Aptis Writing Part 4 – Letter/email

Writing a personal or formal letter which requires you to do Writing a personal or formal letter which requires you to do one or more of the following:one or more of the following:

• Express wants, requirements, likes and dislikes, concerns.Express wants, requirements, likes and dislikes, concerns.• Give opinionsGive opinions• Make complaintsMake complaints• Explain your reasons Explain your reasons • Explain how to do somethingExplain how to do something• Ask for or give informationAsk for or give information

Aptis Writing Part 4 – Letter/email

• Skills Being TestedSkills Being Tested::– Ability to clearly describe and expand upon the Ability to clearly describe and expand upon the

information presented.information presented.– How well you can organize the informationHow well you can organize the information– Accuracy of your use of language Accuracy of your use of language

• Register or StyleRegister or Style: Formal/Polite: Formal/Polite

Descriptors – Writing

C Can write clear, smoothly flowing, complex texts in an appropriate and effective style and a logical structure which helps the reader to find significant points.

B2 Can write clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to his/her field of interest and shows an ability to use different registers within written texts

B1 Can write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within his field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence.

A2 Can write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like ‘and’, ‘but’ and ‘because’

A1 Can write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

A0 Not enough language knowledge demonstrated to allow for any meaningful inferences about the candidate’s ability.

Assessment Criteria• Clear & effective styleClear & effective style

– How effectively you have identified, illustrated and reported the How effectively you have identified, illustrated and reported the key features of the information in the taskkey features of the information in the task

• Smoothly flowing, logical structureSmoothly flowing, logical structure– How well the information and ideas are organized, and how well How well the information and ideas are organized, and how well

the information is linkedthe information is linked• VocabularyVocabulary

– The The range of vocabularyrange of vocabulary used, how used, how accuratelyaccurately it is used and how it is used and how appropriateappropriate it is for the task it is for the task

• GrammarGrammar- The - The range of structuresrange of structures used, how used, how accuratelyaccurately they are used and they are used and how how appropriateappropriate they are for the task they are for the task

Assessment Criteria

• Understand information that is presented in the questionUnderstand information that is presented in the question• Choose how you will organize the information in Choose how you will organize the information in

paragraphs paragraphs • Be sure to start with a salutation line and appropriate lead-Be sure to start with a salutation line and appropriate lead-

in phrasein phrase• Be sure to finish with a stock phrase and sign off lineBe sure to finish with a stock phrase and sign off line• Be sure to make questions relevant Be sure to make questions relevant

Lead-in PhrasesI am writing to youI am writing to you -because…-because…

-to let you know that….-to let you know that….-to advise you that….-to advise you that….-in reply to your recent letter…-in reply to your recent letter…

I am anxious to obtain some information from you about…I am anxious to obtain some information from you about…It is with regret that I write to you advising you that…It is with regret that I write to you advising you that…I regret to inform you that…I regret to inform you that…I am sorry to let you know that…I am sorry to let you know that…As you are probably already aware…As you are probably already aware…

Final Sentence Stock Phrases

• I look forward to your reply.I look forward to your reply.• I look forward to hearing from you in the future.I look forward to hearing from you in the future.• I would be very grateful if you would attend to this matter I would be very grateful if you would attend to this matter

as soon as possible.as soon as possible.• I await your reply in anticipation.I await your reply in anticipation.• Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.• Thank you for your co-operation and I hope to hear from Thank you for your co-operation and I hope to hear from

you shortly.you shortly.• Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any

queries about this matter.queries about this matter.• I am sorry to have caused you any trouble and I trust that I am sorry to have caused you any trouble and I trust that

you will understand.you will understand.

