English LanguageICSE Class 10 · Chapter 4

ICSE Class 10 E-mail Writing: Format, Subject Line and Examples

Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Question 3(ii) of ICSE English Paper 1 asks for an e-mail on the same situation as the notice, for 5 marks. CISCE's format has the receiver's e-mail ID, a short subject, a salutation, an opening sentence with the purpose, every detail from the notice, a polite closing and 'Yours faithfully,' with your name.

What E-mail Writing is about

E-mail writing is Question 3 (ii) of English Paper 1. The syllabus says you will 'write an e-mail on the same content as the notice' in Question 3 (i). It carries 5 marks and is compulsory.

The e-mail is usually an invitation linked to the notice's event: inviting a well-known artist to judge a poster competition (2027 specimen), a famous person to judge a story writing competition (2025), the Principal of a neighbouring school to send pupils to remedial classes (2023), and an eminent poet to inaugurate a poetry festival (2026 format guide).

The 2027 draft marking scheme lists exactly what is checked: e-mail ID, subject, salutation, opening sentence, closing sentence, subscription, and for expression: 'All details of the notice are to be included in the e-mail.' CISCE's sample is:

*paresh08.maity@gmail.com* / To judge the Annual Inter-School Poster Designing Competition / Dear Sir, / On behalf of 'Karukrit', the Art and Craft Club of St. Helen's School, I cordially invite you to be one of the judges … / The event will be held on 26th February 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at the Carnation Hall of St. Helen's School. / We would be obliged if you could grace the occasion … We request you to send a line in confirmation. / Thank you. / Yours faithfully, / Shreya Chatterjee

Note that the CISCE sample writes only the receiver's address and the subject (no 'To:', 'From:' or 'Date:' labels are required).

Weightage: E-mail writing is Question 3 (ii): 5 of the 80 marks of English Paper 1, compulsory, on the same situation as the notice in Question 3 (i).Source: CISCE ICSE 2027 Specimen Question Paper, English Language (T27 011), Question 3

Key concepts

The parts of an ICSE e-mail: 1. E-mail ID of the receiver, correctly formed: a name, '@', and a provider, e.g. 'meera.artist@gmail.com'.
2. Subject: a short phrase built from the event name, e.g. 'To judge the Inter School Story Writing Competition'.
3. Salutation: 'Dear Sir,' or 'Dear Madam,' (or 'Dear Ms Rao,').
4. Opening sentence: who you are and the invitation or purpose, stated at once.
5. Body: every detail of the notice (event, date, time, venue, who is taking part).
6. Closing sentence: a polite request, e.g. 'We request you to send a line in confirmation.'
7. Subscription: 'Thank you.' (optional) then 'Yours faithfully,' and your full name.; Worked example
Which of these is a correctly formed e-mail ID for a famous author: (a) famousperson@gmail.com (b) ruskin bond@gmail (c) principal@school.com (d) anita.desai.writer@gmail.com?
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
(a) is a placeholder, criticised by the 2025 examiners.
(b) has a space and no domain ending.
(c) is the principal's address, not the receiver's.
(d) has a name, '@' and a full provider.
Answer: (d). An invented but realistic ID for the actual receiver; never 'famousperson@…' or the sender's own school address.
The subject line: Keep it short and specific, built from the event name and purpose. The 2025 examiners noted subjects that simply copied 'judge on occasion' from the question; 2023 examiners noted subjects that were missing altogether. CISCE's examples: 'Annual Inter House Poetry Writing Festival'; 'To judge the Annual Inter-School Poster Designing Competition'.; Worked example
Write a subject line for an e-mail inviting a cricketer to give away prizes at your school's Annual Sports Meet.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
Include purpose and event.
Keep it under about ten words.
Answer: 'Invitation to give away prizes at the Annual Sports Meet'.
Opening with the invitation: The invitation or purpose must come in the opening sentence. The 2025 examiners noted that many candidates 'added the invitation in the closing sentence itself'. In 2023, when the e-mail was meant to invite pupils, some candidates 'invited the Principal of the neighbouring school to attend the Remedial classes'. Read exactly who is being invited and to do what.; Worked example
Rewrite this opening so the purpose is immediate: 'Hope you are fine. Our school is a very old school and we have many activities.'
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
Identify yourself and your role.
State the invitation in the same sentence.
Answer: 'On behalf of the Literary Club of Green Valley School, I am delighted to invite you to judge our Inter School Story Writing Competition.'
Every detail of the notice: The expression mark depends on including all details of the notice: the event's name, date, time and venue, and who is taking part. In 2025 'important details such as date, time, and venue were often missing'. The details must match the notice exactly; a different date in the e-mail is an error.; Worked example
The notice says: 'Weave a Tale / Inter School Story Writing Competition / on 18th August 2027 / from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. / at the Library Hall, Green Valley School'. Write the details sentence of the e-mail.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
Copy the event, date, time and venue accurately.
Add who will take part.
Answer: 'The competition will be held on 18th August 2027 from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the Library Hall of our school, and students from twelve schools in the city will take part.'
Tone: formal, warm and brief: An invitation e-mail to an eminent person is formal: no contractions, no slang, and polite phrases such as 'We would be honoured', 'grace the occasion', 'A line in confirmation would be much appreciated'. Keep it short: CISCE's sample is about 80 words. Do not digress (the 2025 examiners noted candidates who digressed into 'unrelated topics such as music, dance, or wedding ceremonies').; Worked example
Make this closing formal: 'Plz come, it'll be awesome!! Reply soon.'
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
Remove contractions, slang and exclamations.
Make a polite request for confirmation.
Answer: 'We would be honoured by your presence. Kindly send us a line in confirmation at your convenience.'

