From now on we'll try to provide you with info about the different writing tasks you could face in the writing test and some clues to overcome their inherent difficulties.
The first task will be a formal email/letter. Here you are some useful tips and a sample task:
Writing formal letters or emails
Formal Letters
Formal letters are the most common writing task. Avoid using contractions e.g. “I´m” instead write the full words “I am”. Also avoid colloquial language.
Firstly, you begin your letter with addressing the receiver.
If the receiver is unknown:
- Dear Sir/Madam
If the receiver is known:
- Dear Miss Adams
Secondly, first sentence in the letter is about WHY you are writing, examples:
- I was extremely distressed to hear about your plans to ... (Object to someone´s plans)
- I am writing to complain about / I am writing to tell you how disappointed... (Letter of Complaint)
- I am writing to you on behalf of ... (Letter of Recommendation)
- I am writing about the article published in / I have just read your article on... (Letter to de editor)
Thirdly, during the main part of the letter you will try to connect your arguments together. Using paragraphs when appropriate, and logically connecting all of the elements in your letter using connecting words and/or sequencing:
At first / To start with/In the beginning, in addition / furthermore / moreover, firstly / secondly / lastly etc.
Then, ending phrase prior to signature (just a few suggestions):
- I look forward to hearing from you / I trust you will give my proposal your full consideration
Finally, signature is in general one of the two:
- Yours sincerely, (If you know the name of the person you sent the letter to)
- Yours faithfully, (If you started the letter with Dear Sir/Madam)
Firstly, you begin your letter with addressing the receiver.
If the receiver is unknown:
- Dear Sir/Madam
If the receiver is known:
- Dear Miss Adams
Secondly, first sentence in the letter is about WHY you are writing, examples:
- I was extremely distressed to hear about your plans to ... (Object to someone´s plans)
- I am writing to complain about / I am writing to tell you how disappointed... (Letter of Complaint)
- I am writing to you on behalf of ... (Letter of Recommendation)
- I am writing about the article published in / I have just read your article on... (Letter to de editor)
Thirdly, during the main part of the letter you will try to connect your arguments together. Using paragraphs when appropriate, and logically connecting all of the elements in your letter using connecting words and/or sequencing:
At first / To start with/In the beginning, in addition / furthermore / moreover, firstly / secondly / lastly etc.
Then, ending phrase prior to signature (just a few suggestions):
- I look forward to hearing from you / I trust you will give my proposal your full consideration
Finally, signature is in general one of the two:
- Yours sincerely, (If you know the name of the person you sent the letter to)
- Yours faithfully, (If you started the letter with Dear Sir/Madam)
Introduction (Writing formal letters and emails)
Writing formal letters is a necessary skill that you need for your C1 writing exams.
Examples:
- You are given an article to read from a newspaper. You write to the newspaper disagreeing with the article.
- You write to complain about something.
- You write making suggestions about something.
- You write requesting information.
- You write giving information.
- You write requesting permission.
Useful phrases (Writing formal letters and emails)
a) Writing formal letters generally:
Greetings:
- Dear Sir
- Dear Madam
- Dear Sir/Madam
- Dear Mr Brown
- Dear Ms Jones etc.
Reason for writing:
- I am writing in response to your article/advertisement/letter
- I am writing with regard to your article/advertisement/letter
- I am writing regarding your article/advertisement/letter
- I am writing on behalf of
Ending the letter:
- I look forward to receiving your reply
- I look forward to your reply
- I look to hearing from you
- I am, yours faithfully (if you don't know the name of the person you are writing to)
- I am, yours sincerely (if you know the name of the person you are writing to)
- Yours faithfully
- Yours sincerely
b) Writing formal letters to complain:
Writing formal letters or emails
Reason for writing:
- I am writing in order to complain about
- I am writing to complain about
Introducing the complaint:
- Firstly
- In the first place
- First of all
- My first complaint is
- The first problem is
- The first thing I would like to draw your attention to is
- My first concern is
Introducing further complaints:
- Secondly
- In the second place
- Not only …….but also
- In addition
- In addition to this
- Added to this
- …….was also unacceptable
Demanding action:
- I suggest that you replace the item
- I therefore suggest that I be given a full refund
- I would be grateful if my money was refunded
- I would be grateful if you could give me a full refund
Ending the letter:
- I look forward to hearing from you
- I look forward to receiving a full refund
- I look forward to receiving a replacement
- I look forward to receiving your explanation
c) Writing formal letters to make suggestions:
Reason for writing:
- I am writing to suggest
- I am writing to arrange
- I am writing to offer suggestions
- I am writing make arrangements
Making first suggestion:
- My first suggestion is
- First of all I suggest
- I would like to suggest
Writing formal letters or emails
Making further suggestions:
- Another possibility is
- A further possibility is
- I further suggest
- I would further suggest
- Secondly
Offering a choice:
- Would you therefore mind choosing between ….?
- Either……or
- You might choose either ……. or
d) Writing formal letters to request information
Reason for writing:
- I am writing to receive further information about
- I am writing to enquire about
- I am writing to receive more detailed information about
- I am writing to receive further details about
Requesting first piece of information:
- The first thing I would like to know is
- First of all I would like to know
- I wonder if you would mind telling me first of all ….?
Requesting further information:
- Could you also tell me….?
- Could you also inform me ….?
- Would you also mind informing me ….?
- Would you also mind telling me ….?
- Do you know ….?
- I would also like to know if
- I would also like to know whether
- I hope you might also let me know about …
Thanking for information:
- I would like to thank you in advance for this information
- Thanking you in advance for this information
- Thanking you in advance
Writing formal letters or emails
e) Writing formal letters to give information:
Reason for writing:
- I am writing to inform you about
- I am writing to provide you with information about
- I am writing to let you know that
Providing first point:
- The first thing I would like to inform you of is
- The first thing I would like to tell you is
- The first thing I wish to inform you of is
- I would like to begin by informing you
Providing further points:
- I would also like to let you know that
- I would also like to inform you that
- You might also find the following information useful
- It might also be useful for you to know that
- Another piece of information that might be useful
Ending the letter:
- If you require further information, please do not hesitate to as
- If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask
- I will willingly provide further information on request
- I am at your disposal should you require further information
- I am at your disposal should you need further assistance
- Please do not hesitate to ask should you require further information
f) Writing formal letters to request permission
Reason for writing:
- I am writing to ask permission to
- I am writing to ask permission for
- I am writing to request permission to
- I am writing to request permission for
- I am writing to ask if I might
Making first request:
- Firstly I wonder if you would
- First of all I wonder whether you would mind
- The first request I would like you to consider is
Making further requests:
- I would be grateful if you would also consider
- I wonder if it might be possible for me to
- I would also like to request permission for
- I would also like to request permission to
Thanking for permission
- Many thanks for kindly considering my requests
- Thank you for considering my requests
- I am writing to request permission to
- I am writing to request permission for
- I am writing to ask if I might
Making first request:
- Firstly I wonder if you would
- First of all I wonder whether you would mind
- The first request I would like you to consider is
Making further requests:
- I would be grateful if you would also consider
- I wonder if it might be possible for me to
- I would also like to request permission for
- I would also like to request permission to
Thanking for permission
- Many thanks for kindly considering my requests
- Thank you for considering my requests
TASK PROPOSAL
LETTER OF REQUEST
You are an international student in New Zealand and your course is about to finish. You have been offered a job with a local company, which you accepted, but are no longer available on the start date you agreed with the company. Write a letter to the company to:
- explain the reason you are not available
- reassure them of your commitment
- propose a solution
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