In short: A message is a short, factual written communication enclosed inside a bordered box to convey essential information, instructions, or telephonic discussions to a person who cannot be reached directly. It records the date, time, brief salutation, clear summary in reported speech, and sender name, typically within a strict fifty-word limit.
A message is a concise piece of writing used to convey urgent facts, instructions, or telephonic discussions to someone who is temporarily unavailable. Message writing is mainly set in school and internal examinations now. It was once part of CBSE English Communicative (Code 101) but that course was discontinued in 2018. The format still appears regularly in class tests, mid-terms, and pre-board papers, where it tests a student's ability to extract key information from spoken dialogue and summarise it accurately under strict time limits.
Unlike long essays, a message demands speed, word economy, and factual precision. Students learn to frame the text inside a bordered box, convert dialogue into reported speech, and omit pleasantries so the recipient receives only what is necessary.
Preparing for a board paper? See how these formats are marked in the CBSE Class 10 writing guide and the ICSE Class 10 composition, letter and notice guide.
The core purpose and visual layout of a school message
A message relays urgent facts, instructions, or telephone conversations to a person who is temporarily absent.
The text must be enclosed inside a neat rectangular box drawn with a sharp pencil and ruler, establishing immediate visual order.
- Audience: Addressed to one specific person such as a parent, sibling, teacher, or classmate.
- Content: Limited to who called or visited, the purpose, and any required follow-up action.
- Visual frame: Always enclosed within a clean four-sided pencil box.
- Tone: Informal for family and friends, but semi-formal for teachers and staff.
| Writing format | Target audience | Primary purpose | Key visual feature | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Message | One specific person | Convey urgent phone call or note | Bordered box with date, time, and name | Fifty words |
| Notice | School or organisation | Announce event or lost item | Bordered box with authority and heading | Fifty words |
| Diary entry | Oneself as personal record | Record feelings and reflections | Day, date, time, and first-person tone | One hundred words |
| Informal letter | Friend or relative | Share news and personal updates | Sender address, date, greeting, and body | One hundred words |
The standard format and placement of message elements
Visual neatness carries dedicated format marks in most school assessment rubrics for message writing.
Drawing a rectangular box first creates a clear working boundary, preventing handwriting from spilling into margins.
- Header: Centred uppercase letters spelling MESSAGE.
- Date: Left margin, written as day, full month name, and year.
- Time: Right margin opposite date, specifying am or pm.
- Salutation: Left margin, greeting the recipient simply.
- Sign-off: Bottom-left margin, displaying only the sender's first name.
| Component | Visual placement | Formatting rule | Model entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document header | Top centre | Write MESSAGE in uppercase letters | MESSAGE |
| Date of writing | Left margin | Spell month in full without slashes | 14 October 2026 |
| Time of writing | Right margin | Specify hours with am or pm clearly | 4:30 pm |
| Salutation | Left margin | Use Dear followed by recipient name | Dear Mother |
| Sender sign-off | Bottom-left margin | Write first name without closing phrase | Rohit |
Converting telephone dialogue into reported speech
Most examination prompts present a spoken telephone dialogue between a caller and the message taker.
Students must convey the caller's message to an absent third person using reported speech rather than direct quotation.
- Tense shift: Convert present tense dialogue into past reporting clauses.
- Pronoun shift: Change caller pronouns to third person and recipient pronouns to second person.
- Omit pleasantries: Delete conversational greetings like Hello and How are you.
- Imperatives: Convert requests into to-infinitive clauses with verbs like requested or reminded.
| Spoken dialogue line | Reported message sentence | Grammar rule applied |
|---|---|---|
| Please tell Rohan drama rehearsal is cancelled. | Mr Kapoor called to inform you drama rehearsal is cancelled. | Reporting verb informed |
| Ask Priya to return my history notes by four. | Ananya called asking you to return her history notes by four. | Participial reporting clause |
| I have booked two train tickets for Agra. | Uncle Suresh rang to say he booked two train tickets for Agra. | Reported past action |
| Remember to submit your science model tomorrow. | Mrs Sen called to remind you to submit your science model tomorrow. | Infinitive directive |
| I will collect Deepak from coaching at seven. | Father called to state he will collect you from coaching at seven. | Adjusted recipient pronoun |
The fifty-word discipline and fact selection rules
School curricula enforce a strict fifty-word limit on the central body of a message.
Exceeding fifty-five words attracts penalties under expression, while omitting crucial facts costs content marks.
- Anchor 1: Identify the caller or visitor clearly.
- Anchor 2: State the primary reason for the call.
- Anchor 3: Specify the action required from the reader.
- Anchor 4: Include any deadline, venue, or contact number.
| Wordy draft sentence | Trimmed message sentence | Condensation method | Words saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Sharma called to say he cannot play chess tonight. | Mr Sharma called to cancel tonight's chess match. | Infinitive phrase | 4 words |
| Neha called to say the project deadline is Friday. | Neha called to state the project deadline is extended to Friday. | Removed coordination | 2 words |
| Dr Mehta rang up to ask if you could bring your reports. | Dr Mehta requested you to bring your medical reports. | Infinitive directive | 2 words |
| Aman called to say he is waiting at the library. | Aman is waiting at the library and asked you to join him. | Merged clauses | 2 words |
| Mother told me to remind you to lock the balcony door. | Mother reminded you to lock the back balcony door. | Infinitive structure | 2 words |
Major categories of school messages with practical examples
School examination questions fall into distinct functional varieties depending on the communicative situation.
Recognising the scenario helps students choose the correct tone, pronouns, and reporting patterns.
- Telephonic message: Relays a phone conversation to an absent family member or peer.
- Personal departure note: Informs household members about an urgent departure, destination, and return time.
- Academic coordination: Shares homework, project updates, or schedule changes among classmates.
- Administrative message: Records instructions or appointments from visiting authorities or staff.
| Message type | Exam situation | Primary purpose | Sample model sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telephonic message | Neighbour notes arrived parcel | Convey instructions and pickup details | Mr Verma called to say your parcel arrived and can be collected after six. |
| Departure note | Student leaves for sports coaching | Explain destination and return time | I have gone to the stadium with Coach Joseph and will return by eight tonight. |
| Academic coordination | Monitor announces shifted practical | Direct peers regarding revised hours | Mrs Sharma rescheduled our chemistry practical to Thursday morning. |
| Administrative message | Receptionist notes guest speaker call | Record professional updates for teacher | Professor Bannerjee confirmed his arrival for tomorrow's seminar at ten o'clock. |
Solved examination scenarios with mark breakdowns
Studying worked examples shows how raw prompt dialogues transform into exam-standard compositions.
Examiners award marks across format, extraction of key points, and grammatical accuracy.
- Format mark: Awarded for the bordered box, centred header, date, time, and signature.
- Content mark: Awarded for caller identity, purpose, required action, and deadlines.
- Expression mark: Awarded for grammatical accuracy, reported speech, and concise phrasing.
| Prompt scenario | Extracted key details | Model message body text | Word count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art teacher calls regarding postponed painting competition. | Caller: Mr Alok; Event: Art contest; Date: 22 Nov; Action: Submit canvas. | Mr Alok called to inform you that the art competition is postponed to 22 November. Submit your canvas board before Friday afternoon. | 22 words |
| Daughter leaves for selection trials before mother returns. | Venue: Stadium; Coach: Joseph; Keys: With Mrs Sen; Return: 8:00 pm. | I am leaving for the stadium with Coach Joseph for basketball trials. Spare keys are with Mrs Sen. I will return by eight tonight. | 25 words |
| Science teacher telephoned prefect regarding exhibition setup. | Caller: Dr Roy; Venue: Lab; Time: 9:00 am; Requirement: Charts and models. | Dr Roy called to instruct exhibition volunteers to assemble in the physics laboratory tomorrow by nine. Bring display charts and working models. | 22 words |
Step-by-step drafting checklist and proofreading strategy
Allocating eight minutes to message writing ensures adequate time for extraction, drafting, and checking.
Following a structured sequence prevents forgotten details and maintains clean visual presentation.
- Step 1: Read the prompt twice and underline caller, recipient, and action.
- Step 2: Draw top and side borders with pencil and ruler.
- Step 3: Write MESSAGE, date, time, and salutation in position.
- Step 4: Draft the body in reported speech under fifty words.
- Step 5: Sign your name, close bottom border, and check spelling.
| Drafting phase | Target duration | Key student action | Common pitfall to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fact extraction | Two minutes | Underline caller identity, reason, action, and deadline | Rushing to write before identifying intended recipient |
| Layout setup | One minute | Draw box borders and write centred header with date and time | Writing freehand lines without using a ruler |
| Body drafting | Three minutes | Compose three compact sentences in reported speech | Copying direct conversational speech with quotation marks |
| Proofreading | Two minutes | Count body words, verify UK spellings, and close bottom border | Leaving the box open or exceeding fifty-five words |
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Writing a full formal address block, subject line, and formal greeting. | Beginning immediately with the header MESSAGE, date, time, and simple salutation. | A message is a concise note; formal address blocks consume words and violate format rules. |
| Writing the message in direct speech with quotation marks. | Converting the caller's spoken words into reported speech. | Examiners assess indirect speech; quotation marks signal an inability to report speech accurately. |
| Using mobile texting shortcuts, incomplete fragments, and informal slang. | Writing complete, grammatically standard English sentences. | Examination boards penalise informal abbreviations like plz and asap because formal grammar is evaluated. |
| Including opening conversational pleasantries like 'I hope you are well'. | Stating the operational facts immediately in the opening sentence. | Pleasantries consume ten to fifteen words without conveying actionable information to the reader. |
| Concluding the message with formal subscription lines like 'Yours faithfully'. | Writing only the sender's first name on the bottom-left margin. | Subscription lines belong to letters; a message requires only the sender's identifying name. |
| Omitting the four-sided rectangular box around the completed message. | Drawing a neat pencil box around the text using a ruler. | The enclosing box carries a dedicated format mark that is lost if omitted. |
Exam tips
- Read the telephone dialogue twice, circling the caller's name, recipient, reason, and requested action.
