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C2 Sample Essay 39 (School or family shapes one's personality)

In the minds of ESL exam candidates, e ssay writing is one of the most daunting tasks they are required to complete, regardless of the level of the exam, the administering body or the ease with which they themselves use the language. The same applies to students who are asked to write an essay by their teachers at school.  In the previous sample essays posted on the blog, the main point I stress is the need to become acquainted with this form of writing (as opposed to writing a letter, review or report, for instance), to get a feel of what authorial voice is and how to organize and progressively express the arguments you wish to make in a coherent manner.  Unfortunately, the best way to prepare for exam writing or learn how to write good essays for school is to read as many essays from as many sources as possible, then write as

Useful Words: Rating or Reviewing

https://argutelegacy.blogspot.com/2019/06/useful-words-reviews.html
Writing a review presupposes making judgments and rating, say, a service, establishment or work of art. For ESL / EFL exam-takers, this means having to come up with a variety of words that qualify what is being described, something which might present problems since making more than one assessment in such pieces of writing is the norm.

If words used to assess something are repeated, then candidates cannot expect to receive a satisfactory grade (at least in terms of their lexical ability and range). Using less formal words is also frowned upon.

Therefore, this list should serve as a brief catalog of go-to words aimed at digging students out of the proverbial hole they might find themselves in during the Writing section of an English exam.

The list has been divided into three categories: saying something is terrific, so-so and terrible.





Adjectives used to rate something


 Terrific
 So-so
 Terrible
 first-rate
 second-rate
 third-rate
 superb
 bland
 tragic
 outstanding
 mediocre
 appalling
 out of this world
 amateurish
 excruciating
 unforgettable
 uninspiring
 wooden
 gripping
 run-of-the-mill
 disastrous
 compelling
 predictable
 poor
 engaging
 overrated
 dreadful
 captivating
 satisfactory
 frightful
 riveting
 adequate
 tedious
 witty
 reasonable
 atrocious
 hilarious
 patchy
 tedious
 exceptional
 tolerable
 substandard







For more help with vocabulary you can use for the Speaking and Writing section of exams, click on the image below.
http://argutelegacy.blogspot.com/search/label/Vocabulary

Need some help with Speaking? Click on the image.

http://argutelegacy.blogspot.com/search/label/Speaking


Having trouble finding ideas for essays? Click below.

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