a physical decay, but a mental one; without the discipline of physical exertion, our resilience to stress crumbles.

Task: Write your essay.

📜 C2 Development & Tips

How to tackle this: Unlike C1, you don't just pick points. You must synthesize (combine) the ideas.

• Text 1 Idea: Health has become elitist and commercialized.

• Text 2 Idea: Technology has made us lazy and mentally weak.

• Synthesis: Both texts discuss the extremes of modern health—one is obsessive/expensive, the other is neglectful/lazy.

Structure Guide:

1. Introduction: Introduce the polarization of modern health (obsession vs. neglect).

2. Body Para 1 (Summary): Summarize the contrast. Use C2 verbs (Text 1 critiques the commercialization..., while Text 2 laments the sedation of society...).

3. Body Para 2 (Evaluation): Do you agree? Is wellness really a "cult"? Is technology to blame? Add your nuance.

4. Conclusion: A sophisticated closing thought on finding balance.

Useful Vocabulary (C2 - The "Wow" Factor):

• To morph into (Change)

• Ubiquity (Being everywhere)

• Atrophying (Muscles wasting away)

• Malaise (A general feeling of discomfort/illness)

• A double-edged sword

Part 2: The Review (C2 Elective)

Word count: 280–320 words

Task: A health magazine has invited readers to submit a review of a "Bad Habit Breaker" method they have tried (e.g., a detox diet, a fitness app, a mindfulness retreat, or a cold-turkey approach). Your review should:

• Describe the method vividly.

• Evaluate its psychological impact.

• Critique whether it offers a sustainable lifestyle change or just a quick fix.

C2 Tip: Don't just say "It was good." Be critical. Be cynical. Use humor.

• Instead of: "It was hard."

• Say: "The first three days were an exercise in sheer masochism."

🚀 Vocabulary Upgrade: From C1 to C2

Here is how to upgrade your language for the topic of Health/Habits.

Concept	C1 Word/Phrase	C2 Word/Phrase
Healthy	Fit / In good shape	A robust constitution
Exercise	Working out	Physical exertion / Vigorous activity
Bad Habit	Addiction / Bad routine	A detrimental vice / A compulsive behavior
Tiredness	Exhaustion	Fatigue / Lethargy / Burnout
Eating	Diet / Food intake	Nutritional regimen / Dietary sustenance
Laziness	Being lazy	Sedentary inertia / Idleness
Result	Outcome	Ramifications / Repercussions

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Teacher's Final Advice for your Students:

1. For C1 Students: Focus on Connectors. Make sure every paragraph flows into the next. If I remove your linking words, the essay should fall apart.

2. For C2 Students: Focus on Nominalisation. Turn verbs into nouns to sound more academic.

   • Verb: "People do not exercise enough, so they get sick."

   • Noun (C2): "The lack of physical exercise is the primary driver of illness."

3. For Both: Never use the word "Thing". It is the enemy of good writing. Use factor, aspect, element, issue, notion, concept.