Cambridge writing: how to write a proposal (C1 advanced)

 

Hi Quijoter@s! ?

Today we’re looking at
one of the most common tasks in the C1 Advanced Writing paper: the
proposal. Many students confuse it with a report, but although they
are similar, a proposal has a specific purpose and tone.

Let’s break it down
clearly.

What is a proposal?

A proposal is a formal or
semi-formal piece of writing in which you:

• suggest improvements

• recommend actions

• evaluate options

• persuade the reader

The target reader is
usually someone in authority (e.g. a principal, manager or
committee), and your goal is to make practical recommendations.

Structure of a
proposal

A clear structure is
essential.

• Title : Be
  concise and informative.

Examples:

• Proposal for
  Improving Student Facilities

• Proposal to
  Increase Community Engagement

• Introduction:
  State the purpose clearly.

Useful
phrases:

• The aim of this
  proposal is to…

• This proposal
  outlines…

• The purpose of this
  document is to suggest…

Example:
The aim of this proposal is to suggest ways to enhance student
participation in extracurricular activities.

• Main sections
  (with headings): Divide your ideas into logical paragraphs with
  clear headings. For example:

Current
Situation

Suggested
Improvements

Expected
Benefits

Using headings improves
clarity and organisation, which examiners reward.

• Recommendations /
  Conclusion: End with clear, practical suggestions.

Useful phrases:

• It is recommended
  that…

• I would strongly
  suggest that…

• One possible course
  of action would be to…

• Implementing these
  measures would…

Example: It is
recommended that the school allocate additional funding to
student-led initiatives.

Useful Vocabulary for
Proposals

To evaluate:

• assess

• examine

• consider

• analyse

To suggest:

• propose

• recommend

• put forward

• outline

To describe advantages:

• beneficial

• cost-effective

• sustainable

• feasible

• efficient

To persuade:

• would significantly
  improve

• would enhance

• would lead to

• is likely to result
  in

Tone and register

A proposal should be:

• formal or
  semi-formal

• objective

• solution-focused

• persuasive but
  balanced

Avoid:

❌ contractions (don’t,
can’t)

❌ overly emotional
language

❌ informal expressions

What examiners look
for

At C1 level, you are
assessed on:

• Content (Have you
  answered the task?)

• Communicative
  achievement (Is the tone appropriate?)

• Organisation (Is it
  clearly structured?)

• Language (Is it
  varied and accurate?)