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B2 first preparation, resources for teachers and learners.
Here you can find links to all of our free resources to help prepare for B2 First exams, whether you are a teacher or a learner.
On this page:
Exam essentials
Essential reading for teachers and learners wanting to find out about the exam.
Teacher essentials
Resources to help you prepare learners for B2 First exams.
Learner essentials
Information for candidates and resources that can be used at home or in the classroom for self-study.
On-the-go practice with Test & Train
Test & Train is an easy-to-use practice tool to help you get ready for your B2 First exam through short, sharp workouts. With over 300 practice questions, you can use it anytime, anywhere and as many times as your like!
Get started today
Official Cambridge English preparation materials
You can find a wide range of materials in both print and digital formats .
Sample tests (paper-based and digital)
Free: paper-based sample test.
Download sample paper 1 for B2 First
Download sample paper 2 for B2 First
Free: Digital sample tests
Cambridge English Qualifications Digital have now replaced our old computer-based exams and offer you even more benefits. Watch this video tutorial for help on how to complete an B2 First digital exam. Please also review this document which covers minor differences between the sample tests and the live exam .
Time: approximately 40 minutes
Instructions to candidates
- Answer all the questions.
- You can change your answers at any time during the test.
Information for candidates
- There are 30 questions in this test.
- Each question carries one mark.
- You will hear each recording twice.
- For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions and time for you to check your answers.
B2 First Digital Listening Sample Test
Reading and Use Of English
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- You can change your answers at any time during the test.
- There are 52 questions in this test.
- Each question in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 7 carries one mark.
- Each question in Part 4 carries up to two marks.
- Each question in Parts 5 and 6 carries two marks.
B2 First Digital Reading Sample Test
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Answer the Part 1 question, and one question from Part 2.
- There are two parts to this test.
- Each question carries equal marks.
B2 First Digital Writing Sample Test
Answer keys and tapescript:
B2 First Listening Sample 1 answer key
B2 First Listening Sample 1 answer tapescript
B2 First Reading & Use of English Test Answer key
How to convert practice test scores
The Cambridge English Scale is used to report results for our qualifications and tests. The scores provide a detailed understanding of the candidate’s level. They are also consistent across the different exams, making it easy to compare results and understand progress from one level to the next.
For guidance on converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores, download our guide for teachers.
Converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores
Digital exam information
Have you thought about taking digital exams? Find out more about the benefits of digital exams .
Watch this short video to see what it’s like to take a digital exam.
Watch the video tutorial for help on how to complete an B2 First digital exam.
Read our FAQs if you have any more questions about taking digital exams.
Speaking test video with examiner comments
This video will help your students understand what happens during a B2 First speaking test. You can also download examiner comments.
Read the examiner comments for Giulia, Tabatha and Elena's speaking test
Read the examiner comments for Julia and Isabela's speaking test
Read the examiner comments for Natalia and Enzo's speaking test
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Exam Preparation Journey resource packs
The Exam Preparation Journey is a central online hub with teaching tips, classroom activities and more to support teachers preparing students for Cambridge English Qualifications.
Whatever stage you are at – starting out, considering a mock test or exploring your digital options – we offer timely support when you need it. Find advice such as how to create a positive learning environment, structure exam readiness and save time with lots of practical ideas ready to use in class.
Go to the Exam Preparation Journey
Handbook for teachers
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.
B2 First handbook for teachers
B2 First: Handbook for Teachers Listening Audio Files (ZIP, 72MB) These are the listening files related to the Sample Paper from the Teacher's Handbook.
Lesson plans
Our lesson plans include everything you need to deliver a 45-minute lesson in the classroom or online, including activity sheets, homework, and more.
