Cambridge English: First

Writing Task (go to Checklist)

Writing Paper Part 2. Task Type: Letter of Application

Question
You are reading an English language magazine and you see details of a language school that you are interested in.

Write your letter to the Principal of the school. (around 140-190 words)

What you need to do to pass
Read our checklist first to understand what the examiner is looking for in a good answer.

Ideas for writing
Ask yourself the following questions to help you get started:

• What specific reason(s) do you have for learning English? Is it just for fun, to improve your job prospects, to get a qualification, etc?
• What is the correct tense to use to explain how long you have been studying English? (Clue!)
• What are your good and weak areas in English? You will need to give some detail here so the school can plan an appropriate course for you.
  My written English is very good (at least that is what my English teacher says)...
  I scored 85% in my last grammar test, but I lack confidence in my ability to speak accurately...
• When are you available to start the course? Write down a choice of dates. How long do you want the course to last? (e.g. a two-week intensive course, a three-month summer course)
• What sort of things (hobbies and interests) would you like to do in your free time?
  E.g. I am very keen on a number of different sports. I would like to play badminton on some evenings if this is possible.
• Is there any other information that it might be useful for the Principal to know? (E.g. you prefer learning in small groups, on a computer, on a one-to-one basis?)

Drafting and proofreading your work

You should look at your first draft of the task and decide:

• Have you answered the five questions?
• Is the letter organised in a clear and logical way?
• Is the language correct with a good range of structures?
• Is the style OK?
• Will the Principal know what type of course to plan for you?

If the answer is 'no' to any of these questions then you will need to do some more drafting!