Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Transactional Letter 1
Part 1 of FCE Paper 2 is compulsory. You always write a letter to ask for or give
information of some kind. This letter may be formal or informal. A formal letter is a letter
you write to someone you dont know, or dont know very well. An informal letter is the kind
of letter you write to friends, members of your family and other people you know well. Look
at the following phrases and mark them F (formal) or I (informal).
1. Dear Sir / Madam __
2. Love,
Elena __
3. See you next week! I can hardly wait! __
4. I look forward to receiving your reply. __
5. Yours faithfully,
Ana Garcia Herrera __
6. I am writing in reply to your letter of 15 May. __
7. Give my love to your parents. __
8. Should you require any further information, do not hesitate to contact us at the above
address. __
9. Write back soon and tell me all your news. __
10. Im sorry I havent written for such a long time, but Ive been really busy.
11. I would be most grateful if you could send me any further relevant information. __
Remember! Learning to write correctly and appropriately in English means building up a
stock of fixed phrases and expressions, such as those above, which you can adapt to
the specific situation as required. This is much better than trying to translate your Italian
thoughts into English, which is likely to result in strange and unnatural writing.
Always read the instructions carefully and decide what kind of letter, formal or informal,
you are supposed to write.
Look at this task. Will your answer be formal or informal?
Some young people you met last summer are planning to visit your country on
holiday and have asked you to suggest some places of interest to see. Write a letter
of reply using the notes below.
- when?
- how long? - come and stay?
Now look at the plan for the above task and put the points in a logical order, by numbering
them 1-7.
Apologise for not writing sooner. __
Thank them for their letter. __
Ask when they will be coming. __
Tell them to write again. __
Invite them to stay for a few days. __
Suggest places to visit and things to do. __
Say why you havent replied sooner. __
Think of ideas: a reason for not replying; things they might enjoy doing and seeing. Is there
a particularly good time of year to visit these places? What can your friends do there?
Remember that you will need to divide the letter into clearly marked paragraphs, usually
three or four.
Here are some phrases you can use in this letter:
Thank you for your letter.
It was great to hear from you.
Sorry I havent written back for so long.
Sorry its taken me so long to reply.
Ive been really busy recently.
Ive been working really hard.
Ive been studying like mad for my final exams.
Im really pleased youre coming to Italy.
Its great that youre coming here soon.
When exactly will you be coming?
Do you know when youre coming?
When are you going to be here?
Why dont you come and stay with me for a few days?
Id love to put you up for a few days.
Would you like to stay with me for a few days?
You could visit Lerici and Portovenere.
The Cinque Terre are well worth a visit.
Im sure youd really love the Museo Lia.
You can swim and sunbathe on the sandy beaches.
We could go for walks in the countryside together.
Write back soon and tell me your plans.
Write and tell me exactly when you are planning to come.
Now write your letter. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it. Try to write
about 150 words.
membership fee?
Annual or monthly payment?
Use of facilities free to members?
Sports not mentioned in advertisement?
Introduction: my opinion
Paragraph 1: point for the statement; argument against this point.
Paragraph 2: point for the statement; argument against this point
Conclusion: state my opinion again.
Plan B
Introduction: my opinion.
Paragraph 1: arguments in favour of the statement.
Paragraph 2: arguments against the statement.
Conclusion: state opinion again.
Follow your plan and write the article. When you have finished, read it carefully and check
for grammar and spelling mistakes.
Here are some phrases which you may find useful for this kind of article:
These days, many people say that .
Nowadays, we often hear people say that ..
In the last few years it has become fashionable to say that .
The question of whether very young children should be taught a foreign language is one
which is often discussed these days.
There are several arguments which can be made in favour of the statement.
Opponents of this view argue that .
Another argument which is often put forward is that
In support of this view it may be said that ..
On the other hand, it can also be argued that
In my opinion, .
It is often suggested that .
I agree up to a point that .
Another argument against teaching very young children a foreign language is that
This is true to a certain extent, but .
There is a certain amount of truth in this argument, but
I cannot agree with this viewpoint, since
In conclusion, I have to say that
On balance, therefore, I feel that .
Now write your article. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it.
Think of good and bad points about the museum, especially in relation to students
of English.
Join the good and bad points using linking expressions. The most useful are:
despite / in spite of
although / even though
However
but
On the other hand
Organise your sentences into numbered paragraphs, with sub-headings, like this:
1. Introduction
2. Price
3. Interest
4. Language
5. Conclusion
Follow your plan and write your report. Remember to read and check carefully for
grammar and spelling mistakes.
