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Writing Part 2 Informal Letter Introduction

(http://www.firstcertificatewriting.co.uk/live/part-
2-informal-letter-7/)
PART 2 WRITING AN INFORMAL LETTER

The student must write 140-190 words.

Informal Letter advice and suggestions

Imagine that you are writing to a real friend of yours. Its easier to write in a natural way and will give

you more ideas.

Your friends name should be included in your introduction. Begin the letter with Dear Maggie, etc.

Begin your letter with some general chat: Hi Maggie, Hows it going?, etc

Refer to the letter you have received from your friend and thank him/her for writing or apologise for

the fact that you have answered the last letter a bit late.

Use the proper register (style). This is extremely important. You will lose marks if the style is not

appropriate.

The letter is supposed to be informal so you can use contractions, informal linking words and

expressions like: well, by the way, anyway, so, colloquial expressions, etc.

You can use a chatty style of writing and even ask questions in your letter:Do you remember that guy

we met at the airport? or Do you fancy visiting?

Use questions to ask about your friend arrange your next meeting and send greetings to his/her

friends and family, etc.

Finish your letter in an informal way: Best wishes, Love, Regards

Typical expressions to use when writing to a friend

Beginnings

Thanks for your letter.

Sorry for not writing for so long / Im sorry to hear youve been ill.

It was lovely to hear from you/ It was great to get your letter.

It was nice to hear from you / Thank you so much for writing.

Contents 1 st paragraph

Thank you for sending me

Im writing to ask you a favour.

Your last letter was a real surprise. I didnt think you would remember my birthday.

Thanks a lot for the information you sent me in your last letter.

Ive just received your letter. Im so happy to hear that

Im sorry I havent written for so long but

Im sorry I took so long to answer, but I was really busy with

Signalling the end

I must go now./ Id better nish.

Ill have to nish now because

Anyway, Id better get ready for work now, so

Closings (at the end)

Write soon / Write again soon!

Bye for now/ Best wishes / Take care.

Good luck!

Hope to hear from you soon.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Well, thats all for now. Will talk to you soon.

Give my regards to your family.

SAMPLE QUESTION

You have received the following letter from your English friend, Maggie.

Im really pleased youre planning to come to England to stay for a couple of weeks. Let
me know your address and we can meet when you get here. Make sure you bring some
warm clothes as its been a bit cold lately.

Write and tell which place you fancy visiting. Maybe we could do a day trip to London
and also stay on the south coast for a couple of days. What do you reckon?

Write your letter in 120-180 words in an appropriate style.

Do not write any postal addresses.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Hi Maggie,

It was great to hear from you again. I havent seen you since..

Going to London sounds like a great idea. Im really looking forward to.

Anyway, keep in touch and Ill see you soon.

Pete
NOTES

As you can see, you only need to include a few nice expressions and answer the
questions that Maggie asked you. Its quite a simple formula.

Have a look at my Informal Letter samples to give you a few ideas.

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Exam Questions

Paper 1 Reading and Use Of English Introduction

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-1/)

Part 1 Multiple-choice cloze (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-1/p1-part-

1/)

Use of English Part 1 multiple-choice cloze 1

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-1/p1-part-1/multiple-choice-cloze-

1/)
Use of English Part 1 multiple-choice cloze 2

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-1/p1-part-1/multiple-choice-cloze-

2/)

Use of English Part 1 multiple-choice cloze 3

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-1/p1-part-1/multiple-choice-cloze-

3/)

Use of English Part 2 open cloze introduction

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-open-cloze/)

Use of English Part 2 open cloze 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/use-of-

english-part-2-open-cloze-1/)

Use of English Part 2 open cloze 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-open-

cloze-2/)

Use of English Part 2 open cloze 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-open-

cloze-3-2/)

Use of English Part 3 word formation introduction

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/word-formation/)

Use of English Part 3 word formation 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/word-

formation-1-4/)

Use of English Part 3 word formation 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/word-

formation-2-2/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation introduction

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-3-key-word-transformation/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 1

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/key-word-transformation-1/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 2

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/key-word-transformation-2/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 3

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/key-word-transformation-3/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 4

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/key-word-transformation-4/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 5

 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/key-word-transformation-5/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 6

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/use-english-part-4-key-word-transformation-6/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 7

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Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 8

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Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 9

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Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 10

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10/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 11

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Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 12

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/use-english-part-4-key-word-transformation-11-

2/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 13

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/use-english-part-4-key-word-transformation-

13/)

