Letter / Email
Learn how to organise a letter or email with a proper greeting, clear paragraphs about your purpose and a polite ending.
Watch the lesson
Watch the matching Path to Selective lesson when available, then review the structure before you practise.
Purpose, audience and tone
Purpose
Communicate a message to a specific person for a clear reason, such as requesting help or sharing news.
Typical audience
A named person such as a teacher, principal, friend, relative or company.
Tone
polite, clear, appropriate to the relationship
Core structure
Follow these steps so your response matches the expected Letter / Email format.
Greeting
Address the reader correctly, such as “Dear Mrs Chen” or “Hi Sam”.
Purpose opening
Say why you are writing in the first paragraph.
Main details
Explain the important information in clear paragraphs.
Request or next step
If needed, ask for a reply or explain what should happen next.
Closing and sign-off
End politely and sign your name.
Exam time plan
A clear 30-minute plan for exam conditions.
Example opening or extract
Sample opening
Key features
- A suitable greeting for the audience
- A clear reason for writing
- Well-organised paragraphs
- Polite and appropriate tone
- A proper closing and signature
Common mistakes
- Forgetting who the letter is for
- Hiding the purpose until the end
- Using the wrong level of formality
- Ending without a sign-off
Planning checklist
- Who am I writing to?
- Why am I writing?
- What details must I include?
- Should the tone be formal or friendly?
- How will I close the message?
Practice options
Apply what you learned in a timed exam using the Path to Selective exam experience.
Timed Exam Practice
Complete the response under realistic 30-minute NSW Selective exam conditions.
Start 30-Minute ExamFinal editing checklist
- Is the greeting suitable?
- Is my purpose clear in the opening?
- Have I used paragraphs?
- Did I include a polite closing and name?
Related formats
Continue with a nearby format to strengthen transferable skills.