The proposal as a text type: A proposal is a professional text (Topic 2.2). You write it to an authority — a head teacher, a council, a manager.
Tasks where it fits
- Turning unused land into a community garden
- Starting a new class or club at school
- Setting up a support group at a community centre
Conventions the examiner checks
- A title and the person or body addressed
- Headed sections: aim, the plan, benefits, what is needed
- A formal, persuasive closing recommendation
Traps that cost Criterion C
- A plan with no costs, time or people named
- Benefits that are only "it will be fun"
- Sounding like a chatty email to a friend
What a proposal does
1
Put forward a plan
Say clearly what you want to happen.
2
Justify it with reasons
Explain why the plan is a good idea.
3
Ask them to approve it
End by asking the reader to say yes.
Plan → reasons → ask for approval
Formal and persuasive: It is formal and persuasive: you are not just describing, you want the reader to say yes. Knowing its conventions is how you score Criterion C (Conceptual understanding) in Paper 1.
The conventions of a proposal
- Title — names what you are proposing, e.g. "Proposal: a weekend library".
- Formal opening — address the reader and announce the proposal: "I am writing to propose that…".
- Aim — one clear sentence: "The aim of this proposal is to…".
- Body — each measure you propose, justified with a reason and a benefit.
- Call to act — ask for approval: "I kindly ask you to consider / approve this proposal."
- Formal sign-off — "Yours faithfully," + your name.
- proposal
- a formal plan put forward for others to consider and approve
- to propose / to put forward
- to suggest a plan or idea formally
- aim / objective
- what the proposal is trying to achieve
- to justify
- to give reasons that show why something is a good idea
- benefit
- a good result or advantage that the plan would bring
- to implement
- to put a plan into action
- to approve
- to officially agree to something
- the authorities / management
- the people with the power to say yes or no
- feasible
- possible to do; realistic and practical
- in advance
- before the event or deadline; ahead of time
- to consider
- to think about something carefully before deciding
- to address (someone)
- to direct your writing to a particular reader
Why this matters: If a Paper 1 task asks for a proposal, the examiner expects these conventions. A proposal that reads like an informal email or a diary entry loses Criterion C marks even if the language is good.
Free preview
Reading it is one thing — hearing it is another
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- Audio on every wordTap any vocabulary word or example to hear it read aloud in natural English.
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Start Studying Free Full access to Aimnova Pro · cancel anytime
Formal and persuasive: A proposal is written to an authority you want to convince, so the register is formal and persuasive. Use full forms (not contractions), polite requests, and connectors that build an argument. Avoid slang, "hi", emojis and chatty asides.
Too informal (avoid)
- "Hey, it'd be cool to get some new bins, right?"
- "I dunno, maybe we could try this thing."
- "Cheers! Let me know what you reckon."
Formal & persuasive (use)
- "I am writing to propose that the school install recycling bins."
- "I suggest that we place three bins by the exit, since this would reduce waste."
- "I kindly ask you to consider this proposal. Yours faithfully,"
Useful phrases by stage
- Opening: "I am writing to propose that…" / "I would like to put forward a proposal regarding…"
- Aim: "The aim of this proposal is to…" / "My objective is to…"
- Proposing: "I suggest / propose that we…" / "It would be advisable to…"
- Justifying: "…since…", "…because…", "This would benefit… as…"
- Call to act: "I kindly ask you to consider / approve this proposal."
- Sign-off: "Thank you in advance for your consideration. Yours faithfully, [name]."
Link your ideas: Connectors turn a list of wishes into an argument: firstly / secondly (to order), moreover (to add), therefore (to conclude), since / as (to justify). Use two or three in any proposal.
Practice with exam-style questions
Answer exam-style questions and get AI feedback that shows you exactly what examiners want to see in a full-marks response.
Try Practice FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
Read like Paper 2: Here is a short proposal — the kind of professional text Paper 2 (Reading) gives you, and a model of what your own writing should look like.
How to read it: Read it once for the general idea, then we'll work through one exam question together.
A weekend library (1/3): Proposal: a weekend opening for the school library
Dear Head Teacher,
I am writing to propose that our school library open on Saturday mornings. The aim of this proposal is to give students a quiet place to study before exams, since many of us do not have a suitable space at home.