B2 First lesson plans
Teacher guides
Developing listening skills for Cambridge English Qualifications: A guide for teachers
Developing reading skills for Cambridge English Qualifications: A guide for teachers
Assessing writing for Cambridge English Qualifications: A guide for teachers
Mock test toolkit
Running a mock test gives your learners a true exam day experience, helps you understand their progress and decide if they are ready for their exam. Our interactive mock test toolkits are full of tips, strategies and materials to help you ensure your students are confident and fully prepared for their exam.
Mock test toolkit for older learners
Classroom warmers booklet
Classroom warmers activity booklet
This booklet includes seven exercises each for primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary students.
Supporting learners with dyslexia
Supporting learners with dyslexia: A guide for teachers
Many teachers have learners with dyslexia in their exam preparation classes. This guide is for you. With lots of practical tips and ideas for lesson plans, it will help you prepare materials to support learners with dyslexia in preparation for our qualifications.
Teacher webinars
Cambridge English webinars and Facebook Live sessions are a great way for teachers to stay up to date with the latest developments and to interact with our experts.
Our webinars provide you with invaluable information about our exams, and cover a wide spectrum of subjects, including effective teaching methods, tips to improve student engagement and online professional development to help you develop your career.
Webinars for teachers
Teaching English with Cambridge Facebook page
You can connect with a lively community of teachers on our Teaching English with Cambridge Facebook page . We regularly post teaching tips, answer your questions, and host regular Live events to give you a chance to engage with the community.
Free online learning activities
We have hundreds of free learning activities to help you practise your English and prepare for your B2 First exam.
Find out more
Exam information for candidates
Download our guide to the exam, with advice on preparing for the exam, tips for exam day, and useful links.
B2 First: Information for candidates
Writing checklist
This checklist is designed to help you assess your writing. It includes a summary of the assessment criteria and useful questions to check whether you’ve met each of the criteria of the Writing paper.
B2 First Writing checklist
Social media
Join our lively Facebook community and take part in quizzes, talk to other English language learners and learn on-the-go.
Subscribe to our Learn English with Cambridge YouTube channel to get helpful tips for exam preparation, and lots of English language advice.
Write & Improve: Practise your writing for free
Write & Improve is a free online tool to help you practise and improve your writing. Just choose a task, write or upload your answer and use the feedback to quickly improve.
Improve your learning with the Exam Lift app
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- develop the skills you need for the B2 First exam
- receive instant feedback on your performance.
Free: Reading practice
Register to get free reading activities. Practise on your device - computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Each activity takes just a few minutes, so you can learn when it suits you.
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How to write an essay in English
By ielts expert, 29 june 2023 - 16:00.
Many students say writing is the worst part of their English, but it’s often just a case of confidence. With practice, and the tips in this post, you can gain the confidence you need to maximise your English and really show it off. This post will look at the three stages of writing - planning, writing the text and reading it back.
If you are preparing for an exam, please be aware that for the latest information on exam format you should always go straight to the source – IELTS website . You can practice free online IELTS Academic Writing tests or General Training Writing tests . You can also practice writing your answer by downloading an IELTS Writing Answer Sheet .
Planning is an integral part of your writing. You might say “I don’t plan”, but somewhere in your subconscious, you do! By raising your awareness of your own planning process you can improve enormously. As a teacher, I see many students who plan and many who don’t. In general, the students that plan produce much better work, so if you are in the “no plan” camp, you should at least experiment with some of the ideas coming up.
Planning 1: Address the question
If you are writing for a class assignment or an exam, it is crucial that you address the question given. Adequate planning (five minutes is better than nothing) will keep you on track.
Start by breaking the question down into its parts. There will usually be two or three aspects to the question. You want not only to cover all aspects of the question, but also make it obvious to your teacher or the examiner that you have done so, and the best way to demonstrate this is to give each aspect its own paragraph.
Planning 2: Brainstorm vocabulary as well as ideas
Once you have identified your paragraphs, think about what vocabulary you have at your disposal. Perhaps you would like to write one paragraph from a particular angle, but when you start planning you might find there are holes in your vocabulary and you are better able to write from a different angle. Choose ideas which best overlap with what you can clearly state in English.
