The 60-Word Invitation
Writing task (15 minutes): Write an informal email of 60–80 words to your friend Karl. Invite him to the school spring fair on Saturday 3 June, 11.00–15.00 in the schoolyard. Include: one activity you can do together; what he should bring (2 euros and a water bottle); and one question for him. A classmate, Anna, writes this draft: 'Dear Karl, I invite you to fair. It is on Saturday. Come at 11. Bring money. What you think? Best wishes, Anna.' The draft is 25 words. Your teacher's marking guide gives points for all three content points, a greeting and closing, and understandable grammar. You have to decide what to change. You must not add a new content point that is not in the task. You know Karl well, so contractions like 'I'm' are acceptable.
1. Identify two reasons Anna's 25-word draft would lose marks, using the marking guide in the task.
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First, it is too short: the task asks for 60–80 words, and 25 words is less than half the minimum. Short answers often leave out content points.
Second, it does not include all three required points. It mentions the fair and Saturday and money, but it does not give the time (11.00–15.00), the place (schoolyard), an activity to do together, a water bottle, or a question. 'Bring money' is also vague; the task specifies 2 euros.
Third, there are language problems: 'I invite you to fair' needs 'the fair', 'What you think?' needs 'What do you think?', and the greeting 'Dear Karl' is acceptable but the closing 'Best wishes' is fine. The biggest losses are content and length, not just grammar.
2. Rewrite the draft into 60–80 words. Keep all three content points and add one question.
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One acceptable version (68 words):
'Hi Karl, I'm writing to invite you to our school spring fair on Saturday 3 June from 11.00 to 15.00 in the schoolyard. We could try the cake stall together. Please bring 2 euros and a water bottle. Do you want to meet at the school gate at 10.45? Let me know if you can come. Best wishes, Anna'
This keeps the activity (cake stall), the things to bring (2 euros, water bottle), and the question (meeting at the gate / can you come). It adds the missing time and place. The greeting and closing are informal but complete. It uses contractions because Karl is a friend.
3. A classmate says, 'I'll add My grandmother lives in Tartu because it makes the email longer.' Why is this a bad strategy?
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Word count is a minimum, not the goal. The marking guide rewards the three content points, a greeting and closing, and understandable grammar. 'My grandmother lives in Tartu' adds words but no required content, and it makes the email less focused. In an exam, padding can also create more chances for errors.
A better way to reach 60 words is to develop the required points: say which activity, explain where to meet, and ask a clear question. The test is checking whether you can communicate the message, not whether you can fill space.