Writing a Formal Letter for the 11+ Exam

When Formal Letters Appear in the 11+

The formal letter is one of the most common non-fiction tasks in selective school entrance papers. You might be asked to write to your headteacher requesting a change to a school rule, to your local council complaining about a park, or to a newspaper sharing your view on a local issue. The topic varies, but the structure stays the same.

That's the good news: unlike creative writing, a formal letter has a clear, fixed format. Learn it once and you'll have a reliable scaffold for whatever prompt appears. The examiner is looking for correct layout, an appropriate register (formal but not stuffy), and a clearly organised argument.

The Layout, Step by Step

Every formal letter follows the same structure. Here it is, from top to bottom:

1. Your address (sender)

Place your own address in the top right-hand corner. Write it on separate lines, no commas at the end of each line, and no full stop after the postcode.

12 Maple Lane
Oxford
OX4 2BT

2. The date

Write the date below your address on the right-hand side. Spell out the month in full.

17 April 2026

3. The recipient's address

Below the date, on the left-hand side, write the name and address of the person you are writing to.

The Headteacher
St Catherine's Primary School
Oxford
OX4 3LP

4. The greeting

Leave a line, then write your greeting. If you know the name, use it: Dear Mr Evans,. If you don't, use: Dear Sir or Madam,

5. The body

Your letter body comes next, in paragraphs. Each paragraph covers one main point. Leave a line between paragraphs rather than indenting.

6. The sign-off

Leave a line after your final paragraph, then write your sign-off:

• Used a name in the greeting? → Yours sincerely,
• Used 'Sir or Madam'? → Yours faithfully,

Then leave space for your signature and print your name underneath.

Getting the Register Right

Register means how formal or informal your language is. In a formal letter, the register should be polite, clear, and professional. Three rules will keep you on track:

No contractions

Write I am not I'm. Write do not not don't. Write I would not I'd. Contractions are perfectly natural in speech and informal writing, but they make a formal letter sound casual.

No slang or colloquial phrases

Avoid loads of, a ton of, really bad, or you know what I mean. Replace them with a significant number of, considerable, deeply concerning, or simply explain the point directly.

Be polite even when making a complaint

A measured, respectful tone is far more persuasive than an angry one. Compare these two sentences:

Weak: "Your decision was completely unfair and you should change it immediately."

Stronger: "I respectfully suggest that the current policy be reviewed, as it appears to disadvantage a significant number of pupils."

The second version still makes a clear point, but it does so with confidence and control. That's the voice examiners reward.

Model Formal Letter, Annotated

Here is a model letter written by a Year 6 pupil. Read it carefully and notice how each feature is labelled.

[Sender's address, top right]
27 Chestnut Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1QP

[Date]
17 April 2026

[Recipient's address, left]
The Editor
Bristol Evening Post
Temple Way
Bristol BS2 0BY

[Greeting — recipient unknown]
Dear Sir or Madam,

[Opening paragraph — states purpose clearly]
I am writing to express my concerns about the recent closure of Greenfield Park's central playground. As a pupil at a local school and a regular visitor to the park, I have observed the impact this closure has had on children in our neighbourhood.

[Body paragraph — first point]
The playground has served our community for over fifteen years and is one of the few outdoor spaces where younger children can play safely. Since its closure three months ago, children have been forced to play on the surrounding grass, which becomes unsafe in wet weather. I am also aware that several families who rely on the park live in flats with no gardens of their own.

[Body paragraph — second point]
I understand that the council may have financial constraints; however, I would respectfully suggest that temporary repairs could restore the playground to a safe standard at considerably less cost than a full refurbishment. A petition signed by over two hundred local residents indicates strong community support for this approach.

[Closing paragraph — call to action]
I would be grateful if you could bring this issue to the attention of your readers, as public awareness may encourage the council to act more promptly. Thank you for your time in reading this letter.

[Sign-off — 'Dear Sir or Madam' → Yours faithfully]
Yours faithfully,

Amara Osei

Notice how each paragraph has a clear purpose. The letter is polite throughout, even though Amara is making a complaint. She uses evidence (fifteen years, three months, two hundred residents) to support her points without sounding aggressive.

Self-Check List

Before you finish your letter in the exam, run through this list:

• Sender's address in the top right corner?
• Date written in full (17 April 2026, not 17/04/26)?
• Recipient's address on the left?
• Correct greeting (name → Dear Mr X; unknown → Dear Sir or Madam)?
• Opening paragraph states purpose clearly?
• Each body paragraph covers one distinct point?
• Closing paragraph includes a polite call to action?
• Sign-off matches the greeting (sincerely/faithfully)?
• No contractions anywhere?
• Printed name below the sign-off?

Practice Prompt

Try this prompt, aiming for three to four paragraphs written in 20 minutes:

Write a letter to your local council requesting the installation of a cycle path along a busy road near your school. Make your case clearly and politely, and end with a specific request.

Plan before you write. Decide your three main points (safety, environment, community benefit, for example), then draft your letter using the layout above. When you have finished, go through the self-check list and tick each point off.