How to set out the business letter for the French BTS AM English exam

1. Communication Anglaise
Letter layout Where to put the different elements of your letter
Chantal Belair and Michael Taylor

2. Sender's address
●
Comes at the top
–
In the middle for a company
–
On the left for a private individual

3. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France

4. Date
●
The date should be given in the following
format;
1) Number (without “th”, “st”, “rd” etc.)
2) Month
3) Year
●
Do not include the place you are writing from –
this will be penalised

5. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013

6. Adressee’s name and address
●
●
●
●
This should also be placed on the left of the
page
If you know who you are writing to, include
name and title (Mr., Mrs., or Ms.)
The name comes at the beginning of the
address
Make sure that you include all the elements
given in the exam paper

7. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK

8. Opening formula/salutation line
●
●
●
Depends on whether you know the name of the
person;
If you know the name of the person, then you
use their title – Dear Mr Chen, Dear Mrs Da
Silva (for a woman who is definitely married),
Dear Ms Begum (if you do not know if the
woman is married or not)
If you do not know the name of the person you
use a neutral salutation – “Dear Sir or Madam”

9. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam

10. Subject line
●
●
This should be introduced with the word
“Subject”, and a colon (:)
Make sure that the subject line clearly indicates
the most important idea of your letter

11. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam
Subject : Application for a work placement

12. Body of the letter
●
●
●
This is where you add the text of your letter
Make sure you add all the required information
given in your exam paper
Be careful! There will often be traps in the
instructions – difficult points designed to test
your English vocabulary and grammar. Check
your work carefully

13. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam
Subject – Application for a work placement
I am writing to apply for an unpaid internship in your company. I am currently
studying for my BTS “Trilingual Executive Assistant” (an advanced 2-year
vocational training course), as a combined work-study programme.
I need to carry out a one-month international internship as part of my course, and
I would like very much to work in your company for this training period.

14. Complimentary close/closing
formula
●
●
You will often add an extra line with a polite
expression (“I hope to hear from you soon”, “I
look forward to your response”).
Your closing salutation will depend on your
opening salutation
–
Dear Mr Chen/Dear Mrs Da Silva/Dear Ms Begum =
Yours sincerely
–
Dear Sir or Madam = Yours faithfully

15. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam
Subject : Application for a work placement
I am writing to apply for an unpaid internship in your company. I am currently
studying for my BTS “Trilingual Executive Assistant”, an advanced 2-year
vocational training course.
I need to carry out a one-month international internship as part of my course, and
I would like very much to work in your company for this training period.
I would be very happy to answer any questions you may have, and look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully

16. Signature
●
Remember – your BTS exam is anonymous –
you should put “signature” for the signature.

17. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam
Subject – Application for a work placement
I am writing to apply for an unpaid internship in your company. I am currently
studying for my BTS “Trilingual Executive Assistant”, an advanced 2-year
vocational training course.
I need to carry out a one-month international internship as part of my course, and
I would like very much to work in your company for this training period.
I would be very happy to answer any questions you may have, and look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully
signature

18. Sender’s name (+ job title)
●
Include the name and job title if appropriate.
–
If it is from a private individual, it would be
illogical to include a job title

19. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam
Subject – Application for a work placement
I am writing to apply for an unpaid internship in your company. I am currently
studying for my BTS “Trilingual Executive Assistant”, an advanced 2-year
vocational training course.
I need to carry out a one-month international internship as part of my course, and
I would like very much to work in your company for this training period.
I would be very happy to answer any questions you may have, and look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully
Signature
Jaina Solo

20. Attached/Enclosed documents
●
These should be clearly indicated with “Enc : ”
for one document, and “Encs : ” (for enclosed
documents)

21. 3 Avenue de la Gare
95443 Auvers
France
9 January 2013
Personnel Manager
International Chemicals Limited
54 Old Market Lane
Bath BA2R 7YA
UK
Dear Sir or Madam
Subject : Application for a work placement
I am writing to apply for an unpaid internship in your company. I am currently
studying for my BTS “Trilingual Executive Assistant”, an advanced 2-year
vocational training course.
I need to carry out a one-month international internship as part of my course, and
I would like very much to work in your company for this training period.
I would be very happy to answer any questions you may have, and look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully
Signature
Jaina Solo
Encs : CV and References