Letter? Article? Speech? Why Form is (Almost) Irrelevant in GCSE English Language Paper 2 Question 5

If you’re an English teacher – or even a student who has done GCSE English Language in a previous year – you will probably have heard this plaintive cry before: “Question 5 was a letter! Noooo! I hate writing letters!”  There are many permutations and combinations of this phrase. Most of them revolve around aforementioned deliverer of plaintive cry maintaining that they are much, much better at writing articles or speeches (or even leaflets or essays).  But not letters. When it comes to letters they lose whatever literacy they previously possessed and have just written the worst piece of writing ever. Like, literally, ever! In the history of the universe. If only it had been an article! They could write fantastic articles when they were, like, two years old.

That question was so unfair!  I only prepared for writing an article!

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.