The 28-Word Email That Missed a Bullet
In a mock A2 Access Writing session, 15-year-old Mei has 25 minutes to write an email to a friend about a planned Saturday trip. The prompt asks for 30–50 words and three pieces of information: where they are going, what time they will meet, and what to bring. Mei writes 28 words: 'Hi Sam, On Saturday we go to the museum. We meet at 10. It is good. See you. Mei.' She includes the place and time but not what to bring. Her grammar is mostly understandable: 'we go' instead of 'we are going' and a missing article before 'museum'. She uses only simple sentences and does not link ideas beyond 'and'. The teacher must decide whether this response is adequate for A2 and what feedback to prioritize before the exam in three weeks.
1. Which A2 writing criterion is most affected by the missing bullet, and which is least affected? Explain your judgement.
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The missing bullet most affects task achievement: the prompt asks for three content points, and 'what to bring' is absent. At A2, the message must be understandable and include the required information; one missing point is a significant gap. It least affects lexical range in the sense that the words used are appropriate for the topic, even if limited. Grammar and spelling are mostly clear enough for a reader to follow. The response is also short at 28 words, which supports the task-achievement concern, but length alone is not decisive. The key judgement is that the email would still communicate a partial message, so it is borderline rather than a clear pass on content.
2. Would you enter Mei for the exam now or recommend more practice? Give reasoning using evidence from the script.
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I would recommend more practice before entry, but with a short, targeted plan rather than a long delay. Evidence: she can produce a clear opening and closing, give two of three points, and use understandable simple sentences. That is close to A2. The risk is the missing content point and the very short text. With three weeks, she can practise a checklist ('place, time, bring') and adding one linked sentence, e.g. 'Bring some water because it may be hot.' If a later mock includes all three points in 35–40 words, entry is reasonable. If the same omission recurs, delay.
3. Write two prioritized feedback points for the next lesson. Tie each point to a specific feature in Mei's script.
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- Content coverage: Give Mei a three-box planner for every message task. In this script, the 'bring' box is empty. Practise rewriting the email with one added sentence, e.g. 'Please bring some water.' This is the highest priority because it directly affects task achievement. 2. Length and linking: Mei writes four short sentences and uses only 'and'. Show her how to combine two ideas: 'We meet at 10 at the museum and we can look at the cars.' This raises word count naturally, not by padding. Do not spend the lesson on 'we go' versus 'we are going' yet; that error does not block meaning.