Paper 1 | Cambridge O Level - Directed Writing | 200–300 words | 30 Marks

Paper 1 Writing | 1 hour 30 minutes (Section 1: Directed Writing; Section 2: Composition) | Marks 30+30

2023

1123/11 A new travel website includes an article about your area. You agree with most of the
article, but you think that some of the opinions in it are unfair. You are also disappointed
May/June 2023 that the article does not mention an important local attraction for tourists. You decide to
write a letter to the author of the article to complain.
QP
Write your letter. You must include the following:

● what you agree with in the article

● which opinions you think were unfair and why
● details of the important local attraction that was not mentioned in the
article.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your letter polite and
informative. Start your letter ‘Dear ...’ and remember to supply a suitable ending.

A local company has bought some land next to your school. The company wants to
1123/12 build on this land
to expand its business. You can see a few advantages to the company’s plan, but you
May/June 2023 are also very
unhappy about many aspects of it. You decide to write a letter to the editor of the local
QP newspaper to
explain how you feel about the company’s plan.

Write your letter. You must include the following:

• what the land is used for now and what the company wants to build on it
• the advantages and disadvantages of the company's plan
• how you think the land should be used instead.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your letter polite and
informative. Start your
letter ‘Dear Editor’ and remember to supply a suitable ending.

A talented classmate has been chosen to represent your country at an international

competition (this
1123/11 might be in sport, music or any other competition). Your classmate needs help to pay
Oct/nov 2023 for travel and
accommodation so you decide to hold an event to raise some of the money. Your
Principal allows you
to make a speech at a school assembly telling other students about the event you are
planning.
Write your speech. You must include the following:
• the name of the classmate and details of the international competition
• details of the event you are planning
• how you would like other students to become involved in the event.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your speech informative and
persuasive. Start
your speech ‘Good morning, everyone

1123/12 You spent part of your recent long vacation at an adventure camp, doing a wide range
October/November of activities with
2023 lots of other young people. You really liked some aspects of your stay at the camp but
disliked others.
Your English teacher has now asked you to make a speech to your class about your
stay at the camp.

Write your speech. You must include the following:

• where the camp was and how long you were there for
• how staying at the camp benefited you
• what you disliked about the camp and why.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your speech interesting and
informative. Start
your speech ‘Good morning, everyone

Your local council plans to make changes to a public facility in your area, for example a
sports centre, a park, a health centre or any other facility. There will be advantages to
these changes but some local residents are unhappy about the council’s plans. You
decide to write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper to explain how people feel
about the possible changes.

Write your letter. You must include the following:

• which public facility it is and the changes the council plans to make
• the advantages of the possible changes and why some residents are unhappy about
the plans
• what you think the local council should do in response to residents’ opinions.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your letter polite and
1123/11 informative.
May/June 2022
Start your letter ‘Dear Editor’ and remember to supply a suitable ending

1123/12 Your cousin got married recently. You helped your cousin to arrange the wedding
May/June 2022 celebration at a top hotel. The celebration was enjoyable but the hotel made some
mistakes. You decide to write a letter to the hotel manager about the wedding
celebration.

Write your letter. You must include the following:

• the names of the couple who got married and the date of the celebration
• what the guests enjoyed about the celebration
• details of the mistakes the hotel made and what you would like the hotel to do about
what happened.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your letter polite and
informative.

Start your letter ‘Dear Hotel Manager’ and remember to supply a suitable ending.

1123/11 You recently attended a course in your spare time which you think other students might
October/November enjoy. It could be an educational course or a sporting course or any other kind of
2022 course. Your Principal asks you to write an article about the course for the school
magazine to encourage other students to join it.

Write your school magazine article. You must include the following:
• what type of course it was and where it took place
• details of the activity on the course you enjoyed the most, and why
• how the course might benefit other students.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your school magazine article
informative and persuasive. Start your school magazine article with a suitable headline.