Here are some phrases which may help you with this type of report:
I visited the Seals Museum last week in order to decide if it would be an interesting place
for students to visit.
I will comment on the following: price, interest, language
The entrance fee to the museum is
There is a reduction for students.
Students pay half-price on Wednesdays.
There are many interesting exhibits on display.
The Egyptian section was closed on the day I visited.
I especially liked the
I found the . especially interesting.
I think students will appreciate the .
Most students will find the . of interest.
A guidebook in English is available.
The guidebook is rather expensive.
It contains some beautiful colour photographs.
The guides are helpful.
The guides dont speak English.
There is an audio commentary in English.
It wasnt working on the day of my visit.
In my opinion .
To conclude, I think that .
I am therefore of the opinion that .
Now write your report. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it.
The sentences in this reply are in the wrong order. Put them in the correct order, by putting
1-6 in the gaps.
Dear Sir / Madam,
I can be contacted by telephone on 01202 452234 in the mornings or at the above
address. __
I have a working knowledge of German and have recently passed the University of
Cambridge First Certificate in English examination. __
I look forward to receiving your reply. __
I am writing in reply to your advertisement in last Tuesdays Evening News. __
I will also complete a degree in Banking and Finance in June and will be available for work
immediately afterwards. __
I would like to apply for one of the trainee manager positions you advertise. __
Yours faithfully
Juan de Souza
This type of letter is based on a very small number of fixed, formulaic expressions. If
you can reproduce these correctly in the exam you are certain to get a very good mark.
Underline the key words in the instructions. Think about the form of your letter. Will it begin
and end in the same way as the previous letter?
Plan your letter. Follow the order of the previous letter. Remember to ask for more
information about the discounts. You will also need to give some evidence for your
knowledge of English and your interest in travelling. You may also want to ask about the
possibilities of work at the end of the training period.
The following phrases may help you:
I am very interested in joining your training scheme.
I have loved travelling since I was a small child.
I have visited many countries in Europe.
I studied English for eight years at school.
I am currently attending a course to prepare for the First Certificate examination.
Could you please give me some more information about the discounts you offer?
Your advertisement mentions discounts, and I would be grateful if you could tell me
Could you give me some indication about the possibility of finding a job on completion of
the course?
Now write your letter. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it.
Decide in what order you are going to present your ideas. Then write your article. Be sure
to divide it into three or four paragraphs.
Make use of ordering expressions like these:
First of all
Firstly
Secondly
Finally
Now write your article. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it.
date of journey
destination and departure time
description of object
question tags
contractions
linkers like well, anyway, by the way
All the best or Love from Alex at the end of your letter
You SHOULD
begin the letter with either Dear Sir / Madam or Mr / Ms/ Dr + the persons surname
use formal language, eg I look forward to receiving your reply
end the letter with Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely
sign your letter with your full name
Remember to plan your letter before you start writing. For the question above, the plan
should look like this:
Now write your letter. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it.
Purpose
The museum today
Suggested improvements
Additional facilities
Conclusion
WADEMOUTH MUSEUM
1. ____________________________
The museum mainly contains items connected with the pottery industry and various
inventions connected with it. Generally, most of the items are displayed in glass cabinets
with explanations on small bits of card. These arent very easy to read and some of them
are placed too high for small children. The lighting inside the building is also very poor.
2. ____________________________
To sum up, I found that Wademouth Museum could have a bright future if some time was
spent up-dating the displays and opening some new facilities.
3. ____________________________
Finally, I spoke to some of the visitors, and one thing that most people mentioned is
having a good gift shop and a caf in the building. The profits from these would help to pay
for more interesting displays.
4. ____________________________
The aim of this report is to give an outline of what can be seen in this museum and to
suggest ways in which the museum can change its image.
5. ____________________________
Although the museum gives the visitor a good idea of how the pottery industry developed
through the ages in this area, it doesnt make the subject come alive. I would recommend
that the museum puts in some working models, or, even better, have people showing you
how the pots were produced.
Think about the content of your letter. Think about these points:
What would be the advantages of Tom being able to speak a bit of your language
when he arrives?
Think about the language: is there anything an English speaker would find
particularly difficult or unusual (pronunciation, grammar, writing system etc)?
