Writing - C2 Report
Essential strategies and common pitfalls to help you ace the Report for Cambridge C2 Writing exam.
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How to write a C2 Report
The CPE Report is written for a specified audience. This may be a superior, for example, a boss at work, or members of a peer group, colleagues or fellow class members. The content of a report is mainly factual and draws on the prompt material.
C2 proficiency (CPE) Report: Structure
| Introduction | The purpose of this report is to... |
| Main Body – Subheading (2) | Give the relevant facts |
| Main Body – Subheading (3) | Give the relevant facts |
| Main Body – Subheading (4) | Give the relevant facts |
| 3rd body paragraph | Your opinion |
| Conclusion | Make your recommendations |
C2 proficiency (CPE) Report: Writing Guide
We will use the example topic below:
Your employer recently paid for you to attend a short evening course at a local college on ‘descriptive writing’. The Editor has asked you to write a report in which you evaluate the course content, organisation and method. She has also asked you to assess the usefulness of the course for yourself and for colleagues who might wish to attend the course in the future.
Write your Report (280 – 320 words)
Step 1: Title and Introduction
In general, the introduction should outline the aim of the report. Commonly, it begins with an indirect phrase like the one below:
The objective of this report is to compare... and...
The objective of this report is to outline the current condition of
An example of an introduction written by a student:
Example:
Introduction: The aim of this report is to exhibit evaluations of the efficiency and the structure of the ‘descriptive writing course, which has been conducted (passive forms) in the local college. The assessments provided are founded on my personal observations, accumulated during the course.
As you probably noticed, the report is written impersonally, goes straight to the point, is short, coherent and passive forms dominate. The author of the report avoids addressing the reader directly (you).
Step 2: Main Body
💡 QUICK TIPS: Before you start…
Let’s see the main body of the sample student report:
In the first paragraph, the student writes the first element, i.e. content (“write a report in which you evaluate the course content, organisation and method.”)
Example:
Content – heading / short and informative
The content of the course was clearly structured (passive forms) and exceptionally well presented. It emphasizes each key aspect separately which, combined with a plethora of additional details provided, contributes greatly to its being easy to follow and comprehensive. Many of the foundational facets of the course were accurately exemplified (passive forms) by the means of impressive schemes and diagrams.
In the second paragraph, the student answers the second element, i.e. organisation (“write a report in which you evaluate the course content, organisation and method.”)
Example:
Organisation – heading / short and informative
In terms of conducting, the event was run in a highly professional manner. The time schedules were meticulously complied (passive forms) with and the relocations from one hall to another had been made effortless and time-efficient through the medium of clear instructional sign tables. The lecturers were given (passive forms) excellent positions to speak from and the audience had the opportunity to immerse in both the visual presentation and the lecturer’s speech.
In the third paragraph, the student answers the third element, i.e. method (“write a report in which you evaluate the course content, organisation and method.”)
Example:
Method – heading / short and informative
The teaching method adopted by the organisers of the event is traditional and straightforward. It enables the attendants not only (inversion) to understand but also to summarize the information without the necessity lecturers’ speech to be interrupted or delayed. The course visitors were provided with (passive forms) miscellaneous writing materials by the means of which notes could be conveniently made.
Step 3: Conclusion
Let’s see the conclusion of the same sample student report:
Example:
In the final analysis, (cohesive devices) impressions are entirely positive and strongly supportive in terms of further engaging in the course by me as well as other employees of the company. The usefulness of the ‘descriptive writing’ course can be considered exceptionally high and recommend the development of the latter (referential words) to be upheld financially by the company. This action should be regarded as an investment in the future qualifications of the workers.
See Full Report
The aim of this report is to exhibit evaluations of the efficiency and the structure of the ‘descriptive writing course, which has been conducted in the local college. The assessments provided are founded on my personal observations, accumulated during the course.
Content
The content of the course was clearly structured and exceptionally well presented. It emphasizes each key aspect separately which, combined with a plethora of additional details provided, contributes greatly to its being easy to follow and comprehensive. Many of the foundational facets of the course were accurately exemplified by the means of impressive schemes and diagrams.
Organisation
In terms of conducting, the event was run in a highly professional manner. The time schedules were meticulously complied with and the relocations from one hall to another had been made effortless and time-efficient through the medium of clear instructional sign tables. The lecturers were given excellent positions to speak from and the audience had the opportunity to immerse in both the visual presentation and the lecturer’s speech.
Method
The teaching method adopted by the organisers of the event is traditional and straightforward. It enables the attendants to understand and summarize the information without the necessity lecturers speech to be interrupted or delayed. The course visitors were provided with miscellaneous writing materials by the means of which notes could be conveniently made.
Conclusions
The implications I was led to by my personal impressions are entirely positive and strongly supportive in terms of further engaging in the course by me as well as other employees of the company. I consider the usefulness of the ‘descriptive writing’ course exceptionally high and recommend the development of the latter to be upheld financially by the company. This action should be regarded as an investment in the future qualifications of the workers.
C2 Proficiency (CPE) Report: Common Mistakes
Recommended in the Report
Not recommended in the Report
C2 Proficiency (CPE) Report: Writing Checklist
After writing your report, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.
Content
Communicative Achievement
Organisation
Language
C2 Proficiency (CPE) Report: Tips
C2 Proficiency (CPE) Report: What to Focus On
The examiners are looking at the following criteria:
Language
It is necessary to properly and precisely use a wide array of words and expressions, including rarely used ones. The text should include both simple and complex grammar expressions.
The vocabulary also has to be rich and diverse.
Communication
It is necessary to maintain the convention of a report or essay in English, such as clear division into paragraphs, headings, bullet points.
The text should be easy to understand for the target reader.
Organization
The text should be consistent and very well organized using a wide array of copulas and internal references.
Content
Every sentence in the text should refer to the topic of the assignment, and all the tasks specified in it should be fulfilled.
C2 Proficiency (CPE) Report: Useful Phrases & Expressions
We'll wrap up with some useful vocabulary commonly used to organize ideas. While it might feel like taking a shortcut, learning a few key expressions for each paragraph type can help you produce a well-structured and cohesive text in your exam.
Introduction (the goal of the report)
The purpose/aim of this report is to...
This report sets out to...
The report will comment on...
Below is an explanation of...
The focus of this report is…
This report will offer an in-depth critique of...
Comparing and Contrasting
There is a world of difference between... and...
... and... are fundamentally similar
... and... bear little resemblance to each other
There is a clear distinction between... and...
...compares favourably with...
... and... are polar opposites
There is a yawning gap between... and...
There is a subtle difference between... and...
There is a growing disparity between rich and poor.
... is strikingly different to...
Giving Recommendations
In light of the above, we believe the following
measures should be adopted…
In the short/long term, we suggest you should consider…
My recommendations are as follows:…
In my view, in future, we should…
To improve the situation, we recommend…
It is recommended that…