- Leave the bottom horizontal line of your pencil box open until your text is finished and checked.
- Count only words in the central body paragraph when checking compliance with the fifty-word limit.
- Use precise reporting verbs such as informed, requested, and reminded rather than generic verbs like said.
- Budget eight minutes in total: two minutes for extraction, four for drafting, and two for proofreading.
Practice questions
Try each one, then open the answer.
- Name the four layout elements accompanying the body of a school message.
Answer
Centred header MESSAGE, date on left margin, time, and sender signature. - Convert to reported speech: 'Tell Simran her Kathak class is cancelled tonight.'
Answer
Mrs Roy called to inform you that your Kathak class has been cancelled tonight. - Why are conversational greetings omitted from an examination message?
Answer
Greetings are omitted because a message must communicate only essential facts within fifty words. - Kavita called Meena: 'Tell her group study is moved to Sunday at four.' Draft the message body.
Answer
Kavita called to inform you that group study is rescheduled to Sunday at four o'clock. - Trim: 'Mr Sen called to say there is a scheduled power cut tomorrow from ten to one.'
Answer
Mr Sen called to notify us of a power cut tomorrow between ten and one. - A neighbour returns three books borrowed by your mother, who is out. Draft a short message.
Answer
Mrs Joshi visited to return your three library books. She left them on your desk. - Identify two format errors in a message titled 'NOTICE' that ends with 'Yours sincerely, Rajiv'.
Answer
Using the header NOTICE instead of MESSAGE, and including the letter subscription 'Yours sincerely'. - Coach Thomas called: 'Trials moved to Sports Complex. Bring certificate and photos tomorrow by seven.' Draft the message.
Answer
Coach Thomas called to state trials moved to Sports Complex. Report by seven tomorrow with certificate and photos. - Trim: 'Our coach called to say tomorrow's practice is moved to the university pool at six because of repairs.'
Answer
Coach Peter called to inform you that swimming practice is shifted to the university pool at six. - Dr Batra's clinic called: 'Tell Mr Khanna his five o'clock visit is postponed to six. Bring X-rays.' Draft the message.
Answer
Dr Batra's clinic called to inform you that your appointment is postponed to six. Please bring your X-rays.
Questions students ask
Is drawing a box mandatory for message writing in school exams?
Yes, drawing an enclosing box is expected wherever message writing is set in school exams. Message writing is mainly set in school and internal papers now, not in current CBSE or ICSE board exams, but the convention remains the same: format marks depend on enclosing the message within a clean rectangular perimeter. Draw top and side borders in pencil first, draft your text, check the word count, and rule the closing bottom line.
Does the fifty-word limit include the date, time, and sender name?
No, in standard school marking schemes, the fifty-word limit applies strictly to the central body of the message. The centred document header, date, time of composition, recipient salutation, and sender signature are structural layout markers and are not counted towards the fifty-word body total.
Can students use abbreviations and texting shortcuts in a message?
No, examination boards strictly penalise mobile messaging abbreviations, informal acronyms, and conversational slang. You must never write shortcuts such as u, r, plz, or asap in an English paper. Message writing tests formal English skills requiring correct spelling, capitalisation, and grammatically complete sentences.
What is the key difference between a message and a notice in English?
A message is a personal or semi-formal note intended for a single recipient to relay a phone call or schedule revision. A notice is a formal public announcement addressed to an entire school or institution, requiring an issuing authority, descriptive title, and public display.
Should an examination message be written in first person or third person?
The perspective depends on the prompt scenario. When reporting a telephone call from an external caller to an absent recipient, use third-person reported speech to convey their message objectively. When leaving a departure note explaining your own destination and schedule, use first-person pronouns such as I and my.
Keep practising
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Written by the Reportcards English team, reviewed by Dr. Vishruti Arora. Updated 4 November 2026.