E-mail Writing 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.

Purpose first

Suppose a busy doctor receives two e-mails from schools. One begins, 'Our school was founded in 1965 and has 2,000 students…'; the other begins, 'We would be honoured if you would inaugurate our Health Awareness Week on 3rd May.'

Which is the doctor more likely to answer, and why?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

A busy reader decides from the first line.
The second states the request at once.

Answer: The second. It tells the reader immediately what is wanted, which is exactly why ICSE examiners check the opening sentence for the invitation.

Memory hook: First line, real reason.

Subject lines that help

Imagine you are the guest and your inbox shows three subjects: 'Hi', 'Urgent!!!', and 'Invitation to judge the Inter School Poster Competition, 26 Feb'.

Which would you open first, and what makes a subject line useful?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Useful subjects say what and which event.
Vague or alarming subjects are ignored or look like spam.

Answer: The third: it tells you the purpose and event before you open it. ICSE asks for exactly this kind of short, specific subject.

Memory hook: Subject = purpose + event.

Same content as the notice

Suppose your notice says the poster competition is in Carnation Hall at 10 a.m., but your e-mail to the judge says the Auditorium at 11 a.m.

What would happen on the day, and what does this teach about Question 3?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The judge goes to the wrong place at the wrong time.
The e-mail must repeat the notice's details exactly.

Answer: Confusion and an embarrassed school. In the exam, a mismatch costs the expression mark; in life, it costs the event.

Memory hook: Notice and e-mail: twins, not cousins.

Topics in this chapter

Board E-mail: ID, Subject, Purpose and Matching Details (ICSE Class 10)

How the board asks E-mail Writing

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

Question type	How it is asked	Method
Inviting a judge for a competition	'Write an email to a well-known artist, inviting her/him to judge the event.' (2027 specimen); 'Write an email to a famous person inviting him/her to be the Judge on the occasion.' (2025)	Realistic e-mail ID of the guest; subject naming the event; invitation in the first sentence; all notice details; request for confirmation; 'Yours faithfully,'.
Inviting a chief guest to inaugurate	'Write an email to an eminent poet inviting him/her to inaugurate the event.' (CISCE 2026 format guide)	Same structure; give the occasion (e.g. Golden Jubilee) in the opening and the details in the second paragraph.
Inviting another school's pupils	'Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school inviting their pupils to attend the classes if they so wish. Give all details of the classes to be held.' (2023)	The Principal is the reader, but the pupils are the invitees. Give the full schedule from the notice and how pupils can register.

