Writing Q2 (OxfordAQA
9280): Letters & Emails
Step-by-step approach • Concise intros/conclusions •
Functional phrase bank • Register & concision • Practice
tasks
What Q2 usually tests
Task fulfilment: cover ALL bullet points (do not
invent new tasks).
Audience & Register: formal / semi-formal /
informal tone + appropriate layout.
Organisation: paragraphing, sequencing,
cohesion (linkers, pronouns, referencing).
Language: accurate grammar & punctuation;
varied structures; precise vocabulary.
Economy: concise phrasing so your words serve
ideas, not filler.
Decode the question: (2–3 mins)
A — Audience & Aim
• Why are you writing? (request, invite,
complain, advise)
• What must the reader do/know next?
R — ROLE & • WHO ARE YOU? WHO • MATCH TONE: FORMAL
RELATIONSHIP ARE THEY? (STUDENT, / SEMI-FORMAL /
MANAGER, FRIEND) INFORMAL
I/D — Information & Deadline
• What details are given? What details
must you add?
P — Points
• Time/length guidance: plan a word
budget per paragraph.
• Underline keywords in each bullet.
• Match a VERB for each point (ask, explain, request,
apologise).
Plan & word budget (example)
Use the paper’s
• Opening (1 • Body 1 (bullet 1 &2
guidance. As a
sentence): 3–5 + support): 15–20
working plan (e.g.,
words words
50–70 words):
Tip: combine related
• Body 3 (bullet 2 + • Closing (1–2
points; avoid
support): 15–20 sentences +
repeating the task
words sign-off): –10 words
wording verbatim.
• Could I ask
for some Formal /
information Semi-formal
about…?
Informal
• Hope you’re well — quick question: …
• Just a quick • Just checking about…
Concise note to
confirm… • Could you let me know…?
• I am writing
to enquire
about…
introductions (semi-formal)
• Quick update: …
(choose ONE • Any chance you could…?
line) — keep • Thanks for your message — about…
it tight
• I am
• This is to contacting
request… you
regarding…
• Further to
your
notice/email,
I would like
to…
Formal / Semi-formal
Informal
• I would be grateful for your reply by [date].
• Let me know what you think.
Concise • Thanks again — speak soon.
• If that works, I’ll any
bookfurther
it.
conclusions • Please let me know if you need
• Catch you soon!
details.
(action + • Best / Thanks,
thanks + • Many thanks for your assistance.
sign-off)
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely / Kind regards,
Invitations (offer + detail +
call-to-action)
Thanking (with reason)
• Thank you for your help with…
• I’d like to invite you to… (date /
Useful • I really appreciate your advice on…
place / time).
• Many thanks for arranging…
phrases — • That was very kind of you because…
• Would you be able to join us
Invitations for…?
&
Thanking • If you’re free, we could…
• Please RSVP by… / Could you
confirm by…?
Asking for advice / help
Requesting information
• Could you tell me whether…?
Useful • Could you advise
• I would like tome on…?
know…
phrases — • Please confirm… / Please could you
confirm…
Advice/Help • Do you have details about…
• I’d appreciate your thoughts on…
(cost/dates/requirements)?
&
Information
• Would you mind helping with…?
Requests
• Do you have any suggestions
about…?
Arrangements
Accepting / Declining (brief + reason)
• I’d be delighted to attend.
• I’m afraid I can’t make it because…
Useful phrases • Would Tuesday at 14:00 suit you?
• Could we reschedule to…?
— • Thanks for inviting me; unfortunately…
Arrangements • I’m available on…, otherwise…
&
Accept/Decline
• Shall we meet at…?
• Please find attached the schedule
/ Here’s the plan:
Apologising (own the issue
+ remedy)
Complaining / Persuading (measured
Useful tone)
• I am concerned about… because…
phrases — • I’m sorry for [effect];
• This caused the could you…?
inconvenience caused
• It would be helpful by…that…
if… / I suggest
Apologise, • Given [reason], I hope you will
consider…
Complain, • Please accept my
Persuade apologies for…
(polite)
• I’ll make sure this doesn’t
happen again by…
Formal → Neutral / Semi-formal
Neutral / Informal → Formal
• Can you send…? → Could you please
Register •I wouldsend…?
be grateful if you could…
→ Could •you…?
