How to Write a Report for C1 Advanced: Structure and Example

A Clear Guide with Structure, Useful Phrases and a Model Answer

Learning how to write a report for C1 Advanced is essential if you want to do well in Writing Part 2. A report should be clear, organised and formal, with headings, relevant details and practical recommendations. In this lesson, you will learn the best structure for a C1 Advanced report, useful phrases, common mistakes and a complete model answer.

Writing a report for C1 Advanced, also known as CAE, can feel difficult at first. Many students know how to write an essay, but when they see the word report, they suddenly imagine business meetings, charts, official documents and serious people holding clipboards.

Fortunately, a C1 Advanced report is not as frightening as it looks.

A report is a clear, organised piece of writing that presents information, evaluates a situation and often makes recommendations. In C1 Advanced Writing Part 2, a report is one of the possible task types, together with a proposal, review, letter or email. You choose one task from three, and you write 220–260 words.

In this lesson, you will learn how to write a report for C1 Advanced, including:

• what a report is
• how to organise it
• what tone and style to use
• useful report-writing phrases
• a model C1 Advanced report
• common mistakes to avoid
• practice tasks

What is a Report in C1 Advanced?

A report is a formal or semi-formal text written for a specific reader, such as:

• a manager
• a teacher
• a course organiser
• a club committee
• a school director
• a local council representative

The purpose of a report is usually to:

• describe a situation
• present findings
• evaluate positive and negative points
• compare options
• explain problems
• make recommendations

A report is not a story. It is not a personal essay. It is not a friendly email.

It should be clear, factual, organised and useful.

A good report helps the reader make a decision.

Report or Proposal: What is the Difference?

Students often confuse reports and proposals because both can include recommendations.

Here is the difference.

A report usually looks at a situation that already exists or something that has already happened.

A proposal usually suggests a future plan or recommends a new idea.

Compare:

Report:

You have visited a new sports centre. Write a report evaluating its facilities and suggesting improvements.

Proposal:

Your school wants to improve its sports facilities. Write a proposal suggesting what changes should be made.

A report says: This is what I found. This is what works. This is what should be improved.

A proposal says: This is what we should do in the future. This is why it would be a good idea.

Of course, a report can include recommendations, but they are usually based on findings.

The Best Structure for a C1 Advanced Report

A clear structure is essential. Do not write one long block of text. That is not a report; that is a wall. And nobody wants to climb a wall in an exam.

Use headings.

A simple C1 Advanced report structure could look like this:

Title

Use a clear title.

Examples:

• Report on Student Satisfaction with the School Library
• Report on Facilities at the New Sports Centre
• Report on the Language Exchange Programme

Introduction

Say why you are writing the report and what it is based on.

Findings

Present the main information clearly. You can divide this into two or three sections.

Problems or Areas for Improvement

Mention any weaknesses, complaints or difficulties.

Recommendations

Make practical suggestions.

Conclusion

This is optional. In many reports, recommendations can work as the final section.

Useful Report Structure

Here is a practical structure you can use in the exam:

• Title
• Introduction
• Positive Aspects / Main Findings
• Problems / Areas for Improvement
• Recommendations

This structure works for many C1 Advanced report tasks.

Useful Phrases for a C1 Advanced Report

Introducing the Report

Use these phrases in the introduction:

• The aim of this report is to evaluate…
• The purpose of this report is to assess…
• This report aims to examine…
• This report is based on feedback from…
• The information in this report was gathered from…

Examples:

• The aim of this report is to evaluate student satisfaction with the school library.
• This report is based on feedback from students who attended the summer course.

Presenting Findings

Useful phrases:

• The majority of respondents felt that…
• A significant number of students mentioned that…
• Several participants commented on…
• It was generally agreed that…
• One of the main advantages was…
• The most common complaint concerned…

Examples:

• The majority of respondents felt that the new study area was comfortable and well equipped.
• Several participants commented on the lack of clear information before the trip.

Describing Positive Points

Useful phrases:

• One clear strength is…
• A major advantage of the programme is…
• Students particularly appreciated…
• The facilities were generally considered to be…
• Feedback on this aspect was largely positive.

Examples:

• One clear strength is the variety of activities offered to students.
• Students particularly appreciated the helpful attitude of the staff.

Describing Problems

Useful phrases:

• However, some concerns were raised about…
• The main drawback was…
• A number of students expressed dissatisfaction with…
• There were several complaints regarding…
• This was considered inadequate by many participants.

