How to write a proposal? | C1 Advanced (CAE)


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A proposal may be written for a peer group (such as colleagues or club members), or for a supervisor (such as a boss or a college principal). You will be expected to make one or more suggestions, supported by factual information and evaluation, in order to persuade the reader of a course of action.
How to write a proposal?
Begin by stating the purpose of your proposal.
- Use an impersonal, semi-formal style.
- Use a clear layout with headings.
- Express opinions and make recommendations in the last section of your proposal.
- Include a final sentence summarising your opinion.
Report vs Proposal:
Proposals are often structured in a similar way to reports. Reports are based on current circumstances or situations whereas in proposals you give more space to recommendations for future actions in a proposal.
C1 Advanced (CAE) Proposal: Structure / Format
1. Title (optional) + Introduction The aims of this proposal are to… |
2. Main body: 1st – 2nd paragraph Subheading 1 Subheading 2 |
3. Final Recommendations Make your recommendations. Write at least 2-3 sentences |
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C1 Advanced (CAE) Proposal: Writing Guide
1. Title + Introduction
The title is advisable but optional.
Title: How to improve the quality of language classes: a proposal
Start the proposal with an introduction and a clear sentence that states the purpose/aim: The aims of this proposal are to…Introduction: The principal objectives of this proposal are to describe the current state of language teaching at the Pennsylvania State University, identify areas for improvement, and offer recommendations on exactly what improvements can be achieved.
2. Main body: 1st – 2nd paragraph
Group your ideas under headings for each section of your proposal. Remember to answer all the questions that you were asked. Write in a formal and impersonal style similar to a report.
Paragraph 1:
Subheading 1: Current situation
Paragraph 1: At the present moment, Penn State offers courses of several languages on three different levels. One can study modern languages such as French, German, Italian Russian as a beginner, intermediate or upper-intermediate student.
Paragraph 2:
Subheading 2: Issues
Paragraph 2: Following a final year survey among students taking language courses, the following areas for improvement can be highlighted … (here you continue)
3. Final Recommendations
Express opinions and make recommendations in the last section/paragraph of your proposal. Include a final sentence summarising your opinion.
This is a vital part of a proposal, make sure you give enough space to recommendations for future actions in a proposal. Write at least 3 sentences.
Example:
I would like to make the following recommendations:
- Invite students who are starting out at the university to a quick and informative seminar to demonstrate how to use the site.
- Provide language help and some useful resources for language learning and assistance.
- Provide a survival pack for students to take with them and know how to combat technological issues.
If these recommendations are in place, young people are bound to feel more prepared for their experience and take full advantage of this unique experience.

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Sample papers, online practice tests & tips. Track your progress online.C1 Advanced (CAE) Proposal: Sample Aswers
Proposal subject:
Language students – let us improve what we do for you!
Unfortunately, we can’t spend much money, but we’d like to improve what we provide for our language students. Submit proposals to us explaining what is useful about the current facilities we provide, describe any problems you have with them and make recommendations for how we can improve them, giving reasons to support your ideas.
Student’s CAE Proposal Answer:
How to improve the quality of language classes: a proposal
The principal objectives of this proposal are to describe the current state of language teaching at the Pennsylvania State University, identify areas for improvement, and offer recommendations on exactly what improvements can be achieved.
Current situation
At the present moment, Penn State offers courses of several languages on three different levels. One can study modern languages such as French, German, Italian Russian as a beginner, intermediate or upper-intermediate student.
Issues
Following a final year survey among students taking language courses, the following areas for improvement can be highlighted:
1. the number of languages in offer: undoubtedly narrow and restricted to European languages;
2. the structure of the courses is flat: no advanced level
3. little innovation in the language methods utilized: simple, old-fashioned grammar-translation method still reigns supreme.
Recommendations
It is vital to address the issues raised in the student survey. Therefore, the following actions ought to be performed with a view to improving the quality of the courses and their reception:
A. The offer should be increased to include other widely-spoken languages, especially non-European ones, such as Chinese, Arabic and Hindi. These languages are real challenges for the speakers of European languages.
B. It is advisable to expand the course options by offering lessons for advanced students. Only comprehensive offer can motivate students to immerse themselves in language learning.
C. Last but not least, some variety needs to be introduced into the array of teaching methods available to students, e.g. online multimedia lessons. The best method of language learning is using many various methods.
All of these measures, if promptly implemented, are surely going to increase student satisfaction in the area of language courses.
Proposal subject:
You go to a university that has a high amount of international students and you have realised that the website is not up to scratch. Write a proposal for the University Dean about how it could be improved.
