Linguaskill Writing: Short Email Composition Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You need to email a new business contact, Ms. Anya Sharma, to confirm a meeting time. Which of the following is the most appropriate and professional salutation?
- Hey Anya,
- Dear Ms. Sharma, (Correct answer)
- To whom it may concern,
- Good morning,
Correct answer: Dear Ms. Sharma,
"Dear Ms. Sharma," is the standard professional salutation when you know the recipient's name and are communicating in a formal business context. The other options are either too informal ("Hey Anya,"), too impersonal ("To whom it may concern,"), or not ideal for email as the recipient may read it at a different time of day ("Good morning,").
Question 2: In the Linguaskill short email task (minimum 50 words), what is the primary purpose of the three bullet points provided in the prompt?
- To offer optional ideas that can be included if you have extra time.
- To provide a strict template that must be copied exactly.
- To act as a word count guide to ensure you write enough.
- To specify the key pieces of information that must be included in your response. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To specify the key pieces of information that must be included in your response.
The bullet points in the Linguaskill email task outline the mandatory information you must cover in your response. To achieve a good score, you need to address each point clearly and appropriately within your email.
Question 3: You are writing a short email to your team to let them know the weekly report is now available. Which sentence provides the clearest call to action?
- The report for this week has been completed and is attached.
- Please find the weekly report attached for your convenience.
- Let me know if you have any questions about the attached report.
- Please review the attached report by end of day tomorrow. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Please review the attached report by end of day tomorrow.
A clear call to action tells the reader exactly what to do and by when. "Please review the attached report by end of day tomorrow" is the most effective choice because it uses an action verb ("review") and provides a specific deadline.
Question 4: Which of the following subject lines is most effective for an email requesting a day off from your manager?
- Question about schedule
- Leave Request: Friday, 27 March (Correct answer)
- IMPORTANT
- Day off
Correct answer: Leave Request: Friday, 27 March
An effective professional subject line is clear, concise, and specific. "Leave Request: Friday, 27 March" immediately informs the manager of the email's purpose and key detail, allowing them to prioritize it. The other options are too vague or unprofessional.
Question 5: When composing a short professional email, which of the following is a key characteristic that examiners look for?
- Using complex, multi-syllable words to demonstrate vocabulary.
- Writing well over the minimum word count to show fluency.
- Communicating the required information clearly and concisely. (Correct answer)
- Including personal greetings and informal language to build rapport.
Correct answer: Communicating the required information clearly and concisely.
Professional communication, especially in a test context like Linguaskill, values clarity and efficiency. The goal is to convey all the necessary information from the prompt in a clear, direct, and professional manner within the expected length (around 50 words).
Question 6: You are writing a final email to a client after a project has been successfully completed. Which closing is most appropriate to maintain a professional and positive tone?
- Cheers,
- Yours faithfully,
- Best regards, (Correct answer)
- Talk soon,
Correct answer: Best regards,
"Best regards," is a versatile and widely accepted professional closing that is polite and suitable for most business situations. "Cheers," and "Talk soon," are too informal, while "Yours faithfully," is typically reserved for very formal correspondence where the recipient's name is unknown.
Linguaskill Writing: Short Email Composition Questions and Answers
You need to email a new business contact, Ms.
Anya Sharma, to confirm a meeting time.
Which of the following is the most appropriate and professional salutation?