Best Strategies For Writing a Note for the ISLPR Writing Test

A Note is an informal piece of writing that is similar to a letter but has fewer formatting requirements.

In the ISLPR context, a note can begin directly with the recipient’s name and end with the writer’s name. It does not normally require a title, addresses, or formal letter endings such as Yours sincerely.

A good note should be:

• clear;
• direct;
• appropriately informal;
• organised logically;
• suitable for the person receiving it; and
• focused on the purpose of the task.

When writing a note, you should focus on the purpose of your message, the key details the reader needs, and any action you want them to take.

The Length of a Note

In this task, the shorter writing response requires approximately 150 words, so you should develop your ideas enough to reach this length without adding unnecessary information. Instead, develop the important parts of the note:

Recipient → Purpose → Details → Action → Closing → Writer

A useful guide is:

The exact number of words in each part can change according to the task.

Our Example Situation

You are supposed to attend a staff meeting tomorrow afternoon, but you have a medical appointment. Write a note to your colleague, Maria. Explain why you cannot attend, mention what information you are particularly interested in, and ask Maria to tell you what happens at the meeting.

We will build the note one part at a time.

Part 1: Recipient’s Name

What should you write?

Begin with the name of the person receiving the note.

You do not need a title or full letter heading.

Our example

Maria,

This answers:

Who am I writing to?

Part 2: Purpose of the Note

What should you write?

Tell the reader immediately why you are writing.

Because the complete note needs to be approximately 150 words, the purpose can be developed over one or two sentences. However, it should still be direct.

Building our example

Maria,

I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to attend our staff meeting tomorrow afternoon. I had planned to be there, but I have a medical appointment that I cannot reschedule.

The writer has now:

• stated the main purpose;
• explained that they cannot attend the meeting; and
• briefly introduced the reason.

This part is about 35 words.

Ask yourself:

Why am I writing?

Part 3: Important Details or Explanation

What should you write?

This is usually one of the largest parts of the note.

Give the reader enough information to understand:

• what is happening;
• why it is happening;
• when it is happening; and
• which details are particularly important.

Do not include information that has nothing to do with the purpose.

Building our example

Maria,

I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to attend our staff meeting tomorrow afternoon. I had planned to be there, but I have a medical appointment that I cannot reschedule.

My appointment is at 3.00 pm, so I will need to leave school shortly after lunch. Unfortunately, this means I will miss the discussion about next term’s classroom activities and the new student support arrangements. I am particularly interested in any decisions about changes to playground supervision because they may affect my class.

Notice how the note is becoming longer because useful information is being added, not because the writer is repeating the same idea.

This section contributes approximately 50 words.

Ask yourself:

What does the reader need to know?

Part 4: Action, Request or Next Step

What should you write?

Tell the reader clearly what you would like them to do.

In a 150-word note, this can usually be developed into two sentences:

1. the main request; and
2. what you would like the reader to do afterwards.

Building our example

Maria,

I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to attend our staff meeting tomorrow afternoon. I had planned to be there, but I have a medical appointment that I cannot reschedule.

My appointment is at 3.00 pm, so I will need to leave school shortly after lunch. Unfortunately, this means I will miss the discussion about next term’s classroom activities and the new student support arrangements. I am particularly interested in any decisions about changes to playground supervision because they may affect my class.

Could you please take a few notes during the meeting and send me the main points afterwards? If any tasks are allocated to me, please let me know so I can follow them up the next morning.

The request is specific.

Maria knows:

• what she needs to do;
• what information Ronald wants; and
• what Ronald will do after receiving the information.

This part contributes approximately 35–40 words.

Ask yourself:

What do I want the reader to do?

Part 5: Natural Closing

What should you write?

Finish the note naturally.

Do not suddenly end immediately after your request. A short closing helps make the note sound polite and complete.

Building our example

Thanks very much for your help. I really appreciate it, and I hope the meeting goes well and there are no problems.

The closing is friendly and appropriate for a colleague.

Ask yourself:

How can I finish naturally and appropriately?

Part 6: Writer’s Name

Finally, write your name.

Ronald

You do not normally need:

Yours faithfully,

or:

Yours sincerely,

because these are traditional letter closings rather than necessary features of an informal note.

Complete 150-Word Model Note

Maria,

I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to attend our staff meeting tomorrow afternoon. I had planned to be there, but I have a medical appointment that I cannot reschedule.

My appointment is at 3.00 pm, so I will need to leave school shortly after lunch. Unfortunately, this means I will miss the discussion about next term’s classroom activities and the new student support arrangements. I am particularly interested in any decisions about changes to playground supervision because they may affect my class.

Could you please take a few notes during the meeting and send me the main points afterwards? If any tasks are allocated to me, please let me know so I can follow them up the next morning.

Thanks very much for your help. I really appreciate it, and I hope the meeting goes well and there are no problems.

Ronald

Approximate word count: 150 words

How the 150 Words Are Distributed

The important lesson is that the words are not divided equally among the six parts.

Very short parts

Recipient

Maria,

Writer

Ronald

These parts require only a name.

Moderately developed part

Purpose

I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to attend our staff meeting tomorrow afternoon. I had planned to be there, but I have a medical appointment that I cannot reschedule.

Most developed part

Details

My appointment is at 3.00 pm, so I will need to leave school shortly after lunch. Unfortunately, this means I will miss the discussion about next term’s classroom activities and the new student support arrangements. I am particularly interested in any decisions about changes to playground supervision because they may affect my class.

Clearly developed request

Action

Could you please take a few notes during the meeting and send me the main points afterwards? If any tasks are allocated to me, please let me know so I can follow them up the next morning.

Short natural ending

Closing

Thanks very much for your help. I really appreciate it, and I hope the meeting goes well and there are no problems.

The Key Principle

To reach approximately 150 words, do not make the greeting or closing unnecessarily long.

Develop the middle of the note.

Think:

PURPOSE + DETAILS + ACTION = MOST OF MY WORDS

A strong note should answer these six questions:

1. Who? — Who am I writing to?
2. Why? — Why am I writing?
3. What? — What does the reader need to know?
4. Action? — What do I want the reader to do?
5. Finish? — How can I end naturally?
6. Writer? — Who wrote the note?

Easy Formula

NAME → PURPOSE → DETAILS → ACTION → CLOSING → NAME

For a 150-word ISLPR note, remember:

Keep the names short. Develop the message.