📚 IB OCR English: Letter Writing – Key Exam Points | IB OCR 英语：书信写作 考点精讲
Letter writing is a core component of both IB English and OCR English examinations. Whether you are crafting a formal letter of complaint or an informal letter to a friend, examiners assess your ability to match tone, structure, and language to the given context. This guide breaks down the key assessment criteria and provides practical strategies to help you achieve top marks.
书信写作是 IB 英语和 OCR 英语考试中的核心部分。无论是撰写正式的投诉信还是给朋友的非正式信件，考官都会评估你根据给定语境调整语气、结构和语言的能力。本指南将详细解析关键的评分标准，并提供实用策略，帮助你在考试中获得高分。
1. Understanding the Exam Requirements | 理解考试要求
In both IB and OCR English exams, letter writing tasks come with detailed scenarios: a formal letter to a newspaper editor, an application letter, or an informal note to a cousin. You must show you can follow genre conventions precisely.
在 IB 和 OCR 英语考试中，书信写作题目会提供详细的情境：给报纸编辑的正式信函、申请信，或给表亲的非正式便条。你必须展示能够精准遵循体裁惯例。
Key assessment objectives include content relevance, accurate format, consistent register, and grammatical range. Simply having good ideas is not enough; they must be presented in the correct layout.
主要评分目标包括内容相关性、准确的格式、语域一致以及语法广度。仅仅有好的想法是不够的；它们必须以正确的格式呈现。
2. Distinguishing Formal and Informal Letters | 区分正式与非正式信件
The first decision you make will determine everything else. Formal letters serve professional contexts and require standard English; informal letters allow personal warmth and colloquialisms.
你做出的第一个决定将决定其他一切。正式信件服务于专业语境，要求使用标准英语；非正式信件允许呈现个人温情和口语化表达。
The table below highlights the core contrasts every candidate should master:
下表突出了每位考生都应掌握的核心对比：
| Feature | Formal Letter | Informal Letter |
| Greeting | Dear Mr Smith, / Dear Sir/Madam, | Dear Tom, / Hi Tom, |
| Vocabulary | Standard, precise; ‘commence’, ‘request’ | Everyday, phrasal verbs; ‘start’, ‘ask for’ |
| Contractions | Avoided (I am, do not) | Frequent (I’m, don’t) |
| Tone | Polite, detached, respectful | Warm, friendly, direct |
If you mix formal and informal elements within one letter, the examiner will see a failure of register control, which can severely limit your marks for style.
如果你在一封信中混合了正式与非正式的元素，考官会认为语域掌控失败，这会严重限制你在风格上的得分。
3. Analysing Audience and Purpose | 分析读者与写作目的
Before writing a single word, ask: ‘Who will read this, and what do I want them to do or feel?’ A letter to a headteacher demanding change must be respectful but persuasive; a letter to a friend sharing good news should radiate excitement.
在动笔之前，先问自己：“谁会读到这封信，我希望他们做什么或感受到什么？” 一封要求变革的给校长的信必须尊重而有说服力；一封与朋友分享好消息的信则应散发兴奋之情。
Misjudging the reader is one of the most common errors. Using slang with an unknown official or extremely formal language with a close friend will make your letter ring false.
误判读者是最常见的错误之一。对陌生的官员使用俚语，或对密友使用极其正式的语言，都会让你的信显得虚假。
Always tailor your vocabulary, sentence length, and choice of examples to match the relationship indicated in the prompt.
始终要调整你的词汇、句子长度和例证选择，以匹配题目中暗示的关系。
4. Mastering Letter Layouts | 掌握书信格式
Proper layout signals to the examiner that you know the conventions. In formal letters, the block format is commonly accepted: align everything to the left, leave a line between sections.
正确的格式向考官表明你了解惯例。在正式信件中，通常采用齐头式：所有内容左对齐，各部分之间空行。
A standard formal layout can look like this:
标准的正式格式如下：
| Your Address (right or left justified) |
| Date (below your address) |
| Recipient’s Name and Address (left) |
| Salutation: Dear Ms Green, |
| Body paragraphs (each separated by a line) |
| Closing: Yours sincerely, |
| Your Signature and Printed Name |
For informal letters, you may drop the recipient’s address and write just your address and the date, though many exams accept a simple date at the top right. The block or indented format can both be used, but consistency is key.
