This is a high-scoring sample answer for the following Cambridge C1 Advanced Writing Part 2 email. For collocations about sport, go here. Below, is a list of less common vocabulary with definitions. Read the sample answer, then send me your essay in the comments. I will give you a quick score and also some comments if I have time. Start today, unless you’re struggling for ideas.
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C1 Advanced Writing Part 2 Quiz: Are You the Best?
C1 Advanced Part 2 Essay Sample Answer
You recently spent a week at an adventure sports centre. A friend is thinking of going to the same place and has sent you an email asking about your experiences there.
Reply to your friend, giving information and advice.
In your email, you should
explain what you did at the place
describe your feelings during your stay
advise your friend about going there.
Write your email.
Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.
Hi,
How’re you doing? Hope all is good with you and you’re keeping well.
Just replying about the adventure week you asked about. Here’s my take on things.
The place is great, you can lots of amazing things there, such as sailing, diving, caving, climbing as well as special activities they lay on sometimes. We had a team treasure hunt which took place over the whole side of a mountain. We didn’t win though.
I was really really tired for the first few days after I got there. I had lost a bit of sleep thinking about what it was going to be like and added to all the exercise I was suddenly doing, I was knackered. The rest of the week was a laugh, though. Excellent, in fact. The instructors are young and knowledgeable and used to coping with groups of young dudes who think they know it all. They’re sticklers for safety too, so don’t worry about that.
Knowing what I do now, if I were you, I would take plenty of warm clothes. Don’t worry about any equipment, they supply it all, but expect to get wet, even if you wear a wet suit. The food’s good too, but there’s not much in terms of snacks and so on, so if you tend to get the munchies or anything, take some of your faves to get you through. Oh, and I’d try to get there earlier rather than later, so you can have a better chance of getting a decent room, some of them are a bit basic.
Anyway, that just about covers it, so if you have any questions or anything, just get back to me when you want.
If I don’t speak to you before, have a great time and let me know how you get on.
Later
Alan
Remember to post your essay in the comments at the bottom of this page so I can give you a score!
Less Common Vocabulary for C1 Advanced Writing
to lay something on – to provide something such as food or activities
knackered – really tired
a laugh – a good time
dudes – young men
sticklers – a person who insists on a certain quality or type of behaviour
a wet suit – a suit for going diving underwater
munchies – needing to eat a snack, usually something sweet
faves – favourites
Even more vocabulary on technology is available here.
Remember to post your essay in the comments at the bottom of this page so I can give you a score!
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Hi, Cal. How have you been? How is everything going in your new home? Do you like your neighborhood? I hope you are feeling right with your starting new life. I am emailing you because I am excited about a new place I’ve found where we can maybe meet up and have a nice holiday in the future.
I’ve been for a week in an adventure sports centre called Sports for Fun. It was such a great experience; I could climb, swim, run and ride bicycles. Also there was a big skatepark and a big installation for parkour.
I really loved my stay in the centre, I’ve met new friends and I feel in my best shape ever. Although I was very nervous the first day, I started training and then, through the week, I’ve been experiencing more confidence, peace and joy. While I was taking advice from my trainers, I was improving my skills and meeting a bunch of people. It was a lot of fun and I’ve felt super connected to my new friends.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, take a look at the pictures I attached to you in this email: there is the biggest advanced swimmer pool I’ve ever seen. Make sure to wear your goggles and don’t miss the chance to swim, I’m sure you are going to love it!
Lots of love and speak you soon,
Carol
Hi Carol,
First of all, thank you for sending in your work, and apologies for the late reply.
This answer should give you a practice score of around 15, which equates to a Cambridge English Scale score of around 180 – 200, which is at the higher levels of C1.
Overall, I would say that you need to read the question thoroughly so you completely understand it. I know you’re pushed for time and a little nervous, but it is really important. In this case, it doesn’t change much, but in other questions it could be the difference between getting the score you need or not.
Content – 4
There are some minor omisions, such as 1/ asking how she is, when she’s just written to you, 2/not acknowledging receiving her email, 3/in the second paragraph, you introduce the centre, but that’s supposed to be what she’s written to you about, to ask you about the place… and so on. Another examiner could mark this as a 3.
Communicative Achievement – 4
Your ideas are well presented, but she’s your friend, so you should be more informal, using many more contractions and some slang. ‘I’ve been experiencing more confidence, peace and joy.’ is far too formal.
Organisation – 4
The third paragraph could be better organised, especially regarding the new friends. Also, in the first paragraph, you say – ‘I am emailing you because I am excited about a new place I’ve found where we can maybe meet up and have a nice holiday in the future.’ and at the end you say – ‘I’m sure you are going to love it!’ The first one sounds as if you are going together, the second as if she is going by herself. According to the question, she wants to go and is asking you for advice, which implies she’s going by herself.
Language – 3
Vocab – mostly fine
Grammar – consistent small errors that do not really change your meaning too much in this email, but you make the reader wonder when you wrote it. It varies between past simple (it’s all in the past) and past perfect (some of it’s still happening).
Well done, Carol. With more practice and help from an experienced tutor, you should be able to pass this part of your C1 Advanced writing. The more you practice, the more you know which errors you usually make, and you learn how to improve them. Good luck with your test!