A short formal message
Four points in about 50 to 80 characters, written politely for an adult (Foundation).
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A short formal message, 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 what the formal message asks for
This is Question 2 of the Foundation writing paper. You choose one of two tasks and write about 50 to 80 characters covering four points, in a formal style, for 16 marks: 8 for communication and content and 8 for accuracy. It tests noting down key points and passing on information clearly.
Cover all four points
Write at least one clear sentence for each point, in order, and tick them off as you go. One sentence each is enough, and 50 to 80 characters gives you room for it.
Write politely all the way through
The reader is an adult, such as a teacher or someone at a hotel or a shop. End every sentence with です or ます, ask with ください or おねがいします, and use the reader's name with さん. Leave out casual greetings, くん and ちゃん, and chatty endings.
Write about the present and the future
The accuracy marks look at present and future events, so show both: 私は 十六才です。 らいしゅうの 土曜日に 行きます。 A time word makes the future clear, because ます covers both.
Spell katakana words correctly
The top marks expect hiragana and katakana used well, with a little kanji. Write loanwords in katakana: ホテル, レストラン, スマホ. A loanword in hiragana counts as a spelling error.
Link a few sentences
Simple sentences joined now and then score more for accuracy than a bare list. Try くて, で or から: ホテルは えきに ちかくて、 べんりです。 天気が いいですから、 こうえんに 行きたいです。
Don't spend characters on extra greetings
If the opening and the closing are printed for you, there is no need to add more greetings. Put your characters into the four points.
A short formal message key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- Formal register
- The polite style for adults: です and ます, さん, ください and no slang.
- Key points
- The four things the task asks you to pass on, each worth covering.
- 〜てください
- Please do, for a polite request: おしえて ください.
- おねがいします
- Please, when you ask for something: よろしく おねがいします.
- さま
- A very polite form of さん, used in letters and for customers.
- Katakana
- The script for loanwords. The formal message expects it to be used correctly.
- Character count
- The suggested length: 50 to 80 characters for this task.
Common mistakes in A short formal message
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Slipping into a familiar style, with ちゃん, おはよう or plain endings.
Keep every sentence polite, ending in です or ます, and use さん or さま.
Leaving out one of the four points.
Each point counts towards the communication mark. Write one sentence for each before adding anything else.
Writing a loanword in hiragana, such as ほてる.
Loanwords always go in katakana, so write ホテル and メール.
Giving a future plan with no time word, so it reads like a habit.
行きます on its own could mean I go. Add あした, らいしゅう or a date to show it is the future.
Writing only short, separate sentences.
Join one or two pairs with くて, で or から. Even a little linking lifts the accuracy mark.