Tricks to remember E-mail Writing

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

I-S-S-O-D-C-S
ID, Subject, Salutation, Opening, Details, Closing, Subscription: 'I Sent Six Old Dogs Clean Socks'.
Use it when: The order of parts in every ICSE e-mail.
Tick the notice
Before writing, tick the notice's event, date, time and venue; tick each again once it appears in the e-mail.
Use it when: Ensures all details are included and match.

E-mail Writing: board-level solved questions

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

Example 1: Invitation to judge: full model · 5 marks · Short answerBoard level

Your school is hosting an Inter School Photography Contest (notice: 'Frame the City', 22nd November 2027, 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., Art Gallery, Senior Block, Loreto Convent School). Write an e-mail to a well-known photographer inviting him or her to judge the contest.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

E-mail ID: a realistic ID for the photographer.
Subject: purpose plus event.
Salutation: 'Dear Madam,'.
Opening: who you are and the invitation.
Details: date, time, venue, participants.
Closing and subscription.

Answer: nandita.lens@gmail.com
To judge the Inter School Photography Contest

Dear Madam,

On behalf of the Photography Club of Loreto Convent School, I am delighted to invite you to be the judge of our Inter School Photography Contest on the theme 'My City'.

The contest will be held on 22nd November 2027 from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. at the Art Gallery in the Senior Block of our school. Pupils of Classes VIII to X from ten schools will take part.

We would be honoured if you could judge the entries and share a few words with the young photographers. A line in confirmation would be much appreciated.

Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Tanya Dsouza
Secretary, Photography Club

Example 2: Host versus invitee (2023 type) · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Your school is holding free spoken-English workshops for Class X (every Tuesday and Friday from 5th to 30th July 2027, 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m., Language Lab, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2). Write an e-mail to the Principal of a neighbouring school inviting their Class X pupils to attend.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Reader: the other school's Principal. Invitees: their pupils, not the Principal.
Subject from the event name.
Opening: offer the workshops to their pupils.
All schedule details; how to register.
Polite closing.

Answer: principal.sjs.pune@gmail.com
Spoken English Workshops for Class X

Dear Madam,

I am writing on behalf of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 to invite the Class X pupils of your school to join the free spoken-English workshops we are holding this month, if they so wish.

The workshops will be held every Tuesday and Friday from 5th to 30th July 2027, from 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m., in our Language Lab on the first floor of the Main Building. Interested pupils may send their names through you to our Vice Principal by 2nd July 2027.

We would be glad to welcome your pupils. Kindly let us know how many will attend.

Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
R. K. Menon
Head of English Department

Example 3: Correcting a weak e-mail · 5 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Find the errors: 'To: famousperson@gmail.com / Subject: judge on occasion / Respected Ma'am, Our school is great. We have many events. Please come as judge. Thank you, ABC.'

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Check each element against the marking scheme list.

Answer: (1) Placeholder e-mail ID; give a realistic ID for the actual guest. (2) Subject copied from the question; name the event. (3) 'Respected Ma'am' was listed as a wrong salutation; use 'Dear Madam,'. (4) Opening does not state the invitation clearly or say who is writing. (5) No date, time or venue: the notice's details are missing. (6) 'Thank you' is not a subscription and 'ABC' is not a name; end 'Yours faithfully,' with a full name.

Example 4: Inaugurating a festival · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Write an e-mail inviting a well-known classical dancer to inaugurate your school's Inter House Dance Festival (notice: 'Rhythm Rising', 14th December 2027, 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., Main Auditorium, St. Xavier's High School).

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

ID; subject; 'Dear Madam,'.
Opening: occasion and invitation to inaugurate.
All details.
Request for confirmation; subscription.

Answer: kavita.bharatanatyam@gmail.com
Invitation to inaugurate the Inter House Dance Festival

Dear Madam,

We would be honoured if you would inaugurate the Inter House Dance Festival of St. Xavier's High School, which we are holding to mark our school's sixtieth year.

The festival will take place on 14th December 2027 from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the Main Auditorium of our school. Pupils from all four houses will present classical and folk dances.