Planning 3: Write chunks of language
Even with all the vocabulary in the world, some ideas are complex to express in writing. Causality, speculation and hypothetical scenarios are all abstract concepts which make it more challenging to say exactly what you want, but these are also an opportunity to push your English ability to the max and show your grammatical range.
Sound out in your head how you will make your arguments, and when you get stuck, try writing this part down in your plan. It might be a whole sentence of just a clause. This will help you decide if you have enough English ability to get across a really impressive idea, or if you need to simplify your thoughts in order to remain clear to the reader.
Writing the text 1: Use your plan!
I have seen many students write logical, competent plans that address the question, only to go off on a random tangent when they start writing!
Of course, you might change some things as you go along, for example if you have a new idea, but keeping an eye on your plan will prevent you from getting distracted and bring you back to the question you must answer. It will also keep you aware of how you are doing for word count and time.
Writing the text 2: Write your introduction last
You should at least consider this idea. The purpose of an introduction is to tell the reader what they are going to read, so how can you write the introduction when you haven’t written the content yet?
Introductions are fiddly to write on a blank canvas, but much easier when we already have the content written in front of us.
If you are writing on paper, it is still possible to write the introduction last - you just need to leave a few lines for it.
Writing the text 3: Make sure your introduction and conclusion match
Your introduction and conclusion should also match the content of your main body paragraphs. This might seem obvious, but I wish I had a euro for every time I have seen an introduction passionately in favour of something followed by body paragraphs and a conclusion that were passionately against.
This problem can be avoided by writing your conclusion last, as suggested above. It will also be avoided by planning, and thinking a little more deeply how you feel about the question before you start. When I say a little more deeply, I’m talking about a minute or so, not hours.
Writing the text 4: Use linkers
Linkers are often misunderstood as simply a way of showing “formal English” but in fact, we use linkers all the time, even when chatting with friends. We use them in speech and in writing to indicate “I’m going to add to what was just said,” “I’m going to contradict what was just said,” and generally to help the listener or reader understand where we are going next.
After writing the text
This is another area where many students are very reluctant - you need to read what you wrote!
Check for spelling errors, missing third person s, capital letters, whatever errors you are prone to make… and if you don’t know what errors you are prone to make, it’s because you aren’t checking your writing, so you need to start today! You can be the expert on your own writing strengths and weaknesses, and this will just make you better and better.
Moreover, you should read back your text because it’s enjoyable to see how skillfully you put your ideas down and how convincing your arguments are. You did it! Well done! Enjoy the moment with some positivity!
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B2 English level
Level B2 corresponds to independent users of the language, who can understand the main ideas of complex texts and are comfortable in an English-speaking environment.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has six levels, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for users who are proficient in the language. Levels are divided into three blocks: A or basic user, B or independent user, and C or proficient user.
What can an B2-level learner of English do?
Learners who achieve B2 level:
- can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization.
- can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with English speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
- can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
- A1 English level
- A2 English level
- B1 English level
- C1 English level
- C2 English level
20 English Essay Topics/Questions | B2 First (FCE)
The language of an English essay should be formal . Also, make sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate connectors to link your sentences and paragraphs .
How to write B2 First (FCE) essay?
Ad: When writing a professional essay, you can choose a professional essay writing service for your instant success.
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example Topics / Questions
Below is a sample list of academic essay writing topics/tasks for B2-level (intermediate) students. You can use them to practice writing English essays or to prepare for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 1 | First (FCE)
You have watched a documentary about young children in poor areas who leave school to work. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
Teenagers are dropping out of school to find a job. How can we help them to continue their education?
Write about:
- family problems
- financial difficulties
- …………… (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 2 | First (FCE)
In your social studies course, you have watched a documentary on the potential effects of too much pollution on the air quality of city centres. Your professor has assigned you an essay to write.
