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Progression P6 — IGCSE Bridge

P6-L04

Paper 4 Q1 — Directed Writing: Mastering Form and Registerالوَرَقَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ السُّؤَالُ الأَوَّلُ — الكِتَابَةُ المُوَجَّهَةُ: إِتْقَانُ الشَّكْلِ

Practise Paper 4 Q1 directed writing across three text types — a formal letter, an article and an email — matching register to text type and applying the Q1 mark scheme (TC 7 + Range 4 + Accuracy 4 = 15).

ListeningReadingSpeakingWriting
01

Orient · target · prepare

Objectives and exam focus

In this lesson you will

  • Write Paper 4 Q1 (130–140 words) in three different text types.
  • Match register — formal, semi-formal, friendly — to each text type.
  • Cover every required content point for Task Completion.
  • Apply the Q1 mark scheme to self-assess each response.

You are exam-ready when…

Tick each as you secure it.

02

Recognise · match

Text types and register

Text types8 terms
الكِتَابَةُ المُوَجَّهَةُdirected writing
خِطَابٌ رَسْمِيٌّa formal letter
بَرِيدٌ إِلِكْتْرُونِيٌّan email
مَقَالَةٌan article
تَقْرِيرٌa report
يَوْمِيَّاتٌa diary entry
صِيغَةٌ رَسْمِيَّةٌformal register
صِيغَةٌ غَيْرُ رَسْمِيَّةٍinformal register
Register signals8 terms
مُقَدِّمَةٌ مُنَاسِبَةٌan appropriate opening
خَاتِمَةٌ مُنَاسِبَةٌan appropriate closing
اللُّغَةُ الإِقْنَاعِيَّةُpersuasive language
المَعْلُومَاتُ المَطْلُوبَةُthe required information
أَتَشَرَّفُ بِمُخَاطَبَتِكُمْI have the honour of writing to youFormal opener.
حَيَّاكَ اللَّهُwelcome / helloInformal opener.
وَتَفَضَّلُوا بِقَبُولِ الاِحْتِرَامِyours faithfullyFormal closer.
إِلَى اللِّقَاءِsee you soonInformal closer.
03

Match the signal to the type

Register signals by text type

Text typeOpening signalRegister
Formal letterأَتَشَرَّفُ بِمُخَاطَبَتِكُمْFormal: third person, passive, formal connectors
Email (friend)حَيَّاكَ اللَّهُ / عَزِيزِيFriendly: first/second person, conversational
Article(a hook, no address)Semi-formal, engaging, first person
Reportعُنْوَانٌ + أَقْسَامٌ مُرَقَّمَةٌFormal, impersonal, structured
04

Know how you are marked

The Paper 4 Q1 mark scheme

Task Completion (TC) — 7 marks

  • Every required content point is present.
  • The text type and register are correct from the opening.
  • An appropriate opening and closing for the text type.

Range — 4 marks

  • A variety of vocabulary suited to the register.
  • Several different grammar structures (tenses, connectors).

Accuracy — 4 marks

  • Correct tense, agreement and subjunctive forms.
  • Errors do not obscure the meaning.
Examiner note

In Q1, Task Completion carries the most weight: wrong register or a missing content point costs marks even when the Arabic is accurate. Get the register right from the opening sentence.

05

Task 1 — Formal letter (15 marks)

Task

Write a formal letter (130–140 words) to the Arab League Environment Committee recommending a specific environmental measure. Include: the problem, your proposed solution, the expected benefit, and a request for action. Keep the register رَسْمِيًّا throughout.

  • Formal opening (أَتَشَرَّفُ بِمُخَاطَبَتِكُمْ …).
  • The problem, the solution, the benefit and a request for action.
  • Formal connectors and impersonal/passive structures.
  • A formal closing (وَتَفَضَّلُوا بِقَبُولِ الاِحْتِرَامِ).
Reveal a model answer

