Professional texts

a professional text to someone in a role you don't know personally — to request, complain, apply or suggest

the opening line: 'Dear Mr Patel,' or 'Dear Sir or Madam,'

the first sentence, stating why you are writing: 'I am writing to…'

the middle paragraphs that develop your message, one idea each

a polite sentence before signing off: 'I look forward to your reply.'

'Yours sincerely,' (named) or 'Yours faithfully,' (Dear Sir or Madam)

about; concerning (a formal way to introduce a topic)

a polite, formal way to make a request

the standard formal opening that states your purpose

a standard polite closing line before the sign-off

When the greeting NAMES the person, e.g. 'Dear Mr Patel,'.

When the greeting does NOT name the person, e.g. 'Dear Sir or Madam,'.

Formal, polite and impersonal — no slang, no chatty exclamation marks.

A Language (12), B Message (12), C Conceptual understanding (6).

a formal text that presents facts/data on a topic and gives recommendations

the purpose of the report, stated near the start

the facts or data discovered, often from a survey

a set of questions used to collect data from a group of people

the people who answer a survey

a suggested action, stated impersonally

how formal or informal the language is; a report is formal and impersonal

written without I/you; uses passive or "it is…" structures

"The aim of this report is to…"

"It was found that…" / "According to the survey…"

"It is recommended that…" — never "I think you should…"

Title → Aim → Findings → Recommendations → Conclusion.

Formal, neutral and impersonal — objective, data-led, no "I".

A Language (12), B Message (12), C Conceptual understanding (6).

a formal plan put forward for others to consider and approve

to suggest a plan or idea formally

what the proposal is trying to achieve

to give reasons that show why something is a good idea

a good result or advantage that a plan would bring

to put a plan into action

to officially agree to something

possible to do; realistic and practical

the people with the power to say yes or no

To put forward a plan, justify it with reasons, and ask an authority to approve it.

Title, formal opening, aim, justified body, call to act, formal sign-off.

Formal and persuasive — full forms, no slang, polite requests to an authority.

"Dear [reader], I am writing to propose that…" then "The aim of this proposal is to…".

A call to act ("I kindly ask you to approve this proposal") + "Yours faithfully, [name]".

a text that tells the reader how to do something, step by step

a heading that says what the reader will make or do ("How to make…")

one action the reader has to carry out, in order

the command form of a verb: peel, add, stir, serve

the list of things or ingredients required before you start

advice to be careful or to get a better result

the phrase that introduces the things required

sequence connectors that start and continue the steps

sequence connectors that continue and close the steps

the phrase that gives a safety warning

A command register — the imperative (peel, add, serve); precise, ordered and direct, never tentative.

Title → what you need → numbered steps → tip/warning → encouraging close.

Criterion C (Conceptual) — title, list of what's needed, ordered steps, a consistent command form.

"First,…" and "Next,…" (also "Then,…", "Finally,…").