Part 1 — How to structure an essay

Plan first. Always.

You only have 20 minutes. The temptation is to start typing immediately — but two or three minutes of planning on the erasable whiteboard will save you ten minutes of rewriting and produce a much higher-scoring response.

Read the question

Identify the topic AND the task verb (discuss, agree/disagree, advantages/disadvantages…).

Brainstorm 2–3 mins

Mind-map the broad ideas, then narrow to the strongest 2–3 points.

Group & order

For/against, cause/effect, problem/solution — pick a clear structure.

Write & proofread

15 mins to write. Save 1–2 mins to read your essay back.

Planning strategy 1 — Break a broad concept into questions

Example essay question

"A nation's wealth depends on the level of education of its citizens. The more educated the people in a country are, the more prosperous the nation becomes." Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with this statement. Support your view with reasons and examples from your own experience or observations.

The two big ideas here are education and prosperity. Each one is much too broad to write about directly — so break each one into smaller questions you can answer.

Education

Where?

→ School
→ University
→ On the job
→ Public libraries

Who pays?

→ State
→ Family
→ Employer

What kind?

→ Academic
→ Vocational
→ Self-taught

Prosperity

Whose?

→ Individuals
→ Households
→ The nation

Measured how?

→ Income
→ GDP
→ Standard of living

From where?

→ Wages
→ Tax base
→ Investment

Now generate ideas with "if …" and "because …" sentences:

If people receive better schooling, they tend to earn higher salaries, which raises the national tax base.
Because educated workers can adapt to new technology, employers invest more in their economies.

1.1

Complete these 'if / because' sentences about a nation's economy

If people earn high salaries, then …
It is important for staff to continue some form of education at work because …
If a country's universities are known to be good, then …

1.2

Find a real example to support each idea

Real examples make your essay specific and persuasive. Think of:

Someone you know who has become wealthier than their parents thanks to education.
A country that is relatively wealthy and has a strong education system.
Someone who became wealthy despite not doing well at school.

Planning strategy 2 — Group ideas FOR and AGAINST

Example essay question

Some people believe that city planners should demolish old buildings to free up space for new housing. Do you agree or disagree?

For demolition

• Some old housing is unsafe; residents need rehousing.
• Modern apartment blocks use land more efficiently.
• New buildings can be more energy-efficient.

Against demolition

• Historic buildings are tourist attractions → income for the city.
• They give a city its character and identity.
• Restoration is often more sustainable than demolition.

Complete the 'if / because' sentences about old buildings

Some old buildings should / should not be demolished because … For example, …
Some old buildings are a good source of income for a city because …
If all old buildings were demolished, then …

Essay structure — introduction + 2 body + conclusion

There is no single template that works for every prompt. Match your structure to the task.

Standard 4-paragraph essay

Introduction

1–2 sentences. Set context, state thesis.

Body 1

Opposing view (if any) OR your first reason.

Body 2

Your view OR your strongest reason + example.

Conclusion

1–2 sentences. Restate position.

Choose the TWO best paragraph topics for each prompt (one of the three is off-topic)

Prompt A.

"Many older people do not feel comfortable using new technology. Why do you think this is, and how could they be encouraged to use it?"

reasons older people may be reluctant to use new technology
how older people could benefit from technology
practical measures to encourage older people to adopt technology

Prompt B.

"Tourism is essential for many economies but can also do harm. How can countries reduce the harm and make tourism beneficial overall?"

what governments can do to encourage responsible tourism
types of tourism that should not be encouraged
how individual tourists should behave

Order these paragraph topics into a logical plan

Prompt: "Some people believe computer skills should be taught in primary school alongside reading and maths. Do you agree?"

The conclusion is given: "All in all, although they should not replace traditional subjects, I certainly believe that computer skills should be taught in primary school."

reasons why introducing computer skills at primary level is a good idea
the negative effects of computers on family life
the importance of computer skills in the modern world
why some people object to teaching computer skills at primary level

Developing a paragraph — cause-and-effect chains

A strong paragraph isn't a list of points. It builds — each effect becomes the next cause.

Worked example

Education contributes to individual wealth because graduates typically command higher salaries. But it also raises national wealth: higher salaries lead to more tax revenue, which gives governments more public money to invest in roads, hospitals and further schooling — the very things that drive the next generation of growth.

Education

Higher salaries

Larger tax base

More public investment

Stronger national economy

Build a cause-and-effect paragraph about old buildings

Slot the four phrases (a–d) into the paragraph below in the correct order:

"Some old buildings are simply poor housing. If they were demolished, __1__ and __2__. If replaced with modern apartment buildings, __3__ and __4__."

they would take up less space
they would have a healthier lifestyle
people could be rehoused in better homes
there would be more room for green spaces

The other classic structure

General → specific → very specific

Open with a general statement, narrow to a type, then to one named example — and close with a sentence that links back to your argument.

Introductions — one or two sentences, no more

The job of the intro is to set context and signal your position. It is NOT to repeat the question.

Rate these three intros for the 'education and wealth' essay

Intro 1. "In the past, many people received little formal education. Today, most people in most countries attend some form of school."

Intro 2. "The wealth of a nation depends on many factors — natural resources, institutions, geography. The level of education among its people is, in my view, one of the most important."

Intro 3. "Some people think one of the most important ways to make a nation rich is through education. In this essay I will discuss this view and reach a conclusion."

