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Title / Write complex texts on familiar topics (EL)
Level / 4 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is for people for whom English is an additional language.
People credited with this unit standard are able towrite complex texts on familiar topics (EL).
Classification / Languages > English Language
Available grade / Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit / Content, structure and organisation of the text are appropriate to the topic and text type. Ideas are developed and linked. Text is coherent and cohesive, with minor lapses. A range of language features and vocabulary is used. Information from source materials is integrated. Meaning of text is conveyed with minor inaccuracies.
Criteria for Excellence / Ideas are well developed and linked. Text is coherent and cohesive with minimal lapses. A wide range of language features and vocabulary is used. Information from source materials is synthesised. Meaning of text is conveyed with minimal inaccuracies.
Prerequisites / Unit 28068, Write texts on familiar topics (EL), or demonstrate equivalent knowledge or skills.
Guidance Information
1English Language (EL) refers to the acquisition of English as an additional language.
2This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade. For the Achieved grade to be awarded, the outcome must be achieved as specified in the outcome statement. For Merit grade to be awarded, the candidate must meet the Achieved and Merit criteria. For Excellence grade to be awarded, the candidate must meet the Achieved, Merit and Excellence criteria.
3This unit standard is at a level comparable to the Common European Framework of Reference B2.
4This unit standard may contribute to the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4) [Ref:1883] for the general, workplace and academic qualifiers. Assessment of the academic qualifier will also require assessment against English for Academic Purposes Level 4 unit standards, in the subfield Languages. These unit standards can be accessed at
5All assessment activities must be conducted in English, which must not be the candidate’s first language.
6It is recommended that:
ithe outcomes are assessed as part of an integrated unit of work, relevant to the learning context of the candidate;
iiassessment be conducted in conjunction with assessment against other English Language unit standards at this level.
7Candidates may use an English dictionary, but not electronic devices, other than for word processing.
8Candidates’ writing competence must be assessed after they have been given the opportunity to edit and proofread their work. Candidates’ drafts and resource materials must be attached as part of the completed assessment. The assessor must be satisfied that the candidate can independently demonstrate competence against the unit standard.
9Assessment support material for English Language unit standards can be found at
10Definitions
Acknowledged refers to in-text citation, reference list, footnotes, or similar conventions of referencing, as appropriate to the audience.
A limited range of language features and vocabulary refers to the selection and use of sufficient language features and vocabulary to communicate ideas.
A range of language features and vocabulary refers to the selection and use of language features and vocabulary to communicate ideas effectively.
A wide range of language features and vocabularyrefers to the selection of a variety of language features and general and topic related vocabulary used to communicate ideas precisely and fluently.
Coherent refers to the presentation of ideas in a comprehensible manner and logical order.
Cohesive refers to how ideas are linked between and within paragraphs using cohesive devices.
Content refersto the selection and development of ideas related to the topic.
Discursive text refers to a piece of writing that attempts to give two or more sides of a topic or issue. It contains an explanation of purpose, arguments for and against the topic and a conclusion.
Errors refer to consistent use of incorrect language features.
Explanatory textrefers to statements of how or why the feature or process of a phenomenon changes. It contains a general statement, which describes the phenomenon, an explanation of change and a conclusion.
Familiar topics refer to topics that are well known and relevant to the candidate.
Inaccuracies refer to lapses of control in text structure and language features.
Information text refers to a classification and description of information. It contains a logical sequence of facts that are stated without any personal involvement.
Organisation refers to the arrangement of content into paragraphs, in a logical order.
Persuasive text refers to the use of words to convince the reader of his/her view regarding an issue. It contains a statement of viewpoint, supporting evidence and restatement of viewpoint.
Outcomes and Performance criteria
Outcome 1
Write complex texts on familiar topics (EL).
Rangetwo texts each of at least 500 words, each of different text type and topic, assessed on separate occasions;
text types may include but are not limited to – information, persuasive, discursive, explanatory.
Performance criteria
1.1Content, structure and organisation of the text are generally appropriate to the topic, audience and text type. Ideas are developed. Text is generally coherent and cohesive. A limited range of language features and vocabulary is used. Information from source materials is summarised, paraphrased and acknowledged. Meaning of the text is generally conveyed but may contain errors and inaccuracies.
Rangelanguage features may include but are not limited to – complete simple, compound and complex sentences; verb forms; pronouns, general nouns, complex noun groups, nounphrases; adjectives and adverb phrases; formal, objective language.
Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standard 28072 were replaced by unit standard 31035.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 17 October 2013 / 31 December 2019
Rollover and Revision / 2 / 21 May 2015 / 31 December 2019
Review / 3 / 29 March 2018 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0226
This CMR can be accessed at
NZQA National Qualifications ServicesSSB Code 130301 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut