This single resource brings together examiner guidance, levelled writing examples, improvement activities, and a practical preparation checklist for the ISLPR writing test.
Designed as a ready to use ISLPR writing guide for teachers and candidates in Australia, it includes ISLPR writing test tips, model responses, and ISLPR writing sample answers.
Below you’ll find model responses for the same task, an email to a friend explaining why you cannot attend a birthday party, detailed improvement steps for each level with concrete examples, and clear marking and feedback procedures aligned to an ISLPR marking rubric for teachers.
This ISLPR writing guide also supports consistent ISLPR writing practice Australia routines for the ISLPR writing test.
At a Glance Comparison
| Level | Key features | Typical errors | Improvement focus | Quick practice |
| 1+ | Short simple sentences; basic message | Missing detail; limited linking | Build sentence frames; expand reasons | Write five 3 sentence emails adding one reason |
| 2 | Clear meaning; some organisation | Repetition; limited vocabulary | Add specific detail; vary connectors | Rewrite email adding two specific details |
| 3 | Coherent polite organised | Occasional grammar slips; word choice | Increase sentence variety; refine register | Convert email into paragraph with a subordinate clause |
| 4 | Nuanced tone; sophisticated cohesion | Rare slips; subtle register choices | Precision in phrasing; stylistic polish | Edit for tone and replace five common words with precise alternatives |
Level 1+ Basic Competence
At Level 1+, a candidate can produce very basic written communication for familiar, everyday purposes. Meaning is usually understandable when the message is short and predictable, but the writing relies on simple sentence patterns, limited linking, and a small vocabulary.
Detail is minimal, and the reader may need to infer parts of the message. This level snapshot is useful in an ISLPR writing guide because it shows a common starting point for the ISLPR writing test.
Example:
Hi Maria,
I am sorry I cannot come to your party. I am busy. I have work on Saturday. I hope you have fun. I will see you another day.
At this level, the writing tends to use short, simple sentences and limited vocabulary. The message is understandable, but it often lacks detail and clear connections between ideas. To improve, candidates can add simple linking words to connect ideas, for example changing “I am busy. I have work on Saturday” to “I am busy because I have work on Saturday.”
They can also expand single sentences into a three-part structure, statement, reason, and closing, such as turning “I cannot come” into “I cannot come because I have to work; I’m sorry to miss it; I hope you have a great time.”
A useful timed micro drill is to write five short emails of three sentences each and deliberately add one reason and one polite closing, which fits well into ISLPR writing practice Australia preparation for the ISLPR writing test. A sample result could be, “Hi Maria, I’m sorry I can’t come because I’m scheduled to work. I’m disappointed to miss it. Let’s catch up next week.”
Level 2 Functional Competence
At Level 2, a candidate can write in a functional way for common social and workplace situations. The purpose is clear, and ideas are organised enough for the reader to follow. However, language is still relatively simple, vocabulary range is limited, and cohesion is basic.
The writing may sound repetitive, and complex ideas are avoided or expressed in a straightforward way. This stage is often where structured ISLPR writing practice Australia begins to make a visible difference in the ISLPR writing test, especially when guided by an ISLPR writing guide.
Example:
Hi Maria,
I am really sorry I cannot come to your birthday party this Saturday. I have to work all day because another staff member is sick. I wanted to be there, but it is not possible. I hope you have a great time, and we can meet for coffee next week.
At this level, meaning is clear and there is some detail and explanation, with simple organisation. To improve, candidates can add concrete details such as time, person, or place to make reasons convincing, which is a key habit for ISLPR writing practice Australia.
For instance, “I have to work all day” can become “I have to work from 8am to 6pm because my colleague Sarah is unwell.” Candidates can also use a small set of connectors and paraphrase to avoid repetition, such as “I wanted to be there; however, it is not possible.”
Another strong practice drill is to take a functional email and add two specific details and a polite follow up, for example, “I have to work from 8am to 6pm because my colleague Sarah is unwell. I’m sorry to miss the cake cutting; can we meet for coffee on Tuesday at 3pm?”
This kind of targeted editing reflects what many candidates need for the ISLPR writing test, and it fits neatly into an ISLPR writing guide routine.
Level 3 Effective Independent Competence
At Level 3, a candidate can write independently and effectively for a range of everyday and workplace purposes. The message is coherent, appropriately polite, and well organised. The writer can explain reasons clearly, use a wider range of vocabulary, and link ideas with more control.
There may still be occasional grammar or word choice slips, but they do not usually interfere with meaning. This is a typical step up that many candidates aim for through regular ISLPR writing practice Australia before the ISLPR writing test.
Example:
Hi Maria,
Thank you so much for inviting me to your birthday party. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend because my manager has scheduled an urgent shift for me this Saturday due to staff shortages. I’m disappointed to miss it, but I hope your celebration goes wonderfully. Let’s plan a dinner next week so I can celebrate with you properly.
At this level, the writing is clear, coherent, polite, and organised, with an appropriate tone and register. To improve further, candidates can combine short sentences into complex structures using subordinate clauses and linking adverbs, such as changing “I won’t be able to attend. My manager scheduled an urgent shift” to “I won’t be able to attend because my manager has scheduled an urgent shift, which I must cover due to staff shortages.”
Targeted accuracy drills are also useful for tense and article use, for example correcting “I’m disappointed to miss it, but I hope your celebration goes wonderful” to “I’m disappointed to miss it, but I hope your celebration goes wonderfully.” Peer review can support register control, such as adjusting “Hey Maria” to “Hi Maria” for a slightly more polite tone in a semi formal context.
A sentence variety drill can also help, where a paragraph is rewritten to include one subordinate clause and one linking adverb, for example, “Although I was looking forward to it, I must work; nevertheless, I’d love to celebrate next week.”
These improvements are practical to rehearse in ISLPR writing practice Australia, and they tend to strengthen performance in the ISLPR writing test, especially when tracked through an ISLPR writing guide.
Level 4 Advanced Competence
At Level 4, a candidate can write with a high level of control that is suitable for professional contexts, including roles where clear, accurate, and appropriately toned writing is expected. The writing is cohesive and well developed, with nuanced vocabulary choices, strong sentence control, and a consistent register.
Errors are rare and typically minor, and the writing reads as confidently natural in an Australian professional setting, which aligns closely with goals such as how to get level 4 ISLPR writing.
Many candidates use an ISLPR writing guide to polish these final details for the ISLPR writing test, supported by deliberate ISLPR writing practice Australia routines.
Example:
Dear Maria,
Thank you for inviting me to your birthday celebration. I had been looking forward to joining you, but I regret to say that I will be unable to attend. Due to an unexpected staffing issue, I have been assigned to cover a critical shift on Saturday. I’m genuinely disappointed, as I value the opportunity to celebrate with you. Please accept my sincere apologies. I hope the event is memorable and joyful, and I would love to take you out for a celebratory dinner next week.
At this level, writing shows native like cohesion and tone, a well-developed explanation, and sophisticated phrasing and structure. To refine further, candidates can improve word choice and precision by replacing general words with specific alternatives, such as expanding “I’m genuinely disappointed” into “I’m genuinely disappointed, as I had been looking forward to celebrating with you.”
They can also practise concision and tone editing, reducing word count while keeping nuance, for example changing “I would love to take you out for a celebratory dinner next week” to “I’d love to take you to dinner next week.” Imitation drills help develop professional empathy and formality, where a candidate studies a model letter and rewrites a paragraph imitating phrasing such as “Please accept my sincere apologies.”
A stylistic polish exercise can also build range by replacing common words with more precise alternatives, such as changing “good” to “memorable,” “thing” to “celebration,” and “help” to “assist.”
These are the kinds of finishing steps that often matter in the ISLPR writing test, and they can be built into weekly ISLPR writing practice Australia plans using an ISLPR writing guide.
Preparation Checklist
There is a few things that candidates should know about the ISLPR writing test:
- Before the test, candidates should understand common ISLPR task types such as letters, emails, reports, and short essays, and they should practise shifting tone between formal and informal contexts.
- They should write on everyday, workplace, and academic topics to build flexibility and expand vocabulary for common real-life scenarios such as complaints and workplace issues.
- They should also practise producing around 400 words in 60 minutes using timed ISLPR writing level examples to track progress, because timing is central to the ISLPR writing test.
- If candidates use practice packs or an ISLPR practice tests download, they should treat them as training tools and rewrite tasks multiple ways, formal, neutral, and friendly, which strengthens ISLPR writing practice and supports the routines in an ISLPR writing guide.
- During the test, candidates should read the prompt carefully to identify purpose, audience, and format, then plan briefly by noting main ideas and structure.
- They should write clearly and logically and avoid overly long or confusing sentences, using cohesive devices such as however, therefore, and for example to link ideas.
- They should choose vocabulary appropriate to the topic and setting and maintain the required register whether formal or informal.
- They should reserve 2 to 4 minutes to check grammar, spelling, and clarity, which is a habit best rehearsed during ISLPR writing practice Australia before the ISLPR writing test.
- Skills to refine include grammar accuracy, especially tenses, articles, and sentence structure, along with paragraphing and logical flow.
- Candidates should also build vocabulary range and precision and strengthen their ability to adapt tone and style to audience and purpose.
- Real life communication skills matter because they make writing purposeful and actionable, and this emphasis sits at the centre of an ISLPR writing guide for the ISLPR writing test.
Conclusion
Small, deliberate changes in detail, organisation, tone, and vocabulary move writing from functional to convincingly effective. Use the concrete examples and drills above to practise deliberately by adding one detail, varying one connector, combining two sentences, or editing one paragraph for concision.
Over time those small edits become habits that lift writing from one level to the next, especially when you practise consistently with ISLPR writing practice Australia routines, check your work against levelled criteria from an ISLPR writing guide, and apply those habits under timed conditions like the ISLPR writing test.
