The New ECPE Writing Section – Webinar

Watch this webinar recording in preparation for the first administration of the revised ECPE. Michigan Language Assessment team members present an overview of the revised writing task and teaching strategies to help students succeed on the revised ECPE Writing Section.

Viewers :

-gain a useful framework for teaching writing focusing on C2 skills

-learn about the revision of the ECPE writing section, including the new writing task

-learn about the new scoring rubric

-learn about other resources available to develop writing skills at the C2 level.

In this webinar recording, you will learn all about the new ECPE Writing Section. We will provide a breakdown of each possible task format, the new source information provided to test takers, as well as the new rating scale. You’ll also be able to see how the new rating criteria are applied to actual test taker responses.

Michigan Language Assessment

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The revised ECPE exam * as of May 2021

May 2021 ECPE Test Specifications
The following table provides detailed information about the ECPE revisions. Refer to the notes column to see the specific changes or an indication that there is no change to that part of the exam. The updated exams will remain at the same proficiency level, and the overall level of difficulty and standards will not change. The revised exams will be offered for the first time in May 2021. Until then, the tests will remain exactly the same.

Download the New Specifications with example items :Download

Visit our ECPE section for more tips HERE

source :  michiganassesment.org

The New ECPE Writing Section – Webinar

In this webinar recording, you will learn all about the new ECPE Writing Section. We will provide a breakdown of each possible task format, the new source information provided to test takers, as well as the new rating scale. You’ll also be able to see how the new rating criteria are applied to actual test taker responses.

Michigan Language Assessment

The revised ECPE exam – as of May 2021

ECPE Sample Test BookletDownload

The revised ECCE and ECPE sample tests are full-length samples that include a test booklet with the listening and reading sections of each test, separate files with writing and speaking prompts for each test, audio files for the listening sections, and a sample answer sheet. Additionally, there are sample responses with commentary for the speaking and writing sections of both tests.

Download all the files  HERE

source :  michiganassesment.org

English Proficiency Essays (ECPE – LRN CPE) – useful phrases

First watch the videos on Essay Writing Tips HERE

USEFUL PHRASES FOR WRITING PROFICIENCY ESSAYS

Introducing the phenomenon to be discussed

More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………
Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.
This raises the issue of whether ……………..
Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that …………….

Stating your opinion
As I see it,
It seems to me that ………… I would also say that ….
I am convinced that ……………
I am inclined to believe that ………………
There is no doubt in my mind that ………………
One of the drawbacks of ……. is ……….
However, one of the benefits is that …………

Changing topic
As regards the causes for this, …………..
Concerning the causes for this, ………
As for the causes, ………..

Presenting arguments
One justification often given for ……….. is that……………..
Advocates/Proponents would claim that ………………
Those who object to …………….. often argue that ……………….
Another objection is that ……
However, it should not be forgotten that …………..
……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that ……………..
From the point of view of ……………..
According to ………………..

Describing causes
One factor which has led to ………… is …………..
One of the factors which has brought this about is ………
The problem often stems from ………………..
The situation has been exacerbated by …………….
………….. has only made the situation worse.
One consequence of ……………. is …………….

Proposing steps and measures
As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ………
The first step to be taken would be to ……..
To alleviate the situation people should ………..
In addition they ought to ……………
To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to ……….
………….. would certainly ameliorate the situation.
This can only be dealt with if …………
To overcome this problem, …………..
Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve.
Individuals can do a great deal to …………
The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of ……..
It is vitally important that ………
Legislation should be introduced to control ……………..
It would be a grave error if we ……………..

Concluding
All in all it seems to me that ………..
The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that …………………..
All things considered, ………….
On balance, I tend to believe that …………
The world would surely be a better place to live in if …………..
If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a ……………
The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….

Source :  Fullspate

Do you know how to structure an essay?

Some useful videos with study notes and activity sheets  to help students with essay writing :

Writing Task Response

Essay topics are of general interest and relate to current issues in society. You can expect to be asked about:
The Media
Education
Environment
Health
Communication
Technology
Society  READ MORE

DOWNLOAD Study Notes for this lesson

DOWNLOAD Activity Sheet for this lesson 

How to organise your ideas in a paragraph

In this episode we will learn about Coherence – the logical organisation of ideas through paragraphing and sequencing; and Cohesion – the organisation of language, or how sentences are connected and related. These are criteria used to assess Writing Tasks. READ MORE

DOWNLOAD Study Notes for this lesson
DOWNLOAD Activity Sheet for this lesson

Question Tasks and Topics in Writing

In this episode we will learn about question topics, which can be any topic of general interest and question tasks, which determine the style of essay you need to write.

What are the questions likely to be about?
Media, censorship, privacy or the influence of advertising.
Education, testing, computers or public and private education.
Environment, eco-tourism, global warming or pollution.
Health, obesity, alternative medicine, exercise or diet.
Communication, the internet or mobile phones.
Society, youth issues, juvenile delinquency or ageing populations.  READ MORE

DOWNLOAD Study Notes for this lesson

DOWNLOAD Activity Sheet for this lesson