Keeping the air quality in city centres at healthy levels for their residents is a concern for many places. How can we solve the problem of pollution in city centres?
- automobiles
- ……………… (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 3 | First (FCE)
In your education class, you have listened to a lecture on the importance of teaching foreign languages in school. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Learning a foreign language helps students develop a set of important skills. Why should foreign languages be taught in schools?
- new cultures
- employment
- …………. (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 4 | First (FCE)
You have listened to a radio programme about the problem of widespread starvation in many parts of Africa. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
In many parts of Africa, people are dying of starvation and lack of freshwater. Can these problems be solved?
- lack of organised farming
- …….. …….. (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 5 | First (FCE)
You have watched a video on a non-profit organisation working to stop the use of animals for testing medicines used by human beings. Now, your professor has asked you to write an essay.
Testing on animals is a standard in scientific research. What is the best way to deal with this problem?
- animals suffer
- outdated form of research
- …… …….. (your own idea)
Get Your (FCE) Essay Checked!
B2 - essay topic / question 6 | first (fce).
You have listened to a radio programme about deforestation, the cutting down of trees in many wild areas around the world. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Many forests around the world are being destroyed for agricultural, commercial, or housing use without allowing time for the forests to regenerate themselves. What can be done to improve the situation?
- what contributes to the greenhouse effect
- ………. (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 7 | First (FCE)
In your English class, you have been talking about endangered species, animals or plants that will likely become extinct. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Around the world, many wildlife species are in danger of extinction. How can we protect endangered animals?
- hunting wild animals
- ……….. (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 8 | First (FCE)
You have watched a Youtube video about the problem of computer game addiction in children. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
More and more young people spend most of their time playing computer games. How can we help children to overcome this addiction?
- bad grades at school
- no social life
- ………… (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 9 | First (FCE)
You have listened to a radio programme about the impact of smoking on people’s health. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Smoking is responsible for many health problems throughout the world. Do you think it should be made illegal?
- lung cancer
- passive smoking
- ……………… (your own idea)
FCE, CAE, CPE
More than practice tests, b2 - essay topic / question 10 | first (fce).
In your English class, you have been talking about the problem of obesity in young people. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
In Europe and the USA a lot of young people have an obesity problem. What can be done to solve this problem?
- (your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 11 | First (FCE)
Has technology made a positive contribution to sport today?
- The use of technology to improve performance
- The use of technology in refereeing decisions
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 12 | First (FCE)
It is better to work at home than in an office. Do you agree?
- Contact with people
- Working hours
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 13 | First (FCE)
Life is harder for young people now than in the past. Do you agree?
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 14 | First (FCE)
Is it better to go shopping in small local businesses or large out-of-town shopping centres?
- Where things are cheaper
- Where service is better
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 15 | First (FCE)
Is it better to spend a summer holiday in the countryside or on the coast?
- Leisure options
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 16 | First (FCE)
Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:
Do you agree that community service works better than fines?
- effort and time
- lesson learned
- ………………(your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 17 | First (FCE)
Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?
- clear the air
- ………….( your own idea)
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 18 | First (FCE)
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?
- busy lifestyle
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 19 | First (FCE)
Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?
- role of older sibling
B2 - Essay Topic / Question 20 | First (FCE)
Modern lifestyles can seriously endanger our health.
Do you agree?
- physical activity
- …….. (your own choice)
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Download (PDF)
Download B2 First (FCE) Essay: Topics (PDF)
Practice Tests Online
B2 first (fce) essay: assessement criteria.
Your essay will be assessed according to these four criteria:
Would you pass B2 First (FCE)?
How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing
Luis @ kse academy.
- noviembre 24, 2019
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.
Essay Sample Answer
Este artículo también está disponible en castellano.
What are the parts of the FCE Writing?
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 .
How to Write an Essay for FCE Writing
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:
- Purpose: What we usually do with an essay is to analyse and assess a topic, situation or issue which, in some way, is interesting or controversial. It is normally set as a writing task after a class debate. In the exam, you have to imagine the debate, obviously.
