Short formal writing
About 40 to 50 words in the formal register, getting every point of the task across (Foundation).
Learn
Short formal writing, explained point by point
Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.
Know the task
Foundation Question 2 gives a choice of two tasks. You write about 40 to 50 words in the formal register, noting down key points and giving information, for 16 marks: 8 for communication and content and 8 for linguistic knowledge and accuracy.
Use the formal register
Write to an adult or an organisation with આપ or તમે, આપનું or તમારું, and the matching verb forms. Avoid slang and endearments.
Open and close as a formal message does
Begin with માનનીય or આદરણીય and the person's title, and end with આપનો વિશ્વાસુ, or આપની વિશ્વાસુ if you are a girl, then your name.
Cover every point the task gives
Each point is something to communicate. Give each its own sentence, with a little detail where you can.
Keep the grammar straightforward and accurate
Clear present-tense sentences with one or two in the past or future work well: હું આવતા સોમવારે આવીશ I will come next Monday.
Short formal writing key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- Formal register
- The polite language used with adults, officials and organisations: આપ, તમે, no slang.
- માનનીય
- Respected, the formal way to open a letter: માનનીય આચાર્યશ્રી.
- આપનો વિશ્વાસુ
- Yours faithfully, to close a formal letter; આપની વિશ્વાસુ for a girl or woman.
- Key point
- One piece of information the task asks you to get across.
- શ્રી
- A respectful title before a name, like Mr: શ્રી પટેલ.
Common mistakes in Short formal writing
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Writing to a head teacher with તું and તારું.
Use આપ or તમે with their forms: આપની શાળા.
Signing off as you would to a friend.
A formal message closes with આપનો વિશ્વાસુ, or આપની વિશ્વાસુ from a girl, then your name.
Leaving one of the points out.
Tick off each point as you write it.