N E W S O N 'S P L A C E ©

FCE WRITING
A complete FCE writing guide with example

essays and recommendations

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WRITING
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CHAPTER LIST
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PAGE GOLD FIRST WRITING PART

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UNIT 1 - Page 14 Task 5: Informal Email
UNIT 2 - Page 24 Task 1: Essay Part 1
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o UNIT 3 - Page 34 Task 1: Article
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8 UNIT 4 - Page 44 Task 7: Essay Part 1
10 UNIT 5 - Page 54 Task 6: Review
12 UNIT 6 - Page 66 Task 4: Report
14 UNIT 7 - Page 76 Task 2: Essay Part 1
16 UNIT 8 - Page 86 Task 5: Semi-formal letter: Job Application
18 UNIT 9 - Page 96 Task 5: Essay Part 1
20 Unit 10 - Page 106 Task 2: Article

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UNIT 1
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FCE Gold First, Unit 1 Page 14, Task 5: Informal Email
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Hi Max
How do you do? I hope you are good. You are moving to my town soon to go to college. I am delighted
to know that.
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There are many

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a cinema complex where you can watch the latest films. The tickets cost approximately 20 pounds

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which expensive. It’s not a good idea to go often if you don’t have much money.
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N There are many bars in my town. They are good places to socialize and to make friends. In addition,
they are good places to practice your English because I know you want to learn it. You must be
confident and diligent. Then your English will become perfect very quickly. We have many parks in my
city too. You can do many activities in them if you want.

Thank you for giving my letter your attention. Please write to me if you have any further questions and
I will answer in the nearest future.

John

(177 words)

How do you do? – it’s too formal for this task

I hope you are good – “good” is too simple.
You are moving to my town… - this line is the same as in the task
‘Delighted’ might be a bit too formal
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The first two sentences in the 2nd paragraph say the same thing = repetition.
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‘In addition’ in the 3rd paragraph is too formal. Better: Actually, believe it or not, On top of that…
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The 3rd paragraph seems more about learning English than ‘What to do in my town.’

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The conclusion is too formal as if from a formal business letter

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Have not said ‘All the best’

1. I have not answered from the task: What I like to do best.

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2. The consistency of English is bad: formal, informal, formal, informal etc.
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3. Some of the sentences and vocabulary is quite good, especially in the 2nd paragraph.

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4. More informal English is required.

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5. The writer has not really paid attention to the DO’s and DON’T’s in the writing reference.
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UNIT 1
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FCE Gold First, Unit 1 Page 14, Task 5: Informal Email
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Hi Max
How is it going? You can’t believe how happy I was to get your email because I haven’t heard from you

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in ages. I’m generally fine but I have so much school work to do. So, you’re moving to my town to study.

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Great news!

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As you town is quite small so there aren’t so many things for students to do. We like to meet

wwhen you start college that you make friends so you start socializing or life could be pretty boring.
sometimes have parties where we sing karaoke and dance all night long. It’s great fun. I suggest
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N I think I told you once, I can’t quite remember, that we’re surrounded by the most beautiful countryside.
Many students like to organize walking events through fields and forests and at times take part in hiking
competitions. That might be an option.

Well, as for me, I just like hanging out down the local bars with my close friends. We have a few drinks
and gossip about everyone we know. It’s naughty but fun.

Anyway, take care of yourself and write back when you’re free.

All the best,

John

(190 words)

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UNIT 2
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FCE Gold First, Unit 2 Page 24, Task 1: Essay Part 1
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I think there are many good and bad points to this theme. If you have brothers and sisters who have
the same age, that can be good. If you have brothers and sisters who are older or younger, that can be

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good too. But can it be bad sometimes? Competition is a big factor. I read in an article that when a

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brother or sister is much older, there is competition. Usually for the attention from the mother and

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father. That can have bad results because brothers and sisters might not like each other and fight all

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the time. But there is a positive fact. Young brothers and sisters learn to be strong because life isn’t fair.

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Friendship is another big factor. I heard on TV that if brothers and sisters have the same age, they are

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friends with other people at school or at sports clubs because they are too close. In conclusion, I think
that a big age difference between brothers and sisters is better because you can learn from the older
ones. They can teach life experience which is very important.

