Everything That You Need To Know About The FCE Writing Exam. (University Of Cambridge English Exams)

 

The  Writing B2 First (FCE)  is one of the most popular Writing exams around the world today. As you may already know, the  B2 First Writing is only one of the 5 parts of the B2 First exam, formerly known as FCE. In addition to Writing, to complete an FCE exam you have to take the Use of English, Reading, Listening, and Speaking parts. However, from my point of view as an English teacher and Cambridge Assessment English exam preparer, the Writing of B2 First is one of the easiest parts to do and, above all, to improve in a relatively short period of time. For this reason, in this post, I am going to explain exactly what B2 First (FCE) Writing is like and I am going to show you an Example of Writing of each type of Writing of the FCE. Let's go there!

Writing B2: what is level B2

The name of the exam we are talking about,  B2 First, clearly specifies what level of English is expected of you. In this case,  level B2 is an upper-intermediate level, marked and defined by the  Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR) . According to this document, and as far as Writing (written expression) is concerned, a person with a  B2 level :

You can produce clear and detailed texts on various topics, as well as defend a point of view on general topics, indicating the pros and cons of the different options.

If we dig a little deeper into the  written expression section, we will see that the  CEFR  specifies that a candidate who demonstrates a B2 level:

• Usually:
  • Write clear and detailed texts on a variety of topics related to their specialty, synthesizing and evaluating information and arguments from various sources.

• In creative writing:
  • Write clear and detailed descriptions of real or imaginary events and experiences in clear and structured texts, marking the relationship between ideas and following the established norms of the chosen literary genre.
  • Write clear and detailed descriptions on a variety of topics related to your specialty. He knows how to write a review of a movie, a book or a play.

• In report writing and essays:
  • Write essays and reports that systematically develop an argument, highlighting significant points and providing relevant supporting details.
  • Knows how to evaluate the different ideas or solutions that can be applied to a problem.
  • Write essays or reports that develop an argument, arguing for or against a particular point of view, and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
  • Can synthesize information and arguments from various sources.

As you can see, a  Writing level B2  is not a piece of cake, since there are quite wide expectations regarding written language skills.

How is the Writing B2 First

For the FCE Writing, since 2015,  candidates have to write two texts in 1 hour and 20 minutes, and each text must have between 140 and 190 words. These two texts, as we will see later, are different types of Writing. In them, you are expected to demonstrate your level using lexical and grammatical structures typical of B2-level Writing.

In the specific case of the B2 First (FCE) Writing, this part of the exam is divided into two tasks with different types of writing that we will see below.

Types of Writing B2

• Part 1
  • essay
• Part 2
  • article
  • Email (informal or formal) or letter (informal or formal)
  • Review
  • report
    
    

    Writing B2 First: Part 1 – Essay

    In the first part of this Writing exam, you will have to write an essay, an English essay. In this part, you only have one homework option and you will always have to write an essay.

    An essay is a  very common type of B2 Writing in many academic fields. Obviously, in an English exam, your essay is not expected to be 2,000 words long, but you are expected to demonstrate your B2 level of English with a relatively short text, 140 – 190 words. Furthermore, the way in which this task is approached is always the same. Below you can see what the instructions are for an essay exercise in FCE :

    

    As you can see, the idea is that, before writing an essay, in your supposed English class you have been talking about some important current issues, such as money, technology, friends, hobbies, the environment, etc. So, at the request of your supposed English teacher, you have to write an essay following the notes that you supposedly took during the discussion. To do this, in the B2 First exam, you are given  2 fixed ideas to talk about, and you must add another idea of ​​your own.

    Writing B2 First: Part 2

    In this part, as a candidate, you have to write another text of 140 to 190 words, but this time you will be able to choose between different types of Writing. Specifically, there are 5  types of Writing B2, of which 3 will appear in part 2. Let's see an example of each type of Writing of B2 First, that is, of the statement.

    Writing B2 First: Article

    The goal of an FCE article is to get you to write about a topic that you like or are an expert on . For this reason, an  example task for an article  usually looks something like this:
    

    

    
    

    Writing B2 First: Review

    Another typical type of Writing B2 is the review or, in English, review. In this case, it is a task similar to that of the article, but it is usually something much more specific since you are asked to write an evaluation of an object, a movie, a series, a television program, etc. Here is an example statement:
    
    

    

    Writing B2 First: Report

    This is one of the types of Writing B2  that candidates tend to be mostly unaware of. However, from my point of view, it is one of the simplest. It is a report, which is nothing more than an objective assessment of an experience you have had. For example, you may be asked to write a report about an excursion or a tourist visit, or about an exchange program, or about things that a visitor to your city can do, etc. Let's see an example of a report task:

    

    As you can see, this is a Writing task that requires a formal tone, since it is normally addressed to a superior. Then we will see an example of report.

    Writing B2 First: Letter & Email

    In this section we will only see an example of email, since for practical purposes a letter and an email are basically the same, only changing the electronic format for the paper one or vice versa.

