Level 2 Writing Guide

The Level 2 English exam represents B1 (Intermediate) on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). If you want more details about the relationship between the CEFR and Stanag please look at the article From A0 to Level 4 on this blog.

For most people, this is the level that they finish school with and Level 2 should not be a great challenge for the majority of people. However, if you are new to English and have started as an adult then it will represent an important achievement in your language career.

Level 2 is “functional language” and so means that you can happily function and operate on an everyday basis in an English-speaking environment. This does not mean that you don’t need some help, or a dictionary, but that you can understand a lot and can speak and write in English.

So what exactly is Level 2 Writing?

Well, if you want to watch a video about it then please click on the video opposite.

If you are happy to read on then basically, Level 2 writing is the ability to provide clear and precise information in the written form.

According to the Central Examinations Board for Foreign Languages, the Polish Level 2 exam has two tasks. The exam takes 70 minutes. Each task is marked out of ten points and you must get a combined mark of 14 to pass. That means you could get two 7s but could also get a 6 and an 8 :)

TASK ONE

You saw an advert on a NATO website for a Hybrid Warfare Course. Write a letter to the Belgium training school expressing interest and asking for more information. Include the following points: 1) introduce yourself and say which course you are interested in, asking for details of the exact dates of the course; 2) explain why you are interested in the course and describe why you are a suitable candidate, 3) request information about how to prepare for the course, mentioning reading material, equipment preparation etc. Write between 150-200 words.

In Task One you must write a private or work-related email (letter). The letter must consist of between 150 and 200 words.

So, what do you need to remember?

In both versions of the task (personal and work-related), you must include all the bullet points in the task instructions. This is often the reason people fail, as they have forgotten to include an important part.

Secondly, organise your work well. Often you have three things to achieve in the letter, so it is a good idea to give each a separate paragraph so that the examiner can clearly see that you have written about each point.

Finally, make sure you proofread your work. Everybody makes mistakes, and it is important to save time at the end of the exam to check your work before handing it in.

For a more detailed look at a type of formal letter, please look at this article on Letters of Enquiry.

TASK TWO

Write a report to your CO. Write between 150-200 words.

There has been a terrorist attack in your AOR. Describe the incident. Include the following points:

• time, date, exact location

• attackers (how many? armed? any caught?)

• victims and damage

• action taken by your unit

• recommendations for the future

In Task Two you must write a short report of between 150 and 200 words. You must include the bullet points listed.

The report, as the name suggests, is a formal military document and therefore should be written in formal language at all times.

You must clearly and briefly (not long descriptions that waste time) write about a situation. In most exams, the task tells you to talk about something that has happened; decide what were the good and bad parts and then give recommendations about what to do in the future. However, be careful. Some reports may have a slightly different format.

You must divide the points into logical paragraphs. Usually, there are five bullet points but you may decide to only write four paragraphs.

It is important to give the report a title and then write a title (heading) for each section or paragraph.

For a more detailed look at reports please look at this earlier post.