Letter to the Editor Class 12: Format, Model Letters and Marking Scheme

What Letter to the Editor is about

Weightage: Section B (Creative Writing Skills, 18 of the 80 theory marks): Q5, 5 marks (format 1, organisation 1, content 2, accuracy 1), one of two with the job application.Source: CBSE English Core (301) syllabus and sample paper 2026-27

In real board papers: asked in 2 of the 2 board papers we hold (2026 to 2026), on average 5 marks per paper. See the questions

Key concepts

Format of a letter to the editor

1. Sender's address (top left).
2. Date.
3. Receiver: The Editor, name of the newspaper, city.
4. Subject line: a short, precise statement of the issue.
5. Salutation: Sir/Madam (or Dear Sir/Madam).
6. Body (three parts):

• Introduction: request for space and the issue in one or two lines.
• Main body: the problem, its causes and effects, with examples.
• Suggestions and conclusion: what should be done and by whom; an appeal.

7. Complimentary close: Yours faithfully / Yours truly,
8. Name (and signature), sometimes with a short description (e.g. a concerned citizen).

Worked example

Write the opening line of a letter to the editor about food wastage at weddings.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Request space.
2. Name the issue.

Answer: 'Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the public to the growing wastage of food at weddings and social gatherings in our city.'

Organisation of ideas

The organisation mark rewards a clear, logical structure:

• Paragraph 1: purpose and issue.
• Paragraph 2: description of the problem with facts or examples, causes and consequences.
• Paragraph 3: practical suggestions (who should act: citizens, authorities, schools).
• Closing line: hope that the letter will create awareness and lead to action.

Use linkers: 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'As a result', 'Therefore', 'In conclusion'.

Worked example

Arrange these in a logical order: (a) suggestions to authorities (b) request for space (c) effects on health (d) closing hope.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Start with purpose; then problem; then solutions; then close.

Answer: (b) → (c) → (a) → (d).

Content: views, facts and suggestions

Content earns 2 marks:

• Show understanding of the issue and use the input given in the question.
• Give causes and effects with concrete examples (avoid invented statistics).
• Offer practical, specific suggestions: 'community kitchens should collect leftover food', 'traffic police should fine those who ignore zebra crossings'.
• Keep a balanced, civic tone; criticise problems, not individuals.

Worked example

Give two practical suggestions for reducing plastic pollution in a city.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. One for authorities, one for citizens.

Answer: The municipal corporation should enforce the ban on single-use plastic with fines; citizens should carry cloth bags and refuse plastic carry bags.

Language and tone

• Formal and polite; no slang or contractions.
• Persuasive: 'It is high time...', 'I urge the authorities...', 'We must remember that...'.
• Mostly third person when describing the issue; first person for your view ('I wish to express my concern').
• Avoid emotional exaggeration or blaming the editor.

Useful openings: 'Through the columns of your esteemed daily...', 'I wish to express my deep concern over...'.
Useful closings: 'I hope this letter will awaken the authorities...', 'I sincerely hope that ... will take immediate steps.'

Worked example

Make this sentence more formal: 'The roads are a total mess and nobody cares!'

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Remove slang and exclamation.
2. State the problem precisely.

Answer: 'The roads in our locality are in a poor condition, and the problem has not received the attention it deserves.'

Word limit and planning

• 120-150 words for the body; addresses and the subject are extra.
• Spend 2 minutes planning: issue, 2-3 effects, 2-3 suggestions.
• Use three paragraphs; each 40-50 words.
• Read the question carefully for the role, address and any points to include.

Worked example

Plan a letter on rising noise pollution from loudspeakers.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Issue: late-night loudspeakers in residential areas.
2. Effects: sleep loss, students' studies, elderly and patients.
3. Suggestions: enforce time limits, permits, police action, awareness.

Answer: Three paragraphs: the issue; its effects; suggestions and appeal.

Letter to the Editor in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• The Three-Paragraph Body of a Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: key facts

Marking scheme

Format 1 + Organisation 1 + Content 2 + Accuracy 1 = 5

CBSE English Core (301), Q5.

Format order

1. 1.Sender's address
2. 2.Date
3. 3.The Editor, newspaper, city
4. 4.Subject
5. 5.Sir/Madam
6. 6.Body
7. 7.Yours faithfully
8. 8.Name

Subject line must be precise.

Body plan

1. 1.Issue (P1)
2. 2.Problem: causes and effects (P2)
3. 3.Suggestions and appeal (P3)

120-150 words.

Tone

Formal + persuasive + constructive

No slang, no contractions.

How the board asks Letter to the Editor

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember Letter to the Editor

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• Format: 'A D E S S B C N'

  Address, Date, Editor, Subject, Salutation, Body, Close, Name.

  Use it when: Writing the format in order.