Make a list of all the things Tom could do to learn your language, from having
private lessons or buying a cassette course to listening to radio broadcasts. Think
about the pros and cons in terms of cost, time and effectiveness. Decide which
method seems most realistic. Is there anything you could do to help, eg send
magazines or simple books?
Write down any general tips on learning a language that you think would be helpful.
Use your own experience as far as possible.
Make a plan for your letter. Decide on the main sections you want to have and think about
the best way to organise them. Jot down the main points for each section. Think about a
suitable introduction and conclusion.
Here are some points to remember when you are writing an informal letter:
Dear Ken,
always use a name
Many thanks for your letter and the photos . Begin the first sentence with a capital
Beginnings
In an informal letter to a friend it may be appropriate to begin by mentioning a letter which
you have recently received, or by making general friendly comments.
Useful language
Many thanks for your letter
It was lovely to hear from you.
I was glad to hear that you had a good holiday.
I hope you and the family are well.
Giving advice
Useful language
You asked me for advice on .
Have you thought about .
It might be a good idea to .
One thing I would suggest is .
Endings
It is usual to end letters which expect a reply with a sentence on a separate line. For
example:
Looking forward to hearing from you / seeing you.
Hope to hear from you soon / see you soon.
Write and tell me how you are getting on.
Write soon /See you soon.
Closing salutation
Best wishes and Yours followed by your name on the next line are useful general endings.
For close friends you can end with Love
Hope to hear from you soon
Best wishes
Gianni
Now write your letter to Tom. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you need it.
If you are delayed for more than one hour you may claim rail vouchers to the
value of 50% of the journey made.
Write a letter to the Customer Care Manager at Capital Rail complaining about the poor
service you have experienced and asking for compensation. Use your own words as far as
possible. Write about 250 words. You do not need to include addresses.
Read the instructions carefully and highlight the key points. Ask yourself:
Content
Your letter should include the following points.
Organisation
Decide how you will organise these points into about four paragraphs. What kind of things
can you say in each paragraph?
Style and register
Thinking about what you want the letter to achieve, consider these questions:
24
Dear Sir,
I am interested in applying for a place on a computer course at
your college and I would be grateful if you could send me full details
of the courses you offer and the fees, together with an application
form.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
S. M. Gilchrist
S. M. Gilchrist (Ms)
Letter of complaint
In the first paragraph explain the reason for writing.
In the second paragraph explain exactly what the problem is. Give all the necessary
details about where and when it happened and who was involved. Give other relevant
information in further paragraphs if necessary.
In the final paragraph explain what action you want to be taken.
Useful language
I am writing to complain about
to express my concern about the fact that
to express my annoyance at .
I must insist that you .
I must urge you to .
I feel I am entitled to a refund.
I feel I am entitled to some compensation for the inconvenience I have suffered.
I hope you will consider the points I have raised very carefully.
I shall expect a written apology at your earliest convenience.
Endings
It is usual to end letters which expect a reply with a sentence on a separate line. The most
common ending is:
I look forward to hearing from you.
CAE Writing Guide 3
Personal Notes and Messages
Look at this task.
You are working as an assistant in the offices of an English company. You are
finishing some work after your colleagues have left when the phone rings for you.
As a result of the call, you need to take the following day off work.
Write two notes explaining the situation, one to your boss, and one to a colleague
and friend, with whom you had a lunch date. Write 60-80 words in each note.
A task like this will be more realistic and more successful if you decide on some concrete
details before you start. If you can use true facts, its very easy, but if you cant, invent
some interesting and believable ones!
Decide on answers to the questions below.
Your work:
The phone call:
Your boss:
Your colleague:
The lunch:
What kind of work do you do for the company? How long have you been with
the company? How will you be able to make up for the time you will miss?
Who was it from? What was the message? Why is it important? Why was
there such short notice?
Male / female? How well do you get on with him / her? How are they likely to
react to your being away?
Male / female? How long have you known him / her? Have you had lunch
together before?
Where were you going to go? Will there be any problem about cancelling?
When could you have lunch instead?
Notes and messages are usually even more informal than informal letters, although the
exact degree of formality will depend on the specific relationship. Decide which phrases
from the list below would be more appropriate in the note to your boss (B) and which in
the note to your colleague (C)
I received a telephone call __
rang me __
Ill gladly make up the time __
In the circumstances __
Some other time? __
There are no fixed rules about the layout of notes and messages. Look at these examples
and the comments which follow.