Sign off Phrases• Yours sincerely,Yours sincerely,• Yours faithfully,Yours faithfully,• Regards,Regards,

InformalInformal• Yours truly,Yours truly,• Best wishes,Best wishes,• Love,Love,

Making questions Relevant and Polite

• Ask the question after the problem is explained. Ask the question after the problem is explained. Example:Example: First of all, I need to know if it is too late to enroll in First of all, I need to know if it is too late to enroll in

the course. Can you write and tell me if there are the course. Can you write and tell me if there are any places available? I certainly hope that my any places available? I certainly hope that my enrolment is still possible.enrolment is still possible.

• Avoid asking a question if it is not completely clear Avoid asking a question if it is not completely clear why it’s being asked.why it’s being asked.

Making questions Relevant and Polite

• It is better to ask a question using a longer more polite It is better to ask a question using a longer more polite form than a shorter more direct form.form than a shorter more direct form.

Such as:Such as:1.1. ‘‘Can you write to me and tell me if…’Can you write to me and tell me if…’2.2. ‘‘Do you happen to know why…’Do you happen to know why…’3.3. ‘‘Would you be kind enough to…’Would you be kind enough to…’

LAYOUT A

Dear Sir, I am writing to you because I am unable to pay next month’s rent Dear Sir, I am writing to you because I am unable to pay next month’s rent which is due on Saturday. Unfortunately, the other day I lost my wallet, and which is due on Saturday. Unfortunately, the other day I lost my wallet, and there was a large amount of money inside. I have, therefore, had to write to there was a large amount of money inside. I have, therefore, had to write to my parents to ask them to send me some money urgently. As soon as it my parents to ask them to send me some money urgently. As soon as it arrives, I will immediately notify you and arrange to pay by cash or cheque. I arrives, I will immediately notify you and arrange to pay by cash or cheque. I hope that this does not cause you much inconvenience. There are also some hope that this does not cause you much inconvenience. There are also some problems with the flat that I wish to bring to your attention. First, the cold problems with the flat that I wish to bring to your attention. First, the cold tap in the bathroom will not turn off properly, and the water is dripping tap in the bathroom will not turn off properly, and the water is dripping constantly. This will need to be fixed quickly because it is wasting water. constantly. This will need to be fixed quickly because it is wasting water. Second, one of the back burners on the top of the oven does not work at all. Second, one of the back burners on the top of the oven does not work at all. I’m sorry that I cannot pay the rent on time, and trust that you will I’m sorry that I cannot pay the rent on time, and trust that you will understand.understand.

Yours sincerelyYours sincerely

Jane CitizenJane Citizen

LAYOUT B

Dear Sir,Dear Sir,

I am writing to you because I am unable to pay next month’s rent which is I am writing to you because I am unable to pay next month’s rent which is due on Saturday. Unfortunately, the other day I lost my wallet, and there was a large due on Saturday. Unfortunately, the other day I lost my wallet, and there was a large amount of money inside. I have, therefore, had to write to my parents to ask them to amount of money inside. I have, therefore, had to write to my parents to ask them to send me some money urgently. As soon as it arrives, I will immediately notify you and send me some money urgently. As soon as it arrives, I will immediately notify you and arrange to pay by cash or cheque. I hope that this does not cause you much arrange to pay by cash or cheque. I hope that this does not cause you much inconvenience. inconvenience.

There are also some problems with the flat that I wish to bring to your There are also some problems with the flat that I wish to bring to your attention. First, the cold tap in the bathroom will not turn off properly, and the water attention. First, the cold tap in the bathroom will not turn off properly, and the water is dripping constantly. This will need to be fixed quickly because it is wasting water. is dripping constantly. This will need to be fixed quickly because it is wasting water. Second, one of the back burners on the top of the oven does not work at all. Second, one of the back burners on the top of the oven does not work at all.

I’m sorry that I cannot pay the rent on time, and trust that you will understand.I’m sorry that I cannot pay the rent on time, and trust that you will understand.

Yours sincerelyYours sincerely

Jane CitizenJane Citizen

SAMPLE

You do You do NOTNOT need to write any addresses. need to write any addresses.Begin your letter as follows:Begin your letter as follows:Dear……Dear……