GCSE English LanguageWriting
24 questions on forms, purposes and audiences. Pick your answer, then tap to see if you were right and why. Every question comes from the Show Working English Language bank.
Every non-fiction writing task names a form, a purpose and an audience: an article for a newspaper, a letter to a head teacher, a speech to your year group. These questions test what each form needs, and how the register changes with the reader.
01 / Quiz yourselfTry it, then tap to check
Choose your answer before you open it. Then read why, so it sticks.
01 / Forms, purposes and audiencesOur own example
Turn left at the post office, then take the second right. The museum is on your left.
Answer: B To instruct
The text tells the reader what to do, step by step, in commands (“Turn left”, “take the second right”). Its purpose is to instruct.
02 / Forms, purposes and audiencesOur own example
Imagine a town where every street is safe to cross. You can help make it happen: vote for the new crossings.
Answer: A To persuade
The writer wants the reader to do something (vote) and uses direct address and an imperative to push them. Its purpose is to persuade.
03 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: C get a problem put right
A letter of complaint explains what went wrong and asks for something to be done, such as a refund or an apology. Everything in it should serve that purpose.
04 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: D To judge whether something is worth trying
A review gives an informed opinion on a film, book, game, meal or place, so readers can decide whether it is for them. It mixes information with a clear judgement.
05 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: C inform
A guide gives clear, useful information: what to see, where things are and when they open. It may be lively, but its main job is to inform.
06 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: B A clear verdict, such as a star rating
Readers of a review want to know what the writer thinks, so reviews end with a clear verdict, often a star rating. Details about the food and service back that verdict up.
07 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: A Greeting the audience, as in “Good morning, everyone”
A speech is heard, so it greets the listeners and talks to them directly. Headlines, bylines and captions are printed features of an article.
08 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: B A byline naming the writer
A byline tells readers who wrote the article. Sign-offs belong to letters, spoken greetings to speeches, and character lists to plays.
09 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: A A short line under the headline that sums up the story
The strapline sits between the headline and the article and gives the reader the gist in a sentence, so they decide whether to read on.
10 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: D Headings, bullet points and contact details
Leaflets are skimmed, not read word by word, so they use headings and bullet points to break up information, and end with where to find out more.
11 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: A Dear Ms Khan,
A formal letter opens with “Dear” and the person’s title and surname. Casual greetings such as “Hey” or “Hi there” suit a message to a friend, not someone in authority.
12 / Forms, purposes and audiencesOur own example
Thank you all for coming tonight. Look around you: every person in this hall can make a difference.
Answer: C A speech
The writer thanks an audience who are present (“in this hall”) and tells them to “look around”. Talking to people in the same room is a sign of a speech.
13 / Forms, purposes and audiences
The right order:
An article catches the eye with a headline, sums up the story in the strapline just below it, then gives the key facts (who, what, where, when) before going into detail and quoting people involved.
14 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: D SHOCK AS PUPILS BAN HOMEWORK!
Tabloids use short, dramatic headlines in capitals, with emotive words like “shock” and an exclamation mark. The others are calmer and more formal, as in a broadsheet.
15 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: B Council approves new cycle routes after public consultation
Broadsheet headlines are usually calm, factual and formal. Puns such as “wheely good”, capital letters and exclamation marks are typical of tabloids.
16 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: D longer articles and more formal language
Broadsheets go into more depth for readers who expect detail and a formal style. Tabloids favour big pictures, short punchy sentences and dramatic headlines.
17 / Forms, purposes and audiencesOur own example
Hiya! Can’t wait to see you Saturday, it’s gonna be epic!
Answer: C Informal
“Hiya”, “gonna”, “epic” and the exclamation marks belong to a chatty message between friends. That is an informal register.
18 / Forms, purposes and audiencesOur own example
We regret to inform you that the event has been postponed until further notice.
Answer: B Formal
Phrases like “we regret to inform you” and “until further notice” are polite, distant and official. That is a formal register, as used by organisations writing to the public.
19 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: C Pupils are asked to arrive by half past eight.
The formal version uses full, polite wording with no slang or contractions. “Yeah”, “guys” and “half eight” are informal, fine in a chat but not in an official notice.
20 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: C The playground is in a poor state of repair.
A letter to the council needs a formal register: Standard English and no slang. “A right state”, “proper rubbish, mate” and “innit” are colloquial.
21 / Forms, purposes and audiencesOur own example
Unlock your child’s potential with our after-school maths club. Small groups, friendly tutors and a free first session.
Answer: B Parents
“Your child’s potential” speaks to the people who choose and pay for clubs: parents. A leaflet aimed at the children themselves would sound very different.
22 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: C simple words, short sentences and a friendly tone
Young readers need clear, simple language that speaks to them warmly. Matching vocabulary and tone to the audience is a key part of the writing marks.
23 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: A Pupils, parents and staff at your school
A school website is read by the school community, so the tone can be friendly but should stay clear and fairly formal, since parents and staff will read it too.
24 / Forms, purposes and audiences
Answer: C A lively tone that talks to the reader as “you”
A magazine for teenagers can be lively and chatty, with direct address to draw readers in. It should still be well organised, with clear paragraphs.
02 / Where marks slipOne thing to watch
Writing every form the same way. A speech talks to the people in the room, a letter needs a greeting and a sign-off, and an article needs a headline.
03 / In the appComing to Show Working
In the app, Forms, purposes and audiences gives you ten questions at a time, picked from all 24, with the reason after every answer. English Language is built, but it isn’t on phones yet: it will arrive in an update.
Coming soon to the App StoreOur own questions, written for every board. Lines from books are from authors who died long enough ago that their words are free to quote. Show Working is independent and not affiliated with any exam board.
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