Present the essay topic in your own words.
writing a professional essay
Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) essay: how to write an essay (guide).
It is always an essay written for your teacher, and the start of the question wording is always the same:
In your English class you have been talking about [topic]. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
We will use the example question below in our writing essay advice:
In your English class, you have been talking about society. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree?
Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. …………………… (your own idea)
Before you start writing your essay at B2 First exam you need to ask three questions:
If you look at our example task you will notice that we are going to write about society .
In your English class, you have been talking about society . Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Knowing this, you can quickly prepare in your head all the words that you associate with this topic or even write them down.
As you can see there are three points included in the task there are two that are already given in our example
Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. …………………… ( your own idea) <= you have to come up with this one yourself
The first point is taxes , the second is opportunity , and the third one is something you must come up with yourself!
We decided that the third point we would comment on would be economics
In the FCE essay, it’s always your English teacher. It means that you need to write with respect because she is a person with authority, therefore essay has to be written in a formal style.
Formal language is professional and serious rather than relaxed and friendly and is used especially in official situations. It is usually reserved for essays and academic settings, while informal writing is used for more casual settings, like friendly text messages and creative writing.
Below are listed the biggest differences between formal and informal writing styles:
It is advised to avoid contractions (shortened versions of words) in formal language, but they’re acceptable in informal language.
Unfortunately, the team could not replicate the results. (Formal)
Unfortunately, the team couldn’t replicate the results. (Informal)
Formal language is also marked by an absence of colloquial phrases and slang (words or phrases that are common only in everyday speech), but are typically used in informal language.
Everyone was disappointed . (Formal)
Everyone was bummed . (Informal)
Generally, first-person pronouns (like I and we ) are avoided when writing with formal language . However, it’s accepted (and expected) in informal language.
The students were asked to fill out the questionnaire. (Formal) We asked the students to fill out the questionnaire. (Informal)
When using formal language in your B2 writing, it is also recommended to replace phrasal verbs (proper verbs that are followed by one or more prepositions and act as a single verb).
It was something the protestors could endure . (Formal) It was something the protestors could put up with . (Informal)
Formal language tends to use longer, more complex vocabulary. Sometimes it is not recommended to use this type of vocabulary with informal language (depending on what you’re writing) because it can confuse or distract your audience.
They needed assistance while recovering from the outcomes of the hurricane. (Formal) They needed help while recovering from the effects of the hurricane. (Informal)
The purpose of the introduction is simply to tell the reader what the essay is about.
You can start your essay by referring to the question that was asked “ University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree? ” and writing it in your own words . It is also worth mentioning the three points you are going to describe.
Introduction : There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.
You can use phrases such as:
This essay will discuss … This essay will focus on … In order to discuss …, I will analyse …
Main body paragraphs are the most important part of your essay so they should be the longest and one paragraph should comment on one point. See below:
Write about: 1. Taxes – the first paragraph should comment on “ taxes” 2. Opportunity – the second paragraph should comment on “ opportunity “ 3. …………………… (your own idea) – the third paragraph should comment on “economy”
In addition, every paragraph should start with a topic sentence, which is like an introduction to the paragraph and it tells the reader what exactly the paragraph is going to discuss.
Also, a good idea is to include different linking words/expressions to make sure that your ideas are well connected and in a logical order.
A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph (which is also the most important )
A topic sentence essentially tells readers about the rest of the paragraph . If the topic sentence says “ Cats are very good pets for several reasons” , then every sentence after that needs to describe that subject.
For example:
Cats are very good pets for several reasons . (<=topic sentence / every sentence after it describes that subject =>) They are naturally good caregivers because they take care of their kittens, so they want to take care of their owners as well. Cats are quite clean, and if you train them to use a litter box, they require almost no cleanup in their areas.
These are words and expressions that help the text flow logically . These words act as signposts, helping the reader easily move from one idea to the next and see connections between sentences or paragraphs.
Linking words is especially useful when you want to indicate that you are going to explain something, provide an example use a time sequence, or present a contrasting point of view.
Between paragraphs:
To begin with, I would like to put forward […] The first possible action is, to improve physical education …[…] A second option would be. … competitive attitudes that […]
Within a paragraph:
[…] which activity is better than the others. Another reason for not financing sports […]
You can see a model answer below:
First paragraph comment on “Taxes” Paragraph 1: Firstly , a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However , people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation .
Second paragraph comment on “Opportunity ” Paragraph 2: Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds . Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation , it makes the playing field more level.
Third paragraph comment on “….…… (your own idea)” : economy Paragraph 3: In addition , having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely , the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently , more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.
– topic sentence
– linking words/expressions
– interesting/topical vocabulary
Remember, you don’t have to tell the truth! The examiners won’t know, so if you don’t have experience or an opinion you can make something up!
The conclusion comes at the end of your essay, it summarizes the main idea of the essay. You need to write a clear, justified conclusion. You can’t just say, ‘I agree’, or ‘I disagree.’ Think of it like this: you need to convince the examiner that your conclusion is correct.
In conclusion, a university should be free for everyone. It makes economic sense and ultimately benefits all members of society.
– linking words/expressions
Make sure your paragraphs are connected to your conclusion!
There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.
Firstly, a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However, people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation.
Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds. Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation, it makes the playing field more level.
In addition, having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely, the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently, more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.
B2 first (fce) essay: example essays, fce essay sample 1.
In your English class you have been talking about the environment. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved?
Write about: 1. transport 2. rivers and seas 3. ………………………… (your own idea)
DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT
If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.
If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldn’t be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.
Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. It’s difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.
We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.
But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!
In your English class you have been talking about the fashion industry. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives. Do you agree?
Write about: 1. whether people’s appearance is important 2. the price of clothes 3. …………………… (your own idea)
The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.
On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.
Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.
I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.
Fce example topic 1.
Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:
Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?
Write about:
Nowadays children are suffering from obesity, that was once considered to be meant for adults only. What are its causes and what solutions can be offered?
Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?
B2 first (fce) essay: tips.
How long should a b2 essay be.
You need to answer the question with between 140-190 words.
If an answer is too long, you may get a lower score. If you write 200 words, it’s not a problem. However, if you write 300 words, it’s a problem.
Yes! You must make a plan to organise your essay writing . On the day of the exam, you will be stressed and feel pressure. A plan is your way of organising you text and your thoughts.