Your presence would inspire our young dancers. We request you to send a line in confirmation.

Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Aditya Rao
Cultural Secretary

Example 5: Subject line choices · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Which subject line is best for an e-mail inviting an author to judge an Inter School Story Writing Competition? (a) Hello (b) Judge on occasion (c) To judge the Inter School Story Writing Competition (d) Please read this important e-mail about our school's very big annual event

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(a) says nothing.
(b) copies the question, which the 2025 examiners criticised.
(c) gives purpose and event briefly.
(d) is long and vague.

Answer: (c) To judge the Inter School Story Writing Competition

Where the marks are

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

E-mail inviting a well-known artist to judge a poster designing competition (2027 specimen). The marking scheme lists seven elements; it prints no marks against them, so this split is indicative. (5 marks)

Step	Marks
E-mail ID and subject	1
Salutation and opening sentence with the invitation	1
Closing sentence and subscription	1
Expression: all details of the notice included (event, date, time, venue, participants)	2

Where students lose marks in E-mail Writing

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

Mistake: Wrong or placeholder e-mail ID
Students write 'famousperson@gmail.com', the sender's own or the principal's address, or an ID with spaces. The 2023 examiners reported incorrect and personal IDs, and the 2025 examiners the principal's address and 'famousperson@gmail.com'.
Wrong working
famous person@gmail
Right working
anil.kumble.sports@gmail.com
Do this: Invent a realistic ID for the actual receiver: name + '@' + provider, no spaces.
Usually costs: The e-mail ID element.
Mistake: Subject copied from the question or missing
Students write 'judge on occasion' or leave it blank.
Do this: Purpose + event name: 'To judge the Inter School Story Writing Competition'.
Usually costs: The subject element.
Mistake: Invitation hidden at the end
Students start with greetings and school history; the 2025 examiners noted candidates who 'added the invitation in the closing sentence itself'.
Do this: State the invitation in the very first sentence.
Usually costs: The opening-sentence element.
Mistake: Notice details missing or different
Students forget that the e-mail must carry 'the same content as the notice'. Date, time and venue were most often omitted in 2025.
Do this: Before writing, tick off event, date, time, venue and participants from your notice; copy them exactly.
Usually costs: The expression part of the marks.
Mistake: Wrong salutation or subscription
'Respected Sir/Ma'am' and 'thank you' as a subscription appear in the examiners' lists.
Wrong working
Respected Ma'am, … Thank you, Riya
Right working
Dear Madam, … Thank you. / Yours faithfully, / Riya Sen
Do this: Use the formal letter conventions: 'Dear Sir/Madam,' and 'Yours faithfully,' with full name.
Usually costs: Salutation and subscription elements.

