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Kaoyan English study materials
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Kaoyan English: Writing Part A: Short Applied Writing (Letter, Notice, Email)

Kaoyan English · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Writing Part A: Short Applied Writing (Letter, Notice, Email)

Writing Part A is worth 10 points and asks for about 100 words in an applied genre: a letter, a notice or an email. Marks come from format, content coverage and language. The task is small, so every sentence must do visible work: state the purpose, cover the listed points, close correctly.

Format by genre

  • Letter: Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Mr Li; a purpose sentence; body paragraphs; Yours sincerely when the recipient is named, Yours faithfully when unnamed; signature.
  • Email: subject line; greeting; body; sign-off.
  • Notice: heading, date, intended audience, event details (what, when, where), contact information and the issuing body.

Content and register

  • The prompt lists two or three content points; give each one clear sentence or two, and do not invent a fourth idea.
  • Match register to relationship. Formal requests use 'I would be grateful if you could...'; informal notes may use contractions.
  • State the purpose in sentence one: 'I am writing to apply for...', 'I am writing to inform you that...', 'I am writing to apologize for...'.

Worked example

Prompt: write to Professor Wang asking for a recommendation letter; mention your application and the deadline. Opening: 'Dear Professor Wang, I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for my application to the MA program in Sociology at York University.' Then: 'The application is due on 15 January, and I have attached my CV, transcript and personal statement.' Closing: 'Thank you for considering my request. Yours sincerely, Li Ming.' Reasoning: the first sentence performs the request with a polite modal; the second covers the deadline and materials; the closing supplies the required formal formula.

Traps that cost marks

  • Omitting the salutation or sign-off, which loses format marks immediately.
  • Writing 'Dear Professor' with no name, or inventing a name that contradicts the prompt.
  • Covering only one of the listed content points.
  • Writing 150 words when about 100 are required, adding errors under time pressure.
  • Mixing formal and colloquial register in the same short text.