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Daedalus’s Wings · English · CAP and bac pro

Writing

No marks, no timer. Choose a card, do it, check it, think about your method, then record your result.

My pace → You can stop whenever you want: your answers are saved on this device.

Quick file

One precise point to review. For you if one situation needed more work.

Card 1

Key linking words

Choose the right linking word.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → and (adds an idea) · but (shows a contrast) · because (gives a cause) · so (gives a result) · however (shows a contrast, at the start of a sentence) · although (shows a contrast inside a sentence) · first, then, finally (to organise your ideas). First ask yourself how the ideas are linked.

Card 2

Past simple or present perfect?

Choose the correct form.

Card 3

Email phrases

Choose the right phrase.

After “Dear Mr Smith”, you end with…

Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully, Love,

To a colleague, at the end of a simple email:

Yours faithfully, To whom it may concern, Best wishes,

To thank someone before they help you:

I thank you before. Thank you in advance. Thanks for advance.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → In British English: Dear Mr/Ms + surname → Yours sincerely. Dear Sir or Madam (you don’t know the name) → Yours faithfully. Between colleagues: Best wishes, Kind regards. Keep a short list of ready-made phrases.

In-depth file

A step-by-step method. For you if the difficulty came back in two situations.

Card 1

Organising a work email

You are writing to a shop in the UK to ask for information.

Which order do you follow?

Only the details Greeting → reason for writing → details → request → ending Ending → greeting → details

Which sentence gives the reason for writing?

I am writing to ask about the opening hours of your shop. Hello, it’s me. I write you because.

Which request is the most polite?

I would be grateful if you could send me a brochure. Brochure now please!!! Send brochure.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → Five parts: Dear… / I am writing to… / the useful details / I would be grateful if you could… / I look forward to hearing from you + ending. Each part is one or two sentences long.

Card 2

From informal to formal

Rewrite it in formal English.

In formal English, “Thanks a lot!” becomes…

Cheers mate. Thank you very much for your help. Thx!!

In formal English, “Can’t come tomorrow” becomes…

No tomorrow. Cant come 2moro I am afraid I will not be able to attend tomorrow.

In formal English, “I wanna apply” becomes…

I gonna apply. I wants apply. I would like to apply.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → In formal writing: full forms (I am, I will not), no abbreviations (thx, 2moro), polite phrases (I am afraid, I would like). “Would” makes a request softer.

Card 3

Replying to a complaint

You reply to an unhappy customer for your company.

To apologise:

Sorry not sorry. It happens. We are very sorry for the inconvenience.

To explain:

Because. This was due to a problem with our supplier. We don’t know and we don’t care.

To offer a solution:

We will send you a replacement free of charge. Buy a new one. Call someone else.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → Three steps: apologise (We are sorry for…), explain without blaming anyone (This was due to…), offer a precise solution (We will…). End with a friendly sentence (We hope to see you again soon).

Full task file

A full task, like in the exam, cut into steps. For you if all three situations needed more work.

Card 1

Step 1 → choosing your topic and finding ideas

In the exam, you choose between two topics: one about everyday life, one about work.

In the CAP exam, how many topics are you given?

Only one topic. Two: one about everyday life, one about work. Three topics.

For a text of 60 to 80 words, how many ideas should you develop?

Two or three, each with a detail. Only one sentence. Ten ideas.

How do you find your ideas?

I let a translation app write for me. I write key words in English before I start. I write everything in French, then translate it word for word.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → Choose the topic for which you have the most words and examples. Write three English key words for each idea. Write short, correct sentences rather than long, wrong ones.

Card 2

Step 2 → giving and explaining your opinion

Topic: “Do you think apprenticeships are a good choice?”

Which sentence gives an opinion and explains it?

Apprenticeships good. I think yes. In my opinion, apprenticeships are a great choice because you learn on the job.

Which sentence gives an advantage and a disadvantage?

Good and bad. Yes but no. One advantage is the salary; however, one drawback is the long hours.

Which sentence gives an example?

Etc. Example: yes. For example, during my placement I learned to use a cash register.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → At B1+ level, you are expected to list advantages and disadvantages, and to give and explain your opinion. An opinion (In my opinion) + a reason (because) + an example (For example) = one developed idea.

Card 3

Step 3 → writing and checking

You write your text, then you check it with a checklist.

When you check your text, you first look at…

nothing. only the number of words. the verbs (tense, -s with he/she/it) and the linking words.

Corrected, “He work in a garage” becomes…

He works in a garage. He working in a garage. He is work in a garage.

In the bac pro exam, the text should be…

20 words long. 100 to 120 words long. 300 words long.

Help card → the method, not the answer

Method → Read your text three times: 1. the meaning (did I answer the question?), 2. the verbs (tense, -s, auxiliaries), 3. the linking words and the punctuation. Use the word counter below to reach the right length.

Writing workshop in English

Like in the exam: two topics to choose from, one about everyday life, one about work. The counter follows your level (CAP: 60 to 80 words; bac pro: 100 to 120 words).

Topic 1 (everyday life) → Your English pen friend asks how teenagers spend their free time during the school year. Describe a typical week for a student (real or imaginary) and say whether students have enough free time. Give your opinion.
Topic 2 (work) → You have just finished a work placement. Write to your tutor to thank him or her, explain what you learned and what you found difficult.

I write → Choose a topic and write your text here. Start with: “In my opinion, … because …” · “For example, …” · “However, …” · “To sum up, …”. Your text stays on this device; you can copy it to the ENT.

0 words · goal 100 to 120 words

Cards written for this website, in the spirit of the GEREX files. Fictional documents; videos from official public sources.