Nothing… Well, almost nothing. In the past for every 5 words extra, they took away a point, however, now they do not. It is not good to go over 190 words because of time, but you can. I wouldn´t write more than 200 words because they will probably lower the mark they give you for content. They will determine some of it to be unnecessary.
You MUST use complex language at B2 level . You must use attention-grabbing vocabulary and a variety of grammar structures. The passive voice, relative clauses, modal verbs, conditionals, reported speech and inversions all count as COMPLEX grammar forms and you must use them. Otherwise, you can address academic experts and pay someone to write your paper if you need help to write an essay for you.
Introduction.
The trend nowadays is towards …. Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of …. Recent research indicates that …. Hardly a week goes by without another report of ……….. appearing in the media. This raises the issue of whether …… Although most people would generally agree that ………… few would deny that ….
As I see it, It seems to me that ………… I would also say that …. I am convinced that …………… I am inclined to believe that ……………… There is no doubt in my mind that ……………… One of the drawbacks of ……. is ………. However, one of the benefits is that ………… Changing topic As regards the causes for this, ………….. Concerning the causes for this, ……… As for the causes, ………..
One justification is often given for ……….. is that…………….. Advocates/Proponents would claim that ……………… Those who object to …………….. often argue that ………………. Another objection is that …… However, it should not be forgotten that ………….. ……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that …………….. From the point of view of …………….. According to ………………..
One factor which has led to ………… is ………….. One of the factors which has brought this about is ……… The problem often stems from ……………….. The situation has been exacerbated by ……………. ………….. has only made the situation worse. One consequence of ……………. is …………….
As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ……… The first step to be taken would be to …….. To alleviate the situation people should ……….. In addition they ought to …………… To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to This can only be dealt with if ………… To overcome this problem, ………….. Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve. Individuals can do a great deal to ………… The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of …….. It is vitally important that ……… Legislation should be introduced to control …………….. It would be a grave error if we ……………..
All in all it seems to me that ……….. The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that ………………….. All things considered, …………. On balance, I tend to believe that ………… The world would surely be a better place to live in if ………….. If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a …………… The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….
The Cambridge B2 First (FCE) essay is easier to write than you think! Follow these steps to write the perfect essay.
Post Contents
To begin, all B2 First essays have a similar format . This is great because you know exactly how to write the essay before seeing the question.
Read the essay question carefully and HIGHLIGHT any keywords you need to write about.
Tip: If you don’t understand the question or notes, DON’T PANIC. Try your best to write the essay. You will still get points for grammar, vocabulary, and structure.
Sample exam test from Cambridge English .
A lot of my students dislike writing a plan. However, a plan helps you organize your thoughts and helps you write a better B2 First essay. Your essay needs 5 paragraphs . We will use the sample task from above as an example:
Introduction.
Next, to create a plan, write a few words for each paragraph . DO NOT write whole sentences. This takes too much time. Try to focus on keywords and short phrases .
Tip: “Your own idea” DOES NOT mean your opinion. You need to think of another topic related to the question to talk about. Some ideas for this task could be: recycling, agriculture, industry, etc.
Additionally, you can prepare a list of linking words and related vocabulary . Getting these words written down before you start helps you remember to use them.
Look at the example plan below. You can draw something similar on a blank piece of paper.
Tip: Time yourself – see how long it takes for you to write a plan. Try to reduce that amount of time as much as possible.
On the official test, you must write with a pen . No erasable pens or pencils are allowed. I suggest writing your plan and essay with a pen every time you practice .
Let’s take a look at each paragraph of the essay.
The introduction to your essay should be 2-3 sentences long . It introduces the essay topic in a general way .
Tip: DO NOT include your opinion in the introduction. Your opinion goes in the conclusion.
If you are unsure how to write an introduction, try this structure and look at the example :
Structure of the introduction
Example Introduction
On every continent, the amount of trash and waste is increasing each year. Rubbish causes damage to ecosystems all over the world. Is there a way for countries to reduce their carbon footprint and save our planet?
The body of the essay has three paragraphs . These paragraphs talk about one idea with supporting examples .
For each paragraph, you need to write a topic sentence. A topic sentence is the main idea of the paragraph . DO NOT copy the notes. Instead, try to rewrite the idea in your own words. This is called “paraphrasing.”
Your paragraphs should be 3-4 sentences .
Tip: Start each paragraph with a linking word .
Structure of a body paragraph
Example body paragraph
Firstly, countries can decrease pollution and environmental stress by offering more public transportation. Cars and other vehicles which require petrol produce toxic fumes. If more electric buses and trams were available, fewer people would need to drive their cars.
Follow the same structure for each body paragraph.
Tip: Remember that “your own idea” is NOT your opinion . Write about an additional topic related to the question that you wrote down on your plan.
Finally, you get to say your opinion! In the conclusion, you need to summarize the topic and give your opinion on the question. A conclusion should be 1-2 sentences long.
Structure of the conclusion
Example conclusion
To sum up, countries around the world must make changes in order to protect the environment. In my opinion, offering more public transport, reducing overfishing, and creating recycling programs are necessary for a cleaner planet.
This is another important step that students often miss. Take two minutes after writing your essay to check for spelling and grammatical errors.
Since you wrote in pen, simply cross out the incorrect word or words LIKE THIS and rewrite them.
Now that you know how to write an essay for the Cambridge B2 First exam, let’s look at how to get the best mark possible .
The best way to improve your writing skills … is to write! Try to write a few essays each week and ask your teacher for feedback . I have had students who entered my class with very poor writing skills and with practice, they were able to pass the exam after only 10 weeks!
I help students prepare for the FCE exam with private lessons via Zoom. Email me at [email protected] or check out my private lessons page to learn more.
If you want more practice for the B2 First , try these Speaking exam tips , free writing checklist , and Reading part 1 practice.
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Fce (b2 first) writing exam (essay) – video.
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You’ll see exactly what to do at each stage in the fce writing essay section, and how to get the best possible fce score ., there are four steps to the writing process. you’ll see what to do at each step, then you’ll learn how the writing is assessed., 1. how to analyse your fce writing essay task.
First, you need to read the FCE writing essay task and identify exactly what needs to be included.
Let’s look at a sample question:
You’ve recently had a discussion in English class about society. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree? Notes 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. Your own idea
So, what do you need to do? Most importantly, you need to say if you agree or disagree that university should be free for everyone.
