FS English Level 2 - March 16, 2023 (Writing Format, purpose and audience).

1. Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills English
Level 2 Writing
Format, Audience and Purpose

2. Format, Audience and Purpose
Both of the writing tasks for the exam tell you what kind of text you are writing, who you
are writing to/for, and why you are writing.
It is important to the marks you receive that you write in the correct format and that your
writing is appropriate to both audience and purpose.
For example, if you were told to write a report for the council and used informal language,
it wouldn’t be appropriate for the audience. If you were told to write a letter to apply for a job
and wrote about your opinion on climate change, it wouldn’t be appropriate for purpose.

3. Format
Audience
Purpose
An easy way to remember the format, audience and
purpose for your writing is FAP...

4. What does format mean?
It refers to the overall layout and conventional features of written text.
E.G.
A letter will have names and addresses, a date, an appropriate salutation, and it will be set out
in paragraphs.
An article will have at least a headline and will be set out in paragraphs.
A report will be set out in sections and each section will have a heading.
Format can also refer to a type of text you may be asked to write in the Level 2 Writing
Exam.
E.G.
Letter
Email
Report
Article
Contribution to an online forum
Review

5. What does audience mean?
It refers to the person or people you are writing to/for.
E.G.
A friend or family member
An online community
A work colleague or manager
Young people or children
Newspaper or magazine readers
Council staff

6. What does purpose mean?
It refers to the writer’s reason for writing.
E.G.
to persuade
to explain
to inform
to advise
to describe
to express an opinion or point of view
to complain
to entertain
In many cases you may write with more than one purpose in mind. For example, if you had
to write an article on your views about dress codes at work, you would provide both
information and opinion.

7. What kinds of formats will I see in the exam?
TASK 1
Report
Review
Letter
Email
Article
Eye-witness account
TASK 2
Contribution to a web discussion forum
Email
 Diary entry

8. What are the main features of each writing
format in the exam?

10. What are the main purposes for writing in the
exam?

12. Formats and format features for the Writing
Exam

13. Dress codes
Working in an NHS hospital we have a dress code to follow, whether we work in
a clinicalor non-clinicalenvironment. Available for all to see on our internal
website or Net-I as it is now known are the guidelines and policy for dress code
for all employees working within the trust.
In clinicalor patient facing areas, staff should abide by the followingrules:
•Bare below the elbow, this includes no watches, bracelets, bangles or
stoned rings. Short sleeves or rolled up to elbow.
• Neckties should be tucked into shirt or not worn at all.
• Shoes should be appropriate,low heeled full shoes.
• No excessive use of make up or perfume/aftershave
In a non-clinicalarea the rules are pretty much the same, although uniforms
may not be required or necessary.
The argument for the ‘Bare Below the Elbow’ is down to infection control. All
manner of delightful bugs and germs can linger on jewellery and watches or be
carried on the sleeves of your clothing. Just imaginebeing treated by someone
with dirty fingernails!
However, I know by discussion with colleagueswho are non-clinicalthat they
feel they should be able to wear jewelleryor watches if they wish too. They feel
that it has no impact on patient care.
You must include a headline for your article. (This
is usually centred.)
Your writing must be organised in paragraphs.
Bullet points are acceptable for highlighting key
information.
ARTICLE

14. Thursday 24th September 2021
Tomorrow is the big day! I’ve finally landed an interview for the
landscape gardening job I applied for two weeks ago. I honestly
didn’t think I’d get to this stage with my application because I don’t
have any previous experience. But I must’ve impressed them with
my enthusiasm for the job.
Friday 25th September 2021
Just got home from the interview. It was nerve wracking, to be
honest, and I really wanted to make a good impression. I was
interviewed by the manager of the company and the head
gardener, and they both took turns asking me questions. I tried my
best to keep cool but inside I was a bundle of nerves!!
After half an hour the manager asked me to wait outside the office
for a few minutes. When he called me back in he offered me the
job. Oh my days! I still can’t believe I cracked it!
A date is the only formatting requirement for a diary
entry.
An informal style is appropriate to a diary entry or
entries written in a personal context (e.g. writing for
yourself rather than for an employer).
DIARY ENTRY/ENTRIES

15. 12 Burchett Road
Birmingham
BR1 7GH
29/04/2020
Laura Mensah
Career Grants
1 New Road
Hanton
HN1 7BU
Dear Ms Mensah,
I am writing to apply for the Career Grant of £5000. As a part-time primary teaching
assistant,studying to become a full-time teacher; I aspire to become the headteacher of my
own school. Education has always been a great passion of mine, meaning I am very keen to
develop my career further - something that will only be achievable with your help.
The money will only go towards things that will benefit my career, including: transport (to and
from my placement),buying specialistequipment for the classroom and more creative
teaching resources. Specialist equipment is a vital part of any classroom; children with
attentiondifficultieshave been shown to achieve a 30% higher score overall when given
fiddle-basedtoys whilst listening to a lesson. This fact is one that I would enforce, in order to
make educationa more positive and productive environment. I can’t think of a more worthy
candidateto receive the funding. Helping studentsget higher grades overall will lead to even
more substantialcareer growth and better opportunitiesfor myself. Depriving me of this
chance would be like depriving these children of a future.
Furthermore, I deserve this funding because working part-time has been a struggle
financially.Young teachingstudents,like myself, work incredibly hard on placements,but
balancing the gigantic workload of a degree at the same time is difficultat best. I believe my
hard-working attitude,passion for my subject and motivation to achieve highly are the core
reasons behind my deserving of this grant.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
Address of sender/name and address
of recipient
Date
Appropriate salutation
Well organised paragraphs (e.g. why
you are writing; what you will do
with the funding; how it will change
your life).
Appropriate matching close
LETTER

16. Use of headings to divide the report
into clear sections
Use of bullet points to highlight
recommended steps to be taken
REPORT
Short paragraph to introduce the
report

17. From/To/Subject headings are
already filled in for you.
Begin with an appropriate salutation.
Make sure your closing sign-off matches your opening salutation.
Write in paragraphs
Bullet points to highlight key information/key facts (optional depending on context)
EMAIL

18. To recap...
Format refers to the overall layout and conventional features of written text.
Format can also refer to a type of text you may be asked to write in the Level 2 Writing
Exam.
Audience refers to the person or people you are writing to/for.
Purpose refers to the writer’s reason for writing.
It is important to the marks you receive that you write in the correct format and that your
writing is appropriate to both audience and purpose.
Both of the writing tasks for the exam tell you what kind of text you are writing, who you
are writing to/for, and why you are writing.