Three text types
C1 and C2 exams ask for three kinds of formal text. Each has a fixed shape, and each part has a set phrase that signals it to the reader. Below, every phrase has its pronunciation and English meaning. For the English-language side of the same skills, see our guides to writing style and formal letters.
- Introducción: en lah ak-twah-lee-DAD, seh deh-BAH-teh see · “Today, there is debate over whether…”
- Argumentos: en pree-MER loo-GAR, KAH-beh des-tah-KAR keh · “First, it is worth highlighting that…”
- Contraargumento: see byen es THYER-toh keh…, noh loh es MEH-nohs keh · “While it is true that…, it is no less true that…”
- Conclusión: en deh-fee-nee-TEE-bah, TOH-doh pah-REH-theh een-dee-KAR keh · “In short, everything suggests that…”
- Objeto: el preh-SEN-teh een-FOR-meh TYEH-neh por ob-HEH-toh · “The purpose of this report is to…”
- Datos: seh-GOON los DAH-tohs ob-teh-NEE-dohs · “According to the data obtained, …”
- Análisis: deh EH-yoh seh des-PREN-deh keh · “From this it follows that…”
- Recomendaciones: seh rreh-koh-MYEN-dah, por TAN-toh · “It is therefore recommended that…”
- Saludo: es-tee-MAH-doh / es-tee-MAH-dah seh-NYOR / seh-NYOH-rah · “Dear Sir / Madam,”
- Motivo: meh dee-REE-hoh ah oos-TED PAH-rah · “I am writing to you in order to…”
- Petición: leh ah-grah-deh-theh-REE-ah keh · “I would be grateful if you…”
- Despedida: KEH-doh ah lah es-PEH-rah deh soo rres-PWES-tah. ah-ten-tah-MEN-teh · “I look forward to your reply. Yours faithfully,”
Precise verbs
At C2, the verbs hacer, tener, poner and decir are replaced in writing by verbs with a precise meaning. The everyday phrase is on the left, the written choice on the right.
Impersonal and nuanced phrasing
| Purpose | Phrase | English |
|---|---|---|
| Impersonal | ▶ Se observa que…seh obs-SER-bah keh | It can be observed that… |
| Impersonal | ▶ Se ha demostrado que…seh ah deh-mos-TRAH-doh keh | It has been shown that… |
| Noting | ▶ Cabe señalar que…KAH-beh seh-nyah-LAR keh | It should be noted that… |
| Qualifying | ▶ Conviene matizar que…kon-BYEH-neh mah-tee-THAR keh | It is worth qualifying that… |
| Hedging | ▶ Todo parece indicar que…TOH-doh pah-REH-theh een-dee-KAR keh | Everything seems to suggest that… |
| Hedging | ▶ Es probable que + subjunctivees PROH-bah-bleh keh | It is likely that… |
| Conceding | ▶ Si bien es cierto que…, …see byen es THYER-toh keh | While it is true that…, … |
| Concluding | ▶ En definitiva, …en deh-fee-nee-TEE-bah | In short, … |
Before and after: one paragraph revised
El teletrabajo es muy común ahora. El teletrabajo tiene muchas ventajas: la gente viaja menos y se concentra mejor. Pero hay que decir que tiene problemas de aislamiento.
“Remote working is very common now. Remote working has many advantages: people travel less and concentrate better. But it has to be said that it has problems of isolation.”
El teletrabajo se ha consolidado en pocos años. Esta modalidadreduce los desplazamientos y favorece la concentración. No obstante, cabe señalar que también plantea riesgos de aislamiento.
“Remote working has become established in just a few years. This way of working reduces commuting and helps concentration. Nevertheless, it should be noted that it also poses risks of isolation.”
- Repetition removed: el teletrabajo → esta modalidad.
- General phrasing made precise: viaja menos, se concentra mejor, tiene → reduce, favorece, plantea.
- Connector upgraded: pero → no obstante.
- Nuance added: hay que decir → cabe señalar.
Dicho esto, por consiguiente: holding a text together
C1–C2 writing links paragraphs, not just sentences. These connectors refer back to what was said and point forward.