    In the event that you are asked to write an email in the FCE Writing, there may be cases where you have to write an email to a friend, write a letter requesting a job or information, or write an email complaining about something, etc.

    Here is a typical example of a Writing B2 task.

    

    Learn how to write an informal email for the B2 with this post. 

    Since we have seen examples of each type of task, let us now see an example of each type of writing B2, that is, of appropriate answers for the writing tasks.

    Examples of Writing B2 First (FCE)

    In this section, we are going to see an example of Writing B2  for each type of Writing. The purpose of this is to familiarize you with each type of Writing and to get an idea of ​​what is expected of you in the exam. In addition, I have tried to simulate a B2 level, not too strong and not too weak, so you know what your Writing tasks should look like, at a minimum. Let us begin.

    Example of Writing B2 Essay

    An essay, in general, must be a  formal Writing in which 3 ideas are treated in an orderly manner, using connectors and language appropriate to the context and the topic being discussed. Below you have an example of an essay on a very recurrent topic in this type of exam: protecting the environment.

    Protecting the Environment
    One of the things that worries people most nowadays is the environment. In the last few decades, humans have been polluting way too much, which has had a negative effect on the environment. For this reason, we must protect it from now on.

    First, we ought to start paying attention to the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. By doing so, we will reduce the quantity of rubbish, we will not throw away so many things and we will be able to recycle most of our waste.

    Second, a very good idea is to stop using cars so much and start cycling or walking a little more. For example, instead of commuting by car, we can try to do it on foot or by bike.

    Finally, if we really want to change things, we should teach young pupils about the dangers of contamination and pollution. It's the only way to change the future, because they are the future citizens of the world.

    In conclusion, I believe that if we do these three things, we can still prevent humans from destroying the environment.

     

    Example of Writing B2 Article

    Here is an example of an article on a topic that interests me: the internet. As you can see, it is a writing with an informal/standard tone, in which  I include myself all the time, since everything I say is a  personal opinion. In addition, I include some recommendations and end the article with a  question addressed to the reader.

    The Internet: A Great Invention

    The Internet has changed the way we live. It started as something that we could access only through a computer, but nowadays it is everywhere, and I love it!

    One of the cool things about the world wide web is that you can look up anything you want and find out the answer straight away. Isn't that fantastic? For example, imagine you are arguing with your friends about how to do something. Easy solution! Go online and find the answer.

    However, the greatest thing about the Internet is how you can learn tons of things very cheaply or even for free! In fact, my favorite website is www.udemy.com, where people register to teach and learn about different things: music, website design, making apps, history, etc. So I totally recommend it to everyone!

    In conclusion, the Internet has a lot of great things. For me, the best are finding information and learning online. What about you? What are your favorite things about it?

    Writing B2 Review Example

    The following example is from a movie review. As you can see, it is a text very similar to the articles (the tone, the grammar, the punctuation, etc.), but in this case, I am describing a movie that I have seen and that I liked. In a  movie review, you should talk about the plot, and the characters/actors, and you should offer a  recommendation to the reader.

    layer cake

    Did you know that Daniel Craig was already famous before playing James Bond? In fact, my favorite Daniel Craig movie is called “Layer Cake”, which he did a long time before becoming the most famous spy in the world.

    Set in central London, “Layer Cake” tells the story of a drug dealer (played by Craig) and how he tries to give up his drug empire. However, not everything goes as planned and he gets into some serious trouble with some of his business partners.

    The main characters are wonderfully played by the actors, who give an exceptional performance. However, some of the secondary roles seemed a little dull and two-dimensional.

    As for the plot, it's a real nail-biter, as you never know what is going to happen with the main characters. In fact, you will never be able to guess the ending!

    If you are a fan of action movies, I completely recommend that you watch this film. I am sure you will have a great time and it will be an unforgettable movie.

     

    Example of Writing B2 Report

    In this section, you have an example of a report. This is the answer to the task posed in the previous section about the gym that is losing customers. As can be seen at first glance,  the structure of a report is very particular, because apart from the title,  each paragraph or idea is actually a subsection introduced by a subtitle. On top of that, the language is relatively formal and very objective.

    Improving Our Gym

    Introduction

    The aim of this report is to explain the main reasons why members are leaving the gym. After interviewing some clients, we have identified some serious problems.

    Limited opening hours

    Some members have complained that the gym opens a little late for them. For this reason, workers cannot exercise before going to work. If the gym opened at 7 am, clients could exercise easily before going to work.

    The changing rooms

    Many of the lockers are broken so customers cannot leave their belongings in a safe place. Also, some of the showers are not working properly so members have to queue before having a shower. In order to solve this, I suggest replacing all lockers and showers immediately.

    Lack of parking spaces

    Some previous members have joined gyms which have a parking lot. Although we cannot build a parking lot, we can offer a parking area for bicycles. As a result, this might encourage members to use their bikes to come to the gym.

    Conclusion

    To sum up, I believe that if we take care of these problems, members will be happier and will decide to stay with us.