对于非正式信件，你可以省略收件人地址，只写自己的地址和日期，尽管许多考试接受仅在右上角写日期。齐头式或缩进式都可以使用，但一致性是关键。
5. Salutations and Closings Done Right | 称呼与结束语要恰当
The pairings of greeting and closing are non-negotiable in formal letters. If you start with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, you must end with ‘Yours faithfully’. If you use a title and surname (‘Dear Dr Patel’), close with ‘Yours sincerely’.
在正式信件中，称呼与结束语的搭配是无商量余地的。如果你以 ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ 开头，必须以 ‘Yours faithfully’ 结尾。如果使用头衔加姓氏（’Dear Dr Patel’），则以 ‘Yours sincerely’ 结尾。
In informal letters, salutations can be ‘Dear Uncle John’ or ‘Hey Maria’, and closings range from ‘Lots of love’ to ‘Cheers’ or simply ‘Yours’. The capitalisation of the closing phrase also matters: only the first word is capitalised (‘Yours sincerely’).
在非正式信件中，称呼可以是 ‘Dear Uncle John’ 或 ‘Hey Maria’，结束语从 ‘Lots of love’ 到 ‘Cheers’ 或简单的 ‘Yours’ 不等。结束语的大写规则同样重要：仅首字母大写（’Yours sincerely’）。
A small mistake here, such as writing ‘yours faithfully’ with lower case ‘y’ or using a comma inconsistently, suggests carelessness.
此处的一个小错误，例如将 ‘yours faithfully’ 的 ‘y’ 小写，或不统一地使用逗号，都会暗示粗心大意。
6. Controlling Tone and Register | 控制语气与语域
The register should be uniform from the first word to the last. In a formal letter of complaint, use ‘I am writing to express my dissatisfaction’ rather than ‘I’m really fed up’. Choose single-word verbs over phrasal verbs: ‘postpone’ instead of ‘put off’, ‘investigate’ rather than ‘look into’.
语域应从头到尾统一。在正式投诉信中，使用 ‘I am writing to express my dissatisfaction’ 而不是 ‘I’m really fed up’。优先选择单词动词而非短语动词：用 ‘postpone’ 而非 ‘put off’，用 ‘investigate’ 而非 ‘look into’。
For informal letters, let your natural voice shine. Use contractions freely and add expressions like ‘I couldn’t believe it’ or ‘You’ll never guess what happened’. The test is to read the letter aloud: does it sound like something a real person would say to that recipient?
对于非正式信件，让你自然的声音显现。自由使用缩写，并添加诸如 ‘I couldn’t believe it’ 或 ‘You’ll never guess what happened’ 的表达。检验方法是大声朗读这封信：它听起来像一个真实的人会对那位收信人说的话吗？
Avoid sudden shifts between formal and casual, which can confuse the reader and break the flow, leading to a lower mark for tone.
避免在正式与随意之间突然切换，这会迷惑读者并破坏语流，导致在语气方面获得低分。
7. Developing Content with Clarity | 清晰展开内容
A letter is not a list; it needs a logical flow. Start with a clear statement of purpose: ‘I am writing with regard to…’, then develop two or three well-supported points in separate paragraphs.
一封信不是一份清单；它需要逻辑流程。以清晰的目的陈述开头：’I am writing with regard to…’，然后在不同的段落中展开两到三个论据充分的观点。
For instance, a letter of application should introduce yourself, explain why you are suitable, and conclude politely indicating your hope for a response. Each paragraph should cover one main idea and include a concrete detail or example.
例如，求职信应介绍自己，解释为什么你适合，并礼貌地收尾，表明你希望得到回复。每个段落应涵盖一个主要想法，并包含具体的细节或例子。
In informal letters, use the same principle but with a conversational flow: tell your news, share your feelings, ask questions, and wrap up warmly.
