Lesson T2.2.3

T2.2.3 Choosing the right form for writing Quiz: KS3 English, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T2.2.3, Choosing the right form for writing: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 English (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Writing, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which form is most suitable for a letter to a head teacher asking for a change to the school dinner menu?

    • A formal letter, with the sender's address, a polite greeting and a clear, respectful request.
    • A chatty diary entry describing the writer's feelings about lunch and what they ate at school.
    • A poem with rhyming verses, so that the head teacher will enjoy reading the request in the end.
    • A text message with short abbreviations, emoji and a casual sign-off, sent quickly from a phone.

  2. A writer wants to explain how to make a sandwich step by step. Which form suits this purpose best?

    • A persuasive speech that argues that sandwiches are better than any other meal of the day.
    • Instructions, with a numbered or ordered list of clear, imperative steps.
    • A descriptive poem that uses imagery to express the writer's love of bread and fillings.
    • A short story in which a character slowly discovers the joy of cooking for the first time.

  3. Which form would best suit a newspaper report on a school sports day?

    • A news report, with a headline, a clear opening summary and details in order of importance.
    • A diary in which the writer records their personal thoughts and feelings about the afternoon.
    • A script for a play in which pupils act out the events of the day with stage directions.
    • A letter from a parent to the school explaining why they were unable to attend the event.

  4. Which form is a discursive essay most likely to use?

    • A set of rhyming couplets that build up a mood through repeated images and sounds.
    • A list of short commands aimed at the reader, each one beginning with a strong verb.
    • Dialogue between two characters, with speech marks and stage directions for each line.
    • Balanced paragraphs that explore two or more views on an issue before reaching a conclusion.

  5. What is the main feature of a diary entry?

    • It is written in the third person and gives a neutral account of events without any feelings shown.
    • It is written as a list of facts with headings and bullet points for quick reference later on.
    • It is written in the first person and records the writer's thoughts and events from a personal viewpoint.
    • It is written as a dialogue so that the reader can hear several voices speaking together at once.

  6. A pupil must write a script for a short radio play. Which feature must the script include?

    • Speaker names followed by their lines, with stage directions for sound effects and actions.
    • Numbered paragraphs that each begin with a topic sentence and end with a summary of ideas.
    • Headings in bold type and bullet points that group together facts on a single subject.
    • A title page, a contents list and an index so that listeners can find the scenes quickly.

  7. Which feature is typical of a formal letter?

    • Slang and abbreviations, such as 'thx' and 'lol', to show a friendly tone.
    • Emoji and several exclamation marks to show the writer's excitement.
    • A signature in capital letters followed by a row of kisses at the bottom.
    • A sign-off of 'Yours faithfully' to match the greeting 'Dear Sir or Madam'.

  8. Which form suits a set of notes for a talk on volcanoes?

    • A long narrative with characters who travel to a volcano and describe every detail they see there.
    • Brief bullet points or headings that capture the key facts so the speaker can refer to them quickly.
    • A series of questions addressed to the audience, each one with no answer provided for the listener.
    • A formal letter addressed to the local council that asks them to close the volcano for safety reasons.

  9. A writer wants to persuade readers to join a club. Which form is most effective?

    • A dictionary entry that defines the word club and gives its origin and pronunciation in full.
    • A leaflet with a strong headline, short persuasive paragraphs and a clear call to action.
    • A set of directions that explains how to reach the club by bus, train and on foot each day.
    • A recipe that gives the ingredients and method for making a cake that tastes very good indeed.

  10. Which form would a pupil use to share a story about a holiday with a close friend?

    • A legal contract that sets out the terms and conditions under which the holiday was arranged.
    • A scientific experiment write-up with a hypothesis, method, results and a conclusion at the end.
    • A formal report with a title, an introduction, numbered sections and a formal list of references.
    • An informal personal letter, which can use a friendly tone and a more relaxed style of writing.

  11. Why does a writer choose the form of a text carefully?

    • The form only matters for marks in an exam, and it has no effect on how readers understand it.
    • The form should be as long as possible so that the reader can see how much effort the writer made.
    • The form should always be a poem, because poems are the most impressive kind of writing to read.
    • The form shapes how the audience reads the text and helps the writing achieve its purpose.

  12. Which form is best for a review of a film for a school magazine?

    • A play script with characters who debate the merits of the film in dialogue on the stage.
    • A poem in which each stanza describes a different scene from the film without any evaluation at all.
    • A review with a title, a short summary of the plot, and an evaluation with a rating and reasons.
    • A numbered list of rules that readers must follow when watching films at the cinema each week.

  13. A pupil writes a speech to be given to the whole school. Which feature suits a spoken text?

    • Dense tables of statistics with columns that the audience must read silently during the talk.
    • Complex sentences with many embedded clauses, which are easier to follow when they are read silently.
    • Short sentences and direct address, such as 'you', to keep the audience engaged while listening.
    • Long footnotes and a bibliography at the end, so that listeners can check each source later on.

  14. Which form would a pupil choose to explain how a bill is calculated for a group of friends?

    • A short story about a restaurant in which the characters argue about who should pay the bill.
    • A dialogue in which two friends talk loudly about money without any figures or calculations shown.
    • A sonnet in which the rhyme scheme makes the cost of each meal feel more memorable to the reader.
    • A table or simple worked example that sets out each item and the total in a clear order.

  15. Which form suits a text designed to inform younger children about the solar system?

    • A set of legal rules that regulate the use of telescopes in schools and must be obeyed at all times.
    • A clear information text with simple language, labelled pictures and short factual sentences.
    • A long academic article with complex vocabulary, footnotes and a detailed list of references.
    • A horror story in which a character is frightened by a meteor that lands in the middle of a field.

  16. A pupil must write a formal argument for an assembly. Which structure is most appropriate?

    • A single long paragraph with no breaks, so that the argument runs continuously from start to finish.
    • A story that ends before the argument is made, so that the audience is left to decide for themselves.
    • A list of random points, each written as a separate line without any link to the one before it.
    • An introduction stating the view, paragraphs giving reasons with evidence, and a conclusion summing up.

  17. Which form would a pupil use to tell a fun story to a class, with characters who speak to each other?

    • A narrative story, with a clear beginning, middle and end and dialogue between the characters.
    • A table comparing the features of different classroom chairs, with prices and measurements listed.
    • A numbered list of rules for the classroom, each rule written as a short command to the class.
    • A news report explaining the results of a school quiz, with headline, statistics and interviews.

  18. A pupil must write an advert for a bake sale. Which form is most suitable?

    • A scientific report on the chemistry of baking bread and cakes, with a full method and results.
    • A legal contract agreeing to pay for the cakes in advance, with terms and signatures from both sides.
    • A diary entry describing a long afternoon in the kitchen, with the writer's private thoughts recorded.
    • A poster or flyer with an eye-catching headline, the date and time, and a clear reason to attend.

  19. Which form best suits a text that gives a balanced view of a debate about homework?

    • A discursive article that sets out arguments on both sides before giving a conclusion.
    • A monologue spoken by one character who is angry about homework and wants everyone to hear.
    • A set of rules for playing a board game, with each rule given as a numbered instruction.
    • A recipe with ingredients listed first and then the method set out in clear, numbered steps.

  20. Which feature is typical of a biography?

    • It is a list of rules with each one numbered, and it is written in the second person throughout.
    • It is written about a real person's life, usually in chronological order and often in the third person.
    • It is a dialogue between two invented characters who talk about their feelings in the first person.
    • It is a poem with stanzas that describe the writer's personal feelings about a holiday they took.

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