(202 words)

The 3rd point in the task “learning to share” has not been answered.
The style of the Part 1 essay should be a bit formal. Saying: I think, I read makes the essay less
formal.
There is a lot of repetition: Brothers and sisters, good, bad, big factor etc.
The essay is not split up into paragraphs
The introduction is basic and the rhetorical question, too.
Better arguments and ideas could be given with a better structure
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A lack of linking words
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1. The student would pass the written exam with this, but with a basic mark.
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2. Better ideas need to be generated with careful planning.
3. There needs to be more topical vocabulary.
4. The student needs to follow the format of the FCE Part 1 essay more effectively.

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UNIT 2
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FCE Gold First, Unit 2 Page 24, Task 1: Essay Part 1
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If siblings are born with the tiniest age gap between them or with a vast difference of twenty years,
can these factors affect their relationships in one way or another within their family? This essay will

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focus on three particular points.

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According toPrecently published statistics, it was discovered that the notion of competition among
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siblings with a large age gap was prevalent in most families. Furthermore, the article elaborated by
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whad negative effects on the family’s cohesion.
saying fierce competition, namely: parental attention, having more friends and pocket money,

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However, friendship is known to be stronger between children with a narrower age gap because they
need to rely on each other more for support and protection. It is obvious that children with larger age
differences tend to irritate one another because of the younger one lacking maturity and experience.

Sharing is believed that age plays no part concerning this point since it is the responsibility of the
parents to raise their children to respect the notion of: Share and share alike.

In conclusion, it is difficult to say whether there should be a large age difference or not. Primarily, the
issue lies with the parents and their methods of upbringing.

(199 words)

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UNIT 3
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FCE Gold First, Unit 3 Page 34, Task 1: Article
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Do you like sports? I love sports so much. I can’t live without doing sports. I do a lot of boxing in my
free time. My boxing gloves the are most important thing I have.

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I started boxing many years ago when I was five. I enjoyed the sport immediately. I had problems at

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school with bullies and boxing helped me to protect myself. I became the strong boy of the class and

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the children never gave me problems again. My dad brought me my first boxing gloves. They are too

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small for me now. They are by my bed. I look at them every night and I remember how they changed

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They are what I would save in a fire more than anything else.

(127 words)

The article is way too short. The minimum is 140 but we should aim for 190. Very little
information is given.
The sentences in the introduction are repetitive with very basic English.
The sentences in the 2nd paragraph should be connected more.
The vocabulary throughout the article is very simple and would not pass FCE
The conclusion mentioned what would be saved in a fire but this idea should be
mentioned in the introduction.
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There is no title to the article
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1. Although the English is accurate, it is very simple.
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2. There needs to be more description which means the article should be planned more effectively.
3. The style of language is correct; neither too formal or informal. There just isn’t enough of it.

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UNIT 3
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FCE Gold First, Unit 3 Page 34, Task 1: Article
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The object I’d save from an inferno

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If you were caught up in house fire, has it ever crossed your mind what precious or sentimental object

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you’d risk your life saving? It might surprise you to hear that in my case, I’d risk life and limb for my

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boxing gloves.

s onI was just seven years old, I was fed up with being pushed around at school by bullies much
wolder than me. So I begged my father to sign me up for boxing classes at my local children’s sport
When
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N center. My dad was kind enough to buy me the best boxing gloves in the shops and in no time,
they were put to good use.

They were black with gold writing on them with the inscription: Never give up. I can’t express
how much that motivated me. Soon enough the bullies avoided me because they knew I could
easily protect myself and my confidence and strength skyrocketed.

All in all, I hold these gloves dear to my heart. I now have a highly paid job and the most loving
family. Without those black gloves, I doubt I’d be here. 

(190 words)

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UNIT 4
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FCE Gold First, Unit 4 Page 44, Task 7: Essay Part 1
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Many people say that living in the countryside is better. Is that really true? This essay will discuss
some ways to say that living in the countryside is a good idea for people. I live in the countryside

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and it’s good for me and my family. I want to share this.

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There are some

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Moscow, New York etc. The countryside has many trees and plants which is good for nature.

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My countryside many types of trees which is good.
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N The day to day life can be good, too. People can go for walks, sometimes hiking, some people can pick
mushrooms. My mum likes to pick strawberries. She makes jam with them.

