Bailey.Academic_Writing

Writing Tests
These tests can be used to assess different aspects of writing
performance. The accuracy tests (1 and 3) check the use of
particular word classes such as conjunctions or prepositions.
Students having difficulties with, for example, articles, should look at
the relevant unit in Part 3. The second test assesses cohesion and
test 4 is a comparison. They can be used in the classroom or for selfassessment.
WRITING TEST 1
(Accuracy)
Read the text for gist and then complete it by writing one word
in each gap.
Most overseas students who come to study
a) . . . . . . . . . . English-speaking countries find that
their first b) . . . . . . . . . . is listening. Understanding c)
. . . . . . . . . . many forms of spoken English is more d)
. . . . . . . . . . than they expected.
e) . . . . . . . . . ., after a month f) . . . . . . . . . . two, the
majority find that their listening g) . . . . . . . . . ., and their
next concern is speaking. This skill is more difficult to
practise, so improvement h) . . . . . . . . . . to be slower. But
i) . . . . . . . . . . three or four months most students find that
j) . . . . . . . . . . can function quite k) . . . . . . . . . . in terms of
shopping and travelling.
A l) . . . . . . . . . . area of difficulty is writing, which is
possibly the m) . . . . . . . . . . difficult skill to master,
n) . . . . . . . . . . it is more impersonal than oral/aural
skills and depends o) . . . . . . . . . . the student learning
a complex series of conventions. This explains p)
. . . . . . . . . . many students find it q) . . . . . . . . . . to attend
r) . . . . . . . . . . intensive course in academic English s)
. . . . . . . . . . they begin t) . . . . . . . . . . university studies.
WRITING TEST 2
(Cohesion)
The parts of sentences below make two paragraphs which
compare speaking with writing. Some parts are already
numbered. Fill in the remaining numbers. Use internal clues and
punctuation to help you find the correct order.
SPEAKING AND WRITING
1) When we speak, it is normally to one or
. . .) to study our listeners’ faces for expressions which tell