- Tone and style: Given that you’re writing about a serious or controversial issue , an essay is written in a formal style, so we must stick to an objective tone and style . Our language must be formal, thus avoiding words that are simply too common or generic (E.g.: things, stuff, get, etc.) and contractions (E.g.: can’t, don’t, won’t, etc.).
- Structure: Like every piece of writing, an essay must present a defined structure . For starters, we can choose either to give it a title or not. Personally, I would say that it is more appropriate to have an essay with title . Then, the body must be divided into introduction, idea 1, idea 2, idea 3 and conclusion. This means that, in general, essays must have 5 paragraphs , although it is not entirely necessary.
- Opinion: There are countless ways of expressing your opinion in an essay, so you must choose the one that suits you best. However, it is advisable to remain impartial throughout your writing and give your opinion only in the last paragraph , as a conclusion. But, as I say, it is optional. The most important thing is that you justify everything you say in your essay.
- Coherence: Coherence is essential in every type of writing, but especially in an essay. As it tends to be an argumentative text, you must avoid writing incoherent paragraphs that have nothing to do with one another. Your ideas must follow a logical order and be well connected with appropriate linkers .
FCE Writing Essay Example
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.
Instructions of an Essay
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:
- The first paragraph introduces the topic: … different ways in which you can protect the environment.
- The second sentence is usually the same in every task: Write an essay using all the notes…
- In the box , you are given the main topic as a question and they give you something to talk about: recycle, using bicycles and walking, your own idea . As you can see, you have to come up with the third idea, something connected to the topic which is not provided in the exam task.
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:
- The paragraphs are visual and well defined , which is very important.
- The title summarises the topic of the essay. Another option is to use the question ( What can people do to help protect the environment? ) as title. However, it usually tends to be too long, so I prefer to summarise it into a shorter heading.
- 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.
- It uses connectors to define the development of the essay: firstly, second, finally, etc.
- It doesn’t use many contractions or pet words.
- One of the things that
- In the last few decades,
- For this reason,
- First, / Second, / Third,
- By doing so,
- For example,
- In conclusion,
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.
FAQ: Do I get penalised for writing over 190 words?
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.
FCE Writing Guide with examples (pdf)
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:
- How to write an essay and 3 examples.
- How to write an article and 3 examples.
- How to write a review and 3 examples.
- How to write a report and 3 examples.
- How to write an email or letter and 3 examples.
- Over 300 useful expressions for every FCE Writing .
Would you like to see a sample of this guide? Here it is!
Did you find this useful? Why not share it with other teachers and students of English? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, y YouTube. 🙂
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- English levels
B2 English level
Level B2 corresponds to users who can produce clear, detailed text and interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity.
It is important to bear in mind that the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the system that defines and explains the different levels of oral and written expression and comprehension for languages such as English. It consists of 6 levels of reference: three blocks (A or basic user, B or independent user and C or proficient user), which are in turn divided into two sublevels, 1 and 2.
Skills at level B2
One of the questions you might ask yourself when you read this information is, what language competences characterise a person who can prove they have a level B2 in English?
The CEFR specifies that students at this level should be able to:
- Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation.
- Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
- Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
- A1 English level
- A2 English level
- B1 English level
- C1 English level
- C2 English level
Are you a learner at B1 English level (intermediate) ? This section offers writing practice to help you write simple connected text on familiar topics that are of personal interest. Texts include forum posts, reviews, messages, short essays and emails.
Each lesson has a preparation task, a model text with writing tips and three tasks to check your understanding and to practise a variety of writing skills. Make a start today.
Choose a writing lesson
A class forum
Learn how to write a post on a class forum.
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- Log in or register to post comments
A professional profile
Learn how to write a professional profile.
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A report on a student meeting
Learn how to write a report.
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A restaurant review
Learn how to write a restaurant review.
