四级写作常考话题主要为两类：校园类和社会类。校园话题含绿色校园、选修课、社团活动等;社会话题为博物馆、环境、娱乐活动等。
四级写作体裁有三种：论说文、应用文及图表作文。1990年至2010年42次四级写作中三种体裁的分布如下：
可见，四级写作考察重点是论说文。其中，近12次四级考试中论说文考了10次，应用文2次，图表作文0次。 因此，建议复习重点为论说文。
论说文有三种：问题解决型、观点对比型和现象描述型。其中问题解决型作文是近年考察重点（5次），其次是观点对比型（3次）和现象描述型（2次）。
论说文建议采用三段式写作思路。
（1）观点对比型：该类作文是2011年重点备考类型，理由如下： 2008年12月至2010年12月连续五次均考“问题解决型”作文，改换类型几率较高。接下来，请关注一下该类作文命题形式的变化。
可以看出，当前该类作文的命题不同与2000年之前，具体表现在命题思路上。区别主要体现提纲形式的变化上：
友情提示：经典的观点对比型作文写作模板用在如今的考试之中已无效了。
下面，以2008年6月份真题为例介绍该类作文的最新破题思路
2008年6月英文题目：Recreational activities
提纲：1. 娱乐活动多种多样
2. 娱乐活动可能使人们受益，也可能有危害性
例文：
首段：描述现象+ 观点阐述（利）+原因
Living in the era of information and technology， individuals have access to a variety of recreational activities. Some people argue that it is absolutely necessary for people to participate in these activities， because they bring convenience and benefits. In their eyes， without these activities， it is impossible for them to ease their working and studying pressure. Moreover， what makes them convinced is that enjoying recreational time is of great significance for them to make friends.
二段：观点阐述（弊） +原因
Beneficial as these activities are， others have an opposite perspective. First， they argue that taking part in them means a great amount of time， money and energy; therefore， their work may be afflicted. In addition， what worries many parents or teachers is that some games （gambling or computer games） may have negative influences on teenagers’ learning.
尾段：我的看法（观点阐述）+具体说明（理由）
Who is right？ I think there is something right in both arguments. However， I am convinced that we should attach more importance to our study or work firstly. Then， we are also expected to get relaxed through positive recreational activities.
（2）问题解决型：问题解决型作文是近年重点，也是2011年6月四级备考次重点。其写作思路一般可以总结为：现象（问题）描述+原因（危害）分析+建议措施（我的看法）。
以2010年6月份真题为例介绍该类题型的破题思路。
2010年6月英文题目：Due Attention Should Be Given to Spelling
汉语提纲1.如今不少学生在英语学习中不重视拼写。
2.出现这种情况的原因。
3.如何避免这一问题
例文：
首段：问题描述 = 背景+描述+总结
In the present-day world， English has become indispensable. However， it can be noticed that learners pay less attention to spelling than ever before. Therefore， this problem has become a matter of concern for teachers and students.
中间段：原因分析= 主题句+原因1+原因2
Generally speaking， several reasons can account for this phenomenon. To begin with， while writing， students tend to type on computers， which can correct spelling mistakes automatically. In addition， most English tests are based on choosing correct answers， in which spelling is not a necessity.