Practice questions on E-mail Writing

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

Q1 · 5 marks · Short answerBoard level
Your school is organising an Inter School Science Exhibition (notice: 'Eureka Moments', 10th January 2028, 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., Science Block Atrium, Delhi Public School). Write an e-mail to a scientist at a nearby research institute inviting him or her to be the chief guest.
Hint
Invitation in the first sentence; every notice detail.
Answer
Value points: realistic ID; subject 'Invitation to the Inter School Science Exhibition' or similar; 'Dear Sir/Madam,'; opening with the invitation to be chief guest; date, time, venue, participants; request for confirmation; 'Yours faithfully,' full name and role.
Q2 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Write an e-mail to the Principal of a neighbouring school inviting their pupils to take part in your Inter School Quiz on Indian Heritage (9th December 2027, 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., Multipurpose Hall, Army Public School).
Hint
The Principal is the reader; pupils are invited. Mention team size and registration.
Answer
Value points: Principal's realistic ID; subject naming the quiz; 'Dear Sir/Madam,'; opening inviting the school to send a team of pupils; all details plus team size and last date to send names; polite close; 'Yours faithfully,'.
Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder board level
A student's e-mail gives the event date as 20th August while the notice says 22nd August. Why does this matter, and which mark is affected?
Hint
The syllabus says 'the same content as the notice'.
Answer
The e-mail must carry the same content as the notice; a mismatched date is an error in the details, which affects the expression mark that checks that all details of the notice are included.
Q4 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Write an e-mail inviting a retired Olympic athlete to give away the prizes at your school's Annual Sports Meet (notice: 'Go for Gold', 5th February 2028, 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., School Sports Ground, Modern School).
Hint
Purpose: to give away prizes, not to judge.
Answer
Value points: ID; subject 'Invitation to give away prizes at the Annual Sports Meet'; 'Dear Sir/Madam,'; opening with the invitation; date, time, venue, events (track and field, house relays); close requesting confirmation; 'Yours faithfully,' name, designation.
Q5 · 1 mark · Short answerHOTS / competency
Rewrite this e-mail opening so that it states the invitation immediately: 'Good morning Sir. I am a student. I study in Class X. My school is Sunrise Academy. There is an event.'
Hint
One sentence: who, on whose behalf, invitation, event.
Answer
'On behalf of the students of Sunrise Academy, I am writing to invite you to judge our Inter House Elocution Competition.'
Q6 · 1 mark · MCQHarder board level
Which of these is the correct ICSE subscription for an e-mail inviting a famous poet? (a) Yours lovingly, (b) Thank you, ABC (c) Yours faithfully, followed by full name (d) Your's truly,
Hint
CISCE's sample e-mail.
Answer
(c) Yours faithfully, followed by the full name. 'Thank you' alone is not a subscription, 'lovingly' is informal, and 'Your's' is misspelt.
Q7 · 5 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Your school is holding a Book Fair from 3rd to 7th March 2028. Write an e-mail to a local publisher inviting them to set up a stall. Include all the details a publisher would need.
Hint
Think as the publisher: dates, daily timings, venue, expected visitors, stall space, whom to contact.
Answer
Value points: publisher's realistic ID; subject 'Invitation to set up a stall at the School Book Fair'; 'Dear Sir/Madam,'; opening invitation; dates, daily timings, venue, number of pupils and parents expected, stall size and any charges, last date to confirm and contact person; polite close; 'Yours faithfully,'.

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.What must the ICSE e-mail be about?Show answer
The same content as the notice in Question 3 (i).
2.List the elements in the 2027 marking scheme for the e-mail.Show answer
E-mail ID, subject, salutation, opening sentence, closing sentence, subscription, and all details of the notice (expression).
3.Where should the invitation appear?Show answer
In the opening sentence.
4.What subscription does CISCE's sample e-mail use?Show answer
'Thank you.' followed by 'Yours faithfully,' and the full name.
5.What subject line fault did the 2025 examiners note?Show answer
Copying 'judge on occasion' from the question instead of naming the event.

Quick revision checklist

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

Can you write a realistic e-mail ID for a guest?
Can you write a subject line from purpose plus event name?
Can you write an opening sentence that states the invitation?
Can you include every notice detail without changing any?
Can you close politely and sign off with 'Yours faithfully,'?

E-mail Writing: frequently asked questions

Do I need 'To', 'From' and 'Date' labels in the ICSE e-mail?

CISCE's sample shows only the receiver's e-mail ID followed by the subject. Extra labels are not wrong, but they earn no mark; make sure the ID and subject are correct.

How long should the ICSE e-mail be?

No word limit is printed. CISCE's sample is about 80 words in three short paragraphs: invitation, details, request for confirmation.

Can I use 'Regards' instead of 'Yours faithfully'?

CISCE's samples use 'Yours faithfully,'. Use that to be safe; 'Thank you' alone is not accepted as a subscription.

Must the e-mail repeat the notice's creative title?

No. It must include the notice's details (event, date, time, venue, participants); the creative title is optional.

Based on: CISCE ICSE 2027 English syllabus (Paper 1: English Language); CISCE ICSE 2027 Specimen Question Paper and Draft Marking Scheme: English Language (English Paper 1); CISCE Specimen Questions, English Language 2026: suggested formats for letter, notice and e-mail; CISCE Analysis of Pupil Performance 2025: English Language (examiners' comments); CISCE Analysis of Pupil Performance 2023: English Language (examiners' comments)