You also need to use all the notes and give reasons for your point of view. That means your essay needs to include three central ideas: taxes, opportunity, and one other.
It also means that you need to reach a clear, justified conclusion. You can’t just say, ‘I agree’, or ‘I disagree.’ Think of it like this: you need to convince the examiner that your conclusion is correct.
You might think at this point, ‘yeah, obvious, thanks for the help, Kasia!’ Trust me; it’s harder than it sounds. Many FCE essays that we see don’t get these basic things right. It’s very easy to leave something out, or to go in the wrong direction.
Next, you’re writing this answer for your teacher so what style do you think it will be in? Formal or informal?
An essay should be formal. What does that mean?
Formal writing doesn’t use contractions, like ‘I’d’, ‘you’re’ or ‘don’t’. Write the full forms. You should also avoid using slang, colloquial vocabulary, or anything which sounds very conversational.
Next, think: what do you need to include?
You need to talk about taxes, opportunity, and you also need to add your own idea.
Even the ideas which are given to you—taxes and opportunity—are quite vague. That means you need to decide exactly what to talk about.
You also need to think about how to connect your ideas.
For example, with taxes you could say that if you pay taxes, then this should go back into society to benefit everyone. You could add to this by pointing out that having equal opportunities also benefits society. And for your own idea, you could talk about how people with higher education are more likely to be economically productive.
This is just one example, of course! There are many paths you could take.
Let’s talk about that in more detail.
Here’s what you need to do when you plan your writing for the FCE writing essay.
First, you need to decide what your conclusion is going to be. Are you going to agree or disagree that university should be free for everyone?
Decide your conclusion first, because everything else in your essay needs to lead to it.
Secondly, you need to plan how many paragraphs you’re going to have, and what you’ll put in each one.
Thirdly, you need to make sure your paragraphs are connected to your conclusion.
Let’s see an example:
Pause the video if you want some more time to read the plan.
You can see that we use the key idea of ‘education’ in the notes for each paragraph. Doing this can help you to stay focused and on-topic, because you’re connecting each paragraph back to the main idea of the question.
When you plan, make sure that each paragraph has a clear focus.
Every good paragraph starts with a topic sentence, which summarises the main point of the paragraph.
The sentences which follow are called supporting sentences. These include reasons and examples to support your topic sentence.
A good exercise during planning is to take a paragraph and think to yourself: “What’s this paragraph about?”
If you can answer that question in one simple sentence, then that’s a good sign. Hopefully, your plan is clear. However, if you can’t answer that question, that shows that your plan isn’t totally clear in your head.
Once you’ve finished your plan, you’re ready to write your answer!
In your candidate answer book, you will now write your essay.
Let’s look at a model answer:
Pause the video to read, and start again when you’re ready.
First question: have we answered the question?
Yes: the conclusion states that ‘free university benefits all members of society.’ This shows that we agree that university should be free for everyone.
Next: have we used topic sentences?
Yes, we have. The first sentence of the essay tells you what the entire essay will be about.
Then, each paragraph’s topic sentence contains a key word from our plan. We have ‘taxes,’ ‘opportunities’ and ‘economy’.
Also, the topic sentences and paragraphs all reference the idea of ‘education’, either directly or indirectly. This shows that our points are relevant and connected to the task.
So, now you’re finished, right? No–there’s one more step. This answer is not bad, but it could be better.
The final step is to check your answer.
What type of things do you think you should look for?
Grammar, of course, but what else?
Check for spelling mistakes. Check for style—have you used any conversational language which doesn’t fit the tone of an essay like this?
Check your use of linking words and phrases. Many students overuse them; don’t use a linking word like nevertheless unless you’re sure it fits.
Check for repetition of vocabulary. Could you replace any simple vocabulary with something more advanced?
Look at our model answer again:
The bold words are either mistakes, or they could be improved somehow.
How would you improve this? Pause the video while you read and decide.
The first problem is with grammar. Unless you’re talking about one specific university, you don’t use the.
Okay, what’s wrong with doesn’t? We’ve used a contraction! Don’t use contractions in your essay. So, it should be does not.
The next problem is a spelling mistake. When a word ends in ‘y’, it changes to ‘ies’ in the plural: opportunities .
Next is a punctuation mistake. There’s a comma missing. There are two clauses in this sentence and they need to be separated by a comma.
There’s nothing wrong with people with degrees but it’s quite basic. What else could you say?
You could say educated people, or even highly-educated people, either of which is slightly more elegant.
So is not a mistake, but we used so in the second paragraph already. You want to show the examiner your range of language, so here you could use something more precise like consequently.
Our conclusion is only one sentence, so let’s add an extra point. We’re still under the maximum word count. This could help us to state our opinion more clearly.
Let’s change it to:
Here’s the final version of our essay:
At this point, it’s looking good! Next, let’s focus on what you can do to produce a good FCE writing essay which will get a high score in your exam.
Your essay score is made up of four parts. For each part, you get a score from zero to five.
First there’s Content . The mark scheme says this “focuses on how well you have fulfilled the task”. In other words, have you done everything you were asked to do?
This corresponds to step one of our writing process. Analyse the task carefully and make sure you do everything it asks you to. A good tip is to underline the key words in the task to help you identify what you need to do.
Next there’s Communicative Achievement . This “focuses on how appropriate your writing is for the task”.
Have you used the correct register? Have you used contractions? Basically: does your essay look and sound like an essay?
Then we have Organisation . This looks at “how the writing is put together”. Is it logical and organised? By planning your writing carefully, it will already be organised. Remember to plan your paragraphs carefully and write a clear topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.
You can also use linking words and phrases to make the connections between paragraphs even clearer.
In our essay, we used many linking words, including firstly, secondly, in addition, although, consequently and in conclusion. Look through the essay again, and note how the linking words and phrases are used. Can you find any more examples of linking words in the essay?
Finally, you have Language : vocabulary and grammar. The examiners will be looking for a range of language as well as how accurate it is. In step four, you saw how checking your essay can improve your language.
Are you worried that making mistakes will affect your mark? Of course, making a lot of mistakes will lower your mark, but remember this is only one part of your score.
For B2 level, the Cambridge mark scheme says, ‘Occasional errors may be present but do not impede communication.’ That means you can still score 5 from 5, even with some small mistakes.
But, hopefully, you’ll catch most of them when you’re on step four – checking and improving your answer.