    Example of Writing B2 Informal Email

    Here is an informal email addressed to “my friend” Jack. The important thing about any email or letter, apart from the language, is the structure. Notice how in this type of B2 Writing we have: a  greeting, an opening paragraph, paragraphs with  main ideas, a closing paragraph, a  farewell, and a  signature. In this case, as it is an example of an informal email, the language is quite colloquial, since I trust my friend.

    Dear Jack,

    It's great to hear from you after so long! How are you doing? I'm so excited about your visit next summer. Let me give you some tips so you can get ready.

    First of all, there are some places which you can't miss! For example, here in Granada you should totally visit the Alhambra, an ancient Muslim palace.

    It was nominated to become one of the new seven wonders of the world. Also, don't forget to check out St Nicholas viewpoint – you'll have the best views of the Alhambra and the whole city.

    As for clothes, remember that it can get super hot in Granada, especially for foreigners! So forget about long sleeves or trousers and just pack some shorts, T-shirts and sandals. Oh, and remember to bring a cap, too!

    By the way, do you have a place to stay? If you want, I could put you up in my place. I have a spare room and it would be great to have you here.

    Anyway, I must dash now. Drop me a line soon and let me know what you think.

    best wishes,

    Carlos

    Writing B2 Formal Letter Example

    The structure of a letter is exactly the same as the email we just saw. In this case, however, it is an example of a formal letter for B2 First. You can quickly see a very formal greeting and farewell, no contractions, fewer colloquial connectors, etc.

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    I am writing with regard to the advertisement posted in yesterday's newspaper about the camp for diabetic children. I would like to take part as a volunteer, if it is possible.

    As you can see in my résumé, I completed a degree in nursing, so I am qualified to teach children about it. Besides, I suffer from diabetes, so I am quite familiar with this illness and how to deal with it.

    Furthermore, I have some experience organizing entertaining events for children, as I worked at a regular camp for children last summer. For this reason, I am capable of organizing and playing fun games with children.

    Finally, I must say that I can speak 3 languages, since I have spent some time abroad, in England and Germany. Therefore, apart from Spanish, I am fluent in English and German.

    Can I ask about the duration of the camp? What is the daily time table?

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Yours faithfully,

    Joseph

     

    Writing B2 First (FCE): how it is assessed

    Any FCE Writing task is evaluated around 4 fundamental evaluation criteria. These are Content, Communicative Achievement, Organization, and Language. Let's see above what each one consists of:

    • Content: This section evaluates how well you have been able to complete the task, that is if you have done what was requested. In this sense, it is important that you respond to each point proposed in the exercise and that the information you write covers each point and the task in general well.
    • Communicative Achievement: This evaluation criterion focuses on how appropriate your Writing is with respect to the proposed exercise. In this sense, the style and register with which you have written take on special relevance.
    • Organization: Is your writing logical and well-structured? Great, then you will have a good grade in this section. In general, any B2 Writing should be separated into coherently interconnected paragraphs, with coherent and well-cohesive sentences, offering a  logical and easy-to-follow progression. To do this, you have to make use of a series of connectors and cohesive grammatical structures typical of a B2 level.
    • Language: In this section, of course, it is about getting your grammar and vocabulary to a B2 level and not making too many linguistic mistakes.

    Tips for Writing B2 First (FCE)

    Like each part of the B2 First, for Writing, there are a series of essential strategies that will help your writing meet the requirements that the proofreaders are looking for. In general, I always recommend the following:

    • Make an outline before writing. Never start writing without knowing what you are going to talk about. Making notes about how you are going to organize your Writing is essential so that it is coherent and easy for the reader to follow. In addition, you will avoid going over words and one paragraph being much longer than another and having unbalanced Writing.
    • Always think about who will read the Writing. And I am not referring to the corrector, but to who is your target reader. For example, if you're writing an article for a high school magazine, your tone should be informal, but if it's a job application letter, you'll need to sound more serious and formal. Therefore, always look at who your reader will be.
    • Write a draft and improve it until you reach the final version. Writing everything great at first is very difficult. For this reason, you must write a first draft, which you will then rewrite a thousand times (xD). In this way, you will improve different aspects of your Writing such as vocabulary and grammar, add connectors, correct mistakes, see if it is coherent, and a long etcetera. This is essential, I'm serious.
    • Define the paragraphs of each Writing well. It seems silly, but defining the paragraphs makes the Writing, apart from being organized, and visually attractive, which will make a good impression on the reader.
    • Write knowingly. Let's see, you are in an English test in which you have to prove what you know. That is when you write try to show off using certain structures on purpose. You've studied conditionals, right? Well, put a conditional. And the comparatives? Also, put a comparative sentence. Do you remember that topic about the environment that you saw with your English teacher? Great, because it puts words like greenhouse effect, acid rain, etc. Try to show off, the coupon, that's why we're here! 
    • Check before you finish it. Obviously, never turn in a Writing exercise without proofreading. You have to act as a self-proof reader, looking for possible typos, spelling errors, inconsistencies, etc. By reviewing you will avoid very silly and common mistakes that could very negatively affect your grade.