Today I'm going to talk about the Cambridge Preliminary English Test or PET exam. This advice would be the same for the PET exam for schools or for adults. In particular, I'm going to talk about Part 1 of the writing paper, where you have to write an email. Lots of useful advice and expressions for you. So here we go...
How about...? (playing badminton).
Why don't we...? (play).
Let's... (play).
I think it's great that...
You're right, there are...
I
think you'll enjoy it.
If you decide to join, we could meet...
Don't use the verb 'practising' for sports. But we do say 'football practice' and we say,
I'm practising my shooting skills (for example, for playing football.)
Remember, that we do sport, you play ball games (including badminton), and you do static sports like karate, judo and yoga, but we often say, I go swimming, riding, running because you actually move along with these sports - they're not static.
We go to the gym at 6pm on Thursdays. I often go jogging in the evening, (morning, afternoon but at night). I stay at the gym from 6pm until/to 8:30pm. I don't go to the gym in August because I go to the beach. There is a badminton championship on the 29th of June (written 29th June). In winter I prefer to have a shower at home because it's too cold at the gym. I rarely go to the sports centre at the weekend.
For starting the email, we can say,
Hi, John
or
Hello, John
and to finish the email, a line such as,
See you soon!
Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Looking forward to it!
Write soon!
Let me know as soon as you can.
Then just add your first name at the bottom.
Some important things to remember are:
1) Use paragraphs for each topic that you talk about.
2) Make sure you answer the notes on the email, which you should comment on.
3) You should write about 100 words. Don't write less but if you write 10 or 15 words more, that won't be a problem.
4) Learn expressions for suggestions and giving opinions and try to use connecting words like because, so, but, and to join sentences together. You could also use conditional sentences to join ideas together.
Hi, Mary.
It's me, John. We met the other day in a café in Maidenhead. Do you remember? You gave me your email. [say you remember him]
As you know I'm new here [comment on this] and I would like to start going to a sports centre. I know you do a lot of sport. I like doing weights and playing badminton - just like you! I notice there are a few sports centres in Maidenhead, so which one do you think I should go to? [answer and say why]
Perhaps I could go to the same sports centre you go to and we could play badminton together. [answer and say yes]
Let me know as soon as you can.
John Jones
Hello, John
Yes, of course I remember you! You sat at my table in the café and we had a coffee together. I hope you're enjoying your stay in Maidenhead. There are lots of things to do here.
I think it's great that you want to join a sports centre. You're right, there are a few in Maidenhead but I think the one I go to is the best. I think you'll enjoy it because it's got very good facilities and it's not very expensive either. I'm talking about the one in Tanner Road. It's got a very well-equipped gymnasium and there are some badminton courts there too.
I'd love to play badminton with you. If you decide to join, we could meet next Thursday evening for a game!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Mary
Come over to Practising English dot com podcast 114 so you can copy these expressions for your notes.
Until next time. Goodbye for now!
Copyright © 2023 Practising English
All rights reserved