Examples:

• However, some concerns were raised about the limited number of computers available.
• There were several complaints regarding the quality of the food.

Making Recommendations

Useful phrases:

• It is recommended that…
• I would suggest that…
• The school should consider…
• It would be advisable to…
• One possible solution would be to…
• In order to improve the situation, it would be useful to…

Examples:

• It is recommended that the library opening hours be extended during the exam period.
• The school should consider providing more detailed information before future trips.

Concluding the Report

Useful phrases:

• Overall, the feedback was positive.
• In conclusion, the programme was successful, although several improvements are needed.
• If these recommendations are followed, the situation is likely to improve.
• On balance, the event can be considered a success.

Example:

• Overall, the programme was successful, although improvements should be made to the booking system.

Formal Style in a C1 Advanced Report

A report should usually be formal or semi-formal. That means you should avoid language that is too casual.

Avoid contractions

Informal:

• The facilities weren’t good enough.

Formal:

• The facilities were not adequate.

Avoid chatty language

Informal:

• The trip was really great and everyone loved it.

Better:

• The trip was generally well received by students.

Avoid emotional exaggeration

Informal:

• The food was absolutely terrible.

Better:

• Several students expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the food.

Use passive structures when appropriate

• Several complaints were made about the booking system.
• It was suggested that the timetable should be changed.

Passive structures are useful in reports because they make the writing sound more objective.

C1 Advanced Report Task Example

Here is an example task.

You recently attended a two-week English course at a language school. The course director has asked you to write a report about the course.

In your report, you should:

• evaluate the quality of the lessons
• comment on the facilities
• suggest improvements for future courses

Write your report in 220–260 words.

Model Report for C1 Advanced

Report on the Two-Week English Course

Introduction

The aim of this report is to evaluate the two-week English course recently held at Greenhill Language School. The report is based on my own experience as well as informal feedback from several other students.

Quality of the Lessons

Overall, the lessons were well organised and highly practical. Most students appreciated the variety of activities, particularly the speaking tasks and exam-focused writing practice. The teachers were knowledgeable and provided clear explanations, which helped students feel more confident. However, some grammar points were covered rather quickly, especially in the second week.

Facilities

The classrooms were bright, clean and equipped with modern technology. The interactive whiteboards were useful, and the online materials were easy to access. Nevertheless, the study area was rather small, and there were not enough computers available during breaks. Several students also mentioned that the Wi-Fi connection was unreliable.

Recommendations

It is recommended that future courses include a short grammar review at the end of each day. The school should also consider expanding the study area and improving the internet connection. In addition, providing more computers would allow students to complete online tasks more comfortably.

Conclusion

On balance, the course was successful and met the needs of most students. If the suggested improvements are made, future courses are likely to be even more effective.

Why is This a Good C1 Advanced Report?

This report works well because it:

• has a clear title
• uses headings
• answers all parts of the task
• uses formal but natural language
• includes evaluation
• makes practical recommendations
• stays focused on the target reader

It does not try to sound complicated for the sake of it. Good C1 writing should be clear, controlled and purposeful.

Useful Vocabulary for C1 Advanced Reports

Here are some useful words and phrases you can use in reports.

Positive Evaluation

• effective
• well organised
• beneficial
• practical
• well received
• suitable
• valuable
• efficient
• highly appreciated
• of considerable benefit

Examples:

• The new timetable was considered highly effective.
• The workshops were of considerable benefit to participants.

Negative Evaluation

• inadequate
• limited
• unsatisfactory
• unreliable
• inefficient
• poorly organised
• insufficient
• disappointing
• a major drawback
• an area for improvement

Examples:

• The number of computers was insufficient.
• The booking system was inefficient and caused unnecessary delays.

Recommendation Language

• recommend
• suggest
• advise
• propose
• consider
• introduce
• improve
• increase
• provide
• ensure

Examples:

• It is recommended that more staff be available during peak hours.
• The organisers should consider introducing an online booking system.

Common Mistakes in C1 Advanced Reports

1. Not Using Headings

A report should be easy to scan. Headings help the reader find information quickly.

Weak structure:

• I am going to talk about the library. It is good, but there are some problems…

Better structure:

• Introduction
• Library Facilities
• Student Feedback
• Recommendations

Headings make your report look organised before the examiner even reads the first sentence.

