ISE Guidance with Writing Genres - Essays, Letters and Emails

Sep 15, 2026

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Guidance for writing responses in specified genres for ISE Reading & Writing exam tasks. The document outlines which text types appear at each level, then provides genre-focused requirements for essays, letters, and emails, including target reader, organisation, and language register. For essays it covers descriptive, discursive, and argumentative structures, paragraphing, linking devices, and expected balancing of viewpoints. For letters and emails it specifies openings/closings and formal, informal, and neutral register choices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Writing genres at ISE levels

Essays

Letters

Emails

Writing genres — what to consider when writing in a specific genre Summary of genres at each level In tasks 3 and 4 of the Reading & Writing exam, candidates need to write a response to a prompt. The prompt will specify what genre (text type), is expected for the response. The table below shows the genres that are tested at each level. ISE Foundation ISE I ISE II ISE III | 􀂝 Descriptive essay
􀂝 Article (magazine or online)
􀂝 Informal or neutral email or letter
􀂝 Review | 􀂝 Descriptive essay
􀂝 Discursive essay
􀂝 Article (magazine or online)
􀂝 Informal email or letter
􀂝 Formal email or letter
􀂝 Review | 􀂝 Descriptive essay
􀂝 Discursive essay
􀂝 Argumentative essay
􀂝 Article (magazine or online)
􀂝 Informal email or letter
􀂝 Formal email or letter
􀂝 Review
􀂝 Report | 􀂝 Descriptive essay
􀂝 Discursive essay
􀂝 Argumentative essay
􀂝 Article (magazine or online)
􀂝 Informal email or letter
􀂝 Formal email or letter
􀂝 Review
􀂝 Report | | --- | --- | --- | --- | Essays The target reader for an essay is usually a teacher or tutor. A good essay requires clear paragraphing and should use linking devices (eg but, however, in spite of, nevertheless). The type of language used depends on the purpose and context. Essays are usually either neutral or formal in register. | Genre | Target reader | Organisation/format | Type of language | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Descriptive essay | A teacher or tutor | Essays should have a title. Ideas should be arranged in a logical manner. | Candidate should use a wide range of descriptive language. There should be a good use of adjectives and adverbs that make the description interesting to read. | | Discursive essay | A teacher or tutor | Essays should include a title, introduction, body and conclusion. Equal attention should be given to positive and negative points. The essay should be clearly organised into paragraphs.
Essays must include a conclusion in which the candidate expresses his or her own views on the topic. | Candidate should use language of justification and agreeing and disagreeing. | | Argument essay | A teacher or tutor | Again essays should include a title, introduction, body and conclusion. Ideas and supporting arguments should be clearly organised into paragraphs. | Candidate should use language of justification and agreeing and disagreeing. | Note: Essays at ISE Foundation are more likely to be descriptive essays and examiners would not expect the same level of development of ideas or use of discourse markers compared to higher levels. 1 Letters The target reader for a letter can vary greatly but will always be specified in the question (eg a friend, an organisation, a newspaper). A good letter should have an appropriate opening and closing phrase and clear paragraphing. The first paragraph should outline the purpose for writing. The register and tone depends entirely on target reader and context. | Genre | Target reader | Organisation/format | Type of language | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Formal letter | The reader is likely to be either someone in a higher position of authority to the writer or someone who the writer does not know. | The following opening and closing format should be used:
Dear Mr Brown/Mrs Smith/Ms Carter (when name is known),
Yours sincerely, or,
Dear Sir/Madam (when name is not known),
Yours faithfully,
In a formal letter a final sentence such as: I look forward to hearing from you. is often used to conclude the letter. | Formal register is used. This includes using appropriate grammar (eg no contractions such as ‘I’m’ or ‘doesn’t’) and vocabulary (eg ‘dissatisfied with’ and not ‘fed up with’. Register and tone must be consistent. | | Informal letter | The reader is likely to be a friend ora peer. | The opening and closing structures should reflect the register, for example:
Dear Tom, Hi Tom,
Bye, See you soon, | Informal register is used. This means collo

FAQs

How are genres specified in the ISE Reading & Writing exam tasks 3 and 4?

Each prompt specifies the required genre (text type) for the candidate’s response. The document provides a table showing which genres are tested at each level.

What makes a strong essay response in ISE writing?

Essays require clear paragraphing and appropriate linking devices. Register is usually neutral or formal, and language choice depends on purpose and context.

What should a candidate include in different types of letters and emails?

Letters and emails should have appropriate opening and closing phrases and clear paragraphing. The register must match the target reader: formal uses set conventions, while informal allows colloquial language and contractions.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Gelato