You’ve seen how to write an essay for FCE, but you can use the same process for other Cambridge exams, including the CAE and CPE when you get that far.
Good luck with your exam preparation and let us know when you pass! Thanks for watching!
Keep practicing with more Free English Writing Lessons from Oxford Online English!
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Cambridge exam preparation lessons.
Cambridge english: b2 first (fce) writing.
Difficulty level : B2 /Upper Intermediate
What is the B2 First (FCE) Writing test like? The test has two sections and takes about 80 minutes:
Scoring Each of the two writing parts are marked out of 20. There are five marks for each of the following: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language. You must write 140-190 words for each part.
How to prepare for the B2 First (FCE) Writing test
Read this explanation of how to write an article for FCE Writing part 2.
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First certificate in english (fce).
On this page, you will find example writing tests to help you prepare for the Writing part of the First Certificate exam.
The speaking section is divided into two parts and involves many types of writing: essay, email, review, report and article.
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test One Essay / Report / Review / Email Exercise Number: FCE115
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Two Essay / Email / Report / Article Exercise Number: FCE116
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Three Essay / Review / Article / Email Exercise Number: FCE117
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Four Essay / Review / Article / Report Exercise Number: FCE118
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Five Essay / Report / Email / Article Exercise Number: FCE119
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Six Essay / Review / Article / Report Exercise Number: FCE120
to help you improve your English! Grammar explanations. and . - First, Advanced, Proficiency, IELTS, TOEFL materials. , imaginative quizzes and games. . Track your progress as your English ! ! | ||
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Seven Essay / Email / Article / Review Exercise Number: FCE121
Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test Eight Essay / Email / Report / Review Exercise Number: FCE122
Use of English: Ten practice tests for the Cambridge B2 First | See in UK
FCE Writing Masterclass (Writing B2: FCE Cambridge) | See in UK
Listening First: Ten practice tests for the Cambridge B2 First | See in UK
Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First Volume 1 Practice Tests Plus with key | See in UK
Cambridge English First 1 for Revised Exam - Student's Book with Answers: Authentic Examination Papers | See in UK
Reading and Use of English for First (FCE) | See in UK
Common Mistakes at First Certificate and How to Avoid Them | See in UK
Gold Experience 2nd Edition Exam Practice: Cambridge English First for Schools (B2) | See in UK
Listening exercises.
Luis @ kse academy.
As you probably know already, Cambridge English exams usually have some or all of the following parts: Reading, Writing, Use of English and Listening. In this post I am going to talk about the FCE Writing B2 part and, more specifically, about how to write an essay for FCE Writing . We will see a good example of an essay for FCE and you can check out a full FCE Writing Guide where you can find more examples of emails , letters and other types of writings.
Este artículo también está disponible en castellano.
The First (FCE) Writing has only two parts. For each part, you must write a composition which will depend on the instructions you receive for each task. For the first part , you will always be asked to write an essay , as it is the only option provided. However, in the second part , they allow you to choose one out of 3 options. These include different types of writing , which are : letters/emails , articles , reviews and reports . Each piece of writing must have between 140 and 190 words , approximately.
Since they are different types of writing , the language and structures to use will also differ. But that’s what I’m here for, to explain to you exactly how to write each part. And today, I’m starting with how to write an essay .
An essay is an opinion writing with which we analyse a topic , a situation or an issue from different points of view , providing different arguments and expressing our opinion about it. For this reason, an essay must have the following features:
Now that we are familiar with the characteristics of an essay for First (FCE) Writing , let’s take a look at an example of an essay at B2 level , both at the task and at a sample answer.
In the following image you can see the instructions of an essay which involves a typical topic, that of the environment:
In these instructions, we must pay attention to the following:
Given the model task above, each paragraph will correspond to a different idea, apart from the introduction and conclusion. Again, it is only natural to have 5 paragraphs. So, the best way to know how to write an essay for FCE Writing is to take a look at an example of an actual essay for FCE Writing :
At first sight, the essay has a title and 5 paragraphs (introduction + idea 1 + idea 2 + idea 3 + conclusion). And if we stop to read the essay more carefully, we’ll notice the following things:
This is a good example of an essay for FCE Writing . By the way, you must bear in mind that it has been written to simulate a strong B2 level, without reaching C1.
This is the most typical question in this part of the exam and the answer is « yes and no «. Let me explain myself. Cambridge English examiners don’t count the number of words and penalise you based upon that fact alone. There’s a rumour going around among teachers and pupils that says that for every 10 words over 190, they take «this many» points off, but it is not true. However, think about this: if you’ve written 50 or 100 words more than asked, you are probably including irrelevant information to the task , right? Now that’s a reason for losing points. In the same way that if you write under 140 words you are probably missing essential information , don’t you think?
For this reason, I always recommend writing up to 10 or 20 words over the limit. In this way, you won’t lose any points for including irrelevant information.
Although I intend to write more posts on how to do each piece of writing for FCE, if you don’t want to wait any more, simply download the official KSE Academy FCE Writing Guide . In this guide you will learn:
Would you like to see a sample of this guide? Here it is!
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The writing paper for the B2 First exam has two parts, and candidates will be expected to produce pieces of writing for both parts in one hour and twenty minutes.
The parts of the writing paper are as follows:
Part one of the writing paper will be an essay question where the candidate will be asked to write about a specific topic using two points given to them and also a third point which they need to think of themselves. In part two candidates will be given a choice of three written tasks to complete. Candidates will with be required to do either an article, letter (formal or informal), review, email (formal or informal) or report.
Knowing the format and structure of the different type of tasks in the writing paper is extremely important. Candidates should prepare for both parts by repeating different sample papers and practice questions so they are used to and comfortable with the format of all the different tasks.
Planning is also a key element of this part of the exam. It is worth spending a few minutes planning the structure and content of the writing piece before starting. This will not only help ensure that your writing is structured correctly, but will also help ensure that you have included everything that you are expected to have in your writing piece.
In order to help you plan the writing tasks properly candidates should also spend some time carefully reading the question and highlighting the key elements that they must include in their plan.
Although the writing task can be on a variety of different topics , there are some common vocabulary and grammatical structures that can be used regardless of the topic such as linking words and expressions. Candidates should also be aware that they can get extra marks simply by attempting complex language even if it is not used correctly and as long as it doesn’t take away from the communication fo the writing.
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B2 first writing paper.
