2. Exam information
In the Level 2 writing exam you may be asked to write a letter or an
email.
Using the correct format for a letter or an email is essential to avoid
losing marks.
4. Letters
There are conventional features of a formal letter that you need to
include in order to meet the assessment criteria for a correct letter format.
Let’s take a look at an example of a correctly formatted formal letter...
5. Write your address (make it
up) in the top right corner
Put the date below your
address
Put the name of the person
you are writing to (recipient)
Write their address in full
Begin with an appropriate
salutation
Use paragraphs
Start by saying why you are
writing
Finish with an appropriate closing that
matches the salutation - ‘Yours
sincerely’ when you know the name,
‘Yours faithfully’ when you begin ‘Dear
Sir/Madam’
Write your name in full
6. As you can see, there are certain features that we must include in a
formal letter:
sender’s address
date (this is optional for the Pearson Edexcel exam, but it is still good practice to
include the date)
recipient’s name (or job title) and address
an appropriate opening salutation (Dear Mr... Dear Ms... Dear Sir/Madam)
an appropriate closing (Yours sincerely... Yours faithfully)
7. Here is the exam writing task for the letter on Slide 4.
Writing prompt
Format, audience and purpose for
writing
Minimum and maximum word limit
Bullet points giving paragraph topics
8. Here is an example of a plan for the letter.
Purpose - to apply for £5,000 career grant
Audience - Laura Mensah
Register - formal
Intro - why I’m writing
Paragraph 1 - what I’m doing now and my ambitions
in final year of 3 year Photography degree - want to be wild life photographer for National Geographic - always been fascinated by wild
life - working part time as waiter to help pay for tuition fees
Paragraph 2 - how I’d use funding
advanced workshop British Academy of Photography Manchester - 6 months & costs £4,500 - can’t afford to pay on wage as waiter -
other £500 spend on textbooks - expensive because specialised
Paragraph 3 - why I deserve funding
dream come true - committed to career goal - determined to achieve ambition - would take me years to save up for workshop - £5,000
would be giant stride to fulfilling career goal
Conclusion
look forward to being successful
9. Purpose - to apply for £5,000 career grant
Audience - Laura Mensah
Register - formal
Intro - why I’m writing
Paragraph 1 - what I’m doing now and my ambitions
in final year of 3 year Photography degree - want to be wild life
photographer for National Geographic - always been fascinated by wild
life - working part time as waiter to help pay for tuition fees
Paragraph 2 - how I’d use funding (specific examples)
advanced workshop British Academy of Photography Manchester - 6
months & costs £4,500 - can’t afford to pay on wage as waiter - other
£500 spend on textbooks - expensive because specialised
Paragraph 3 - why I deserve funding
dream come true - committed to career goal - determined to achieve
ambition - would take me years to save up for workshop - £5,000
would be giant stride to fulfilling career goal
Conclusion
look forward to being successful
How the plan relates to the writing task.
10. Purpose - to apply for £5,000 career grant
Audience - Laura Mensah
Register - formal
Intro - why I’m writing
Paragraph 1 - what I’m doing now and my ambitions
in final year of 3 year Photography degree - want to be wild life
photographer for National Geographic - always been fascinated by wild
life - working part time as waiter to help pay for tuition fees
Paragraph 2 - how I’d use funding (specific examples)
advanced workshop British Academy of Photography Manchester - 6
months & costs £4,500 - can’t afford to pay on wage as waiter - other
£500 spend on textbooks - expensive because specialised
Paragraph 3 - why I deserve funding
dream come true - committed to career goal - determined to achieve
ambition - would take me years to save up for workshop - £5,000
would be giant stride to fulfilling career goal
Conclusion
look forward to being successful
How the plan relates to the letter.
12. Emails
If you are asked to write an email as a writing task in the exam, you don’t
have to make up email addresses or a subject heading. These are already
provided by Pearson Edexcel.
If you are emailing a company, a business, or someone important or even
someone you don’t know personally, always use formal language.
Make sure that your salutation is appropriate to your audience and that
your closing matches the style of the salutation.
Write in paragraphs.
Now let’s take a look at an exam writing task for an email...
13. Writing prompt (To/From/Subject boxes
already filled in by Pearson Edexcel)
Task statement - format, audience and
purpose
Bullet points - only two for Task 2 (two
main paragraphs)
14. How task relates to plan
Purpose - to give ideas for staff day out
Audience - Lee (could be colleague or manager)
Register - neutral
Intro - why I’m writing
Paragraph 1 - my ideas (not too expensive - for different interests to
enjoy)
1. British Museum London - free - parking for coaches 30
seconds walk from museum entrance
2. Chester Zoo - went there with sister & family and had great
time
Paragraph 2 - why my ideas are good
1. covers world history - something for everyone -cafe on-site
reasonable prices
2. 30% discount for group bookings of 20+ - 5 cafes - lots of
attractions - wildlife from all around world
Conclusion
hope my ideas helpful - look forward...
15. Hi Lee,
A big thank you for your email asking for ideas for this year’s staff outing.
I have a couple of suggestions I’d like to bring to your notice and I hope you think
they’re worth considering. Firstly, the British Museum would be an ideal destination
that wouldn’t cost anything except for travelling there and having a meal. My second
suggestion is a day out at Chester Zoo. I went there a few months ago and had a
great time with my sister and her family.
Admission to the British Museum is free and there are so many wonderful exhibits
that there is literally something to interest every one, regardless of age. There is also
a very nice cafe in the museum with an inexpensive menu. As for Chester Zoo, they
have a 30% discount for bookings of 20 people or more, so we would be saving
£100 on the normal cost of admission. There are five different cafes on-site and lots
of attractions to please all ages and interests. I’m sure that every member of staff in
our organisation would enjoy a day at the zoo as much as I did!
I hope my suggestions prove helpful. Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Harry
Purpose - to give ideas for staff day out
Audience - Lee (could be colleague or manager)
Register - neutral
Intro - why I’m writing
Paragraph 1 - my ideas (not too expensive - for different interests to
enjoy)
1. British Museum London - free - parking for coaches 30
seconds walk from museum entrance
2. Chester Zoo - went there with sister & family and had great
time
Paragraph 2 - why my ideas are good
1. covers world history - something for everyone -cafe on-site
reasonable prices
2. 30% discount for group bookings of 20+ - 5 cafes - lots of
attractions - wildlife from all around world
Conclusion
hope my ideas helpful - look forward...
How plan relates to email
16. To recap...
Letters and emails often appear as writing tasks in the Level 2 exam.
Letters have a conventional layout and features that you need to
include.
Letters are always formal in the Pearson Edexcel Writing Exam.
Emails can appear as a Task 1 or Task 2. They may be formal or less
formal, depending on purpose and audience.
Formatting features such as To/From/Subject boxes in emails are filled in
by Pearson Edexcel.
17. Homework
There is homework practice to accompany this PowerPoint.
If you choose to complete it you can email it to me at:
leadacademytutormike@gmail.com
I will be happy to mark your work and provide you with constructive
feedback and any suggestions for further practice prior to your exam.