Fri
Chris,
Just to let you know that I managed to get 2 tickets for the Flaming
Lips concert at the
Beginning a note
No special introductory phrases are necessary but notes often begin with expressions like:
Just (a note) to
A quick note to
Apologising
Sorry I couldnt / wasnt able to / forgot to .
I (would like to) apologise for missing the meeting.
Ending a note
No special fixed phrases are needed but notes and messages may end with expressions
like:
See you soon
Speak to you soon
All the best
Now write the two notes for the task above. Ask the Study Centre monitor for help if you
need it.
Visual help:
Can you help the reader, for example:
by indenting small sub-sections so that
they stand out as small blocks which
are clearly separate from the main text?
- by putting important points on separate lines? Or
6. by numbering your points? Or
by putting bullets in front of main points? Or
by using different STYLES and sizes of writing? Or
by underlining or putting boxes round important words.
You wont be marked on your design skills, of course, but you may make a good
impression on the examiner!
Look at this example of a leaflet which gives information about looking after your heart.
Here we have reproduced only the text of the leaflet, as this is all that you are required to
produce in the exam. A real-life leaflet would of course contain visuals as well.
If you have heart disease in you family you may have a greater risk of
getting it yourself so its especially important to follow this advice.
Now use these tips to help you write your answer to the task about the fitness centre. Ask
the Study Centre monitor if you need additional help.
CAE Writing Guide 5
Review
Look at this task.
You have been asked to write a short film review for a school /college magazine.
Choose any film which you think might be of interest to your fellow students. The
film can be in any language and it can be of any type: comedy, thriller, science
fiction, romance, historical drama etc.
Your brief is to include a clear description of the story/contents, to comment on
what you think the most successful and least successful features are, and to give
an overall recommendation. Write about 250 words.
First, choose a film to review. It doesnt have to be a new film, though it is helpful if you
have seen it recently, and you dont have to have enjoyed it. Sometimes its easier to
pinpoint what you dont like about something than what you like! Think about what you
liked or didnt like about the film.
The purpose of a review is firstly to give factual information about the subject, and
secondly to give an opinion about it which will help the reader to decide whether to buy
the book, see the play or film or visit the exhibition.
Reviews normally contain three main ingredients: overview, pros and cons, and verdict,
which are described more fully below. A review may not always fall into three neat
sections, however. The writer may decide to describe an aspect of the subject and
comment immediately on strengths and weaknesses, for example, before going on to
describe another aspect of the subject.
Overview a description of the subject
Book non-fiction:
What is it about? Who is it for? How technical is it? How is it organised? What topics are
covered? What special features are there? How much does it cost? etc.
Book fiction
What kind of book is it? (thriller, historical novel, science fiction etc)? Is it different in any
way from other books of this type? Whats the story? etc (You can give an outline but dont
give the ending away!)
Play / film / TV programme
What is it about? Is there anything special / unusual about the production? Play / film:
Where is it on? Are there any well-known actors? Who is the director? TV programme:
Which channel? Is it part of a series? Who is the producer?
Pros and cons detailed comments on the successful and unsuccessful features of
the subject.
Your comments will probably include both objective views (the photographs in a book
were poor quality or the costumes didnt fit the actors properly, for example) and
subjective views (based on personal feelings) the story wasnt interesting or the film
was too violent. Make sure, however, that you give reasons for your comments.
You may have strong positive or negative feelings about the subject of the review and this
is no bad thing. A strong opinion, clearly argued, is often more interesting to read than a
carefully balanced assessment. Even so, try not to be completely one-sided.
Verdict summing-up and recommendation
The last paragraph should sum up your feelings and make it clear to the reader whether
you recommend the subject without any reservations, recommend it with one or two
reservations, or dont recommend it at all. In real life, readers often look at the last
paragraph of a review first to see what the general verdict is. Make sure your review gives
a clear verdict.
Example of a film review.
Crazy Plumber Plaza Cinema
If you have seen the advance publicity, you might imagine that this was a funny film. Wrong. Its a film which
tries very hard to be funny and fails consistently. The story concerns a plumber who isnt very good at his job.
When his customers desert, and he cant pay his bills, he decides to turn to crime. He tries a little shoplifting
(he isnt very good at it, of course) but then he gets involved in bigger things.