A weekend library (2/3)
I suggest that two teachers take turns to supervise the room, and that students sign up in advance so the library is never overcrowded. This would cost very little and would benefit the whole school, especially in the busy weeks before assessments.
A weekend library (3/3)
For these reasons, I kindly ask you to consider this proposal. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Yours faithfully, Marcus Hale
- to supervise
- to watch over and be responsible for
- to sign up (in advance)
- to put your name down to take part beforehand
- overcrowded
- having too many people in one place
- suitable
- right or appropriate for a purpose
- assessment
- a test or exam that measures what you have learned
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the proposal, what is the aim of opening the library at weekends?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the word "aim": "The aim of this proposal is to give students a quiet place to study before exams."
- The answer — To give students a quiet place to study before exams. The words are right there, so no outside knowledge is needed.
Reading technique: For an "according to the text" question, find the exact line that proves your answer. In a proposal, the aim usually sits right after "The aim of this proposal is to…".
The task: Your school wants to be greener. Write a proposal to the head teacher: suggest a recycling scheme for the canteen, explain how it would work and why it would help, and ask for approval.
Register and length
- Use a formal, persuasive register.
- Write 450–600 words.
Proposal structure — 5 steps
1
Title
Name the proposal. "Proposal: a recycling scheme for the canteen".
2
Formal opening
Address the reader and announce it. "Dear Head Teacher, I am writing to propose that…"
3
Aim
One clear sentence. "The aim of this proposal is to cut plastic waste."
4
Body: measure + reason
Each idea with its justification. "I suggest three colour-coded bins, since students would sort their rubbish."
5
Call to act + sign-off
Ask for approval, then sign off. "I kindly ask you to approve this proposal. Yours faithfully, [name]."
Title → Opening → Aim → Body (measure + reason) → Call to act + sign-off
Model: the 5 steps in action
The proposal, step by step
- Proposal: a recycling scheme for the canteen — a clear title naming what you are proposing.
- Dear Head Teacher, I am writing to propose that the school introduce separate recycling bins in the canteen. (A formal opening that addresses the authority and announces the proposal.)
- The aim of this proposal is to cut the amount of plastic our school throws away. (One sentence stating the objective.)
- I suggest that we place three colour-coded bins by the exit and ask the eco-club to empty them weekly. This would reduce waste and teach good habits, since students would sort their rubbish every day. (A concrete measure, each idea backed by a reason.)
- For these reasons, I kindly ask you to approve this proposal. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Yours faithfully, Aisha Khan. (A polite call to act + a formal sign-off with a name.)
Why it scores: This answer hits all three Paper 1 criteria — here's what earns each one:
A — Language /12
- Formal register: full forms, no slang
- Connectors: "since", "therefore", "firstly/secondly"
- Topic vocabulary (propose, aim, benefit), used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: proposes a scheme AND justifies it
- Each idea developed with a reason and a benefit
C — Conceptual /6
- Proposal conventions: title, aim, call to act
- Addresses an authority directly
- A persuasive, formal tone throughout
Feeling unprepared for exams?
Get a clear study plan, practice with real questions, and know exactly where you stand before exam day. No more guessing.
Get Exam Ready FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
One stage at a time: Examiners often break a proposal into parts so you don't forget the title or the call to act. Practise each stage on its own, then you can assemble the whole text under exam pressure.
IB-style task — write the proposal in three stages
Three stages, step by step
- Stage 1 — the opening. Title + aim: "Proposal: longer canteen hours. The aim of this proposal is to let more students eat at school."
- Stage 2 — one body point. A measure with its reason: "I suggest the canteen open half an hour later, since many students have after-school clubs and cannot eat in time."
- Stage 3 — the close. Call to act + sign-off: "For these reasons, I kindly ask you to approve this proposal. Yours faithfully, Daniela Soto."
| Stage | What goes here |
|---|---|
| Opening | Title + a one-sentence aim, in a formal register. |
| Body | Each measure you propose, justified with a reason and a benefit. |
| Close | A polite call to act (ask for approval) + a formal sign-off with your name. |
Build technique: Keep the same formal register across all three stages — a slip into "hey" or "thanks!" in the close undoes the formal opening and costs Criterion C marks.