Questions 8 and 9: Transactional Writing Practice Questions

Write a review for a website of a place in your area where young people spend their free time.

In your review, you could include:

• what the place offers
• its best and worst features
• who you would recommend it to and why

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a section for a guide for students starting in Year 7 at your school.

In your answer, you could include:

• finding your way around and getting organised
• making friends and settling in
• where to go if you need help

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a letter to a younger relative who is about to start secondary school, giving advice about the first term.

In your letter, you could include:

• what the first few weeks are really like
• how to cope with homework and new routines
• what you wish you had known

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write an article for your school magazine about mobile phones in school.

In your article, you could include:

• how students use their phones during the school day
• the advantages and disadvantages of allowing phones in school
• what you think the school rules should be

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write an article for a national newspaper about money in sport.

In your article, you could include:

• what professional athletes earn and why
• how money helps or harms sport at a local level
• your views on whether anything should change

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write an article for a local news website about how teenagers eat during the school day.

In your article, you could include:

• what young people eat at school and on the way home
• why fast food near schools is so popular
• advice for families on eating well on a budget

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write the text for a speech to your peers encouraging them to volunteer in their community.

In your speech, you could include:

• different kinds of volunteering young people can do
• what volunteers and the people they help gain from it
• how to get started

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a letter to your head teacher about the school uniform.

In your letter, you could include:

• what students think of the current uniform
• the cost of uniform for families
• your suggestions for any changes

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a letter to the editor of a national newspaper about the way teenagers are described in the media.

In your letter, you could include:

• how teenagers are often presented
• what teenagers actually spend their time doing
• why a fairer picture matters

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a section for a guide for students about to leave home, giving advice on cooking for themselves.

In your answer, you could include:

• why cooking from scratch is worth learning
• simple, cheap meals to start with
• ways to save time and money in the kitchen

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a review for your school magazine of a film, TV series or book that you think everyone your age should know about.

In your review, you could include:

• what it is about, without giving away the ending
• what makes it stand out
• any weaknesses, and who might not enjoy it

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a review for a local news website of an event you have attended, such as a concert, a match, a festival or a show.

In your review, you could include:

• what the event was and who it was for
• the highlights and any disappointments
• whether readers should go next time

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write the text for a leaflet for visitors to your town or city, advising them how to spend a day there.

In your answer, you could include:

• places worth seeing and things worth doing
• where to eat and how to get around
• tips to make the most of the day

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write the text for a speech to your peers about a person who has inspired you.

In your speech, you could include:

• who the person is and how you know them
• what they did and why it matters
• what you have learned from them

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a section for a guide for young people about exploring their own country.

In your answer, you could include:

• the kinds of trip and places that are worth visiting
• how to travel cheaply and with less impact on the environment
• advice on planning a first trip without adults

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write the text for a speech to your local council about what young people need from the town centre.

In your speech, you could include:

• the problems young people face in the town centre now
• changes that would make it better for young people
• why these changes would benefit everyone

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write the text for a speech for a debate, judged by teachers and parents, about how young people should be assessed at school.

In your speech, you could include:

• what exams do well
• what exams might miss
• your views on other ways of assessing students

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)

Write a section for a guide for families on staying safe and comfortable during extreme weather.

In your answer, you could include:

• how to prepare before the weather arrives
• what to do during a heatwave, flood or storm
• how to look after others, such as older neighbours

as well as any other ideas you might have.

(40 marks: 24 for content and organisation, 16 for vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation)