Why “Communicative Achievement” Matters
In Cambridge English exams, Communicative Achievement is one of the four key areas assessed in writing, alongside Content, Organisation, and Language.
While Content looks at what the student writes, Communicative Achievement focuses on how effectively they communicate their message to the intended reader.
It answers the question:
Does the student use an appropriate style, tone, and format for the task, and is the message successfully communicated to the reader?
This criterion measures the ability to use language naturally and appropriately for the context—something that goes beyond grammatical accuracy.
What “Good Communicative Achievement” Looks Like
A strong performance in Communicative Achievement means that the student:
Uses a style and register appropriate to the task (formal, neutral, or informal).
Achieves the purpose of the text (to describe, persuade, request, review, or inform).
Engages and holds the reader’s attention effectively.
Uses conventions of the text type correctly (for example, greetings in an email, clear argument structure in an essay, or engaging tone in an article).
Maintains a consistent voice throughout the piece.
Good communicative writing feels natural, clear, and purposeful—it sounds like something a real person would say in that situation.
Examples by Level
B1 Level
At this level, students should use simple and clear communication that fits the task.
An informal email should sound friendly and personal, while a short article should be engaging and easy to follow.
Good example:
Hi Emma,
Thanks for your message! I’d love to come to your party next Saturday. What time does it start?
Weak example:
Dear Emma,
I am writing in connection with your invitation. I would like to inform you that I will come.
The second version sounds too formal and unnatural for a friendly message.
B2 Level
At B2, students are expected to adapt tone and register to different contexts—formal, semi-formal, or informal—while keeping it consistent.
An essay should use a formal, academic tone; a review or article can be more expressive or opinion-based.
C1 Level
C1 writers should demonstrate flexibility and sophistication in communication.
They can adjust tone naturally and use stylistic features (such as rhetorical questions, emphasis, or cohesive devices) to make their writing more engaging and effective.
C2 Level
At C2, candidates are expected to write with precision, confidence, and subtlety.
They adapt their tone effortlessly to purpose and audience, using idiomatic expressions or stylistic variety naturally, without sounding forced.
Common Mistakes That Affect the Score
Using an inappropriate tone (too formal or too casual).
Mixing styles within the same text.
Ignoring the target reader (writing as if to no one in particular).
Overusing memorised phrases or formulaic expressions.
Producing a mechanically correct but lifeless response that lacks genuine communication.
Helping Students Improve Their Communicative Achievement
Analyse audience and purpose. Ask: Who am I writing to? Why am I writing? What do I want the reader to do or feel?
Practise different text types. Write emails, reviews, essays, and reports with varied levels of formality.
Compare tones. Rewrite the same message in both formal and informal styles.
Focus on natural expression. Encourage phrases a real person would use, not textbook language.
Give feedback on tone and clarity. Highlight when the text feels unnatural or doesn’t match the task purpose.
How Penmate Assesses “Communicative Achievement”
Penmate analyses whether the student’s text:
Matches the required tone and level of formality.
Achieves the communicative purpose set by the task.
Maintains a consistent and appropriate style throughout.
Engages the reader effectively.
The feedback identifies when a student’s tone is too formal, too informal, or inconsistent, and provides guidance on how to adjust for better reader impact.
Final Thoughts
Communicative Achievement is about connection—between the writer and the reader.
It shows how effectively a student can choose language, tone, and structure to deliver their message in a way that feels authentic and purposeful.
Helping students develop this skill means training them not just to write correctly, but to write naturally—to sound like real people communicating real ideas.
About Penmate
Penmate is an AI-powered writing assessment tool designed to support teachers, not replace them.
Our mission is to make writing evaluation faster, fairer, and more transparent—while keeping human judgment at the centre of learning.