Wayne Gibson, who plays the hero, has one or two good lines but most of the time hes struggling
with a terrible script. There are a few good moments the car chase sequence is memorable but the
storyline is very slight and the director seems to have run out of ideas very quickly. As the film progresses,
the level of violence increases. Despite the publicity, this is not a film for young children.
A great deal of money went into the making of Crazy Plumber but in the end spectacular effects are
no substitute for real humour.
Useful language
Overview
The book / film / programme concerns
deals with
shows
describes
tells the story of
It contains
It includes
a study of
a survey of
a history of
a chapter on
a section on
extraordinary
fascinating
amazing
beautiful
stunning
superb
brilliant
quite interesting
amusing
fairly entertaining
exciting
informative
attractive
successful
really
completely
boring
unimaginative
humourless
hopeless
amateurish
over the top
predictable
Verdict
All in all
In conclusion
To sum up
On balance
Now use these tips to write your answer to the task. Ask the Study Centre monitor for
additional help if you need it.
CAE Writing Guide 6
Article
Look at this task.
You have a friend who works for an organisation that arranges study exchanges for school
and college students. The organisation produces a regular magazine, which features
articles about exchange countries, experiences people have had abroad, etc. Here is part of
a letter from your friend.
theres been a big increase in the number of people applying for study exchanges to your
country nearly double last years figures, in fact. Almost all will be staying with local
families and, as itll be the first time most of them have been to your country, we thought we
ought to put an introduction to the basic customs in the next edition of our magazine. So I
was wondering youve guessed it! if you could possibly write a short article on the
topic. You could explain any special habits to do with greeting, eating, being a good guest,
etc, and also include any points about family or social life which you think they should be
aware of. I know youd do a brilliant job and Id be really grateful.
Hope to hear from you soon
Write your article in approximately 250 words.
Your CAE coursebook will certainly contain many examples of different types of articles,
taken from English-language newspapers and magazines. Look at each one carefully to
see how the writer uses organisation and style to create interest.
Now look at the example below:
Screaming Tyres
By Tracy Cole
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit behind the wheel of a racing car? Are you
looking for a really imaginative birthday present for a car-mad friend or relation? If the answer to
either of these questions is yes, then you may be interested to hear about a course I took at
Stoke Lodge Racing School recently.
My day as a racing driver was the first prize in a newspaper competition I had entered, and
I must say that it was the most exciting prize Ive ever won. The day began with theoretical
instruction covering all aspects of safety. This was followed by practical tuition in a highperformance saloon car. With no traffic to worry about, I was able to practise controlling the car on
bends and prepare myself for the ultimate experience the chance to drive a single-seater racing
car.
And finally, with crash helmet on and full harness seat belts secured, I was able to rev up
the engine and edge my way out onto the circuit. Six breathtaking laps later, my dream had
become reality.
For those not lucky enough to win a day at the racing school, the cost of the introductory
course is 120, which includes all equipment and also an impressive certificate to hang on the wall.
Anyone who can drive a car can enjoy the experience, regardless of age. The oldest participant so
far has been 85, and I understand that he has booked a second course!
Now use the tips above to help you write your article. Ask the Study Centre monitor if you
need additional help.
The first simply provides information on a topic and gives a brief conclusion or
summary at the end. Example: a report on the educational system in a particular
country, written to help someone research the subject.
The second sets out to identify strengths and weaknesses in a particular situation
and make recommendations for improvement. Example: a report on the library
facilities in a college written at the request of the principal.
Useful language
Introduction:
Reporting an
observation:
It is based on
It draws on
It uses..
It seems/appears that..
The majority / minority of
Quoting:
According to
Speculating:
Generalising:
In general
Commenting:
Interestingly
Curiously
Surprisingly
Predictably
As might be (have been) expected
Making a recommendation:
Summing up:
As X said
On the whole
In the words of
In the main
Oddly
Strangely
It is interesting that
It is recommended that ..
(Perhaps) it would be advisable for X to (do)
(Perhaps) X might /should consider
In short
Conclusion
Grimthorpe is well provided with leisure facilities for a town of its size and these are well used by
the townspeople on the whole. Sport seems to be the most popular leisure activity, while cultural
activities like visiting the museum or art gallery appeared to be the least popular among the
Grimthorpians who were interviewed. Perhaps the City Council should consider launching a
publicity campaign to show how much these facilities have to offer.
Now use these tips to help you write your answer to the task above.