Writing an informal letter or email for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam can be a great choice as everyone knows how to write in a friendly and conversational style. For this very reason, a lot of exam candidates go for this option in the B2 First Writing paper Part 2.
As a teacher, what I always tell my students is the following: “Unless you’re convinced your email can stand out and shows you’re a master in informal letters or emails, choose another exam question in Part 2, like an article, a review, and why not, a story.”
To be a master in email writing means your text is very noticeable among other 80% of informal emails. So, let’s just cut to the chase and find out how you can reach this proficiency in writing.
Let’s start with the basics, which is part of the territory when writing any text type.
1. Understand the task requirements
- Read the prompt carefully. Make sure you understand what your English-speaking friend is asking you and what you need to include.
- Stick to the word count. Write between 140–190 words.
2. Plan your structure
- Opening: Greet your friend and react to whatever news they share with you.
- Body: Develop your main points. Make sure to cover all the points mentioned in the prompt.
- Closing: Summarize your main points, invite a response if necessary, and sign off.
3. Use an appropriate tone
- Friendly and conversational. Since it’s an informal letter or email, use a relaxed tone as if you are writing to a good friend of yours.
- Personal touch: Use first names, contractions (I’m, don’t, etc.), and informal language.
4. Organize your ideas clearly
- Paragraphs: Use clear paragraphs to separate your ideas.
- Linking words: Use informal linking words and phrases to connect your ideas (e.g., “Anyway,” “By the way,” “So”).
5. Proofread and edit
- Check for errors: Review your letter for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes.
- Consistency: Make sure your informal tone is consistent throughout the letter/email.
These five things done, and your text will be scored with a sound PASS.
To be on the safe side, this is not enough, isn’t it? You want your informal letter or email to stand out, right?
Let’s therefore get down to it.
6. Include informal language and expressions
There are three paramount must-have elements in a successful informal email or letter. They will make your informal writing more engaging and authentic. These elements are the following:
- Phrasal verbs
- Idioms and colloquialisms
- Questions ans exclamations
These key elements are just the ticket to showcase your ability to communicate naturally and exam-successfully.
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts to make your informal writing more engaging and natural.
Examples:
Catch up – “I can’t wait to catch up with you soon.”
Give up– “I finally gave up on trying to fix my old bike.”
Look forward to – “I’m really looking forward to our weekend trip.”
Here’s a list of 15 ‘universal’ phrasal verbs that you can use in informal emails, regardless of the topic. Each one is followed by a scenario and an example. These scenarios are just example contexts for using each phrasal verb in writing informal emails.
This list has been compiled by my best ever students, an amazing group of learners who, in just one year of preparation for the B2 First exam, have successfully taken this official examination.
Amanda, Bruno, Clara, Hector, Iris, Judith, Nil, Oriol, I am so proud of you!
1. Carry on (with something)
Scenario: Before signing off, you should give a reason you cannot write more. So, you could write,
“I’d love to keep writing, but I need to carry on with my homework/house chores.”
2. Come forward with (some tips)
Scenario: Your friend is struggling with their science project, for example, and asks for help. You respond,
“I’m happy to help! I’ll come forward with some tips that might make it easier for you.”
3. Come up with (an idea)
Scenario: You’re sharing ideas for a group presentation your friend is asking about. You write,
“How about we come up with an idea that involves an interactive activity? That could keep everybody engaged.”
4. Count on someone
Scenario: Your friend is organizing a surprise party and needs reliable help. They ask if they can count on you to keep it a secret and help with preparations. You assure them,
“You can count on me! I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”
5. Deal with (this matter)
Scenario: Your friend is worried about a forthcoming trip. You write to them,
“Don’t worry about the details; I’ll deal with this matter and let you know the plan.”
6. Face up to someone
Scenario: Your friend is hesitant about confronting a difficult situation at work. You encourage them,
“It’s time to face up to your boss about the unfair workload. You deserve better.”
7. Feel up to doing something
Scenario: Your English-speaking friend has been feeling under the weather, and you decide to invite them to a picnic. You write,
“We are having a picnic this weekend. Do you feel up to joining in once you check in at the hotel? My family will be so excited to see you!”
8. Get on with someone
Scenario: Your friend has some amazing news. They started a new job, and you ask how it’s going. You write,
“Great news! Hope you get on with your new colleagues.”
9. Get along with someone
Scenario: You are curious about your friend’s neighbours. You ask,
“Do you get along with each other? Hope they’re really friendly and easy to talk to.”
10. Go away (on holiday)
Scenario: Your friend is stressed and you suggest,
“You should go away on holiday for a week. It would do you a lot of good to relax and recharge.”
