Grade 9 English · Theme 5.0 Relationships: Community · Sub-strand 5.5.1 Letter of Application
These are free study notes for Grade 9 learners, written to the KICD curriculum design and taken from our full Grade 9 English notes. Formal letters are marked on format as much as content. Learn the layout once and you will never lose those marks.
At the end of Grade 9 many learners write to a senior school to ask for a place. A letter of application is a formal letter, so it follows a fixed format. In this topic we learn its components and write one for a Grade 10 placement.
Components of a letter of application
| Component | Where | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sender's address and date | Top right | Kilimani Junior School, P.O. Box 123, Kisumu. 10 June. |
| Recipient's address | Left, below the sender's | The Principal, Lakeview Senior School, P.O. Box 456, Kisumu. |
| Salutation | Left | Dear Sir/Madam, |
| Subject line | Below the salutation, in capitals | RE: APPLICATION FOR PLACEMENT IN GRADE 10 (STEM PATHWAY) |
| Body | Paragraphs | Who you are, your request, your strengths, a polite close |
| Complimentary close | Left | Yours faithfully, |
| Signature and full name | Below the close | Signature, then FULL NAME |
The body
Model body
"I am a Grade 9 learner at Kilimani Junior School and I wish to apply for a Grade 10 placement in your school's STEM pathway.
I enjoy Mathematics and Integrated Science, and I lead our school's environment club. I believe your school's laboratories and agriculture projects will help me grow.
I would be grateful if my application is considered. I look forward to your reply."
Formal tone
| Avoid | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Hi Principal, | Dear Sir/Madam, |
| I wanna join your school. | I wish to apply for a place in your school. |
| Thanx a lot! | Thank you for considering my application. |
| Yours sincerely (after Dear Sir/Madam) | Yours faithfully |
Checklist
- Both addresses and the date are correct.
- There is a clear subject line.
- The tone is formal, with no slang or short forms.
- "Dear Sir/Madam" is matched with "Yours faithfully".
- Handwriting is neat and legible.
Key points to remember
- Components: sender's address and date, recipient's address, salutation, subject line, body, complimentary close, signature and name.
- The body introduces you, makes the request, gives strengths and closes politely.
- Use a formal tone; avoid slang.
- "Dear Sir/Madam" goes with "Yours faithfully".
Test yourself: multiple choice
Where is the sender's address written?
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A: The sender's address and date go at the top right.
Which complimentary close matches "Dear Sir/Madam"?
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C: "Yours faithfully" matches an unnamed recipient.
The line beginning "RE:" is the
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B: It states the subject of the letter.
Which sentence suits a letter of application?
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D: It is formal.
What should the body of the letter include?
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B: The body states the request and your strengths.
Practice questions
List the seven components of a letter of application in order. (7 marks)
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Sender's address and date; recipient's address; salutation; subject line; body; complimentary close; signature and full name.
Write a suitable subject line for a letter applying to join a school's Arts and Sports pathway. (1 mark)
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RE: APPLICATION FOR PLACEMENT IN GRADE 10 (ARTS AND SPORTS SCIENCE PATHWAY)
Rewrite formally: "Hi! I wanna come to your school coz it's cool." (2 marks)
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"Dear Sir/Madam, I wish to apply for a place in your school because of its excellent programmes."
Write the body of a letter of application (about 80 words) for a Grade 10 place. (6 marks)
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Answers vary; must introduce the writer, make the request, give strengths and close politely.
This is one topic. Get the whole year. The full Grade 9 English notes cover every sub-strand of Terms 1, 2 and 3 like this one, with pictures, key points and practice questions with answers, as a printable PDF for KSh 150. Pay with M-Pesa and download at once.
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