Writing assessments, tasks or prompts

This article looks at the gorgeous free growing wild bramble or blackberry.  It includes basic information (reading), spelling and grammar exercises and questions.

Editor's notes

Lovely information text that could also be useful for E3-L1 Functional Skills English. Also includes a short writing task and discussion points.  Part of Colleen's Living in the UK series. Look out for the Strawberries resource in the same series.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
ESOL
ESOL Sc/L1.3a Express statements of fact
ESOL Sc/E3.4a Express clearly statements of fact 
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Rt/L1.5a Use skimming, scanning and detailed reading in different ways for different purposes
ESOL Rs/L1.1a Use implicit & explicit grammatical knowledge to predict meaning & check for sense
ESOL Rw/E3.5a Use variety of reading strategies to read/understand unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.2a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different types of text, using appropriate strategies to work out meaning
ESOL Wt/E2.1a Compose simple text, selecting appropriate format for the genre and purpose
ESOL Wt/E3.2a
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Gardening & Horticulture

The purpose of this resource is for learners to learn the vocabulary and phrases relating to using a pharmacy in the UK; practise listening for detail, reading and writing and roleplay scenarios. There are discussion points, flash cards and exercises.

Use as a teaching aid, as assessment material or homework etc.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E2.1a Use a range of strategies to trace & understand main events
ESOL Rt/E3.1a Understand how meaning is built up in a variety texts of more than one paragraph
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
ESOL Wt/E2.1a Compose simple text, selecting appropriate format for the genre and purpose
ESOL Sc/E2.1a Use stress & intonation adequately to make speech comprehensible / meaning understood
ESOL Sc/E2.1b Articulate the sounds of English to make meaning understood
ESOL Sc/E2.2a Make requests: ask for things or action
ESOL Sc/E3.3a Make requests
Context
Independent living
Health, Social care, Early years
Retail Hospitality Customer service

Read a formal letter (from a bank) and, in particular, take note of the layout. Then plan and write your own formal letter to the manager of a supermarket. 

Editor's notes

I've said this before about other writing resources from Angela but I reiterate here: it’s so important for learners to have realistic exemplar/model pieces of writing so they know what they’re aiming for (see Angela's page for resources in the same vein - articles, reports, speeches and leaflets). Also useful for ESOL.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE READING analyse texts
ESOL
ESOL Wt/L1.2a Select how much to write and the level of detail to include
ESOL Wt/L1.4a Choose language suitable for genre, purpose and audience
ESOL Wt/L1.5a Select format and appropriate structure for different purposes and genres
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

Suitable for ESOL and Functional English this resource was created to encourage discussion and understanding about this sometimes difficult topic in a sympathetic way. Uses a fictional story about a girl called Amina who learns about British Values through her community - with reading questions and a discussion/presentation/writing task.

The tutor can use the suggested lesson tips or go their own way to suit their learners.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 3
English
Functional Skills English
ESOL
ESOL: Reading text focus - comprehension (Rt)
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
General ESOL
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL Present information
Context
Independent living
History, culture, museums, libraries

I am using these examples to inspire students who find it very difficult to think of subject matter to write. There are examples of letters, emails and articles. The questions are from Edexcel past papers or designed by me, in that format. 

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.21 Use compound sentences & paragraphs where appropriate
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format & structure inc. appropriate use of headings & bullet points
FE E3.22 Use language appropriate for purpose & audience
FE E3.18 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly & in logical sequence e.g. chronologically, by task
FE E3.19 Write text of appropriate length & level of detail

Article from the BBC about the Northern Lights being visible in the UK during a solar storm, and 6 questions modelled on the L1 and L2 reading paper from Edexcel as a reading revision activity. 

Editor's notes

You can't get more topical than this!  Questions cover fact/opinion, vocabulary, language features, inference and more! There is also a short writing prompt. Great for last minute summer revision. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
Context
Science, Nature & Weather

A double lesson Power Point with Level 1 and Level 2 reading and writing questions. The lesson explores the controversy around violent music and the relationship between music and behaviour. You Tube links  add detail and context to the debate in an engaging and thought provoking way. Lesson 1 focuses on the Reading exam with Level 1 and Level 2 questions that can be displayed on the board to reduce printing. Texts A and B explore the two sides of Drill music and its influence on young people.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics
FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FS Eng E2.5 Clearly express straightforward information & communicate feelings / opinions
FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L1.10 Compare information, ideas & opinions in different texts
FE L2.12 Compare information, ideas & opinions in different texts, inc. how they are conveyed
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
FE L1.19 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, possessive apostrophes)
FE L2.20 Punctuate writing correctly using a wide range of punctuation markers e.g. colons, commas, inverted commas, apostrophes, quotation marks
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

March 23 2024 - please note this is a new upload with different contributor details to the earlier version of this resource. With sincere apologies to the correct contributor Claire. Discussion, reading and writing tasks for Level 1-2 Functional Skills English. Very topical as lots of people have tattoos now. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
Context
Mental health, awareness & psychology

Entry 3 level activity to practise using present perfect and past simple tense usage within the subject of social media.

Editor's notes

Another wonderfully engaging and topical grammar resource from Susanne. Reading and writing tasks that cover every social media platform you could think of!

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE WRITING Grammar
ESOL
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
ESOL: Writing sentence focus - punctuation and grammar (Ws)
ESOL Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
ESOL Give statements, accounts, explanations & instructions
Context
Social Media

A bumper set of E1, E2 and E3 reading and writing resources. Can be used throughout leap year but probably best before or on February 29th! Based on a light hearted article from Metro newspaper there are two sets of reading tasks (one for E1-E2 and one for E2-E3), three writing composition tasks (E1, E2 and E3) and three sets of underpinning writing questions covering spelling, punctuation and alphabetical order at each Entry Level. Pretty much all Entry Level Content descriptors are covered. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images & captions to locate information
FE E2.9 Understand organisational markers in short, straightforward texts
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E2.11 Read & understand sentences with more than one clause
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE 1.14 Write letters of alphabet in sequence & in upper / lower case
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E1.11 Punctuate simple sentences with capital letter & full stop
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E1.13 Use lower-case letters when there is no reason to use capital letters
FE E2.13 Use basic punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question, exclamation marks)
FE E3.13 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas)
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.14 Form regular plurals
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E3.14 Form irregular plurals
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
FE E2.19 Write in compound sentences, using common conjunctions to connect clauses
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
FE E3.21 Use compound sentences & paragraphs where appropriate
FE E2.17 Communicate information using words & phrases appropriate to audience & purpose
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format & structure inc. appropriate use of headings & bullet points
FE E3.22 Use language appropriate for purpose & audience
FE E3.18 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly & in logical sequence e.g. chronologically, by task
FE E3.19 Write text of appropriate length & level of detail
Context
News, Politics & Government items