FCE: Ideas for Informal Letters

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Writing Paper Part 2. Task Type: Informal Letter

Question
You have received the following letter from your English-speaking friend.

...We're doing a project this month at school on eating habits and customs around the world. Will you be able to help me by telling me what the traditional meals are in your country, what people typically eat and at what time of day? Thanks very much! Love Alison

Write a letter to your friend giving her the information she needs (around 120-180 words).

What you need to do to pass
Use our checklist first to understand what the examiner wants you to do.

Ideas for writing
Ask yourself the following questions to help you get started:

• What are the main meals that people eat in your country? Make a list of the meal, what is typically eaten and the time of day.
  E.g. Breakfast - not much, coffee and bread, 7am
  
• Do you yourself eat something different?
  E.g. Me - just fruit
• How are you going to combine these notes into a paragraph? Look at the example below for help, which is written in an informal style because the letter is for a friend.
  Breakfast is usually something very light - a large cup of coffee and maybe a bread roll. Most people eat fairly early at around 7.00am. However, as you'll find out if you come to stay with me, I can't face anything other than fruit before 9 o'clock!
• Is there anything else worth mentioning in your letter? (Drinks that are served with each meal? Changes in eating habits over the last decade?)
  
• How would you normally end a letter to a friend? Finish off with a friendly remark.

Drafting and proofreading your work
You should look at your first draft of the task and decide:

• Have you answered the question? Have you remembered to state which country you are writing about?
  
• Is the letter organised in a clear and logical way?
• Is the language correct with a good range of structures?
• Will your friend enjoy reading your letter?
• Is the style OK?

If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' you will need to do some more drafting!