1123/12 During the last twelve months, the number of tourists visiting your local area has
October/ increased a lot. This has brought both advantages and disadvantages. The local
November 2022 council has asked residents to give their opinions about the large increase in
tourism. You decide to write a report for the local council giving your views.

Write your report. You must include the following:

• the advantages of more tourists visiting your local area

• the disadvantages of more tourists visiting your local area
• which one of the disadvantages the council should deal with first and how they
 should deal with it.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your report informative and
persuasive.
Start your report ‘To the Local Council’. Remember to give your name and a date.
1123/11 Recently, you were involved in a difficult situation on your way to school. Your best
May/June 2021 friend was with you and set a good example by helping you. Later, in your English
lesson, your teacher asks you to make a speech to your class about the incident.
Write your speech. You must include the following:

• the name of your friend and where the incident happened

• details of the incident and how your friend helped you
• how both you and your friend benefited from the event in different ways.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your speech interesting and
informative. Start
your speech ‘Good morning, everyone’.
1123/12 On your way home from school recently, you and your friend saw a poster about an
May/June 2021 event. This led to
an exciting experience for both you and your friend. Some time later, your teacher
asks you to make a
speech to your class about the experience.
Write your speech. You must include the following:
• the name of your friend and what the event was
• a detailed account of the experience
• the effect this experience had on both you and your friend.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your speech interesting and
informative. Start
your speech ‘Good morning, everyone.
1123/11 Recently your school held a careers day when people from a wide range of jobs
October/November gave information and advice about their work to students. Your Principal asks you
2021 to write a report about how helpful you and the other students thought the careers
day was.
Write your report. You must include the following:
• the positive aspects of the day for you and the other students
• how the day could be improved for next time
• what decisions you have made about your future as a result of the careers day
and why.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your report informative and
persuasive.
Start your report ‘To the Principal’. Remember to give your name and a date
1123/12 Recently, you won a prize which you were not expecting to win (perhaps for
October/November academic studies, for an extra-curricular activity or for a competition outside
2021 school).

Your Principal asks you to write an article for the school magazine about winning
the prize.

Write your magazine article. You must include the following:

• what you received the prize for and why you were not expecting to win it
• details of how other people helped you to win the prize
• how you will benefit from winning the prize.

Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your magazine article
interesting and informative.

Start your magazine article with a suitable headline and a byline.

1123/11 Your uncle and aunt own a shop which is busy and successful. You sometimes help
May/June in the shop during
2020 your holidays. Your English teacher asks you to make a speech to your class about
the shop and your
experience of working there.
Write your speech. You must include the following:
• what kind of shop it is and what you do there
• why the shop is so busy and successful
• why working in the shop is a useful experience for you.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your speech interesting and
informative. Start
your speech: ‘Good morning, everyone
1123/12 Your school has many extra-curricular activities. These include a debating team,
May/June music groups, sports
2020 teams and others. You are the leader of one of them. Your English teacher asks
you to make a speech
to your classmates to inform them about your team or group.
Write your speech. You must include the following:
• which team or group you lead and why it is successful
• the qualities and skills a member of the team or group must have
• how someone who joins the team or group will benefit as a member.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your speech informative
and interesting. Start
 your speech: ‘Good morning, everyone.
1123/11 Your cousin, a successful former student at your school, has just returned from
October/ living in another country.
November Your Principal asks you to write an article for your school magazine about your
2020 cousin’s experience.
Write your magazine article. You must include the following:
• what your cousin achieved at school
• where your cousin went and what your cousin did there
• why your cousin is a role model for other students.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your magazine article
interesting and informative.
Start your magazine article with a suitable headline.
1123/12 Your Principal wants to make your school more environmentally friendly. You have
October/ an idea which you
November think will help. Your Principal asks you to write an article for the school magazine to
2020 explain your idea
and to ask other students to help you.
Write your magazine article. You must include the following:
• what your school already does to help the environment
• details of your idea and how the other students can help
• how the whole school will benefit.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make your magazine article
interesting and informative.
Start your magazine article with a suitable headline.