Part 4WritingSection 3 of 8
4.3The structure that works every time
Five paragraphs, each doing one job. This structure fits every letter type and takes the thinking out of the exam room.
| Paragraph | Job | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Greeting and one sentence saying why you are writing | 1 sentence |
| Body 1 | Bullet point one, developed with a detail or example | 3 to 4 sentences |
| Body 2 | Bullet point two, developed | 3 to 4 sentences |
| Body 3 | Bullet point three, developed | 3 to 4 sentences |
| Closing | What you want to happen next, and the sign-off | 1 to 2 sentences |
Develop, do not just mention
The difference between band 5 and band 6 in this task is almost always development. Band 5 answers say what happened. Band 6 answers say what happened, and then add one sentence of detail, reason or consequence. If a bullet point takes you one sentence, you have not finished it.