2. Writing Too Casually

Too informal:

• The course was great, but the Wi-Fi was rubbish.

Better:

• The course was generally successful, although the Wi-Fi connection was unreliable.

3. Forgetting the Target Reader

Always ask yourself: Who will read this report?

A report for a school director should sound different from a review for a magazine.

If the task says the report is for a manager, teacher or committee, use a respectful and objective tone.

4. Not Covering All the Bullet Points

If the task asks you to discuss three points, cover all three.

For example:

• quality of lessons
• facilities
• suggestions for improvement

Do not spend 230 words talking only about the lessons and forget the facilities. The examiner will not be amused. Examiners rarely throw confetti for missing content.

5. Giving Recommendations That Are Too General

Weak:

• The school should make everything better.

Better:

• The school should improve the Wi-Fi connection and provide additional computers in the study area.

Specific recommendations are much stronger.

6. Writing Like an Essay

A report is not an essay. Do not write long argumentative paragraphs with no headings.

An essay usually develops an argument.

A report presents information clearly and makes recommendations.

C1 Advanced Report Template

You can use this template to practise.

Report on [Topic]

Introduction

The aim of this report is to evaluate [topic]. The report is based on [feedback / observation / survey results / personal experience].

Main Findings

Overall, [general finding]. The majority of [students / participants / members] felt that [positive point]. In particular, [specific detail].

Areas for Improvement

However, some concerns were raised about [problem]. A number of [students / participants / members] mentioned that [specific complaint].

Recommendations

It is recommended that [suggestion 1]. The [school / company / organisers] should also consider [suggestion 2]. This would help to [expected result].

Conclusion

On balance, [topic] can be considered [successful / useful / effective], although [area] should be improved.

C1 Advanced Report Checklist

Before you finish your report, check these questions:

1. Have I written a clear title?
2. Have I used headings?
3. Have I answered all the bullet points?
4. Is my tone formal or semi-formal?
5. Have I included specific details?
6. Have I made practical recommendations?
7. Have I avoided contractions and slang?
8. Is my report between 220 and 260 words?
9. Is the organisation clear?
10. Have I checked grammar, spelling and punctuation?

Practice Task 1

You are a member of your school’s English club. Your teacher has asked you to write a report about the club’s activities this year.

In your report, you should:

• describe the most successful activities
• explain any problems
• suggest improvements for next year

Write your report.

Practice Task 2

Your company recently introduced a new online training system. Your manager has asked you to write a report about it.

In your report, you should:

• evaluate how useful the system is
• describe any difficulties employees have had
• recommend changes

Write your report.

Practice Task 3

You recently visited a museum with your class. Your teacher has asked you to write a report about the visit.

In your report, you should:

• evaluate the exhibits
• comment on the organisation of the visit
• suggest whether the museum should be used for future school trips

Write your report.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to write a report for C1 Advanced is not about memorising one perfect answer. It is about understanding the purpose of the task.

A good report should be clear, organised, formal or semi-formal, factual and useful to the reader.

Use headings, answer every point in the task and make practical recommendations. Do not try to impress the examiner with unnecessarily complicated language. Instead, show control, accuracy and good organisation.

A strong C1 Advanced report does exactly what a good report should do: it gives the reader useful information and helps them make a decision.

Related posts:

How to Write an Essay for CAE 

How to Write a Proposal in English 

How to Write a Book Review

Subjunctive and Formal Expressions in English 

Linking Words and Phrases 

Expressing Cause and Effect in English

Expressing Opinions and Arguments in English

50 Advanced Vocabulary Words for C1 Learners

Collocations for C1 Advanced (CAE)

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FAQ 

How do you write a report for C1 Advanced?

To write a report for C1 Advanced, use a clear title, headings, formal or semi-formal language, relevant details and practical recommendations. Make sure you answer all the points in the task.

What is the structure of a C1 Advanced report?

A good C1 Advanced report usually includes a title, introduction, main findings, problems or areas for improvement, and recommendations.

Do I need headings in a C1 Advanced report?

Yes. Headings make your report clearer and easier to read. They also help organise your ideas effectively.

Is a C1 Advanced report formal?

A C1 Advanced report is usually formal or semi-formal. Avoid slang, contractions and overly emotional language.

How many words should a C1 Advanced report have?

A C1 Advanced Writing Part 2 answer should usually be between 220 and 260 words.