Today we are going to practise a valuable writing skill: generating ideas and essay planning in Part 1 of the B2 First Writing exam.
Let’s first look at two examples of essay exam tasks.
The task below is taken from B2 First for Schools Handbook for teachers:
In your English class you have been talking about education. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework. Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view. Some parents teach their children at home rather than sending them to school. Is this a good or a bad thing for the children? Notes Write about: 1. having a parent as a teacher 2. making friends 3. ...................... (your own idea)
The second task is taken from First Certificate in English, Writing, Sample test 1:
In your English class you have been talking about the environment. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework. Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view. Every country in the world has problems with polution and damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved? Notes Write about: 1. transport 2. rivers and seas 3. ...................... (your own idea)
Each exam task is targeted at a different age group: young people and adults. Consequently, their main theme varies, one is closer to teenagers’ expertise and interests – education and schooling, and another centres around a theme adults are more likely to easily expand on – environmental matters.
The layout of both exam tasks, their structure, is the same, though. It contains a general statement following an English class discussion. Then, there are three notes, known as content points, that must be included and well-developed throughout.
It’s worth mentioning that your own idea is not your opinion . This latest is briefly mentioned in the introduction, and backed up with a convincing explanation and a strong reason for in the conclusion.
The activity I am inviting you to join consists in brainstorming ideas for the ‘ your own idea ’ part of the task. There are ten exam tasks. Rather than thinking of just one of your own ideas for the essay exam task, it is good practice to think of a few different ones and then pick the best idea to write about. The best idea is the one which you can explain well and provide reasons for, since it mustn’t be merely mentioned, or superficially discussed. A well-developed essay is a successful one since it will be valued at a high score by Cambridge examiners.
Let’s look at the example below:
Note 3: My own idea
You can also use this activity to practise generating examples or reasons to support the main idea of each paragraph of the essay. Use the same cards, but this time focus on the ‘notes’ part of the task. Think of as many examples or reasons for the main ideas listed in the ‘write about’ part of the task. Once again, it is good practice to brainstorm a number of them and then choose the best ones, a couple for each paragraph, to include in your essays.
Note 1: having a parent as a teacher
Note 2: making friends
Note 3: taking part in team activities
If you want to find out more about writing essays for the Cambridge B2 First exam and enhance your writing skills, here are two other articles earlier posted:
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A day to forget – a day to remember Jerry read the email and decided to go to the shopping centre immediately. He hadn’t slept well at all and was feeling quite nervous that morning and he didn’t want to let his grandma’s wish to buy some milk ruin his day. He dragged himself into his old and dirty car and set off in the direction of Central Mall. Not even ten minutes later, he had a flat tire so he spent the next hour putting on the spare before he was able to continue his dreadful journey. At the shopping centre, he walked absent-mindedly into a family and their son fell on his knee. “I’m sorry,” was the only thing he could say, but the boy’s little sister replied, “This is a gift for you,” and gave him a little piece of paper. Jerry simply stuffed it in his jacket pocket and walked off as quickly as he could. Back at home, he just wanted to go to bed, when he dropped the girl’s paper on the floor. Jerry couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a scratch card with a win of €50,000! “Not such a bad day after all,” Jerry thought with a smile and he poured himself a steaming cup of coffee.
A story is usually written for an English language magazine or website for teenagers. The main purpose is to engage the interest of the reader. Effective answers have a clear storyline which links coherently to the first sentence, successfully uses the prompts provided and demonstrates a sound grasp of narrative tenses. from: Cambridge English B2 First for Schools Handbook for Teachers
Stories are part of the second task in the B2 First Writing exam and they are exclusive to B2 First for Schools. In this variant of the test, there are no report tasks but instead, candidates have the choice between articles , reviews , emails/letters and the topic of this article – stories.
There are, however, two more ideas that you always have to write into your story. In this case, we must include a request and a present. The role these things play in your story is entirely up to you, but they should play a central role and be important parts of the plot.
Get your free b2 first writing cheat sheet now, always make a plan for your story, the different parts of a story in b2 first.
One of the main criteria in a story is the correct use of narrative verb forms . These are different past verb forms, each of which has a distinct function in a story. We want to use past simple for the main events, past continuous for background actions and past perfect simple and continuous for things that happened before the main events.
A day to forget – a day to remember Jerry read the email and decided to go to the shopping centre immediately. He hadn’t slept well at all and was feeling quite nervous that morning and he didn’t want to let his grandma’s wish to buy some milk ruin his day .
He dragged himself into his old and dirty car and set off in the direction of Central Mall. Not even ten minutes later , he had a flat tire so he spent the next hour putting on the spare before he was able to continue his dreadful journey. At the shopping centre , he walked absent-mindedly into a family and their son fell on his knee. “I’m sorry,” was the only thing he could say, but the boy’s little sister replied , “This is a gift for you,” with a smile and gave him a crumpled piece of paper. Jerry simply stuffed it in his jacket pocket and stormed off as quickly as he could .
I guess this all makes sense, but I still used certain expressions of place and time ( orange ) that support this idea that there is a sequence of events. Little remarks like ‘before’ or ‘next’ can make it so much easier for the reader to follow the story so make sure you use them.
Back at home , he just wanted to go to bed, when he dropped the girl’s paper on the floor. Jerry couldn’t believe his eyes . It was a scratch card with a win of €50,000 ! “Not such a bad day after all,” Jerry thought with a smile and he poured himself a steaming cup of coffee.
How your b2 first story is marked, time to become a storyteller, similar posts, cambridge b2 first (fce): everything you need to know, cambridge b2 first (fce): speaking part 3, cambridge b2 first (fce): reading & use of english, cambridge b2 first (fce): reading & use of english part 1, cambridge b2 first (fce): reading & use of english part 2, cambridge b2 first (fce): reading & use of english part 5.
Imagine the scene. It’s exam day. You’re nearly at the end of your Cambridge English B2 First exam . You’ve just finished writing Part 1 – the essay , and now it’s time to start Part 2. So you turn over the page to find three options:
– A review you know
– An article you’ve seen before
– But what’s this? A report??*
Don’t be intimidated. A report is another formal writing task. And it’s actually quite formulaic, which makes it a popular choice for students in Writing Part 2. It’s also a great opportunity to show you can communicate factual information, in a formal tone with clear organisation.