Match each intro to the correct tutor comment:

Just copies the prompt and announces the essay's structure. Adds nothing.
Sets the topic in context and previews the position. Strong opening.
Off-topic — talks about education in general but not about wealth.

Conclusions — restate, don't introduce

One or two sentences. Refer back to your strongest reason — no new ideas.

Complete these three conclusions

Choose from these phrases (each is used once):

it gives people the opportunity to use their talents and abilities
promotes innovation and a thriving economy
for individuals and the country's economy as a whole
there are some individuals who have become wealthy without formal education

"In general, although ______, a sustained increase in a nation's wealth can only be achieved through ensuring its people are educated."
"All in all, education is one of the most important factors … because ______, which in turn ______."
"In conclusion, I believe education is one of the most important keys to prosperity, both ______."

Style — what to avoid

Your essay must read as formal academic English. Avoid the following:

Colloquial words (e.g. guy for man)
Contractions (isn't, won't, we're) — write the full forms
Phrasal verbs with get (use a single, more specific verb instead — deteriorate, not get worse)
Spoken-style emphasis (CAPITALS, underlining, exclamation marks)
Note-style abbreviations (etc., e.g. at sentence end)

Rewrite these sentences in formal academic style

Education doesn't just mean teaching kids at school.
In the past there were loads of people who couldn't read or write.
Some cities, e.g. Dubai, don't have many old buildings.
People's health won't get better if they live in unsanitary housing.
A nation will NOT be really successful if its people are uneducated.

Proofreading — save 1–2 minutes for it

Reading your essay back catches the silly mistakes that lose points.

Pick the best proofreading routine

You should leave (a minute / two minutes / five minutes) at the (end / start) — checking early can distract you from your (spelling / content). Read through (once / twice): first for (sentences / individual words), then for (spellings / grammar).

How to practise

Start with 30 minutes per essay; reduce to 20 minutes once the structure feels automatic.
You don't always have to write the whole essay — practise just the plan, or just the introduction and conclusion.
You don't have to write paragraphs in order — many writers do the body first.
If a new idea pops up while you're writing, check it against the prompt before adding it.
Get a teacher or strong English speaker to mark your essays — repeated unmarked practice cements the same mistakes.

Part 2 — Useful Language for Writing

A formal-style toolkit for the writing tasks

Academic writing isn't a different language — it's a more disciplined version of the English you already use. The rules, idioms, prepositions and phrase banks below are the building blocks our trainers reach for when marking your responses.

General rules of academic style

Lead the reader through your argument

Academic writing makes its logic visible. Show how your ideas connect with linking phrases.

AvoidSo,

UseTherefore, / As a result,

It has been argued that …
However, this view has been challenged …
An alternative interpretation is that …
This is illustrated by …

Use full forms — never contractions

Contractions belong in speech and informal writing.

Avoidisn't, doesn't, it's

Useis not, does not, it is

Be specific, not vague

Replace catch-all words with the precise term you actually mean.

Avoidstuff, things, good, nice

Usewaste materials, components, effective, beneficial

Choose the more formal alternative

When two words mean the same thing, pick the one used in academic writing.

Avoidbad → negative ; got expensive → has risen ; besides → moreover ; anyway → however

Avoid extreme adjectives and overgeneralisations

Academic English prefers measured language to strong opinions.

AvoidThat's amazing!

UseIt is interesting to note that …

Never leave a sentence unfinished

Words like "etc." and "and so on" suggest you ran out of ideas. Finish the list.

2.1

Spot the least-academic word in each sentence and rewrite it

For each sentence, identify the word or phrase that breaks academic style and propose a more formal version.

In future, there won't be enough forests left.
The effects of the new policy have been very nice.
Anyway, there are many reasons to be concerned about the financial costs.
Everybody agrees that a law banning the advertising of fast food is needed.
We need green power sources, solar power, wind power, etc.
Some countries have got a load of problems with floods.

Four techniques for academic register

Possibility, not certainty

Use verbs like suggests, may, tends to, appears to in place of is, will, must.

Subordinate clauses

Add condition or place with where, unless, although, while.

Prepositional phrases for detail

Add precision with in many regions, after extensive testing, on a large scale.

Substitution & paraphrase

Avoid repeating nouns. Use those individuals, this approach, the researchers.

2.2

Rewrite this paragraph in a more formal academic style

"It is better to buy goods online. There is a need for more space in town centres. That space is good for housing. Online shops can be located outside of city centres. There is no competition for that space. Another reason is that there is more choice online. There is a large variety of goods."

Try to use at least three of the four techniques shown above.

Idioms that are acceptable in academic writing

Most idioms are too informal — but a small set is genuinely useful in essays and summaries.

Phrase	Meaning
bear in mind	remember a fact that may be relevant
bridge the gap	reduce the difference between two things
in the hands of	controlled or managed by
in the light of	after considering new information
take on board	accept or consider seriously
the take-home message	the most important point to remember

2.3

Choose the right idiom for each sentence

It is impossible to ______ between rural and urban services.
It is important to ______ the long-term costs of new infrastructure.
The government introduced a new policy ______ these findings.
Any solution should ______ the views of those most affected.
______ from the conference was that handwashing remains the most effective intervention.
______ the wrong actors, this technology could be dangerous.