FREE LESSON · Exam Writing
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Every prompt sets five things you must work out first.
Before you write, break the prompt into five parts: the task, the audience, the purpose, the form and the rules. Then your whole piece answers the question that was asked.
Many marks are lost before the first sentence. A writer reads the prompt fast and starts on something close, but not the same. Every prompt names five things.
Audience and purpose change how you sound and what you include. Think of a sports carnival that got rained out. An email to a teacher politely asks to move it, and stays short. A diary entry can stay with the disappointment, in a personal voice. If you can't say who the reader is and what they should do, you're not ready to write.
Write your five parts at the top of the page. Then check each paragraph against them. Say the task is to persuade the principal to keep the library open later. Halfway through, a paragraph turns into a story about a favourite book. It may be well written, but it has drifted off the task. Cut it, or change it so it helps your argument.
Some writers think breaking down the prompt wastes time. In an exam, it saves time. You won't keep rereading the prompt, and you won't delete a paragraph that answered the wrong question. Marks come from the right words for the right reader, not from how many words you write.
You can see when a writer skipped this step. The writing drifts onto a nearby topic, or the tone swaps between formal and chatty. An email has no greeting or sign-off. A rule like 'one tip' is buried under five tips. Neat handwriting and big words can't fix these. They are planning slips, so a short check at the start prevents them.
Here is one prompt broken down: 'A new student is joining your class next week. Write an email welcoming them and explaining one thing that will help them settle in.'
Task
What the prompt asks you to do.Writing about a close but different task is the most common way to lose marks.Audience
The person who will read your writing.Who reads it decides how you sound and what you include.Purpose
What your writing should make the reader think, feel or do.A clear purpose keeps your writing on track.Form
The kind of text, such as an email, report or story.Each form has parts readers expect, like a greeting in an email.Constraints
Rules the prompt sets, about length, situation or content.Miss one rule, and a good piece can still be off task.The moveWork these out before you start writing.
show
See the move done well, from the prompt to a finished email.
Each step shows the thinking. The notes explain why each choice earns marks. The finished email is what you're aiming for.
From prompt to finished email
A new student is joining your class next week. Write an email welcoming them and explaining one thing that will help them settle in.Watch a writer go from the prompt to a finished email. Each step shows the thinking. The notes explain why each choice earns marks.
Before you write a word, name the five parts.
Task: welcome a new student and give one tip. Audience: a nervous classmate my own age. Purpose: help them feel expected, and give one useful tip. Form: a friendly email, with a greeting and a sign-off. Constraints: just the welcome and one tip.
Give each part of the email one job.
Greeting: say hi to Maya, and say the class is looking forward to Monday. Body: one tip. Check the timetable on the door, and pack your bag the night before. Help: offer to help on the first day. Sign-off: a friendly close with my name.
The plan written up as a high-scoring email. A welcome email is short, so quality shows in warmth and control, not length.
Hi Maya,
The whole class is looking forward to Monday. I wanted to say a proper hello before you even walk through the door.
I still remember how strange my first day felt. I didn't know where to sit, or which of the identical doors led where. So here is the one tip that helped me most. Every morning, the day's timetable is taped inside our classroom door. Glance at it on your way in, and pack your bag the night before. Then you'll never be sprinting to the wrong room with the wrong books. It sounds almost too simple, but it removes half the first-week panic.
Please don't worry about the rest. Everyone here is friendlier than they first seem, and I've saved you the seat beside mine. If anything feels confusing on Monday, just catch my eye and I'll show you around.
See you soon. You're going to fit in just fine.
From Sam
The same email at scholarship level. Read it after Step 3. Notice the more thoughtful voice, the extra care for the reader, and the light humour. It still sounds like one classmate writing to another.
Hi Maya,
I don't know you yet, but I already know one thing for certain. Walking into a brand-new school is one of the strangest feelings there is. I didn't want you to do it without a friendly face expecting you. So, hello, properly, before Monday even begins.
I can still remember my own first morning here, a little too clearly. I was sure everyone else had been handed a secret instruction sheet I'd somehow missed. Where to sit, which staircase went up, why everyone knew exactly where they were going. Meanwhile, I drifted around like a lost tourist. If that's anything like how you feel right now, I promise it passes faster than it seems.
If I can give you one truly useful thing, it's this. Every morning, our class timetable is taped inside the classroom door. Glance at it on your way in, and pack your bag from it the night before. Then you'll skip the most stressful part of the first week. That's the sinking moment, halfway down the corridor, when you realise you've brought the wrong books. It's a tiny habit, but it buys you a surprising amount of calm.
You'll pick up everything else without even trying, and you won't do it alone. I've saved you the seat next to mine. I'm also fully prepared to answer even the most obvious questions, without judging you for a second.
See you Monday, Maya. You're going to be absolutely fine.
From Sam
compare
See the difference, one point at a time.
Both answers do the same task. Read them side by side. Notice what makes the stronger one better, so you can do it too.
The whole response
Weaker answer
Hi Ava, I am glad you are organising our stall. You will work out how to handle the money on the day. Thanks for helping. From Ben.
Stronger answer
Hi Ava, thanks for organising our charity stall. Keep a tray of coins ready so you can give change when someone pays with a note. I can help set up the table. From Ben.
guide
One small step with help before you go solo.
Break the prompt into its parts. Check it, then make it better.
A new student will join your class next week. Write them an email inviting them to a lunchtime club. Explain one practical reason the club might help them settle in. Use a warm tone and a greeting and sign-off.
What is this prompt asking you to write? Pick three answers, then list what you must include.
Want feedback on your own answer? Get started to practise with instant marking.
A new student will join your class next week. Write them an email inviting them to a lunchtime club. Explain one practical reason the club might help them settle in. Use a warm tone and a greeting and sign-off.
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