What lateness tells us
Original practice source: a commentary about being late.
When someone waits, another person’s delay becomes part of their day. A short message may help them decide what to do, while an unexplained absence can leave them unable to use the time. The effect deserves attention even when no offence was intended.
A delayed arrival does not explain its own cause. Something may have happened beyond the person’s control, or an earlier estimate may have been careless. A fair response considers the available choices and what the person did once the delay became clear, instead of treating either an apology or a clock as the whole account.
A national newspaper is running an essay competition on the statement: “Being late is always a sign of disrespect.”
Write an essay for the competition arguing your view. You may use ideas from the source and your own ideas.
60 exam-style questions on Oxford AQA IGCSE English Language 2.2 Section B: Directed writing, covering 2.2.1 Writing for audience and purpose, 2.2.2 Responding to multiple and diverse demands, and 2.2.3 Writing linked to the Section A sources. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.