NZQA Assessment Support Material
Unit standard
3488
Title
Write business correspondence for a workplace
Level
2
Vocational pathways
Credits
6
Version
4
Social and Community Services
Student guidelines
Introduction
This assessment activity requires you to show that you can:

Write memoranda for a workplace;

Write business letters for a workplace.
3488 version 6
Student guidelines
ASM version 1
Page 1 of 5
December 2013
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Conditions of assessment
Assessor note: It is expected that the assessor will read the learner instructions and modify them if
necessary to suit their learners.
This is an open book assessment. You may use any workplace information to help you complete
the assessment.
All work must be your own.
How you will be assessed
There are four (4) tasks in this assessment.

Two memoranda must be written for your workplace.

Two business letters must be written for your workplace.
Workplace Verification
Workplace verification is required for naturally occurring evidence produced in a workplace.
Your workplace supervisor must sign the verification to confirm that the work is your own and that
correspondence meets all workplace standards.
Where you will be assessed
Assessment may take place in an actual workplace where you are employed or on work
experience, or other context using naturally occurring evidence.
Your assessor will provide you with scenarios if you do not have direct access to an appropriate
context for assessment.
3488 version 6
Student guidelines
ASM version 1
Page 2 of 5
December 2013
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Tasks
Write business correspondence for a workplace
Part A:
Memoranda
Instructions
1. Write two (2) memoranda for your nominated workplace.
2. The memoranda must include two different purposes from the following list:

Providing a routine report

Requesting information

Making an announcement

Giving instructions

Providing information.
3. Use a memo format most appropriate for your intended audience and that follows your
workplace standards for business communications.
4. You must proof-read and edit your own work without any assistance from your teacher, tutor,
workplace supervisor or assessor. You may use a dictionary, thesaurus and any desk top word
processing programme.
5. Attach any drafts to your final copies.
3488 version 6
Student guidelines
ASM version 1
Page 3 of 5
December 2013
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Part B:
Business letters
Instructions
1. Write two (2) business letters for your nominated workplace.
2. The letters must be for two different reasons, that might include:

A letter of explanation

A letter of enquiry

A letter providing comprehensive and detailed information

A letter responding to a complaint.
3. Use a letter format most appropriate for your intended audience and that follows your
workplace standards for business communications.
4. You must proof-read and edit your own work without any assistance from your teacher, tutor,
workplace supervisor or assessor. You may use a dictionary, thesaurus and any desk top word
processing programme.
5. Attach any drafts to your final copies.
3488 version 6
Student guidelines
ASM version 1
Page 4 of 5
December 2013
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Verification of authenticity of naturally occurring evidence collected from a
workplace for assessment of unit standard 3488 – Write business
correspondence for a workplace
For this unit standard learners are expected to produce two memoranda and two letters for a
workplace. Correspondence generated by the learner in a workplace in which the learner is either
employed or on work experience must:
 Be in a format that is applicable to that workplace.
 Use information and content that is accurate in detail and acceptable in that workplace.
 Use vocabulary and tone that fits the situation, occasion, subject matter and intended
recipient(s) of the correspondence.
 Be written, proof read and edited by the writer (learner) without assistance.
Please sign the workplace verification below if you agree that the above criteria have been met.
Workplace verification
I confirm that correspondence written or drafted by ________________________________ (name
of learner) is their own work, and fully meets our workplace requirements as outlined above.
Signed: __________________________
Dated: _____________________________
Name: __________________________
Position: __________________________
Workplace: _________________________
Supporting comments:
3488 version 6
Student guidelines
ASM version 1
Page 5 of 5
December 2013
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016