By Cyril KimbiDirected writing is the most predictable paper on the GCE English syllabus and the one candidates prepare least. It has a fixed set of formats, a published mark allocation, and a small number of failures that recur every single year.
What the question is really asking
Every directed writing task names four things: a format, an audience, a purpose, and the content points to include. Miss any one and marks go, however well you write.
Before writing anything, underline all four in the question paper. It takes thirty seconds and it prevents the most expensive error on the paper: producing a fluent piece of the wrong kind.
A formal letter to a council and a speech to fellow students are not interchangeable. Same information, different register, different structure, different opening and closing conventions.
The formats, and what each requires
| Format | Must contain | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Formal letter | Both addresses, date, salutation, subject line, formal close | Formal, impersonal |
| Informal letter | Your address, date, first-name salutation | Warm, personal |
| Report | Title, headings, findings, recommendation | Neutral, factual |
| Speech | Address to audience, clear signposting, closing | Direct, engaging |
| Article | Headline, opening hook, sections | Depends on publication |
| Memo / notice | To, From, Date, Subject | Brief, functional |
Learn these conventions until they are automatic. They are marks you can bank before you have written a sentence of content — and unlike the content, they never change from year to year.
Content points are a checklist
The question usually specifies what to include, sometimes explicitly, sometimes embedded in a scenario. Each required point is worth marks.
The habit that recovers these marks: list the points in the margin before writing, then tick them off as you use them. Candidates lose marks constantly by covering three of four points beautifully, and the loss is invisible to them because the writing felt complete.
Cover every point. A briefly covered point scores; an eloquently omitted one does not.
Register: the invisible mark
Register is how formal the language is, and it is assessed even when the mark scheme does not name it separately. A formal letter written in the language of a message to a friend fails at its purpose.
- Formal — no contractions, no slang, complete sentences, impersonal constructions. “I am writing to request” rather than “I’m asking for”.
- Informal — contractions acceptable, personal, warmer, still grammatical.
- Neutral — reports and articles. Factual, no emotional language.
Read the audience in the question. Writing to a headmaster, a council, a newspaper and a friend requires four different voices, and the marker is checking whether you can hear the difference.
Structure that works
- Opening — state the purpose immediately. “I am writing to draw attention to the condition of the school library.” No throat-clearing.
- Body — one point per paragraph, in a sensible order, each developed with a detail or example.
- Close — what you want to happen, and the correct closing convention for the format.
Short paragraphs with clear topic sentences read better and make it easier for a marker to find your content points. A wall of text hides them.
Where candidates actually lose marks
- Wrong format. Writing a letter when a report was asked for. Catastrophic and entirely avoidable.
- Missing content points. The most common loss on the paper.
- Wrong register. Informal language in a formal task.
- Missing conventions. No date, no subject line, no proper close.
- Ignoring the word limit. Substantially over or under both cost marks.
- No planning. Five minutes of planning is not lost writing time; it is what makes the writing usable.
Notice that only one of those six is about English ability. This paper rewards preparation over talent, which is why it is the most improvable paper on the syllabus.
How to practise
Reading model answers will not do it. Produce, then mark strictly.
- Take a past question and write the answer under time.
- Mark it against the marking scheme as if it were someone else’s — format conventions present? every content point covered? register consistent?
- Log what you lost. After ten attempts the list will be short and repetitive.
- Drill only that list.
Practise all the formats, not only the ones you like. The format that appears is not your choice. The English past papers supply the questions.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a directed writing answer be?
Within the stated word limit. Going substantially over or under both cost marks, and neither impresses.
Do I need both addresses on a formal letter?
Yes — conventions carry marks, and their absence is noticed immediately.
What if I do not know the topic?
The paper tests format and communication, not specialist knowledge. Use general reasoning and everyday examples.
Should I plan before writing?
Yes, five minutes. List the content points and the paragraph order. It is the single highest-return habit on this paper.
Does handwriting matter?
Legibility does. A marker cannot award a point they cannot read.
