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Joy English

A2 Exams

A2General exam skills20 min

Writing a short email to a friend

Independent practice in the style of entry-level exam writing tasks, not an official test: plan and write a short reply that answers every question in a friend's email.

In many entry-level exams, you read a short email from a friend and write a reply of about 35 to 50 words. The email usually asks you two or three questions. A good reply answers every question clearly, uses simple correct sentences and sounds friendly. A reply that forgets one question is not complete, even if the English is good.

Email from Tomás

Hi!

I'm planning a day at Silver Lake next Sunday with some friends from our class. We'll swim and have lunch there. Can you come? What food can you bring for lunch? And how will you get to the lake from your house?

Write back soon!

Tomás

Model text

A model reply

Hi Tomás,

Thanks for your email. I'd love to come to the lake on Sunday! I can bring some sandwiches and a big bottle of orange juice. I'll take the number 7 bus from my house. It stops near the lake. See you there!

Mina

Useful language

PurposeUseful phrases
StartHi Tomás, / Dear Sofia, / Thanks for your email.
Say yesI'd love to come! / That sounds great.
Say no politelyI'm sorry, but I can't come because ...
Offer or promiseI can bring ... / I'll ...
TravelI'll take the bus. / My dad can drive me. / It takes ten minutes.
Ask a questionWhat time shall we meet? / Where shall we meet?
FinishSee you soon! / Write back soon. / Bye for now,

Exercise 1 of 2

Plan your reply

Think about Tomás's email and the model reply. Choose the best answer.

  1. Tomás asks: “Can you come?” Which sentence answers this question?

  2. Tomás asks: “What food can you bring for lunch?” Which sentence answers this?

  3. Tomás asks how you will get to the lake. Which sentence answers this?

  4. Which is the best way to start your email to Tomás?

  5. Which is the best way to finish an email to a friend?

  6. You can't go to the lake. Which sentence is the most polite?

  7. A student wrote: “Hi Tomás, I can come. Bye.” What is the main problem?

  8. Which sentence has a mistake?

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the sentences

Type one word to complete each sentence from a reply to a friend.

  1. Thanks your email.

  2. I'd love come to your party!

  3. I'm sorry, I can't come on Saturday.

  4. I can't come I have a piano lesson.

  5. See you Sunday!

  6. My house isn't far from the lake. It (take) about twenty minutes by bus.

  7. Write soon!

  8. you want me to bring some drinks?

0 of 8 answered

Your turn

Writing task

Read this email from your friend Kofi: “Hi! It's my birthday next Saturday and I'm having a small party at my flat. Can you come? What would you like to eat or drink? And can you help me get the flat ready on Saturday morning? Kofi” Write a reply to Kofi. Answer all three questions.

0 words

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Sample answer

Hi Kofi,

Thanks for the invitation! Of course I can come to your party. I'd like some pizza and apple juice, please. I'm sorry, but I can't help on Saturday morning because I have a swimming lesson. I can come early in the afternoon.

See you soon,

Aiko

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Source

Original practice by Joy English in the style of the exam. Not an official test; IELTS and TOEIC are trademarks of their owners.

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