Cambridge C1 Writing: Plan a Clear Essay

Cambridge English • Writing

Cambridge C1 Writing: Plan a Clear Essay

Organise a balanced argument before you write and make every paragraph purposeful.

Understand the purpose

A Cambridge English essay asks you to develop a clear position and support it with relevant reasons. Planning first helps you avoid repetition and gives every paragraph a job.

A four-part plan

  1. Introduction: rephrase the topic and state your direction.
  2. Main point one: explain one idea and support it.
  3. Main point two: explain a contrasting or complementary idea.
  4. Conclusion: summarise your position without adding a new argument.

Practice question

Your class has discussed how cities can encourage people to use public transport. Consider these ideas: lower prices and better services. Which measure is more effective?

Build the argument

Lower prices: affordable travel can persuade regular commuters to leave their cars at home.

Better services: frequent, reliable transport can make public options practical for more journeys.

Position: better services may create the greater long-term change because convenience affects everyday decisions.

Useful linking language

  • One important advantage is…
  • This is particularly effective because…
  • Although price matters, reliability may be more significant.
  • For these reasons, I believe…

Guided practice

Which sentence is the strongest topic sentence?

  1. Public transport is interesting.
  2. Improving reliability would make public transport a realistic daily choice for more residents.
  3. There are buses in many cities.
Check the answer

Sentence 2. It introduces a clear argument that the paragraph can explain and support.

Production task

Create a four-part plan for the question. Then write one main paragraph with a topic sentence, explanation, and example.