Writing: Register and Purpose Across Two Tasks
Sofia is taking PEIC Level 3 Writing. Part 1 asks for an email of 120-150 words to a friend explaining why she cannot attend his party and suggesting another time. Part 2 asks for an article of 150-180 words for a college magazine on the benefits of learning a language. In her mock, the email began: 'Dear Recipient, I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend...' The article began: 'OMG, languages are like totally amazing!' and never stated a clear main benefit. Her teacher's feedback says 'register inconsistent' and 'purpose unclear in Part 2'. She scored 11/20. She has 45 minutes in the exam and tends to spend 30 minutes on Part 1 because she wants it to be perfect. She needs 60% overall.
1. Explain what the examiner means by 'register inconsistent' in this script, using both parts.
Read the worked answer
Register is the relationship between writer and reader, the purpose, and the level of formality. In Part 1 the reader is a friend and the purpose is personal: to apologise and suggest another time. 'Dear Recipient' and 'I am writing to inform you' belong to a formal letter to a stranger; they create distance and make the apology sound bureaucratic. In Part 2 the reader is a college magazine audience and the purpose is to persuade or inform. 'OMG, languages are like totally amazing!' is chat-speak: it is too casual for a magazine article and, more importantly, it makes a vague claim instead of stating a benefit. The inconsistency is not that one is 'bad English'; it is that neither matches its audience and purpose.
2. Rewrite the opening two sentences of each part to fit audience and purpose, and justify each change.
Read the worked answer
Email: 'Hi Sam, I'm really sorry, but I can't make your party on Saturday.' Justification: friendly greeting, contraction, direct apology, specific day. It sounds like a friend writing, which the task requires. Article: 'Learning a language is often described as a ticket to new opportunities - and for good reason.' Justification: a hook that is lively but not slangy, a clear topic, and a signal that a benefit will follow. It fits a college magazine: engaging but readable. Both changes align lexis and tone with the reader, which is what the examiner rewards under register and purpose.
3. How should Sofia manage the 45 minutes across both tasks, given her perfectionism?
Read the worked answer
Split the 45 minutes by task value, not by preference: Part 1 - 18 minutes (3 plan, 12 write, 3 check); Part 2 - 22 minutes (4 plan, 15 write, 3 check); final check - 5 minutes. She should not spend 30 minutes on Part 1: both parts carry marks, and an unfinished Part 2 loses more than a slightly imperfect email. The email is only 120-150 words, so 12 minutes of writing is enough if she plans first. The final five minutes are for word count, register and purpose: 'Who is reading this? Why?' She should also check the article has one clear main benefit in the first two sentences.