Transport is a problem sometimes. Busses are not regular. You have to wait a long time. Sometimes
there are no train station. That is why you need a car.

In conclusion, living in the countryside is better for the reasons mentioned above. I suggest you leave
the city and move now.

(180 words)

The introduction is too repetitive

The part in the introduction about me and my family is irrelevant and reduces the formality
The 2nd paragraph, a list of points have been given but without explanation as to why.
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There are many sentences in the 2nd paragraph which need to be connected.
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The 3rd paragraph about ‘Day to day life’ is simplistic and mainly gives a list.
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The 4th paragraph about transport (own idea) address the problem but could be more

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advanced in language.

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The conclusion is rather basic.

1. This essay would pass FCE but not with the highest mark
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2. All 3 points of the task have been mentioned also according to the criteria
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3. There is a lack of explanations. Fewer ideas need to be presented but with more reasoning.

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4. The essay needs more advanced language.

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UNIT 4
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FCE Gold First, Unit 4 Page 44, Task 7: Essay Part 1
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Many people are unsure whether to uproot themselves from city life and to relocate to the countryside.
But does living among nature really provide a better quality of life? This essay will discuss three vital
points.
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wellbeing is the opposite case in a large city. Furthermore, walking through fields, hiking across

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meadows and swimming in local rivers can provide the body what it really needs in terms of health.
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of people where they can take part in local events, fetes, and traditions which really do create a sense
of togetherness which is clearly not evident in large cities.

However, transport is a burning issue in so far that villages in the countryside lack regular and reliable
bus and train services as a result of which make commuting to work in a city a nightmare.

In conclusion, it can be said that living among nature provides many benefits but reality dictates that we
must choose nature or the city for practical reasons.

(195 words)

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UNIT 5
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FCE Gold First, Unit 5 Page 54, Task 6: Review
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I recently went to a new restaurant in my town. It’s called Faster Food. It’s a fast food place
which makes the food very quickly. I want to tell you about it.

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Faster food makes many burgers. I had a cheese and bacon burger. It was tasty and the meat

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was very good. The meat was cooked with many ingredients. My friends with me liked their

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burgers, too. The portion of chips was very small. And that was disappointing. I like to have a

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mountain of chips with my burger.

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The staff were very nice and kind. They always smiled and seemed very helpful. They were

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at Faster Food, they bring the food to your table. That is good service. We were happy with the
service. We gave our waitress a nice tip.
I recommend Faster Food to everyone. It’s a nice place and cheap. Anyone can afford it.

(167 words)

The introduction is not very ‘catchy’ for a review. It should grab the reader’s attention
The 2nd paragraph has very short, unconnected sentences which make the style very simplistic.
The 2nd paragraph mentions a negative point about the chips but there is no linking word to
make a contract: however etc.
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The 3rd paragraph has a lot of simple vocabulary to describe the staff and in some places
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repetition: service. Some lexis us useful: tip, bring food to your table, but the language
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throughout needs to be more colourful.

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The conclusion is very simple where the sentences can be linked together.

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1. The essay could be a bit longer.
2. The student hasn’t written about the atmosphere and the prices as stated in the task.
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3. The language isn’t descriptive enough for a review.
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4. This was clearly written without a plan as there is very little structure: the ideas seem randomly

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connected.

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UNIT 5
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FCE Gold First, Unit 5 Page 54, Task 6: Review
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My friends and I love eating out but wanted a change from the norm. We stumbled upon a newly
opened burger joint: Faster Food. Our minds were made up!

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The menu was vast so we were spoiled for choice. I went for the bacon cheese burger which turned

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out to be mouth-wateringly delicious. My friends made their opinions clear: not one crumb was left on

son their plates. However, the only criticism was the stingy portion of chips: I counted only seven. But the

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friendliness and courtesy of the staff most certainly made up for any shortcomings.
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N We were taken aback by the unique décor of the interior. Set up in the style of Texas ranch we couldn’t
help but feel we had been transported to America especially considering there was a country and
western band to serenade us while eating.

The prices in general were rather expensive for the portion sizes: we’d expected more for our money
but then we realized we were paying for the experience.

Would I recommend Faster Food? Most definitely. It’s one of those experiences you can’t miss that will
surely put a smile on your face whilst munching on a tasty burger.

(198 words)

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