FS English Level 2 – March 18, 2023 (Writing: Formal, informal and neutral registers).

1. Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills English Level 2
Writing Exam
Choosing the appropriate register and level of
formality

2. One of the most important decisions you have to make before beginning an exam
writing task is whether your writing will have a formal, informal, or neutral register.
Your writing will be marked your use of language and register and whether it is
appropriate to purpose and audience.
E.G.
A report for the council on improvements to the local shopping area that uses informal
language and expresses personal feelings would not be appropriate to purpose and
audience.
Choosing an inappropriate register will lose you valuable marks.

3. What does register mean?
Register refers to the level of formality of language and tone of writing or
speech, according to the context in which it is used.
E.G.
A report will be written in formal language and have a serious tone.
A text to a friend will use informal language and have a casual or relaxed tone.
A contribution to an online forum, giving your opinion on reality TV, will use
neutral language and have a semi-serious tone.

4.  Words are written in full — no use of contractions (e.g. is not  — isn’t X )
No use of texting abbreviations (e.g. c u l8r)
No use of colloquial expressions or slang — emphasis on standard English
No use of exclamation marks
Use of complex sentence structures
Serious tone — not humorous or light-hearted
Formal register

5. Informal register
Use of contractions
Use of texting abbreviations
Use of colloquial expressions/slang
Use of exclamation marks
Use of shorter sentence structures
Use of humour
Casual or relaxed tone

6. Neutral register
Neither formal nor informal
Occasional use of contractions
Occasional use of exclamation marks
Combination of compound or simple sentence structures
Semi-serious tone but not overly casual or humorous

7. Let’s take a look at some examples of Level 2 exam writing tasks and how the
register is appropriate to purpose and audience.

8. Neutral register
You are writing for a community
website.
This means you are writing for people
you may not know well.
It also means that you are writing for a
range of different ages. An informal
tone would not be appropriate in this
case.
But a formal register would also be
inappropriate for a review of a favourite
takeaway place.

9. Neutral register
You are writing for an online web
forum.
This means you are writing for people
you do not know personally.
It also means that you are writing for a
range of different ages. An informal
tone would not be appropriate in this
case.
Equally, an overly formal register
would not be suitable - Frankie uses
words such as “amazing” and
expressions such as “kicking a ball
around”. Ash uses contractions such
as “You’re” and “don’t”.

10. Formal register
You are writing a letter of application.
You do not know the recipient
personally.
In the Edexcel Writing Exam, letters
are always formal. You will never be
asked to write an informal letter.

11. Neutral register
You are writing to a work colleague -
possibly a manager.
You may not know Lee as a personal
friend.
Lee begins with “Hi” so it would be
appropriate to open with the same
salutation (e.g. “Hi Lee”).
Using contractions (e.g. won’t, isn’t) is
appropriate. But an overly informal
tone would not be suitable, nor would
an overly formal register.

12. Formal register
You are writing to request financial
help and professional support.
You do not know the recipients
personally.
Both informal and neutral registers
would be inappropriate.

13. Formal register
You are writing for a retail website.
You do not know the recipient of your
email.
Whenever you are asked to write a
complaint, it is important to present
yourself as a reasonable person. Your
complaint is more likely to be taken
seriously.
Using informal language or a
threatening or confrontational tone
would have the opposite effect.

14. Formal register
Reports are always formal
documents.

15. Neutral register
You are writing for an online web
forum.
This means you are writing for people
you do not know personally.
It also means that you are writing for a
range of different ages. You are also
writing to express your views or
opinions.
Either a formal or informal tone would
not be appropriate in this case.
Using contractions (e.g. don’t, aren’t)
would be suitable.

16. Formal register
You are writing a report of an
accident.
Other people in your organisation -
perhaps people in senior roles - may
read your report.
A neutral or informal register would
not be appropriate.

17. To recap...
Register refers to the level of formality of language and tone of writing or
speech, according to the context in which it is used.
Both writing tasks in the Pearson Edexcel exam require you to use language
and register that is appropriate to purpose and audience.
A formal register for letters and reports (sometimes also emails and articles).
If the topic is serious, it requires a formal register.
An informal register for written communication with people you know very
well (e.g. friends or relatives).
A neutral register for any writing task where either a formal or informal
register would not be appropriate.

18. The best rule to remember is...
If it is a serious topic or an important document — formal.
If you are writing to a friend or relative — informal.
If neither formal or informal are appropriate — neutral.

19. A final piece of advice...
For emails or contributions to a web forum, you are usually provided with a sample of writing.
Identify the register that is being
used - usually it will be a neutral
register.
Model your own written response
on the sample writing in each case.