5.3 Model Emails and Content-Point Checklists

Cambridge A2 Key KET

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1 Introduction & Exam Overview

1.1 What Is Cambridge A2 Key (KET)? 1.2 Exam Format: Three Papers 1.3 Who Takes A2 Key and How It Is Delivered 1.4 Study Hours and Preparation Path

2 Scoring, Grades & Results

2.1 The Cambridge English Scale 2.2 Grades A, B, C and Certificates 2.3 How Your Overall Score Is Calculated

3 Reading Parts 1–3: Understanding Texts

3.1 Reading Overview (Parts 1–5) 3.2 Reading Part 1: Short Texts and Main Message 3.3 Reading Part 2: Multiple Matching 3.4 Reading Part 3: Longer Text Detail and Gist

4 Reading Parts 4–5: Vocabulary and Grammar Cloze

4.1 Reading Part 4: Multiple-Choice Cloze 4.2 Collocations and Phrasal Verbs for Part 4 4.3 Reading Part 5: Open Cloze 4.4 Grammar Words for Open Cloze

5 Writing Part 6: Guided Message

5.1 Writing Overview (Parts 6–7) 5.2 Part 6 Guided Writing Task 5.3 Model Emails and Content-Point Checklists

6 Writing Part 7 & Assessment Criteria

6.1 Part 7 Picture Story 6.2 Narrative Language and Connectors 6.3 Writing Assessment: Content, Organisation, Language

7 Listening Parts 1–3

7.1 Listening Paper Overview 7.2 Listening Part 1: Short Dialogues and Pictures 7.3 Listening Part 2: Gap Fill Notes 7.4 Listening Part 3: Conversation Multiple Choice

8 Listening Parts 4–5 & Detail Skills

8.1 Listening Part 4: Gist and Main Message 8.2 Listening Part 5: Matching 8.3 Numbers, Times, Prices and Spelling

9 Speaking Test

9.1 Speaking Test Format 9.2 Speaking Part 1: Interview 9.3 Speaking Part 2: Discussion 9.4 Speaking Assessment Criteria

10 A2 Grammar Essentials

10.1 Present and Past Tenses 10.2 Future Forms, Modals and Obligation 10.3 Comparatives, Superlatives, Adverbs and Word Order 10.4 Questions, Negatives and There Is/Are

11 A2 Vocabulary Topics

11.1 People, Home and Daily Routines 11.2 Free Time, Hobbies, Travel and Transport 11.3 Food, Shopping, Money and Health 11.4 Places in Town, Services and Simple Technology

12 Functional Language for Exam Tasks

12.1 Requests, Offers, Invitations and Suggestions 12.2 Opinions, Agreeing, Disagreeing and Preferences 12.3 Describing People, Places and Events; Simple Narration

13 Exam Day and Test Strategy

13.1 Digital vs Paper-Based and the 2026 Change 13.2 What Happens on Exam Day 13.3 Full Practice Tests and Timing Plans

14 Results and Next Steps

14.1 Interpreting Your Statement of Results 14.2 From A2 Key to B1 Preliminary

5.3 Model Emails and Content-Point Checklists

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Strong Part 6 answers greet the reader, cover every content point in clear sentences, and close in a matching register

Weak answers often miss a point, stay under 25 words, copy the rubric, or use the wrong tone for the recipient

Use a content-point checklist after every practice email: tick each prompt, then check organisation and language

Build a small bank of openings, closings, and function phrases so exam writing becomes fast and automatic

Compare good vs weak models side by side to train your eye before you mark your own work
Last updated: July 2026

5.3 Model Emails and Content-Point Checklists

Quick Answer: Train Part 6 by comparing strong and weak models , then mark every practice answer with a content-point checklist . A strong message uses a suitable opening and closing , answers all prompts in full sentences ( 25+ words ), and keeps a consistent informal or semi-formal register. Common failures are a missing point , too-short text, and wrong tone .

Models are not scripts to memorise word for word. Cambridge tasks change the situation every time. What you should internalise is the shape : greet → cover each point → close → check. The samples below are original teaching models written for this guide.

How to Use Models Efficiently

Cover the strong model and try the task yourself first (timed 8–10 minutes).

Compare your answer to the strong model using the checklist—not only “mine looks shorter.”

Read the weak model and name the exact problem (missing point? register? length?).

