- recognise that an informal email is written to a friend or relative
- respond to all of the prompts given in the task
- use a friendly, personal tone that suits the reader
Writing an informal email
IGCSE English · Topic 3
3.1
Why and to whom you write
Syllabus
Source: Cambridge International syllabus
The first writing task asks you to write an informal email 非正式电子邮件 to a friend or a family member.
Cover every prompt
- The task gives you some prompts 提示 — short points you must write about.
- You must cover every prompt. If you miss one, you lose content marks.
- Tick each prompt as you write it, so you do not forget one.
Use a friendly tone
- An email to a friend is informal 非正式. Use a warm, friendly tone 语气.
- Write as if you are talking to the person. Ask them questions too.
Vocabulary
Train
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| informal email | 非正式电子邮件 | fēi zhèng shì diàn zi yóu jiàn |
| prompts | 提示 | tí shì |
| informal | 非正式 | fēi zhèng shì |
| tone | 语气 | yǔ qì |
3.2
How to build your email
Syllabus
- open and close an informal email appropriately (for example: Hi … / Write back soon …)
- organise the email into short paragraphs, with one main idea per paragraph
- use informal language: contractions, friendly phrases and questions to the reader
Source: Cambridge International syllabus
A good email has a clear shape.
The shape of a good informal email
Greeting and ending
- Start with a greeting 问候语: Hi Sam, or Dear Anna,
- End with a friendly closing 结束语: Write back soon, or See you soon, then your name.
Paragraphs
- Use short paragraphs 段落. Put one main idea in each one.
- Do not write one long block of text.
Useful language
- Informal language uses short forms 缩略形式: I'm, don't, can't.
- Friendly phrases help: Guess what! / How are you? / I can't wait to…
Vocabulary
Train
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| greeting | 问候语 | wèn hòu yǔ |
| closing | 结束语 | jié shù yǔ |
| paragraphs | 段落 | duàn luò |
| short forms | 缩略形式 | suō lüè xíng shì |
3.3
Making your email better
Syllabus
- develop each idea with a reason, example or detail rather than just listing points
- vary your sentence openings and link ideas smoothly
- check the length (120–160 words), the tone and the accuracy before finishing
Source: Cambridge International syllabus
Content marks reward developed 展开的 ideas, not a list.
Develop your ideas
- Do not just name an idea. Add a reason 原因, an example 例子, or a detail 细节.
- "I loved the trip" is weak. "I loved the trip because we saw an old castle" is much better.
Each extra reason or detail makes the idea stronger
Check before you finish
- Count your words: aim for 120 to 160 words.
- Check the tone is friendly, then fix small grammar and spelling mistakes.
A model email
See how the friendly tone and developed ideas work together.
Hi Sam,
Guess what — I finally visited the new science museum you told me about! I loved it, especially the space room, because you can sit in a real rocket seat and feel it shake. I went with my cousin, and we stayed until it closed.
How about you? Have you been yet? We really should go together in the summer.
Write back soon, Lin
Notice the warm greeting, one developed idea with a reason, a question back to Sam, and a friendly closing. It reads like a real message to a friend — and it covers every prompt.
Vocabulary
Train
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| developed | 展开的 | zhǎn kāi de |
| reason | 原因 | yuán yīn |
| example | 例子 | lì zi |
| detail | 细节 | xì jié |
3.3
Exam tips
- Open warmly: "Thanks for your email!" or "Great to hear from you!" sets the informal tone at once.
- Use short forms (I'm, don't, can't). They are correct here and make you sound like a friend.
- Give each prompt in the task its own short paragraph, and add one detail or reason to each.
- Close like a friend: "Write back soon," plus your first name only, never a full name.
- Keep the style informal from the first line to the last; one "Dear Sir" in the middle breaks the whole email.