Question 3 Model Answer: Letter (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language) : Revision Note

Deb Orrock

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Updated on

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.

CIE IGCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 3 Text C
CIE IGCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 3 Text C
CIE IGCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 3 Text C

Question 3:

CIE IGCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 3 example

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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Deb Orrock

Author: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

Kate Lee

Reviewer: Kate Lee

Expertise: English Content Creator

Kate has over 12 years of teaching experience as a Head of English and as a private tutor. Having also worked at the exam board AQA and in educational publishing, she's been writing educational resources to support learners in their exams throughout her career. She's passionate about helping students achieve their potential by developing their literacy and exam skills.