Use of English Part 4 key word transformation 14

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/use-english-part-4-key-word-transformation-

14/)

Part 2 Open cloze (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-1/paper-1-select-

subject/)

Reading Part 1 Multiple-Choice 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-

1/paper-1-select-subject/reading-part-1-multi-choice-1/)

Reading Part 1 Multiple-Choice 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-

1/paper-1-select-subject/reading-part-1-multiple-choice-2/)

Reading Part 1 multiple-choice 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-

1-multi-choice-3/)

Reading Part 1 multiple-choice 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-

 1-multi-choice-4/)

Reading Part 2 gapped text 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-2-

gapped-text-1/)

Reading Part 2 gapped text 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reading-

gapped-text-2/)

Reading Part 2 gapped text 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-2-

gapped-text-3/)

Reading Part 2 gapped text 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reading-

gapped-text-4/)

Reading Part 3 Which Paragraph Introduction

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-3-which-paragraph-introduction/)

Reading Part 3 Sample 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-3-

sample-1/)

Reading Part 3 Sample 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-3-

sample-2/)

Reading Part 3 Sample 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-part-3-sample-

exam-3/)

PAPER 2 WRITING INTRODUCTION (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/fce/paper-2/)

Writing Part 1 Essay Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-essay/)

Writing Part 1 Essay 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-essay-question-1/)

Writing Part 1 Essay 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-essay-question-2/)

Writing Part 1 essay 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-essay-question-3/)

Writing Part 1 Essay 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-essay-question-4/)

Writing Part 1 Essay 5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-essay-question-5/)

Writing Part 2 Article Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/article-

introduction/)

Writing Part 2 Article 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/writing-part-2-article-1/)

Writing Part 2 Article 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/writing-part-2-article-2/)

Writing Part 2 Article 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/writing-part-2-article-3/)

Writing Part 2 Informal email Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-

informal-email/)

Writing Part 2 Informal email 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/informal-email/)

Writing Part 2 Informal email2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-informal-email-

2/)

Writing Part 2 Informal email3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-informal-email-

3/)

Writing Part 2 Informal email4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-informal-email-

4/)

Writing Part 2 Informal email5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-informal-email-

5/)

Writing Part 2 Formal Email Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-

formal-email/)

Writing Part 2 formal email 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-formal-email-1/)

Writing Part 2 formal email 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-formal-email-

2/)

Writing Part 2 formal email 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-formal-email-

3/)

Writing Part 2 formal email 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-formail-email-

4/)

Writing Part 2 formal email 5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-1-formal-email-

5/)

Writing Part 2 Formal Letter Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/reading-

part-1-multiple-choice/)

Writing Part 2 Formal Letter 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-formal-letter-1/)

Writing Part 2 Formal Letter 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-formal-letter-

2/)

Writing Part 2 Formal Letter 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-formal-letter-

3/)

Writing Part 2 Formal Letter 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-formal-letter-

4/)
 Writing Part 2 Formal Letter 5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-formal-letter-

5/)

Writing Part 2 Informal Letter Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-

informal-letter-7/)

Writing Part 2 Informal Letter 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/prt-2-informal-letter-

1/)

Writing Part 2 Informal Letter 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-informal-

letter-2/)

Writing Part 2 Informal Letter 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-informal-

letter-3/)

Writing Part 2 Informal Letter 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-informal-

letter-4/)

Writing Part 2 Informal Letter 5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-informal-

letter-5/)

Writing Part 2 Report Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-report/)

Writing Part 2 Report 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-report-1/)

Writing Part 2 Report 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-report-2/)

Writing Part 2 Report 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-report-3/)

Writing Part 2 Report 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-report-4/)

Writing Part 2 Report 5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-report-5/)

Writing Part 2 Review Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/writing-part-2-

review-introduction/)

Writing Part 2 Review 1 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reviewarticle-1/)

Writing Part 2 Review 2 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reviewarticle-2/)

Writing Part 2 Review 3 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reviewarticle-3/)

Writing Part 2 Review 4 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reviewarticle-4/)

Writing Part 2 Review 5 (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/part-2-reviewarticle-5/)

Paper 3 LISTENING Introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/paper-4-listening-

introduction/)
 Listening Steve Jobs at Stanford (1) (Phrasal Verbs Part 1)

(http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/steve-jobs-stanford-1-phrasal-verbs-part-1/)

PAPER 4 SPEAKING introduction (http://www.rstcerticatewriting.co.uk/live/paper-5-speaking-

introduction/)

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