Who this is for: Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500) students who need a complete overview of informal letter writing — layout, conversational register and how Paper 2 examiners mark tone and content.
What query it owns: how to write an informal letter for Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500) Paper 2 Directed Writing.
Why this is safe: this page owns the informal-letter-writing revision-guide angle, while Tutopiya’s Informal Letter Writing subtopic page owns the learning resource and the free Informal Letter Writing quiz owns the practice.

Informal letter writing in Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500) tests whether you can adopt a warm, conversational tone while still organising your ideas clearly. Paper 2 tasks often ask you to write to a friend, cousin or pen pal about news, invitations or shared experiences. This guide covers the layout, register and exam technique that turn a casual draft into a high-scoring response.

Key takeaways

• Informal letters use a chatty, personal tone — contractions and direct address are expected.
• Layout is simpler than formal letters: your address, date, Dear [Name], body, sign-off.
• Examiners reward natural voice — you should sound like yourself writing to someone you know.
• Every bullet point in the question must appear as a developed paragraph, not a one-line mention.
• Tutopiya’s informal letter resources split into [Beginner](https://www.tutopiya.com/learning-portal/resource/cambridge-igcse/english-as-a-first-language/extended/0500/intormal-letter-writing/640778ff23df261b5e749cf5/informal-letter-writing-(beginner) and [Advanced](https://www.tutopiya.com/learning-portal/resource/cambridge-igcse/english-as-a-first-language/extended/0500/intormal-letter-writing/640778ff23df261b5e749cf5/informal-letter-writing-(advanced) levels.

What is informal letter writing in Cambridge IGCSE English First Language?

Informal letter writing is a Paper 2 Directed Writing task where you compose a letter to someone you know personally, using conversational register and an appropriate informal layout. Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500) examiners assess content relevance, tone consistency and the quality of your vocabulary and sentence structures. Tutopiya’s Informal Letter Writing subtopic page provides model letters, tone guides and practice activities.

Informal vs formal letter — comparison table

Feature	Informal letter	Formal letter
Audience	Friend, relative, peer	Headteacher, employer, official
Salutation	Dear [First name],	Dear Sir/Madam, / Dear Mr/Mrs [Surname],
Contractions	Expected (I’m, can’t, we’ve)	Avoided
Vocabulary	Everyday, expressive	Professional, precise
Sign-off	Love, Best wishes, Yours,	Yours sincerely/faithfully
Tone	Warm, personal, enthusiastic	Respectful, measured, persuasive

Informal letter layout — reference table

Element	Position	Notes
Your address	Top right	Street, town, postcode
Date	Below your address	Full date
Salutation	Left	Dear [Name], — use first name
Opening	First paragraph	Friendly hook — ask how they are
Body	Middle paragraphs	One topic per paragraph, cover all bullet points
Closing	Final paragraph	Look forward to hearing from you
Sign-off	Left	Love, / Best wishes, / Yours,
Name	Below sign-off	Your first name only

Informal letter writing in past-paper wording: worked stems

1. “Write a letter to a friend describing a recent holiday and inviting them to visit you.” Open warmly: How have you been? I can’t wait to tell you about my trip to… Describe two or three highlights with sensory detail. End with a genuine invitation. Mark-scheme reward: sustained informal tone + all bullet points covered + engaging voice.

2. “Write a letter to your cousin explaining why you cannot attend their birthday party.” Express regret sincerely (I’m really sorry I can’t make it), give a believable reason, and suggest an alternative way to celebrate. Reward: personal tone + clear explanation + relationship awareness.

3. “Write a letter to a pen pal sharing your views on a school subject you enjoy.” Use enthusiastic, conversational language. Explain what you like and give a specific example from class. Ask them about their favourite subject. Reward: engaging personal voice + relevant content.

4. “Write a letter to a friend giving advice about a problem they have told you about.” Show empathy first (I was sorry to hear that…), then offer two or three practical suggestions in a supportive tone — not lecturing. Reward: appropriate advice register + developed paragraphs.

Test yourself with the free Informal Letter Writing quiz once you can maintain informal register throughout a full letter.

How to write an informal letter — step by step

1. Identify the recipient and relationship — this sets your tone from the first sentence.
2. Plan one paragraph per bullet point in the question.
3. Open with a friendly greeting and a personal hook.
4. Develop each body paragraph with detail, anecdotes or opinions.
5. Close with a forward-looking sentence — plans, questions or wishes.
6. Sign off appropriately — Love, for close family, Best wishes, for friends.
7. Check you have not slipped into formal register halfway through.

How informal letters connect to other Paper 2 writing tasks

Informal letter writing contrasts directly with [Formal Letter Writing (Beginner)](https://www.tutopiya.com/learning-portal/resource/cambridge-igcse/english-as-a-first-language/extended/0500/formal-letter-writing/640778ff23df261b5e749cf2/formal-letter-writing-(beginner) and Formal Report Writing. The Cambridge IGCSE English First Language resource hub links every Directed Writing subtopic.

Common mistakes students make

• Writing an informal letter in formal register — no contractions, stiff vocabulary.
• Forgetting to address every bullet point in the question.
• Using Dear Sir/Madam in a letter to a friend — wrong audience entirely.
• Listing bullet points without developing them into full paragraphs.
• Ending abruptly without a warm closing sentence or appropriate sign-off.

When you need more support

If informal tone still feels forced, work through the Informal Letter Writing subtopic page, take the free Informal Letter Writing quiz, then get help from a Cambridge IGCSE English First Language tutor.

Frequently asked questions

What tone should an informal letter use in IGCSE 0500? Warm, conversational and personal — as if you are genuinely writing to someone you know well.

Do informal letters need an address block? Yes — your address top right and the date below it; you do not usually include the recipient’s full address.

Can I use exclamation marks in an informal letter? Yes, sparingly — they suit enthusiastic informal tone but should not appear in every sentence.

How do I revise informal letter writing effectively? Read model letters, practise past-paper stems, then take the Informal Letter Writing quiz on Tutopiya.

Ready to master informal letter writing in Cambridge IGCSE English First Language?

Start with the Informal Letter Writing subtopic page, then book a free trial with a Cambridge IGCSE English specialist and try the free Informal Letter Writing quiz.

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