Making your email better · Améliorer votre e-mail
A detail gives a friend something to picture
- Draft: “The trip was good.” Revision: “I enjoyed the castle visit because we climbed the tower and saw the river.”
- The reason and detail develop the idea. Add details that fit the task and your intended account, rather than adding words only to reach a count.
Flat or developed? · Plate ou développée ?
A developed line carries a detail, a reason or a feeling — a flat line just names the idea. · Une ligne développée porte un détail, une raison ou un sentiment — une ligne plate se contente de nommer l'idée.
Just listing ideas without reasons is enough for top marks. · Se contenter de lister des idées sans raisons suffit pour avoir la note maximale.
No — develop each idea with a reason or example. · Non — développe chaque idée avec une raison ou un exemple.
Write one sentence, then add a reason using 'because'. · Écris une phrase, puis ajoute une raison avec 'because'.
Example: 'I enjoyed the camp because I made new friends.' · Exemple : 'J'ai aimé le camp parce que j'ai fait de nouveaux amis.'
Cover the actual prompts
- Read the audience, purpose and required points. Plan a short response to each point before developing examples.
- A friendly email needs a suitable greeting and tone. Follow the actual brief; a checklist helps you notice omissions.
The email brief asks about the trip and a future plan. Your draft describes only the trip. What is missing?
The future plan is a separate required point. More description of the trip does not cover it.
Build a connected sentence
- “I went to the beach with my cousins, and we swam before sunset” connects an activity and detail. A later sentence can explain your feeling.
- Use a question when it suits the email: “Have you visited that beach?” A question is useful sometimes, not compulsory in every paragraph.
The Cambridge 0510/0511 writing tasks in the 2024–2026 syllabus use about 120 to ___ words.
160 is the upper end of that syllabus guidance. Follow the actual task; a word count alone does not establish quality.
Edit for the reader
- Check prompt coverage, clear relationships, tense and spelling. Read a sentence aloud to notice missing words or unclear references.
- Cambridge 0510/0511 writing tasks in the 2024–2026 syllabus use 120–160 words; follow your actual task and course. A word count alone does not establish quality.
Order a practical sequence for developing and checking a short email.
The sequence checks the task and meaning before final language editing. A question is optional when it fits the audience and purpose.
The prompt asks why you enjoyed the visit. Which revision develops that point?
The revision supplies a relevant reason and specific detail.
Make a final decision
- If the brief asks why you enjoyed the activity, “it was good” needs development. Add a relevant reason instead of another unrelated activity.
- Keep tone suitable and claims consistent. Edit after checking content so a polished sentence does not hide a missing prompt.
Keep tone suitable and claims consistent. Edit after checking content so a polished sentence does not hide a missing prompt.