Rewrite the weak model into a strong one as a five-minute drill.

Save phrases that feel natural for you; discard anything you cannot spell under pressure.

Model Set A — Informal Email to a Friend (Cinema)
Task

You want to go to the cinema tomorrow. Write an email to your friend Ben.

In your email, you should:

say which film you want to see
say what time you want to meet
ask Ben to buy the tickets online

Write 25 words or more .

Strong model (good) Hi Ben,

Do you want to go to the cinema tomorrow? I want to see the new comedy film.

Let's meet at 5 p.m. outside the cinema. Can you buy the tickets online, please?

See you tomorrow,
Sara
Why it scores well

Criterion Evidence
Content Film type/name idea, meeting time, request to buy tickets—all three present
Organisation Greeting → invitation + points in order → close and name
Language Clear present/future meanings, polite request, mostly accurate A2 forms
Length Comfortably over 25 words
Register Informal Hi / See you tomorrow fits a friend
Weak model (problems labelled) Hi Ben,

I like films. Buy tickets.

Sara
Problems
Missing points: no film choice, no meeting time
Too short: almost certainly under 25 words
Content incomplete: “Buy tickets” is a command without the online detail and without enough message frame
Organisation thin: no real development or linking
Rescue rewrite (from weak → good enough) Hi Ben,

I want to see the new comedy tomorrow. Can we meet at 5 p.m.?

Please buy the tickets online.

Thanks,
Sara

Still simple—but every bullet is now visible.

Model Set B — Semi-Formal Note to a Teacher (Homework)
Task

You cannot give your homework to your teacher today. Write a note to your teacher, Mrs Owen.

In your note, you should:

apologise
explain why you do not have the homework
say when you can give it to her

Write 25 words or more .

Strong model (good) Dear Mrs Owen,

I am sorry I cannot give you my homework today. I was ill yesterday and I stayed at home.

I can give it to you tomorrow morning.

Best wishes,
Daniel Costa
Checklist ticks
Apology present ( I am sorry… )
Reason present ( ill yesterday )
Future time to submit ( tomorrow morning )
Semi-formal greeting/closing
25+ words
Weak model Hey Mrs Owen,

no homework lol I was busy. later.

Dan
Problems
Wrong register for a teacher ( Hey , lol )
Vague reason ( busy without a clear school-appropriate explanation)
Vague time ( later is not a usable “when”)
Too short / undeveloped
Register repair focus
Keep the same facts, raise the politeness: Dear Mrs Owen,

I am sorry I do not have my homework today because I was busy with a family visit.

I can bring it on Friday.

Best wishes,
Daniel
Model Set C — Informal Email with an “Ask” Bullet (Birthday Plan)
Task

It is your birthday on Sunday. Write an email to your friend Yuki.

invite Yuki to your party
say where the party is

ask Yuki what present she would like to give you is not required—instead the bullet is: ask what time she can come

Clarified bullets for the model:

invite Yuki to your party
say where the party is
ask what time she can come
Strong model Hi Yuki,

It is my birthday on Sunday and I want to invite you to my party.

The party is at my house. What time can you come?

Love,
Hana

Key teaching point: the third bullet is a question . The strong model ends the body with What time can you come? A message that only says Come to my house without asking the time fails that bullet.

Weak model (looks long but still fails Content) Hi Yuki,

I am very happy because it is my birthday on Sunday. I like music, cake, dancing and games. My family is nice and my house is big and beautiful. See you,

Hana

This can be over 25 words and still weak: no clear invitation sentence , no explicit place bullet fulfilment as a plan , and no question about time . Length without required content is a classic trap.

Model Set D — Note to a Neighbour (Semi-Formal Light)
Task

You are going on holiday. Write a note to your neighbour, Mr Green.

say when you are leaving
say how long you will be away
ask him to water your plants
Strong model Dear Mr Green,

I am leaving for holiday on Monday. I will be away for one week.

Could you water my plants, please?

Thank you,
Amira
Weak model Mr Green

Holiday soon. Plants.

Amira

Missing duration, unclear leaving day, no polite request form—Content and Language both thin.

