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• NCEA on TKI
• NZQA website

1.5 Produce formal writing

Achievement criteria

The grade that you receive is decided by the quality and development of ideas, structure, language features including 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

• Develop and structure ideas in formal writing.
• Use language features appropriate to audience and purpose in formal writing.

Make sure you:

• understand why you are writing and who you are writing for
• brainstorm ideas
• have at least one central idea to be developed in 4-5 clear paragraphs
• add information by using some examples and facts to support your ideas
• 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
• draft and rework your writing over a period of time
• proofread carefully and correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors
• write over 350 words.

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Achievement with Merit

• Develop and structure ideas convincingly in formal writing.
• Use language features appropriate to audience and purpose with control in formal writing.

Make sure you:

• reach Achievement
• spend time brainstorming and researching clear reasons to support central ideas and/or opinions when planning
• organise ideas for a specific reason or purpose such as linking ideas between paragraphs
• support all points with well chosen and researched 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 in a new way
• 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 and craft your writing
• write over 350 words.

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Achievement with Excellence

• Develop and structure ideas effectively in formal writing.
• Use language features appropriate to audience and purpose with control to command attention in formal writing.

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 ideas
• write confidently using formal language and an objective tone throughout
• write informatively to challenge and/or interest the reader
• combine complex ideas, language, and structure successfully
• structure material in an unique way, so that your writing is memorable
• use a range of sentence structures for deliberate effect
• thoroughly proof read to eliminate errors
• write over 350 words.

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