I need… → I would be grateful for…
ladder — • I can’t come → I will be unable to attend
• I am writing to →
• Tell me… enquire… →know…
Please let me I’m
choose checking about…
the right • I would appreciate… → I’d really
rung value…
• I would like to request… → I’d like
to ask for…
Cut throat-clearing: delete ‘I am writing this email
to say that…’ → start with purpose.
Prefer verbs to nouns: ‘give an explanation’ →
‘explain’.
Concision Merge overlap: avoid repeating the bullet wording.
Active where clear: ‘We will deliver…’
—8
Compress relative clauses: ‘The form, which you
quick sent…’ → ‘The form you sent…’.
Drop fillers: really, very, quite, in order to (→ ‘to’).
wins
Use precise time phrases: by Friday / from 3–5
p.m.
One idea per sentence; keep average sentence
length 12–18 words.
Formal request (info/permission)
• Intro: I am writing to enquire about…
• Body 1: Reason/context + first bullet
• Body 2: Specific questions/details + second bullet
Templates • Close: I would be grateful for your reply by… / Yours sincerely,
Invitation (semi-formal)
— build • Intro: I’d like to invite you to… (date/time/place)
quickly • Body 1: What/why; brief benefit
• Body 2: Practical details; RSVP by…
from the • Close: Hope you can make it. Best regards,
bullets Advice/help (informal)
• Intro: Quick note — could you help with…?
• Body 1: Situation; what I’ve tried
• Body 2: What I need from you; options
• Close: Thanks a lot — let me know what you think.
Long opener: ‘I am writing this email
to let you know that I would like to
ask for some more details about the
photography workshop that was
advertised recently on the
Micro-practice noticeboard in the main hall.’
1 — Intro
surgery (trim
to ≤ 15 words)
TASK: Rewrite as a concise,
register-appropriate opener (formal).
Bullets: ask about dates;
mention experience level
(beginner); request price /
student discount.
Micro-practice
2 — Connect
bullets into 2
sentences TASK: Write two sentences
that cover all three points
with linkers (‘and’, ‘as’,
‘which’, ‘including’).
Original: ‘Hi! I
wanna know if you
guys can send me
Micro-practice the info ASAP.’
3 — Register
fix (formalise
the tone)
TASK: Rewrite for
formal register,
12–16 words.
You see this notice:
Volunteer Mentoring Programme — Apply
Now
Practice Task
1 (formal
request) Write to the coordinator to: ask about time
commitment; explain why you’re
interested; request details about training.
Write your email/letter using a suitable
register and layout.
Your club is hosting a film night
for new students.
Practice Task Write to a teacher to: invite
2 them to give a short welcome;
(semi-formal outline the schedule; request
the projector and speakers.
invitation)
Write your email using a
suitable register and layout.
Your friend wants to visit
during the spring break.
Practice Task Write to: suggest dates;
offer a spare room; ask if
3 (informal there are any dietary
advice/help) needs.
Use an informal but clear
tone; keep it concise.
All bullets covered? (tick each one)
Register consistent? (no slang in formal
emails)
Self/Peer Concise opener and closing with action?
check (60–90
Linkers used? (because, so, which,
seconds) therefore, however)
Spelling/punctuation correct?
Names/dates correct?
Word economy: remove one filler from
each paragraph.
TASK: __________ AUDIENCE: __________
REGISTER: F / SF / IF
BULLETS → Verbs: 1) ________ 2) ________ 3)
________
One-page Intro (≤15 words):
______________________________________
planner
(exam desk Body 1 (bullet 1 + support):
card) _____________________________
Body 2 (bullet 2 + support):
_____________________________
Closing (action + sign-off):
_____________________________
Specimen 2018: Invite parents to a
Swimming Gala (70 words)
Dear Parents,
We are delighted to invite you to our
Swimming Gala on Friday 12 May at
Riverside Leisure Centre. The
programme begins promptly at 10.30
a.m.; please arrive by 10.15 for
seating. Competitors should bring
towels and water bottles; spectators
may use the balcony. Medals will be
presented after relays by the
Headteacher. We look forward to
celebrating our swimmers’ progress
together.
Yours faithfully,
PE Department
• November 2020: Healthy living
advice to a family member (70 words)
Dear Uncle Sam,
Regular activity protects your heart,
strengthens joints and steadies mood.
Start with brisk thirty-minute walks in
the park, five days a week; add gentle
stretches afterwards. I will join you on
Mondays and Thursdays, plan routes
with benches, and track our steps.
Let’s review progress every Sunday
evening and adjust sensibly. If rain
threatens, we can switch to the
community gym track nearby, safely.
Love,
Amina