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A thank-you message
Learn how to write a thank-you message to a colleague.
- Read more about A thank-you message
An email giving holiday advice
Learn how to write an email to give holiday advice.
- Read more about An email giving holiday advice
An email to explain an accommodation problem
Learn how to write an email to explain a problem with your accommodation.
- Read more about An email to explain an accommodation problem
An email to invite someone to a job interview
Learn how to write an email to invite someone to a job interview.
- Read more about An email to invite someone to a job interview
Describing a bar chart
Learn how to write about trends in a bar chart.
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Describing charts
Learn how to write about charts.
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New Year's resolutions
Learn how to write about your New Year's resolutions.
- Read more about New Year's resolutions
Reflective writing
Learn how to write a reflective text about a learning experience.
- Read more about Reflective writing
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Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it. Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones. Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words. Show understanding of both sides of the argument. Use linking words to connect your ideas. Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay.
This section offers writing practice to help you write clear, detailed text on a wide range of topics related to your interests. Texts include essays, reports, reviews, messages and emails. Each lesson has a preparation task, a model text with writing tips and three tasks to check your understanding and to practise a variety of writing skills.
• Learn useful techniques for planning your own essay. • Evaluate two examples of a Writing Part 1 essay. • Practise and evaluate your own answer to a Writing Part 1 task. Review: Writing Part 1 . The B2 First for Schools Writing paper has two parts. Part 1 has only one task, which you . must. answer. You will: be given the essay title.
B2 reading. Are you a learner at B2 English level (upper intermediate)? This section offers reading practice to help you understand texts with a wide vocabulary where you may need to consider the writer's opinion. Texts include articles, reports, messages, short stories and reviews. Each lesson has a preparation task, a reading text and two ...
Learn to write in English with confidence. Our online English classes feature lots of useful writing materials and activities to help you develop your writing skills with confidence in a safe and inclusive learning environment. Practise writing with your classmates in live group classes, get writing support from a personal tutor in one-to-one ...
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. B2 First handbook for teachers. B2 First: Handbook for Teachers Listening Audio Files (ZIP, 72MB)
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Tips. Plan your essay before you write. Make sure you know how to comment on all the points that are asked. Invent information if you don't have any ideas. Divide the essay into paragraphs - put one answer in one paragraph. Use advanced vocabulary when you can and formal language.
Personal online tutoring. EnglishScore Tutors is the British Council's one-to-one tutoring platform for 13- to 17-year-olds. Look at the essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.
Planning 1: Address the question. If you are writing for a class assignment or an exam, it is crucial that you address the question given. Adequate planning (five minutes is better than nothing) will keep you on track. Start by breaking the question down into its parts. There will usually be two or three aspects to the question.
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 English level. Level B2 corresponds to independent users of the language, who can understand the main ideas of complex texts and are comfortable in an English-speaking environment. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has six levels, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for users who are proficient in the language.
The chart gives you information on how children travelled to and from school in the years 1990 and 2010. The modes of transport were by car, walking, cycling, walking and by bus
Article navigation: B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example Topics / Questions B2 First (FCE) Essay: Download (PDF) An essay is a piece of writing in which you are asked to discuss a topic that might be controversial or relevant somehow. It usually follows a class discussion. The language of an English essay should be formal.Also, make sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate ...
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.
Do you know how to take care of your digital footprint? Here are some tips. 20. Are you an upper intermediate (CEFR level B2) learner of English? Practise and improve your reading skills with these texts and exercises.
B2 English level. Level B2 corresponds to users who can produce clear, detailed text and interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity. It is important to bear in mind that the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the system that defines and explains the different levels of oral and written expression and ...
B1 writing. Are you a learner at B1 English level (intermediate)? This section offers writing practice to help you write simple connected text on familiar topics that are of personal interest. Texts include forum posts, reviews, messages, short essays and emails. Each lesson has a preparation task, a model text with writing tips and three tasks ...