Excited to learn how to write a first-rate report? Good. We’re here to help you every step of the way and make sure you leave that exam full of confidence that you’ve passed.
*Remember you only need to choose one question to answer. Other titles may include an informal or formal email, and at B2 First for Schools there is a story option instead of a report.
Let’s begin by taking a look at a typical question for the report.
Before you put pen to paper and start your report, hold your horses . A plan is the best chance you have for success. Start by asking these two questions:
1. Who is the report for?
Take a look at the reader of your report. It’s normally a teacher, a superior or a peer group like the members of a book club. In this case your audience is a group leader . That means you should keep the tone nice and formal . Try to avoid contractions, colloquial language and keep it polite.
2. What do you have to do?
Look at the question and underline all the key parts. This will help focus your attention on the task in hand and decide how to organise your report.
There’ll normally be two or three things they want you to do and you’ll always be asked to give a recommendation or suggestion.
The structure is the bones of your report. It’s so important because it holds everything together. Here’s one way to organise your report but perhaps you have another idea?
1. Introduction
2. How technology is used in subject X
3. How technology is used in subject Y
4. Your recommendation for which lesson the teacher should watch
The trick is to keep the structure nice and simple. And always check you’re answering the question.
Now you have a clear outline, consider the main topic paragraphs and what you want to include. If you get stuck , think about your own real life experiences. How is technology used in your own lessons at school? Make some notes on your ideas.
If you haven’t skipped the planning stage, writing your report should be easy. An important thing to add here is that reports often contain subheadings. In fact, in the B2 First exam they are strongly encouraged!
Remember that a report is a document that presents information in a clear and organised way. Think about science reports or statistical reports. They have strong introductions that clearly state their aims.
Useful language:
Here’s what a clearly defined report intro might look like…
Just make sure you don’t copy words from the question exactly, and instead try to paraphrase .
This is where we get to the main body of the report. Again, we want to keep it really clear and organised and one way to do that is with bullet points or numbering .
However, don’t overdo it. If you use bullets and numbering in one section, avoid using them in the next. You want to show off that you can write well in English and use a wide range of vocabulary and structures. You also want to use some fancy, formal sounding linkers to connect your ideas.
Now move on to your second paragraph. Try to stay general and avoid personal anecdotes. Don’t start talking about what you like to do at school in your technology classes or what you had for dinner last night. Instead, keep things relevant to the task.
A good way to do this is by using passive reporting verbs:
Remember to expand on your points giving reasons for your ideas. And if you do everything right, your second paragraph may look something like this.
Here’s the fun part! This is where you can look back at your ideas and give your own opinion. Make sure you mention the ideas from the previous paragraphs and don’t forget to give reasons why.
Let’s look at this sample answer.
If you run out of things to say – remember you can mention the weaknesses of the other option.
Now hopefully you’ve written a report to be proud of. The only thing left to do is to refine it before the time is up !
Make sure you’ve:
Now you’re a master in report writing, why not put everything you’ve learnt into practice? Try one of these sample report questions.
hold your horses (exp): used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully their decision or opinion about something.
the bones of sth. (n): the structure or main idea of something.
get stuck (v): to be in a position where you’re unable to move.
skipped (v): missed out to move on to the next thing.
paraphrase (n): to say something in a different way but so it means the same.
overdo (v): to do too much of something.
show off (pv): to show your abilities and accomplishments.
expand on (v): to develop an idea.
run out of (pv): to deplete / to be used up.
time is up (exp): the time allowed is finished.
exp = expression
pv = phrasal verb
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Educational institutions all over the world have shut their doors. From nurseries to universities, business schools to l... Read More
Whatever your new year’s resolution was this year, it probably didn’t involve staying at home all day. For many of u... Read More
With the recent outbreak of Covid-19, many of us may have to gather our books and study from home. Schools are clos... Read More
Being stuck inside can make you feel like you’re going crazy. But why not use this time to your advantage, and work on... Read More
Dear students, Due to the recent emergency measures from the Government concerning COVID-19, Oxford House premises wi... Read More
Reading is one of the best ways to practice English. It’s fun, relaxing and helps you improve your comprehension skill... Read More
So that’s it! It’s decided, you’re moving to the USA. It’s time to hike the soaring mountains, listen to country... Read More
The is an excellent qualification to aim for if you’re thinking of studying or working abroad. It’s recognised by u... Read More
Like it or not, small talk is an important part of business. Whether it’s in a lift, at a conference, in a meeting roo... Read More
It’s time for that famous celebration of love and romance - Valentine’s Day! It is inspired by the sad story of Sain... Read More
When it comes to exams, preparation is the key to success - and the IELTS Writing Paper Part 2 is no exception! It is wo... Read More
At Oxford House, we know learning a language extends beyond the classroom. It’s important to practise your skills in m... Read More
Congratulations! You’ve passed your Cambridge B2 First exam. It was a hard road but you did it. Now what’s next? Som... Read More
Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. When you see its lush green landscape and breathtaking views, it’s easy to see w... Read More
New year, new you. As one year ends and another begins, many of us like to set ourselves goals in order to make our live... Read More
Each year new words enter the English language. Some are added to dictionaries like . Others are old words that are give... Read More
2019 went by in a flash - and what a year it’s been! We’re just as excited to be looking back on the past 12 months ... Read More
Telephone interviews in English can seem scary. Employers often use them to filter-out candidates before the face-to-fa... Read More
Writing in your only language can be a challenge, but writing in another language can be a complete nightmare ! Where do... Read More
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, it signals the start of the Christmas shopping period. Expect... Read More
The (CAE) is a high-level qualification, designed to show that candidates are confident and flexible language users who... Read More
Many people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) translators are surpassing human translators in their ability to a... Read More
Apps are a great tool for learning English. They are quick, easy to access and fun. It’s almost like having a mini cla... Read More
There are four linguistic skills that you utilise when learning a new language: reading, writing speaking and listening.... Read More
So, you’ve moved onto Part 3, and after completing Part 2 it’s probably a welcome relief to be given some help with ... Read More
Whether it’s in meetings, telephone conversations or networking events, you’ll find specific vocabulary and buzzword... Read More
It’s time for some back-to-school motivation. The new school year is about to start and everyone is feeling refreshed ... Read More
Haven’t you heard? Nobody is watching the TV anymore - 2019 is the year of the YouTuber! If you’re an English langu... Read More
So, you’ve completed the of your Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE). Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the e... Read More
“The problem with the French is that they have no word for entrepreneur.” This phrase was attributed to George W. B... Read More
The Gràcia Festival, or , is an annual celebration taking place in the lovely, bohemian neighbourhood of Gràcia in upt... Read More
Barcelona residents will often tell you than nothing happens in August. It’s too hot and everyone escapes to little vi... Read More
Do you have difficulty with the past tenses in English? Do you know the difference between the past simple and past perf... Read More
Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 min... Read More
Unless you were raised to be bilingual, speaking two languages can require years of study and hard work. Even once you�... Read More
What’s better than watching a fantastic, original-language movie in a theatre? Watching a fantastic, original-language... Read More
