How to write a C1 advanced report
How to write a C1 advanced report
In the C1 Advanced Writing paper, a report is one of the task types that may appear in Part 2. Unlike the essay, it is not compulsory, but it is a highly structured task with predictable conventions that many candidates prefer.
For this task, you are typically required to present factual information, evaluate a specific situation and, where requested, make recommendations. You are writing for a specific reader (e.g., a supervisor, a committee, or a group). You are provided with:
- A clear context or scenario
- Specific points or questions that you must address (usually three)
- Address all points mentioned in the prompt.
- Organise the text using clear headings.
- Provide objective information and practical suggestions.
- Maintain a neutral or formal tone.
- Write a well-structured document of 220–260 words.
🔍 Note: The target reader is often a person in authority, such as a manager or college principal, but it may also be a group of colleagues, committee members or other relevant readers. The language should be professional, appropriately objective and easy to scan.
Let’s work through the stages of planning and writing a C1 Advanced report using the following sample task:
The director of the international college where you study has asked you to write a report on the college’s sports and social facilities.
In your report, you should:
‣ Describe the current state of the facilities.
‣ Explain why some facilities are underused.
‣ Recommend ways to encourage more students to use them.
Write your report.
The planning stage
Before you start writing, spend a few minutes planning. This is even more important for a report than for an essay because you need to decide on your headings in advance. Without a plan, you might forget to include one of the required points from the prompt.
What to consider in your plan:
- Identify the target reader (the college director).
- Decide on clear headings for the main sections, making sure that all the bullet points are covered.
- Decide on two or three clear, specific recommendations.
Choose your content
Choose points that:
- Sound realistic and factual.
- Allow you to use professional vocabulary.
For example:
- State of facilities: Modern gym but outdated common room.
- Reasons for underuse: Lack of awareness, membership costs or inadequate facilities.
Make a plan — ❗Do not skip this step
Your plan should be a roadmap of your headings and the key facts you will include. Use bullet points for your notes to keep them brief.
Based on the sample task above:
‣ Title: Report on College Sports and Social Facilities
‣ Introduction: purpose of the report: to evaluate facilities and increase engagement.
‣ Current state of facilities: high-quality gym and courts; outdated common room.
‣ Analysis of usage: students are unaware of scheduled sports classes; the common room lacks reliable Wi-Fi, refreshments and comfortable furniture.
‣ Recommendations: improve the promotion of sports activities; renovate the common room; offer a free trial week.
‣ Conclusion: summary of how these changes will improve student life.
General report structure
A report will often follow the structure below, although the number and organisation of the sections should depend on the task.
- Purpose: To clearly state what the report is about.
- Guidance: Keep it simple and formal. For example, use ‘Report on [topic]’ or ‘An evaluation of [topic]’.
🔹 Introduction (possible heading: ‘Introduction’ or ‘Purpose’)
- Purpose: State the reason for writing the report and what it will cover. For example: ‘The aim of this report is to assess the sports facilities at…’
- Guidance: Keep this brief, usually one or two sentences. State the purpose of the report and, if useful, indicate what it will cover. Do not include detailed recommendations here; save them for the appropriate section.
🔹 Section 1 (possible heading: Current state of facilities)
- Purpose: Address the first bullet point. Provide a factual description of the current situation.
- Guidance: Use objective language. Instead of ‘I think the gym is okay,’ use ‘The fitness suite is generally well maintained, though some equipment is ageing.’
🔹 Section 2 (possible heading: Factors affecting usage)
- Purpose: Address the second bullet point. Explain the reasons behind the findings, e.g., why things are or aren’t working.
- Guidance: Use ’cause and effect’ language. For example: ‘As a result of limited opening hours, many part-time students are unable to access the common room.’
🔹 Section 3 (possible heading: Recommendations for improvement)
- Purpose: Address the third bullet point. Offer clear, practical solutions or suggestions.
- Guidance: Recommendations should be clear, practical and directly connected to the findings presented earlier. Use persuasive, formal language such as ‘It is strongly suggested that…’ or ‘The college should consider…’
🔹 Conclusion (optional)
- Purpose: If useful, briefly summarise the overall findings or the expected outcome of the recommendations.
- Guidance: A separate conclusion is not always necessary, as the recommendations section may provide a natural ending. If you include one, do not introduce new information. A single strong sentence is often enough.
Useful language for C1 reports
To state the purpose:
- The aim of this report is to examine…
- The purpose of this report is to examine…
- This report outlines the findings of…
- This report is based on a survey conducted among…
To present factual information:
- It is generally considered that…
- The vast majority of [people] reported that…
- It appears that the main reason for… is…
To describe problems and reasons:
- One significant factor is the lack of…
- This has led to a situation where…
- Feedback suggests that students are dissatisfied with…
To make recommendations:
- I would strongly suggest that the [organisation] consider…
- It is recommended that steps be taken to…
- The most effective course of action would be to…
- A potential solution would be to…
To conclude:
- If these recommendations are implemented, it is likely that…
- If these recommendations are implemented, it is expected that…
- In conclusion, the proposed changes would lead to…
- To sum up, while the current situation is [X], the outlook could be improved by…
Sample report
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the college’s sports and social facilities, identify the reasons for their underuse and recommend ways to increase student engagement.
Current state of facilities
The college’s indoor gym and tennis courts are well maintained and of a high standard. By contrast, the common room leaves much to be desired, as its outdated furniture makes it unappealing to students.
Factors contributing to underuse
Despite their high quality, the sports facilities are often underused in the evening. Feedback suggests that many students are unaware of the scheduled classes, while others hesitate to pay membership fees without knowing how frequently they will attend. The common room also attracts few students because it lacks reliable Wi-Fi, refreshments and comfortable seating.
Recommendations for improvement
To encourage greater participation in college life, the following measures should be considered:
- Launch a digital newsletter and update college noticeboards to highlight the weekly sports schedule and club meetings.
- Offer a ‘free trial week’ at the start of each semester to allow new students to experience the sports facilities without an immediate financial commitment.
- Invest in a modest renovation of the common room, focusing on high-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable seating and a small refreshment area.
Conclusion
To conclude, while the college has a solid foundation in its sports infrastructure, the social facilities require modernisation. If the recommendations above are implemented, it is expected that student satisfaction and participation will improve significantly.
🔍 Note: The matching colours show how each recommendation responds directly to a problem identified in the previous section.
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