Question 3 Model Answer: Letter (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language) : Revision Note
Question 3 Model Answer: Letter
For this task, you will be asked to produce a piece of writing in a particular format, based on what you have read in Text C. You may be asked to write in one of six possible formats (genres):
A letter
A report
A journal entry
A speech
An interview
An article
The following guide will demonstrate how to answer Question 3 in the format of a letter. The task itself is taken from a past exam paper.
Text C and Question 3
The following Text C example is about two men embarking on a journey across the desert.
Question 3:
Question 3 letter model answer
Based on the above question, the following model answer is an example of a full-mark letter response:
Worked Example
Dear Mother,
I am writing to you from my camp bed in the middle of the desert to convey our adventures so far. There is a gentle breeze this evening which is welcome.
Our journey has had many enjoyable moments. We set off through the Judaean Desert in a good mood, and as our car glided over blisteringly hot tarmac we experienced the exotic novelty of being 400 metres below sea level. It was strange to think we were travelling at the same depth as sea creatures. I was also curious to see the Dead Sea, and it really did live up to expectations. Max tried it out for himself, lying on top of the water like a cork. After a quick dip in the River Jordan to wash off the salt, he urged me to speed away as fast as our car would go!
As we crossed into Asia, however, we faced new challenges. The ground became steep and bumpy, the sun blazed fiercely and our car began to overheat. I began to feel anxious over whether it would make it, especially as I had already warned Max about the amount of weight we were carrying (although I silently knew most of the luggage was mine, lovingly packed by you). As the temperature hit 100 degrees, we stopped to consider our options. As we still had about 23,000 km to go, I reluctantly agreed that we needed to remove some of the weight, but hoped we could make it to Baghdad to put some of the luggage into storage.
After a very long day, I can see that there might be further problems with this trip and we might have been better prepared for them. One of our biggest issues is whether the car will make it to Baghdad; in these remote areas, it is easy to get lost, and in this intense heat we are pushing our vehicle to its limits. In addition, if we cannot locate somewhere to store our luggage this might lead to arguments between Max and I, as I do not want to lose my things. I probably should have brought less luggage with me. However, let's hope that we do not have too many more problems on the rest of our journey.
With warm wishes,
Helmuth
Commentary
The answer starts by demonstrating understanding of the format of the writing and contextualises the letter in relation to Text C
Each bullet point in the question is dealt with in a separate paragraph
The answer uses information directly from the text, and then develops it
The response shows understanding of the task and who the narrative voice is supposed to be
The style and tone of the letter is appropriate to the time period and the intended recipient
The narrative voice and perspective is sustained throughout the response
The greeting and sign off are appropriate for a letter format
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The suggested word count for this task is a guide, and you are not penalised for writing under or over 250-350 words. However, writing too little can mean that your answer does not have enough development or detail. Writing too much can mean that you go off topic and lose focus, which again can be self-penalising. It is therefore a good idea to stick as closely as you can to the word count guidance.
Our model answers are not written in timed, exam conditions. We have therefore shown a range of points that could be included to answer this question, and provided a model you can use to help with the structure of your answer.
You can find further guidance on suggested word counts for CIE here.
Summary
Remember to read the question carefully and highlight:
The instructions (what you have to do)
The focus of each bullet point
Re-read Text C and highlight the relevant information you can use in your answer
Address each bullet point in order:
Make sure you cover all of the bullet points as equally as possible
Base all of your answer on the ideas and details you find in Text C
Decide on the voice and style you want to create and maintain that in your answer
Do not just repeat details of what happened:
You need to develop your ideas to demonstrate understanding
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