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• NCEA on TKI
• NZQA website

1.2 Produce formal writing

Achievement criteria

The level of achievement that you receive is decided by the quality of ideas, style, structure, and accuracy used in your writing. Each part is of equal importance. You must be able to write independently, without any assistance, in English.

On this page: Achievement | Achievement with Merit | Achievement with Excellence

Achievement

• Express idea(s) with supporting detail in a piece of formal writing.
• Use a writing style appropriate to audience, purpose, and text type.
• Structure material in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose, and text type.
• Use writing conventions without intrusive errors.

Make sure you:

• understand why you are writing and who you are writing for by underlining keywords in both the instructions and the task
• brainstorm ideas
• have at least one central idea to be discussed in 4-5 clear paragraphs
• add information by using some examples and facts to support your idea(s)
• use formal language, see Standard English
• write in sentences and paragraphs
• order paragraphs in a logical sequence with an introduction, 4–5 paragraphs developing the central idea in the middle, and conclusion
• use topic sentence, explanation, and example paragraph structure
• proofread carefully and correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors
• write over 300 words.

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Achievement with Merit

• Develop idea(s) with detail in a piece of formal writing.
• Use a controlled writing style appropriate to audience, purpose, and text type.
• Structure material clearly in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose, and text type.
• Use writing conventions without intrusive errors.

Make sure you:

• reach Achievement
• spend time brainstorming clear reasons to support central ideas and/or opinions when planning
• organise ideas for a specific reason such as planning or linking ideas between paragraphs
• support all points with well chosen examples, facts, and opinions
• use formal language and an objective tone (control your feelings) throughout the essay
• try to interest the audience by using some familiar ideas or language
• connect paragraphs by linking ideas and details for a smooth and uninterrupted writing flow
• vary sentence structures so your ideas have impact
• thoroughly proofread to eliminate errors
• write over 300 words.

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Achievement with Excellence

• Develop idea(s) convincingly with detail in a piece of formal writing.
• Use a controlled writing style appropriate to audience, purpose, and text type, and which commands attention.
• Structure material clearly and effectively in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose, and text type.
• Use writing conventions accurately.

Make sure you:

• reach Achievement with Merit
• use original ideas and/or a unique perspective
• add useful information by using examples, facts, and opinions to highlight your idea(s)
• write confidently using formal language and an objective tone throughout the essay
• write informatively to challenge and/or interest the reader
• combine complex ideas, language, and structure successfully
• structure material in an unique way, possibly by connecting the introduction and conclusion so that your writing is memorable
• use a range of sentence structures for deliberate effect
• thoroughly proof read to eliminate errors
• write over 300 words.

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