Student’s CAE Proposal Answer:
This proposal is aimed at outlining the way in which the university website could be improved so that it is more user friendly for international students. It will suggest what improvements can be made and also set out how this would benefit the students themselves.
Problems with using the site
A recent study into how easy it is to get around the site has revealed that 70% of students whose second language is English find it difficult to find specific information about their courses. Because of the language barrier, they find it hard to make their search terms clear and this has become a cause for concern. Translating the site is not an option and this can be a big problem, especially at the beginning of the academic year.
Ways the site could address these issues
It has been well documented that the university website has neither a site map nor an introduction video to help novice students to find their way around it. It would make a huge difference if there were some simple instructions to indicate where to find information. It is a delicate balance as we, of course, want international students to learn English, but also want them to navigate the site with ease.
Recommendations
I would like to make the following recommendations:
- Invite students who are starting out at the university to a quick and informative seminar to demonstrate how to use the site.
- Provide language help and some useful resources for language learning and assistance.
- Provide a survival pack for students to take with them and know how to combat technological issues.
If these recommendations are in place, young people are bound to feel more prepared for their experience and take full advantage of this unique experience.
C1 Advanced (CAE) Proposal: Writing Topics
There are plans to demolish an old and unused building in the town where you are a student. You feel that the building should be saved. You decide to write a proposal for the town council explaining why you think the building should be preserved, suggesting what could be done to modernise it and saying how the building could benefit the local people.
Your college currently doesn’t provide enough support for students planning to spend time studying in another country. You see this notice in the library.
The college is planning to introduce a special course for students planning to spend time studying in-country. The college principal invites students to send a proposal outlining any problems students may face when studying abroad and suggesting ways in which the course could address these problems. A decision can then be made about what to include on the course.
Students at your college have to give a spoken presentation as part of their final assessment and need some help. The school director has invited you to send a proposal outlining any problems students have with presentations and suggesting how these problems could be overcome.
The company you work for is considering the idea of a flexible working day, where staff are able to vary their starting and finishing time. The manager of your department has asked you to write a proposal explaining why introducing a flexible working day could benefit both the company and its employees. You should also suggest how a flexible working day could operate in your own department.
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C1 Advanced (CAE) Proposal: Mark Scheme
Language It is likely that the proposal will need to include accurate use of modals such as would, could, etc to talk about possibilities and arrangements for the event. Appropriate structures for recommending and suggesting should be used accurately. Vocabulary connected with the kind of event suggested should be used accurately. | Organization The proposal should be appropriately organized in paragraphs or sections, which may each be given a title. These should deal with different aspects, for example the background, the nature of the proposed event and reasons for choosing it, and suggestions for how it can be organized. Appropriate linking of points should be present. |
Communication The proposal should be fairly formal or neutral because the context is fairly formal – the writer is submitting a proposal to people who are in charge. The reader would understand clearly the kind of event being proposed, what that event would involve and how it could be organized. | Content The proposal must contain details of what the event would be, where it would take place, what it would involve and how it would be organized. It should also make clear what the scenario is, for example the kind of establishment that is celebrating its anniversary. |
C1 Advanced (CAE) Proposal: Useful Phrases & Expressions
We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is taking a shortcut, if you learn several phrases for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized proposal.
Stating the purpose of the proposal
The principal objectives of this proposal are to
The objective of this proposal is to…
The purpose of this proposal is to examine / evaluate / explain / describe / analyse / present…
This proposal aims to…
Rhetorical phrases:
Have you ever ……..?
What do you think about ……..?
Are you one of those people who thinks that ……?
Are you one of those people who …….?
What would life be like if ……?
Will the future bring us ….. ?
Background information
At the present moment,…
Comments made at the end of the questionnaires suggest…
Following a survey among…
Concerned members of the local community were invited to attend…
A number of concerns with regard to XYZ were expressed by…
The following areas for improvement can be highlighted
Introducing your first point:
Firstly
In the first place
First of all
The first thing to consider is
One thing to consider is
To begin with
Introducing more points:
Secondly
Another consideration
Yet another consideration
Another thing to consider is
Added to that
Apart from that
In addition to this
Making recommendations and suggestions
A working group should be set up by…
There should be an enquiry into…
It would be advantageous to…
It is recommended that…
I recommend that a larger survey should be conducted before a final decision is reached…
Final recommendations
Implementation of the above ideas would result in…
A working group should be set up by…
There should be an enquiry into…
I recommend that a larger survey should be conducted before a final decision is reached…
The following actions ought to be performed with a view to (improving the quality of…)
