Letter Writing for 10th Class English — Formal and Informal with Examples
Letter writing guide for 10th class English board exam Pakistan — formal and informal letter formats, examples, and tips to score full marks in SSC English paper.
Letter Writing for 10th Class English — Formal and Informal with Examples
Quick Answer: 10th class English board exams in Pakistan require two types of letters: formal letters (to headmaster, government offices, newspapers) and informal letters (to friends, relatives). Formal letters follow a strict format with address, date, subject, salutation, body, and complimentary close. Both types typically carry 10-15 marks in the English paper.
Letter writing is one of the most straightforward scoring opportunities in the 10th class English paper — if you know the format. Unlike essays that require creative thinking, letters follow a fixed structure. Once you learn the format and practice it, you can confidently score full marks on this section regardless of the topic given.
This guide covers both formal and informal letter formats with complete examples tailored for Pakistani board exams.
Formal Letter Format — Complete Guide
Formal letters are written to people or organizations you do not know personally, or in an official capacity. Board exams typically ask for letters to: headmaster/principal, editor of a newspaper, a government department, a company, or a municipal body.
The Standard Format
Your Address (Top Right): Your house number / block / mohalla City name Date (DD/MM/YYYY)
Recipient's Address (Left Side, below date): The Headmaster/The Editor/The Manager Name of Institution City
Subject Line: Subject: [Clear, brief statement of the letter's purpose]
Salutation: Respected Sir/Madam,
Body: Paragraph 1: State who you are and the purpose of the letter Paragraph 2: Main content — details, request, complaint, suggestion Paragraph 3: Request for action and expression of hope
Complimentary Close: Yours faithfully, [Signature] [Your Name]
Example 1: Letter to Headmaster Requesting Fee Concession
House # 45, Street 7 Model Town, Lahore 25 May, 2026
The Headmaster Government High School No. 1 Lahore
Subject: Request for Fee Concession
Respected Sir,
With due respect, I beg to state that I am a student of Class 10, Section B, Roll Number 2045, at your esteemed institution. I have always maintained a good academic record and my position in class has been consistently in the top five.
I regret to inform you that our family is facing severe financial hardship at the present time. My father, who was the sole earner, has been seriously ill for the past three months and is unable to work. As a result, paying the full school fee has become extremely difficult for our family.
I therefore request you to kindly consider granting me a fee concession for the remainder of the academic year. I assure you that I will continue to work hard and bring honour to this school. I will be deeply grateful for your generous support.
Yours faithfully, [Signature] Ahmad Ali
Example 2: Letter to Editor About Load-shedding Problem
House # 12, Block C Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi 25 May, 2026
The Editor Daily Dawn Karachi
Subject: The Problem of Excessive Load-shedding in Our Area
Dear Sir,
Through the esteemed columns of your widely-read newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the severe problem of electricity load-shedding in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi.
For the past several weeks, our area has been experiencing 8 to 10 hours of daily load-shedding without any prior schedule. This has disrupted all aspects of daily life. Students preparing for their board examinations cannot study in the evenings. Small businesses have been forced to close or reduce their working hours. Patients who require electric medical equipment at home are put at serious risk.
I earnestly request you to publish this letter so that the electricity distribution company and government officials may take notice of our situation. We appeal to the authorities to provide a proper load-shedding schedule and work toward reducing the duration of outages in residential areas.
Yours faithfully, [Signature] Sara Tariq
Informal Letter Format — Complete Guide
Informal letters are written to friends, relatives, classmates, or anyone you know personally. The tone is relaxed, conversational, and friendly.
The Standard Format
Your Address (Top Right): Your house number / city Date
Salutation: Dear [Name] / My Dear [Name] / Dear Friend,
Body: Paragraph 1: Ask about the recipient and mention how long it has been Paragraph 2: Main content — what you want to share, invite, congratulate, or describe Paragraph 3: Ask about their news, look forward to their reply
Complimentary Close: Your friend/Your loving cousin/Your sincere friend, [Your Name]
Example 3: Informal Letter to a Friend About Board Exam Preparation
House # 78, Allama Iqbal Road Multan 25 May, 2026
Dear Bilal,
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits. It has been almost two months since we last met, and I have been meaning to write to you for some time.
As you already know, our board examinations are approaching rapidly. I have been following a strict study schedule for the past month. I wake up at 5:30 in the morning for Fajr and then study until 8 AM before school. In the evenings, I focus on practice papers from previous years, which has helped me understand the pattern of questions a great deal. I am particularly focused on mathematics and chemistry, as these require the most practice.
I would love to know how your preparation is going. Which subjects are you finding most challenging? Perhaps we could arrange a study session together during the mid-term break. I believe we could help each other with the topics we find difficult.
Please convey my salaam to your parents and siblings. I look forward to your reply and hope we both do well in the upcoming examinations.
Your sincere friend, Usman Malik
Common Topics for Board Exam Letters
Formal Letter Topics (Most Common)
- To headmaster: requesting fee concession, reporting a problem in school, requesting leave
- To editor: complaining about civic problems (load-shedding, garbage, water supply), road accidents, pollution
- To Municipal Committee/Government: reporting encroachment, poor sanitation, broken roads
- To a company: applying for a job (though rare at matric level), complaint about a product
Informal Letter Topics (Most Common)
- To a friend: inviting to birthday, describing your city, about your exam preparation
- To a cousin: describing your school experience, congratulating on success
- To a relative: thanking for a gift, describing your summer holidays, news about family
Scoring Tips for Letter Writing in Board Exams
Tip 1: Format first Before writing a single word of content, write out the format — address, date, subject (for formal), salutation. This takes 30 seconds and ensures you never forget the structure.
Tip 2: Keep the purpose clear The subject line of a formal letter tells the examiner you know what the letter is about. Make it specific: "Request for Fee Concession" not just "Letter to Headmaster."
Tip 3: Use formal language throughout formal letters Avoid contractions (don't, can't) in formal letters. Use complete forms (do not, cannot). Never use casual language in a formal letter.
Tip 4: Length matters A full-marks letter should be 200-250 words in body content (not counting address/date/close). Too short and it looks unprepared; too long and you waste time.
Tip 5: Vary your expressions Do not start every sentence with "I". Use phrases like "It is to inform you that...", "With due respect, I beg to state...", "I am writing to draw your attention to..."
After the board exam, check your English result and overall performance at /10th-class-result-2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a choice in the letter writing question in board exam? A: Most BISE boards give 2 choices for the letter writing question and you write one. Both are usually from the same category (both formal or both informal), though some boards give one of each.
Q: How many marks does letter writing carry in 10th class English paper? A: Letter writing typically carries 10-15 marks, making it one of the highest-value individual questions in the English paper. Scoring well here significantly impacts your total English marks.
Q: Can I use the same letter format I learned in 9th class? A: Yes. The format for formal and informal letters does not change between 9th and 10th class. The topics may differ, but the structure remains the same.
Q: What is the most common mistake in formal letter writing? A: Using casual language ("Hey sir, I am writing this letter to tell you...") in a formal letter, or missing the subject line, or incorrect complimentary close. Always use "Yours faithfully" for formal letters to someone you do not know by name.
Q: Should I write a real address or can I make one up? A: You can write a realistic but fictitious address. Board examiners are not checking your actual home address — they want to see the correct format.
Related: 10th Class Result 2026 | SSC Results | All Boards Results | Matric Percentage Calculator