在非正式信件中，使用相同的原则但以对话般的语流展开：讲述你的消息，分享你的感受，提问，并温暖地结束。
8. Using Cohesive Devices Effectively | 有效使用衔接手段
Linking words guide the reader through your letter. In formal writing, choose cohesive devices like ‘Furthermore’, ‘Consequently’, ‘In contrast’, and ‘Nevertheless’ to signal logic.
连接词引导读者通读你的信件。在正式写作中，选择如 ‘Furthermore’, ‘Consequently’, ‘In contrast’, ‘Nevertheless’ 等衔接手段来标示逻辑。
Too many linking words can make your letter sound mechanical. Aim for variety: sometimes use a temporal link like ‘After this experience, I realised…’ or a comparative link such as ‘Unlike my previous attempt, this approach worked.’
过多的连接词会让你的信听起来机械。力求多样化：有时使用时间连接词如 ‘After this experience, I realised…’，或比较连接词如 ‘Unlike my previous attempt, this approach worked.’
Informal letters can use looser connectors: ‘Anyway’, ‘By the way’, ‘Speaking of which’. These maintain a light, chatty tone that feels authentic.
非正式信件可以使用更随意的连接语：’Anyway’, ‘By the way’, ‘Speaking of which’。这些保持了一种轻松、交谈式的语气，感觉真实。
9. Honing Grammar and Vocabulary | 磨炼语法与词汇
Examiners reward a range of sentence structures. Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences. Use conditionals (‘If I were given the opportunity…’), passive voice where appropriate (‘The error was caused by…’), and relative clauses to add detail.
考官奖励多样的句子结构。混用简单句、并列句和复杂句。使用条件句（’If I were given the opportunity…’），在适当之处使用被动语态（’The error was caused by…’），以及关系从句增添细节。
Vocabulary choice can elevate a letter. Instead of ‘get’, use ‘obtain’, ‘receive’, or ‘acquire’; instead of ‘say’, consider ‘state’, ‘remark’, ‘assert’ in formal contexts. However, never force a word you don’t fully understand.
词汇选择可以提升信件质量。在正式语境中，用 ‘obtain’, ‘receive’, ‘acquire’ 替代 ‘get’；用 ‘state’, ‘remark’, ‘assert’ 替代 ‘say’。但绝不要强用你不完全理解的词。
Pay close attention to punctuation: correctly use commas after introductory phrases, colons before lists, and apostrophes. A letter littered with punctuation errors will struggle to climb beyond average bands.
仔细注意标点：在引导短语后正确使用逗号，在列表前使用冒号，正确使用撇号。一封满是标点错误的信将难以超越中等分数段。
10. Common Pitfalls and Exam-Day Tips | 常见误区与应试贴士
Many students dive straight into writing and lose focus. Invest five minutes in planning: brainstorm key points, decide the order, and note useful phrases. This prevents rambling.
许多学生一头扎进写作中而失去焦点。花五分钟做计划：头脑风暴关键点，决定顺序，并记下有用的短语。这能防止漫无边际。
Common mistakes include forgetting the date, mismatching salutation and closing, using an overly aggressive tone in complaints, and writing far too few words. Always check the word count requirement.
常见错误包括忘记写日期、称呼与结束语不匹配、在投诉中使用过于咄咄逼人的语气，以及字数严重不足。务必检查字数要求。
Reserve five minutes at the end for proofreading. Read your letter backwards to spot spelling errors, then forwards to check fluency. Fix any unclear sentences and ensure the purpose is unmistakable.
预留最后五分钟用于校阅。倒着读你的信以发现拼写错误，然后正着读以检查流畅度。修改任何不清楚的句子，并确保写作目的明确无误。
Finally, keep the prompt in mind. If asked to write a letter to a local councillor about a park, don’t spend the whole letter discussing a school event. Relevance is fundamental to high marks.
最后，时刻牢记题目要求。如果要求写信给地方议员谈论公园事宜，不要整封信都在讨论学校活动。相关性是高分的根本。
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