Forum and online-comment tasks are where confident writers drop marks: the format looks casual, so they write casually, and the examiner marks it like a letter. This free pack gives you two discussion-post tasks in exam layout – one on a community website, one on a staff discussion board – with the grids explained and a model post that responds to other users the way the task demands.
Free to download, print and share for personal or classroom use. Answers included.
What’s in this worksheet
- Know-the-format box for this text type
- Task 1 in Pearson exam layout (Information box, bullet points, word count, marks)
- Task 2 in Highfield exam layout (notes stimulus)
- Planning grid and lined answer space for both tasks
- Plain-English version of the official marking grids
- Indicative content list for Task 1
- 300-word model answer with examiner notes
Common mistakes on this topic
From our tutors’ marking and the most recent examiner reports – check your work against these:
- Writing a one-paragraph rant with no greeting, no structure and no reference to what others have said.
- Going fully formal – ‘Dear Sir or Madam… Yours faithfully’ – which is the wrong format for a forum and loses marks.
- Ignoring the other users. If the task says ‘respond to points others have made’, quote or summarise them and answer.
- Ending abruptly. A forum post finishes with a suggestion, a question or an invitation to reply.
How to use it
- Read the ‘Know the format’ box, then do Task 1 under exam conditions – 5 minutes planning, the rest writing, timed as the task box says.
- Mark yourself against the grid and the indicative content list. Be honest about which band each strand lands in.
- Read the model answer and its notes, then rewrite your weakest paragraph. Do Task 2 a few days later without looking at the model.
Related free resources
- Blog Post – Exam-Style Writing Tasks (Functional Skills Level 2)
- Leaflet – Exam-Style Writing Tasks (Functional Skills Level 2)
- Plan a Functional Skills Writing Task in 5 Minutes – Free Planning Sheet
- All free Functional Skills English Level 2 resources
Frequently asked questions
How formal should a forum post be in Functional Skills English?
Semi-formal: friendly and direct, contractions allowed, but no slang, no text-speak, no emojis, and proper paragraphs. Imagine writing to strangers who share your interest and whom you want to persuade.
How do I ‘respond to points others have made’ when I can’t see the thread?
Use the Information box – it summarises what other users have said. Refer to those views directly: ‘Several people have argued that…’ and then agree, disagree or partly agree with a reason.
What layout does a forum post need?
A thread subject or title, your username or name at the top, short paragraphs, and a sign-off. No addresses or dates – it is not a letter.
Want a tutor to mark your work? Not sure where you stand? Take the free 15-minute mini mock test. Ready to get qualified? Our live 10-week Functional Skills Level 2 English course runs in small groups with a mock exam included, and the 5-day revision course is there if your exam is close.