Communication: Purpose, Audience and Register
What this domain tests
Communication questions ask whether you can shape language for a purpose (to inform, persuade, explain, complain, request), an audience (peer, teacher, employer, official body) and a context (formal written, informal spoken, academic). You need working control of register (formality level), tone (attitude conveyed), conventions (letter, email, report, speech openings and closings) and cohesion (linking words, pronoun reference, paragraphing).
Concepts to master
Know the difference between formal and informal markers: contractions, phrasal verbs, slang and direct address sit at the informal end; nominalisation, passive voice, modal hedging (could, may, would appear) and full forms sit at the formal end. Understand audience positioning: how a writer flatters, defers to, or instructs a reader. Understand cohesive devices and their functions: addition (furthermore), contrast (however), cause (consequently), concession (although).
Traps
- Rewriting a sentence in a more formal register but leaving a contraction or slang word behind - markers must be changed consistently.
- Confusing tone with purpose: a complaint letter's purpose is to seek redress; its tone may still be polite.
- Overusing connectives so every sentence begins with Moreover or In addition.
- Answering a "who is the audience" question with a name rather than a category (e.g. "local council ratepayers").
Rule of thumb
Use the PACT check - Purpose, Audience, Context, Tone - before writing any response. If one element is wrong, the whole answer loses marks.
Worked example: "Hey, can you guys fix my bin? It's been busted for ages." Rewritten for a council: "I am writing to request the repair of my household bin, which has been damaged for several weeks." Purpose (request) kept; audience (council) now respected; contractions, slang and direct address removed.