RW.6 · Key writing: a message of at least 25 words

Part 6 of the Reading & Writing paper: write a short message 留言 — a note, email or postcard — of at least 25 words, answering a friend's message. The friend's message always contains three things to do: usually two questions and one request or suggestion.

• Example task: your friend invites you to a picnic. Say yes. Say what food you can bring. Ask what time it starts.
• Memory hook: the task is a menu with three dishes 三道菜. Serve all three, in order, and the marks follow.
• ⚠ Under 25 words loses marks; the count includes everything, so count.
• The tone is friendly: short forms are welcome (I'm, can't, let's). This is the one exam where I'm is not just allowed but encouraged.

1. Circle the three jobs in the task before writing a word.
2. Write one or two sentences per job, in order.
3. Open with Hi / Dear + name and close with See you / Best / Write soon + your name.

A full answer to the picnic task:

Hi Sam, I'd love to come to the picnic! I can bring some fruit and drinks. What time does it start? See you, Lin

Three jobs, three sentences, 25+ words. Done. The exam rewards completeness 完整性 over beauty — a correct boring answer beats a beautiful one that forgot the drinks.

• Questions are free marks: What time? Where? Who else is coming? — one per task, word-for-word from the A1 question machine.
• ⚠ Every question needs its flip: "What time it starts?" ✗ → What time does it start? Topic A1-9's flip still collects marks.

• ⚠ Don't skip a job. Three jobs = the shape of the marks. One missing job is a missing dish; the examiners notice the empty plate.
• ⚠ Don't write a novel. 30–40 words is the sweet spot 最佳点. A 120-word masterpiece spends time Part 7 needs, and long answers grow error trees.
• ⚠ Register 语域: friendly, not formal. No Dear Sir, no Yours faithfully. It's a friend: Hi Sam — See you — Lin.
• ⚠ Check the three classics: third-person -s (it starts), articles (a picnic, the park), and verb forms after can/can't (I can bring). Sixty seconds of checking is worth more than a fourth sentence.

Your friend Mia writes: "I'm having a birthday dinner on Friday. Can you come? Tell me what food you like. And could you bring your guitar?"

Write the reply (25+ words). Cover: yes/no, the food, the guitar.

Model: Hi Mia, I'd love to come! I like fish and rice, please. I'll bring my guitar, no problem. See you on Friday! — Alex (29 words; all three dishes served.)

Answer first, then read the explanation.

1. How many jobs in a Part 6 task? — Three. Serve all three.
2. "What time it starts?" — ✗ → What time does it start? The flip collects marks.
3. 20 words — too few. Under 25 loses marks; count.
4. Dear Sir / Yours faithfully — ✗ → Hi Sam / See you. A friend, not a bank.
5. A perfect answer that forgot the guitar — loses a dish. Completeness over beauty.