Ever wonder how much time you spend on your phone a day? According to the latest studies, the average person spends on ... Read More
Here comes the sun! That’s right, summer is on its way and, for many, that means a chance to take a well-deserved brea... Read More
You’ve done the hard part and finally registered for your , congratulations! Now all you need to do is pass it! H... Read More
Everyone is talking about soft skills. They are the personal traits that allow you to be mentally elastic, to adapt to n... Read More
Are you struggling to decide which English language exam to take? You’re not alone: with so many different options on ... Read More
We’re sure you’ve done a great job answering the questions for of your . But now you’re faced with a completely d... Read More
Imagine you have woken up in Barcelona for the first time in your life. You walk outside and you notice something unusua... Read More
Have you ever put on an English radio station or podcast and gone to sleep, hoping that when you wake up in the morning ... Read More
What’s the most challenging thing about going on holiday in an English speaking country? Twenty years ago you might ha... Read More
No matter how long you've been learning a language, you're likely to make a mistake every once in a while. The big ones ... Read More
Passing a job interview in a language that’s not your mother tongue is always a challenge – but however daunting i... Read More
“How many languages do you speak?” This is what we ask when we want to know about someone’s language skills... Read More
You have survived the Use of English section of your , but now you are faced with a long text full of strange language, ... Read More
Turn on a radio anywhere in the world and it won’t take long before you’re listening to an English song. And, if you... Read More
It’s nearly Valentine’s day and love is in the air at Oxford House. We’ll soon be surrounded by heart-shaped ballo... Read More
Graded readers are adaptations of famous stories, or original books aimed at language learners. They are written to help... Read More
Written language is as important today as it has ever been. Whether you want to prepare for an , to respond to or it’... Read More
The new year is here and many of us will be making promises about improving our language skills in 2019. However, how ma... Read More
It’s been a whirlwind 2018. We’ve made so many amazing memories - from our twentieth-anniversary party to some enter... Read More
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get a job in an international company? Perhaps you’ve thought about tr... Read More
We are delighted to be going through the final stages of our accreditation, which will help us provide the best languag... Read More
Making the decision to do a Cambridge English language qualification can be intimidating. Whether you’re taking it bec... Read More
A language exchange (or Intercambio in Spanish) is an excellent way to practise English outside of the classroom. The a... Read More
The nights are drawing in and the leaves are falling from the trees. As our minds turn to the cold and frosty winter nig... Read More
If you’re a student at , you’ll know it is far more than just a language academy. It’s a place to socialise, make ... Read More
From funny bananas, super long words and excitable foxes, our latest infographic explores 10 intriguing facts about the ... Read More
If you’ve been studying at Oxford House for a while there’s a good chance that you’ll recognise Judy - with her bi... Read More
The new school year is about to begin and many of you are probably thinking that it’s about time to take the plunge an... Read More
We head off on vacation full of excitement and joy. It’s a time to explore somewhere new, relax and spend time with ou... Read More
Learning English is difficult! With its irregular verbs, tricky pronunciation and even harder spelling, lots of students... Read More
The next time you’re walking down the street, in a waiting room, or on public transport in Barcelona take a look aroun... Read More
Many students have aspirations to move abroad. This might be for a number of reasons such as to find a new job, to impro... Read More
What do English, Maori, Vietnamese and Zulu have in common? Along with another , they all use the . If your first la... Read More
Netflix has changed the way we spend our free time. We don’t have to wait a week for a new episode of our favourite TV... Read More
The year has flown by and we are already into the second week of our summer intensive courses. Today we look back at th... Read More
Things are hotting up in Barcelona. There’s so much to see and do during the summer months that it’s hard to know wh... Read More
The long summer holiday is almost here and we’ve got some top tips on how you can keep up your English over the summer... Read More
Football, football, football: the whole world is going crazy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar! The beautiful game i... Read More
Learning a second language has a lot in common with learning to play an instrument or sport. They all require frequent p... Read More
Imagine, for a moment, taking a cooking class in a language you didn’t know - it could be Japanese, Greek, Russian. It... Read More
Exams are nerve-wracking. Between going to class, studying at home and worrying about the results, it’s easy to forget... Read More
Learning a second language, for many people, is one of the best decisions they ever make. Travel, work, culture, educati... Read More
Speech shadowing is an advanced language learning technique. The idea is simple: you listen to someone speaking and you ... Read More
Our children learn English at school from a young age - with some even starting basic language classes from as early as ... Read More
When was the last time you painted the town red or saw a flying pig? We wouldn’t be surprised if you are scratchin... Read More
Teenagers today are definitely part of the smartphone generation and many parents are concerned about the amount of time... Read More
Are you taking an IELTS exam soon? Feeling nervous about the writing paper? Read this article for some top tips and usef... Read More
Love them or hate them, at some point we all have to give a business presentation. Occasionally we have to deliver them ... Read More
A lot of students think English is easy to learn - that is until they encounter phrasal verbs! We are sure you have hear... Read More
Have you heard of these fascinating British Easter traditions? Great Britain is an ancient island, full of superstition... Read More
Your is coming to an end and exam day is fast approaching. It’s about time to make sure you are prepared for what man... Read More
Have you ever wondered where English words come from? There are a whopping 171,476 words in the . From aardvark to zyzz... Read More
Students take language certifications like the Cambridge B2 First qualification for lots of different reasons. You might... Read More
Foreign accent and understanding When you meet someone new, what’s the first thing you notice? Is it how they look?... Read More
Are you a ski-fanatic that spends all week dreaming about white-capped peaks, fluffy snow and hearty mountain food? ... Read More
Quizlet, Duolingo, Busuu...there are lots of apps on the market nowadays to help you learn and improve your English. But... Read More
Is English really that difficult? English is a Germanic language, which means it has lots of similarities with Germa... Read More
If you’ve been studying English for a long time, you’ve probably tried lots of different ways of learning the langua... Read More
Learning another language as an adult can be frustrating. We’re problem-solvers. We look for patterns in language and ... Read More
Every year is the same. We promise ourselves to eat more healthily, exercise more and save money. It all seems very easy... Read More
Languages are constantly on the move and English is no exception! As technology, culture and politics evolve, we’re fa... Read More
All countries are proud of their quirky traditions and this is no more evident than . In South Africa they eat deep-fri... Read More
You’ve heard about the four skills: reading, writing, and . Some might be more important to you than others. Although... Read More
Business is all about communication. Whether it’s colleagues, clients or suppliers, we spend a big chunk of our workin... Read More
Why are phrasal verbs so frustrating? It’s like they’ve been sent from the devil to destroy the morale of English la... Read More
Exams are terrifying! The big day is here and after all that studying and hard work, it’s finally time to show what y... Read More
Speaking in a foreign language is hard work. Language learners have to think about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary... Read More
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It’s October and you’ve just signed up for an English course. Maybe you want to pass an official exam. Maybe you nee... Read More
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Here's a useful structure for an opinion essay:Paragraph 1Intro. uce the topic using a general statement and give your. hether you agree or disagree with the statemen. .Paragraph 2Give the first reason to support your opinion. Provide specifi. s for your opinion, using examples if necessary.
