·Three answers, one social network
Aptis General, Writing, part three. A forum or a social network, three questions, and three answers of thirty to forty words each. Part 3 targets B1, and its score goes from zero to five. We will see why answering all three comes first, how to structure each answer with opinion, reason and example, which linkers to use and how many words to write. The facts come from the descriptors and the guide; the advice is our reading.
1/4Answer what they ask
The mark is set by how many of the three answers are on topic. Three answers on topic, a four. Two, a three. Only one, a one. That is half of the mark for this part. So the first thing is to read each question and answer what it asks: if it asks why, you give a reason; if it asks whether you agree, you say yes or no. Do not wander off the point or copy the question. And do not leave any unanswered, even with a short answer: an on-topic answer is worth more than a blank one.
2/4Opinion, reason and example
In thirty or forty words there is room for a three-step structure. First, your opinion or direct answer, in one sentence. Second, a reason, with because. Third, an example or a detail, with for example. Look at this model. The question is whether you prefer living in a city or in a town. Answer: I prefer living in a city because there are more things to do. For example, I can go to the cinema or to a concert near my house. That is about thirty words. Notice that each sentence does one thing, and that the structure works for almost any question.
3/4Basic linkers
To reach a four, the descriptors ask for simple linkers that organise the answers in sequence. With and, but, because, so and also you have enough. And adds. But contrasts. Because explains the cause. So indicates the consequence. Also adds one more idea. And to put things in order, first, then and finally. You do not need advanced linkers: a simple linker used well is better than a complicated one used badly. And watch the punctuation: but and so are used after a comma if they join two full sentences: I like cities, but I prefer villages.
4/4How many words to write
Each answer should have between thirty and forty words. Not ten, which is a text-message length and falls short, nor fifty, which is going over and brings more errors. A practical reference: an opinion sentence of about eight words, a sentence with the reason of about twelve, and a sentence with an example of about twelve, and you are already near thirty-five. Count the words of each answer before you hand in. And if you do not have time for all three, it is better to have an answer of twenty words in each than two of forty and one blank.
·To practise
To practise, take three forum questions, for example about living in a city, about sport and about social media. Write an answer of thirty to forty words to each one, with opinion, reason and example and at least one linker. Count the words and check that you have answered all three. If you have doubts, you can get feedback in the AptisBot bot.