CAE Writing tips

[Writing] Parts of an essay

Introduction: Present and develop the essay question in your introduction
Main Paragraph: Describe the first point/argument from the notes (most important)
Second Paragraph: Describe the second point/argument from the notes.
Conclusion: A summary of what you have said.

[writing] Introductory phrases

It is often said that …

….is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion.

….is a topic that is often discussed but rarely solved.

Many people feel that …

We live in an age when many of us are…

More and more families/people are choosing to …

The trend nowadays is towards +ing

Over the past/last ten years or so, …

Recent research indicates that the number of …is increasing.

Statistics indicate that—

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

[Writing] First Paragraph phrases

…. clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on…
It is common knowledge that… plays a crucial role in…
It is undoubtedly the case that…
There is little doubt that…
… is widely believed to contribute to…
It is generally considered that…
Recent research suggests that…
Studies have shown that… has an impact/influence on…
Few people would contest/dispute the fact that…

[Writing] Second paragraph phrases

Another factor to consider is…
On the other hand/In contrast…
It is often claimed that…
All the evidence suggests that…

[Writing] Conclusion phrases

In light of the above,
Taking everything into consideration/account,…
As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc.
… is the most effective way to… due to the fact that…
Despite the fact that… undoubtedly plays a role in… I firmly believe that… is more effective due to the fact that… its advantages outnumber/ outweigh those
All in all it seems to me that ………..
The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that …………………..
All things considered! ………….
On balance! , tend to believe that …………
The world would surely be a better place to live in if …………..

[All] 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 …………….

[All] Starting 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 …………

[All] 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 ………………..

[all] 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 ……………
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 ……………..

It is often said that … [Introducción]

A menudo se dice que...

Introductory phrases

….is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion

....es un tema muy debatido que a menudo divide opiniones

Introductory phrases

Many people feel that….

Muchas personas creen que…

Introductory phrases

We live in an age when many of us are…

We live in an age when many of us are more aware of global issues but feel increasingly powerless to address them.

Vivimos en una época en la que muchos de nosotros somos/estamos…

Introductory phrases

The trend nowadays is towards +ing

The trend nowadays is towards adopting sustainable practices, with many individuals prioritizing eco-friendly products.

La tendencia actual es …

Introductory phrases

Although most people would generally agree that …………… few

Although most people would generally agree that climate change is a critical issue, few are actively taking substantial steps to mitigate their carbon footprint

Aunque la mayoría de la gente estaría de acuerdo en que ............... pocos

With a view to + ing

Con el objetivo de..