11. Look up (on the internet)
Scenario: Your pal is planning a trip and needs some information about local attractions. You tell them,
“I’ll look up the best places to visit on the internet and share them with you.”
12. Go in for something
Scenario: Your friend asks if you want to join a sports club. You reply,
“I don’t really go in for sports, but I’d love to join the robotics club instead.”
13. Go/Come round to someone’s place
Scenario: Your friend writes to you that they are planning to visit your country, and you reply,
“Fantastic, why don’t you come round to my place? We can watch a movie or something.”
14. Be held up (in traffic)
Scenario: You’re writing an email to a friend but need to cut it short. You explain,
“Sorry to keep this short, but I was held up in traffic and need to catch up on some work.”
15. Look after someone
Scenario: Your friend asks if you can lend them a hand with some advice about caring after their new pet. You respond,
“Of course, as I used to have a dog when we lived in the country, I’ll give you some tips about how to best look after it.”
Tip: When using phrasal verbs, ensure they fit the context naturally. Overuse can make your writing seem forced. For this reason, balance them with other language forms.
Let’s move on to learn about idioms and colloquialisms.
Idioms and Colloquialisms
Idioms and colloquialisms are phrases where the meanings aren’t immediately clear from the individual words. They are often unique to certain cultures or regions and can add colour and character to your writing.
Examples:
“It’s been ages” – “It’s been ages since we last met!”
“Over the moon” – “I was over the moon when I got your letter.”
“Piece of cake” – “Fixing my bike was a piece of cake after I found the right tools.”
Here are 15 examples of idioms and colloquialisms, along with explanations and contexts for using them in writing informal emails and letters.
1. Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting.
Example: “Don’t worry about your new classmates. You are so good at telling jokes! This will surely break the ice and everyone will start laughing.”
2. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To be exactly right about something.
Example: “Hope I hit the nail on the head with my suggestion for the project.”
3. Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: “You’ve got my word I won’t spill the beans about the surprise party.”
4. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.
Example: “Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling a bit under the weather. Why don’t you unwind a bit?”
5. Cut to the chase
Meaning: To get to the point.
Example: “Let’s cut to the chase— would you rather do a team sport or an individual one?”
6. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult situation bravely.
Example: “You ought to finally bite the bullet and tell your boss that you need a raise.”
7. On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy.
Example: “I was on cloud nine when I heard that you got the job.”
8. Costs an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive.
Example: “The new phone costs an arm and a leg, but it’s worth it.”
9. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example: “I won’t let the cat out of the bag about your surprise visit. Don’t worry. My lips are sealed!”
10. Hit the books
Meaning: To study hard.
Example: “I need to hit the books this weekend to prepare for my exams.”
11. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up.
Example: “After all your hard work, you shouldn’t throw in the towel.”
12. Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To joke with someone.
Example: “I thought you were just pulling my leg when you said you were moving away.”
13. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your decision or responsibility to do something.
Example: “I’ve given you all the information you need; now the ball is in your court.”
14. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: “It was high time I knuckled down. I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report on time.”
15. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Example: “Don’t worry about it. Losing your job is a blessing in disguise because it will lead you to your dream career.”
Tip: Use idioms that you are comfortable with and that are appropriate for the context of your letter or email. This will make your writing feel more authentic and personal.
And here’s our last thing that will make sure you fully master writing emails and take the B2 First, and why not C1 Advanced, writing paper Part 2 with flying colours.
Questions and Exclamations
Engaging your reader is essential in informal emails and letters, and one way to do this is by asking questions and using exclamations. These elements can make your writing more dynamic and interactive.
Examples:
Questions
- “How have you been?”
- “Did you hear about (the new café that opened downtown)?”
- “Are you free (this weekend)?”
- “Would you like to join us for (dinner one day)?”
- “What do you think about (the new project at work?)”
- “Which (book) did you enjoy (reading) the most?”
Exclamations
- “I can’t wait to see you!”
- “That sounds amazing!”
- “You won’t believe what happened!”
- “Guess what!”
- “I’m so happy for you!”
- “That’s fantastic news!”
- “This is going to be great!”
- “I’m thrilled about (the upcoming trip)!”
Tip: Use questions to show interest in the friend’s life, and use exclamations to express strong emotions or excitement. This helps to create a more lively and engaging tone.
You must balance though the use of questions and exclamations to avoid overusing them. Too many questions can make your writing feel like an interrogation, and too many exclamations can make it seem overly dramatic. Besides, these questions and exclamations should fit naturally into the context of your letter or email.
Hope what we have analysed today has clearly shown you how you should write your informal email or letter so that it scores the maximum of marks. You deserve it!
Stay tuned for more words of advice and catchy material!