FCE Essays - Sample/model answers and examiner comments. An essay is always written for the teacher. It should answer the question given by addressing both content points and providinga new content point of the writer's own. The essay should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion,and should be written in an appropriate register and tone
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Tips B2 First (FCE) Essay: FAQ B2 First (FCE) Essay: Useful Phrases & Expressions. The essay is a compulsory task to be completed in Part 1 of the writing section in the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) that is written to convince someone of something or to simply inform the reader about a particular topic. There is no single ...
Before we get into the details, let's take a look at the structure of the writing paper. You have 80 minutes to write two texts - and it will go quickly! The first part is the essay; the second part is an article, email, letter, report, or review. You will be given the essay title and two ideas or prompts. It's essential that you include ...
Sample exam test from Cambridge English.. Step Two: Write a plan (5 minutes) A lot of my students dislike writing a plan. However, a plan helps you organize your thoughts and helps you write a better B2 First essay. Your essay needs 5 paragraphs.We will use the sample task from above as an example:
The B2 First handbook gives an overview of the exam and its place within Cambridge English examinations. This is followed by a focus on each paper and includes content, advice on preparation, and example papers. These are the listening files related to the Sample Paper from the Teacher's Handbook.
The B2 First for Schools Writing paper has two parts and lasts for 1 hour and 20 minutes in total. Candidates have to show that they can write diferent types of text in English. Part 1: Writing an essay. Part 2: Writing an article, email, review or a story.
If you want to write the perfect essay for Cambridge B2 First (FCE), this video will show you exactly how to do it. Discover the best structure and learn abo...
FCE (B2 First) Writing Exam (Essay) - Video. Download PDF. In this lesson you can learn how to write an essay for the Cambridge FCE exam, step by step. You'll see exactly what to do at each stage in the FCE writing essay section, and how to get the best possible FCE score. There are four steps to the writing process.
Cambridge English: B2 First (FCE) Writing. Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate. What is the B2 First (FCE) Writing test like? The test has two sections and takes about 80 minutes: Part 1-write an essay based on prompts; Part 2 - write one from a choice of 3 questions: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story; Scoring
On this page, you will find example writing tests to help you prepare for the Writing part of the First Certificate exam. The speaking section is divided into two parts and involves many types of writing: essay, email, review, report and article. Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing - Example Test One Essay / Report / Review / Email Exercise Number ...
Each paragraph has a clear purpose: Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea). Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1. Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2. Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3. Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.
How to write a B2 First essay - useful vocabulary, strategy, examiner criteria. Part 1 writing Cambridge English exam .In this video, I give tips and help...
In this video we look at how to write the essay, the mandatory exercise of Part 1 of the Cambridge First B2 writing exam.You can find out more about this typ...
B2 First Writing Paper: Part 1-Student's worksheet 1 : ... Who are you writing the essay for? 4. How many ideas must you write about? 5. Which two ideas must you include? 6. You need to provide the third idea yourself. Think of at least two ideas. Exercise 2 - Essay Plan . Reasons for Problem and Solution: A. Introduction
Each of these two pieces of writing needs to be between 140-190 words in length, or 280-380 words in total. As there are five different parts to the exam, Writing counts 20% towards your overall grade. In the writing paper there are two parts, the first one being an essay and the second one your choice of several possible types of writing.
The Influence of Social Media. Writing | Part 1. Practice this exam style question for part one of the writing paper. This question is all about social media, which… read more. Free exam preparation resources for all parts of the writing paper in the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam. Perfect for both English learners and teachers.
Today we are going to practise a valuable writing skill: generating ideas and essay planning in Part 1 of the B2 First Writing exam. Let's first look at two examples of essay exam tasks. The task below is taken from B2 First for Schools Handbook for teachers: In your English class you have been talking about education.
Developed by the University of Cambridge, Write & Improve is a FREE tool that helps every learner to improve their English writing. Choose from hundreds of tasks at all levels and start writing, or create your own tasks. Submit your writing and get a result linked to the international standard, the. Get automatic feedback on where your writing ...
B2 First Writing paper (Paper 2) 2. to raise students' awareness of the different text types found in ... How much do you know about the Cambridge First Writing paper? There are ; two parts ; to the paper. Your teacher will give you ; ... 3 essay review, article, email 4 140 - 190 words 140 ...
Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write an Essay Stories might be the most underestimated task in the whole writing exam as they are only part of B2 First for Schools. They are discussed fairly little in preparation classes even with teenagers who are more likely to run into this type of text in their test.
Imagine the scene. It's exam day. You're nearly at the end of your Cambridge English B2 First exam. You've just finished writing Part 1 - the essay, and now it's time to start Part 2. So you turn over the page to find three options: - A review you know - An article you've seen before
B2 First FCE Writing B2 First, formerly known as Cambridge English: First (FCE) ... When writing an essay, you can choose whether to give it a title or not. This could be the same question provided in the task. As for the structure, it should have an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion at the end. ...