Openings Bank (Memorise a Small Set)

Reader Openings that work
Friend / classmate Hi Sam, / Hello Mia, / Hi there, Alex,
Teacher / adult by name Dear Mr Bell, / Dear Mrs Costa, / Dear Ms Park,
Neighbour / club adult Dear Mr Green, / Hello Mrs Ali,
Avoid for friends: Dear Sir or Madam
Avoid for teachers: Hi buddy / heavy slang
First-line starters (after the greeting)
How are you? (optional; do not let it replace a content point)
I'm writing because…
Thank you for your email. (if replying)

I have some good news.

I'm sorry, but…

If time is short, skip empty chat and go straight to the first content sentence after Hi Name, .

Closings Bank

Register Closings

Informal See you soon, / See you tomorrow, / Bye for now, / Love, (close friends/family) / Thanks!

Semi-formal Best wishes, / Kind regards, / Thank you, / Many thanks,

Always put your name on the next line unless the centre instructions show a different digital pattern—names help the message feel complete.

Master Content-Point Checklist (Use Every Time)

Copy this checklist into your notebook and tick it after every Part 6 practice:

A. Task completion (Content)
I know who the reader is
I used the reader’s name correctly in the greeting
Content point 1 is answered with a clear sentence/clause
Content point 2 is answered
Content point 3 is answered
If a point said ask , I wrote a real question
Details (day, time, place, number) match what I intended
B. Message shape (Organisation)
Suitable opening
Ideas in a sensible order (often the same order as the bullets)
At least one or two simple linkers ( and / but / because / so / also )
Suitable closing + name
C. Language and length
25+ words (usually 35–60 is a comfortable band)
Mostly correct basic grammar for my sentences
Spelling of key content words checked ( Wednesday , tomorrow , because )
Register matches reader from first word to last
D. Sixty-second emergency version

If the clock is almost finished:

Greeting
Three short sentences (one per point)
Thanks, + name

Then stop and protect Part 7 time.

Common Mistakes Gallery

Mistake Example symptom Fix

Missing point Two great sentences, third bullet ignored Number the bullets 1–2–3 on the paper; tick after writing

Too short 12–18 words total Force one full sentence per bullet + greeting/close
Wrong register Slang to teacher / ultra-formal to best friend Decide register before you write the first word
Rubric copying “I say which film I want to see.” Give real content: “I want to see the comedy film.”

No question when required Never uses ? though bullet says ask End with What…? / Can you…? / Do you…?

Off-topic padding Long hobby paragraph, no task facts Delete decoration; add missing facts
Inconsistent identity Greeting Hi Ben but letter discusses “your teacher” wrongly Re-read the situation line

Unreadable time/place meet at evening market 5 jammed without structure Write Let's meet at 5 p.m. at the market.

Over-complex grammar Multiple clauses with errors that hide meaning Split into two short accurate sentences
No closing Stops after last fact Add See you soon, / Best wishes, + name
Side-by-Side Mini Drill (Do This in Study Sessions)

Take any practice Part 6 task and write two versions in 12 minutes total:

Version W (weak on purpose for 3 minutes): answer only two points, no close.

Version S (strong for 7 minutes): full checklist.

Compare (2 minutes): list three upgrades you made from W to S.

This trains the exact upgrades examiners reward: coverage, shape, and clarity.

Putting Marks Language on Your Own Work

After you write a practice email, score yourself roughly:

Criterion 5-ish feel 3-ish feel 1-ish feel
Content All points clearly done Most points; one unclear/partial Major gaps / wrong task
Organisation Clear order + open/close Some order, weak links Jumbled fragments
Language Simple control, easy to read Frequent errors but message mostly clear Errors block understanding

Be honest. Students often over-score Language and under-notice a missing bullet. Always audit Content first.

From Models to Exam Day Confidence

On exam day you will not have these pages. You will have:

the situation
the bullets
your trained routine
your small phrase bank

If you can look at any three bullets and immediately produce a 40-word complete message with the right tone, Part 6 becomes a reliable 8-minute mark earner instead of a panic section. Combine that habit with a protected time block for Part 7 (next chapter), and you give both writing tasks a fair chance at the full 15 + 15 marks that feed your Writing skill score.

Final one-page memory card

Read reader + three points.

Plan three answers.

Write Hi/Dear → sentences → close.

Tick all points + 25 words + register.

Move on to Part 7 with time still on the clock.

Practise that card until it is automatic. Automatic coverage is the real secret behind “lucky” high Content scores.