حَضَرَاتِ أَعْضَاءِ لَجْنَةِ البِيئَةِ المُحْتَرَمِينَ، أَتَشَرَّفُ بِمُخَاطَبَتِكُمْ بِشَأْنِ نُدْرَةِ المِيَاهِ فِي مِنْطَقَتِنَا. صَحِيحٌ أَنَّ المَوَارِدَ مَحْدُودَةٌ، غَيْرَ أَنَّ سُوءَ الإِدَارَةِ يُفَاقِمُ الأَزْمَةَ. وَأَقْتَرِحُ أَنْ تُطْلَقَ حَمْلَةٌ لِتَرْشِيدِ الاِسْتِهْلَاكِ، وَأَنْ تُسْتَثْمَرَ الطَّاقَةُ الشَّمْسِيَّةُ فِي تَحْلِيَةِ المِيَاهِ. وَلَوْ طُبِّقَتْ هٰذِهِ الإِجْرَاءَاتُ، لَتَحَسَّنَ الوَضْعُ كَثِيرًا. وَبِنَاءً عَلَى مَا سَبَقَ، أَرْجُو أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا القَرَارَ المُنَاسِبَ عَاجِلًا. وَتَفَضَّلُوا بِقَبُولِ فَائِقِ الاِحْتِرَامِ.

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06

Task 2 — Article (15 marks)

Task

Write an article (130–140 words) for an Arabic youth magazine on: “How I manage stress and maintain my wellbeing.” Register: engaging, semi-formal, first person.

  • An engaging hook (no formal address).
  • First-person, semi-formal register.
  • At least one conditional and one subjunctive trigger.
  • A clear closing thought for the reader.
Reveal a model answer

كَيْفَ أُحَافِظُ عَلَى تَوَازُنِي النَّفْسِيِّ؟ سُؤَالٌ يَشْغَلُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الشَّبَابِ. أُشِيرُ أَوَّلًا إِلَى أَنَّ النَّوْمَ الجَيِّدَ وَالرِّيَاضَةَ أَسَاسٌ لَا غِنَى عَنْهُ. صَحِيحٌ أَنَّ الدِّرَاسَةَ تُسَبِّبُ ضَغْطًا، غَيْرَ أَنَّ تَنْظِيمَ الوَقْتِ يُخَفِّفُهُ. وَإِذَا خَصَّصْتُ سَاعَةً لِلرَّاحَةِ يَوْمِيًّا، شَعَرْتُ بِتَحَسُّنٍ وَاضِحٍ. وَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ نَحْرِصَ عَلَى الحَدِيثِ مَعَ مَنْ نَثِقُ بِهِمْ. وَخِتَامًا، أَدْعُو كُلَّ قَارِئٍ إِلَى أَنْ يَعْتَنِيَ بِصِحَّتِهِ النَّفْسِيَّةِ كَمَا يَعْتَنِي بِجَسَدِهِ.

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07

Task 3 — Email (15 marks)

Task

Write a friendly email (130–140 words) to an Arabic exchange student coming to your school for a month. Describe: your school, the local area, one cultural custom to be aware of, and a suggested activity. Register: friendly, semi-formal.

  • A warm opening (حَيَّاكَ اللَّهُ / عَزِيزِي …).
  • The school, the area, a custom and a suggested activity.
  • Friendly, first/second-person register.
  • A warm closing (إِلَى اللِّقَاءِ).
Reveal a model answer

عَزِيزِي أَحْمَدُ، حَيَّاكَ اللَّهُ! يَسْعُدُنِي أَنَّكَ سَتَزُورُ مَدْرَسَتَنَا الشَّهْرَ القَادِمَ. مَدْرَسَتُنَا كَبِيرَةٌ وَفِيهَا مُخْتَبَرَاتٌ حَدِيثَةٌ، وَتَقَعُ قُرْبَ حَدِيقَةٍ جَمِيلَةٍ. صَحِيحٌ أَنَّ الطَّقْسَ بَارِدٌ أَحْيَانًا، غَيْرَ أَنَّ النَّاسَ وَدُودُونَ. وَأَنْصَحُكَ بِأَنْ تُحْضِرَ مِعْطَفًا. وَمِنَ العَادَاتِ المُهِمَّةِ أَنْ نَخْلَعَ الحِذَاءَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِ البُيُوتِ. وَإِذَا تَوَفَّرَ الوَقْتُ، سَنَزُورُ المَتْحَفَ المَحَلِّيَّ مَعًا. أَتَطَلَّعُ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ. إِلَى اللِّقَاءِ، صَدِيقُكَ سَامِي.

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08

Diagnose · choose

Text type difficulty profile

In the real exam you cannot always choose the text type, so know your strengths and weaknesses.

09

Directed writing reflection

Register — the TC multiplier

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