Extended formal writing
Four bullet points in about 260 to 300 characters, written formally for adults, with your opinions explained (Higher).
Learn
Extended 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 what the task asks for
This is Question 2 of the Higher writing paper. You choose one of two tasks and write about 260 to 300 characters in a formal style, covering four bullet points that ask you to inform, narrate, give and justify opinions, and interest or convince the reader. It is worth 28 marks, 16 for communication and content and 12 for accuracy, and the top band needs all four bullets.
Plan about 70 characters a bullet
That is two or three sentences each. Answer every part of a bullet: if it asks what you did and what you learned, say both.
Keep a formal style all the way through
End every sentence with です or ます, and leave out slang and chatty endings. Plain forms are still fine inside a sentence, before と思います, つもりです or a noun. Close politely, for example with よろしく おねがいします.
Justify opinions with real reasons
楽しいですから is a start, but the top marks need more. Give two reasons with 〜し、 〜し, or weigh up both sides with が: スマホは べんりですが、 長い 時間 使わないほうが いいと 思います。
Narrate a single past event
A bullet about a time something happened wants one occasion, told in order. Use ました, てから and た後で: 学校に ついた後で、 バスで 京都へ 行きました。
Talk about the future and your hopes
Use たいです, つもりです and よていです: 来年 日本で ホームステイを する つもりです。 〜たいと 思います softens a hope nicely.
Show range with Higher structures and kanji
The accuracy marks reward complex structures, which include the Higher grammar: たことがあります, ながら, ほうがいいです, ことができます, くなりました. The communication marks climb from mainly common kanji to a wide range, so use every kanji you know well.
Check before you finish
Read your piece once for each kind of slip: time words against endings, particles, katakana, and the kana after each kanji. Then count roughly: 260 to 300 characters is about a dozen sentences.
Extended 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 style for adults, with です or ます at the end of every sentence and no slang.
- Justify
- Give a reason for an opinion. The top marks need reasons that convince, beyond a plain 楽しいですから.
- Narrate
- Tell what happened, in order, usually in the past.
- Complex structure
- Grammar beyond simple sentences, including the Higher grammar, such as たことがあります or ながら.
- Kanji range
- The variety of kanji you use. The marks climb from mainly common kanji to a wide range.
- Convince
- Persuade the reader, with reasons and examples.
- よろしく おねがいします
- A polite closing that thanks the reader in advance.
Common mistakes in Extended formal writing
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Ending some sentences in plain forms, as in 楽しかった。
In a formal piece every sentence ends politely: 楽しかったです。 Plain forms belong only inside a sentence.
Giving 楽しいですから as the reason every time.
Say what made it good: who you met, what you learned, why it matters to you. Specific reasons convince.
Telling a one-off past event as a habit.
If the bullet asks about a time something happened, use ました for that occasion, not ます for what you usually do.
Answering only half a bullet.
Read each bullet for every question it asks, and plan a sentence for each part.
Spelling last year as きょうねん.
Last year is 去年, with a short きょ. This year is 今年 (ことし) and next year 来年 (らいねん).