• Body: 'Issue, Impact, Ideas'

  Paragraph 1 Issue; paragraph 2 Impact (causes and effects); paragraph 3 Ideas (suggestions).

  Use it when: Organisation mark.

• Close

  To an editor: Yours faithfully (or Yours truly), never 'Yours lovingly'.

  Use it when: Format mark.

Letter to the Editor: board-level solved questions

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is marked: the value points the examiner looks for and the marks each earns.

Where students lose marks in Letter to the Editor

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Writing to a government official instead of the editor

  ✓Do this: Address 'The Editor, newspaper name, city'; you may urge authorities within the body.

  Usually costs: Format mark.

• ✗Mistake: No subject line or a vague one

  Wrong working

  Subject: Problem

  Right working

  Subject: Rising food wastage at social functions

  ✓Do this: Make the subject specific.

  Usually costs: Format mark.

• ✗Mistake: Only complaining, no suggestions

  ✓Do this: Give at least two or three practical suggestions.

  Usually costs: Content mark.

• ✗Mistake: One long paragraph

  ✓Do this: Use three paragraphs: issue, impact, ideas.

  Usually costs: Organisation mark.

• ✗Mistake: Inventing statistics

  ✓Do this: Use the input given; otherwise describe the problem with examples.

  Usually costs: Content credibility.

Letter to the Editor: previous year questions

• Asked in 2 of the 2 board papers we hold (2026 to 2026), on average 5 marks per paper; 2 questions in all, counting OR alternatives. In 3 of 3 sample papers.

Counted from the real papers on our previous year papers page, not estimated. Average marks are over every board paper we hold, with an OR pair counted once. Chapter tags are ours.

Every Letter to the Editor question, by year

Practice questions on Letter to the Editor

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 5 marks · Long answerBoard level

   Stray dogs in your locality have become a cause of fear for children and the elderly. Write a letter to the editor, in 120-150 words, suggesting humane solutions.

   Hint

   Sterilisation, vaccination, shelters, feeding zones.

   Answer

   Model points: format; P1 issue; P2 incidents of fear, bites, traffic accidents; P3 humane solutions: sterilisation and vaccination drives by the municipality, designated feeding spots, shelters with NGOs, awareness about not provoking animals; appeal; Yours faithfully, name.

2. Q2 · 5 marks · Long answerBoard level

   Write a letter to the editor, in 120-150 words, urging students and young adults to make yoga part of their daily lives.

   Hint

   Benefits for body and mind.

   Answer

   Model points: format; P1 purpose; P2 benefits: fitness, flexibility, concentration, stress relief before exams, better sleep; P3 suggestions: daily 20 minutes, school yoga periods, online sessions, community camps; appeal.

3. Q3 · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

   Water scarcity is worsening in your town every summer. Write a letter to the editor, in 120-150 words, highlighting the causes and suggesting measures.

   Hint

   Causes and solutions.

   Answer

   Model points: format; P1 issue; P2 causes: wastage, leaking pipes, borewell over-use, lack of rainwater harvesting; effects on daily life; P3 measures: repair leaks, rainwater harvesting compulsory, metering, awareness; closing.

4. Q4 · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

   Loudspeakers are played late at night in your residential area during functions. Write a letter to the editor, in 120-150 words, about the effects of noise pollution and what should be done.

   Hint

   Time limits and enforcement.

   Answer

   Model points: format; P1 issue; P2 effects: sleep loss, students' studies, elderly and patients, stress; P3 enforce legal time limits, permits for loudspeakers, police patrols, complaint helpline, community awareness; appeal.

5. Q5 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

   Many teenagers spend hours doom-scrolling on social media. Write a letter to the editor, in 120-150 words, expressing your views and suggesting how families and schools can help.

   Hint

   Balanced view; practical steps.

   Answer

   Model points: format; P1 concern; P2 effects: poor sleep, anxiety, comparison, reduced concentration, less outdoor activity; acknowledge some benefits; P3 suggestions: screen-time limits, phone-free family hours, school digital-wellness sessions, hobbies and sports; appeal for balance.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.What is the word limit?Show answer

   120-150 words.

2. 2.How are the 5 marks split?Show answer

   Format 1, organisation 1, content 2, accuracy 1.

3. 3.To whom is the letter addressed?Show answer

   The Editor of a newspaper or magazine.

4. 4.What is the usual complimentary close?Show answer

   Yours faithfully (or Yours truly).

5. 5.What are the three body paragraphs?Show answer

   Issue; impact (causes and effects); ideas (suggestions).

6. 6.What is the other option in Q5?Show answer

   A job application with bio-data.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Can you write the full format in order?
• ☐Can you write a precise subject line?
• ☐Can you organise the body into three paragraphs?
• ☐Can you suggest practical solutions for common civic issues?
• ☐Can you keep to 120-150 words in a formal tone?

Letter to the Editor: frequently asked questions