Would you like to pick the formal letter writing option in the Section 1 of your WAEC English Theory Paper?

In this lesson…

You will see and learn the step-by-step method for writing a standard WAEC formal letter with all its features in their correct format.

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ALSO SEE: Standard Steps For Writing WAEC Informal Letter

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Take note.

Below are the official features of WAEC formal letter writing and their standard arrangement.

1. Writer’s address
2. Date
3. Receiver’s address
4. Salutation
5. Title
6. Opening paragraph
7. Body
8. Closing paragraph
9. Complimentary close

Steps in writing WAEC formal letter

Now let’s go through each of the above features one after the other with this sample question

“Write a letter to the Minister of Education in your country on the poor state of schools in your area and its effects on the performance of students.” [WAEC, 2011]

1. Writer’s Address 

As the writer,

Your address must be written first and at the right-hand side of your paper.

It must be in block format with (4) commas and only one full stop. And also, write the first alphabet of every word in Capital Letter.

How to write a good Writer’s Address

STEP 1: write your house number and the name of your street.

19, Samson Street,

STEP 2: directly under your street name, write the community or area where that your street is located.

19, Samson Street,

Toppers Island,

STEP 3: directly under your community, write the town/city where that your community is located.

19, Samson Street,

Toppers Island,

Badagry,

STEP 4: directly under your town/city, write the State where that your town/city is located.

19, Samson Street,

Toppers Island,

Badagry,

Lagos State.

TAKE NOTE

• 1 comma after your House number,
• 1 comma after your Street,
• 1 comma after your Community,
• 1 comma after your Town,
• 1 full stop after your State.

2. Date

This is the date of that same day that you are writing your WAEC formal letter.

Write the date directly under your writer’s address in the standard format below.

Day Month, Year.

19, Samson Street,

Toppers Island,

Badagry,

Lagos State.

23rd July, 2020.

TAKE. NOTE:

• Day is written in numbers.
• Month is written in word.
• Year is written in numbers.
• 1 comma is after the month.
• 1 full stop after the year.

3. Receiver’s Address

The receiver is who you are writing that WAEC formal letter to.

Receiver’s address comes next and must be written at the left-hand side of your paper.

How to write a good Receiver’s Address

STEP 1: write the official position of the receiver in their place of work.

The Honourable Minister,

STEP 2: directly under their position, write the name of their place of work.

The Honourable Minister,

Federal Ministry of Education,

STEP 3: directly under their place of work, write the town/city where that their place of work is located.

The Honourable Minister,

Federal Ministry of Education,

Garki,

STEP 4: directly under the town/city, write the State where that town/city of their place of work is located.

The Honourable Minister,

Federal Ministry of Education,

Garki,

Abuja.

TAKE NOTE:

• 1 comma after their Position,
• 1 comma after their Place of work,
• 1 comma after the Town/City,
• 1 full stop after the State.
• No date

4. Salutation

Salutation in your WAEC formal letter must be written directly under your Receiver’s Address and in this format.

Start with the word “Dear” followed by “Sir,” or “Madam,” depending on the gender of your receiver in the question.

Dear Sir,

And if no gender is given in the question, use the alternative below.

Dear Sir/Madam,

TAKE NOTE:

• Each word starts with a Capital Letter.
• 1 comma after the gender,
• No full stop.

5. Title

Title is the topic of your WAEC formal letter and it is always in the question.

Let’s take our WAEC formal letter writing sample question:

QUESTION: Write a letter to the Minister of Education in your country on the poor state of schools in your area and its effects on the performance of students.

The topic in the question is “…poor state of schools in your area…”

And so the title of my letter would be:

POOR STATE OF SCHOOLS IN BADAGRY

TAKE NOTE:

• All the words in CAPITAL LETTERS.
• Do not underline.
• Position your title in the centre.
• No full stop

6. First paragraph

• Subject matter

This is the first sentence of the first paragraph in your WAEC formal letter.

It must be written directly under the title and should state the title again but in a complete sentence format.

I write to humbly draw your attention to the poor state of schools in Badagry.

• Enumeration

For this 2nd sentence, list those particular problems that you would be discussing.

I write to humbly draw your attention to the poor state of schools in Badagry. Though they are many, I shall, however, brief you on the overpopulated classrooms, shortage of teachers and the ill-equipped libraries.

• Introduction

Now, usher in the body of your letter.

Example:

The above issues will be clearly discussed in the next few paragraphs.

TAKE NOTE:

• 3 sentences, 1 paragraph.
• Punctuate appropriately.

7. Body

The body of your WAEC formal letter must start on a new paragraph under your Introduction.

And it should discuss, in full detail, those issues that you listed in your introductory paragraph.

• 1 new paragraph for each issue.
• Go straight to the point.
• No long story.
• Punctuate appropriately.

8. Conclusion

Conclusion is the last paragraph and must be written directly under the body of your formal letter.

You may use any or both of these conclusion format below:

• Suggestion

Since the body of letter discussed a problem, your conclusion should suggest the possible solutions to those problems.

These problems mentioned above can be tackled if the government, under your able administration, could…

• Expectations

Express your gratitude with hope that your receiver will heed to your suggestions.

My fellow students and I, including the school staff and people of Badagry shall be grateful if this letter is treated with urgency.

9. Complimentary close

Complimentary close of WAEC formal letter is written at the right-hand side of your paper, under the conclusion and consists of 3 parts:

• Compliment

The compliment for WAEC formal letters is always:

Yours faithfully,

• Writer’s signature

Sign directly under “Yours faithfully,” and do NOT include any punctuation after your signature.

Yours faithfully,

ضَاد

• Writer’s name

Write your full name (surname first) directly under your signature.

Yours faithfully,

ضَاد

Onuegbu Samson

GOOD LUCK.

Do you have something to ask on this WAEC formal letter writing lesson? Comment below and a staff or fellow ACADite will reply you.