How to write a C1 Advanced Report/Proposal

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam and need a hand with writing your report/proposal for Part 2 of the Writing paper? Perfect! You’re in the right place.

By the end of this blog post, you’ll know exactly what the C1 reports and proposals are, how to structure them perfectly and what you need to do to get top marks in your exam.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for some help with Part 1 of the C1 Writing paper, check out our blog post here on how to write the perfect essay.

What is a Cambridge C1 Advanced report?

The objective of a report is to present factual information (you can invent the facts, but they must be presented as factual) and evaluate to what extent a particular aim has been achieved or make suggestions to improve something that has already happened.

Your reader may be a superior (such as a boss or school headmaster) or a peer group (such as club members or colleagues).

What is a Cambridge C1 Advanced proposal?

The objective of a proposal is to persuade your reader to take a particular course of action by making suggestions, supported by factual information (again, you can invent this).

Your reader may be a supervisor (such as a boss or school headmaster) or for a peer group (such as colleagues or club members).

So far, the report and proposal both sound pretty similar, don’t they? They are! However, there’s just one key difference between the two.

What is the difference between a report and a proposal?

Your report will always be written about something that has already happened. You will need to reflect and give your opinions and suggestions on how something from the past can be improved.

However, your proposal will always be written about the future and normally you will need to persuade your reader to take a particular course of action.

Three steps to write the perfect Cambridge C1 Advanced report/proposal

Reports and proposals follow exactly the same structure. To keep things simple, let’s just focus on an exam question for a report. You can practise analysing and writing a proposal later!

Step 1: Plan it

Let’s take a look at the exam question below.

Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org

First things first, you need to identify the topic of the report (this is underlined in blue below) as this will tell you exactly what you need to write. At this point, start thinking of the vocabulary and expressions you can use.

Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org

Next, you need to identify who your reader is. In this case, it’s the programme organiser, so you need to write in a formal style.

Lastly, you need to identify exactly what you need to include in your report. There are usually two or three points/questions to answer (these are underlined in orange below).

Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org

Now you know the topic, the questions you need to include, and who the reader is, it’s time to start writing!

Step 2: Write it

Your report/proposal must include a title, an introduction, topic paragraphs with subheadings and a conclusion.

Take a look at the example answer below.

Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org

This student has given their report a clear title.

In their introduction, they have stated the purpose of their report, which prepares the reader for what they are going to read in the following topic paragraphs.

The topic paragraphs all have subheadings and address each of the three key points from the exam question.

Finally, the conclusion gives suggestions to the reader on the improvements they can make on the programme.

Step 3: Check it

Now that you’ve written your text, it’s time to check it! A lot of students often skip this step, but make sure to give yourself at least 10 minutes to check your writing.

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look out for:

Top tips and advice

Time to practise your writing

Now it’s time for you to have a go at practising your writing skills!

Take a look at the exam question below for a proposal. Follow the same steps above. Just remember to write it for the future.

Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org

Here’s an example answer for you.

Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org

Looking for further help with your C1 Advanced exam preparation?

If you’re looking for feedback on your writing and further guidance, why not check out our exam preparation courses? Our classes are dynamic and practical and our friendly professional teachers will help you get the score you need.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Need a hand with (id): to need help with something.

Course of action (ph): a way of proceeding.

First things first (idiom): to tell someone that there are more important things to be done first.

Skip (v): to pass something without mentioning.

Look out for (pv: to try to notice.

Penalise (v): to punish someone for breaking a rule.

Have a go at (pv): make an attempt.

Key

ph = phrase

id = idiom

pv = phrasal verb

v = verb

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