FCE Writing – Paper 2

In the two parts of the B2 First Writing paper, you have to show that you can write different
types of text in English.
Time allowed: 1h 20m
Number of Parts: 2 (Part 1 – one compulsory question, Part 2 – one question from a choice
of three)
20% of the total assessment

Part 1
• essay – compulsory task
• 140 – 190 words
• You’re given an essay title and two ideas clearly linked to the title. You write an essay
giving your opinions about the title, using the ideas given. You must also add a third,
different idea of your own linked to the title. The title will be a subject of general
interest – you won’t need any specialised knowledge.

Part 2
• a choice of text types:
- article
- email/letter
- report
- review
• 140 – 190 words
• To guide your writing, you’ll be given information about context, topic purpose and
target reader.

Part 1: ESSAY
In Part 1 you:
• discuss a subject
• express your opinion
• give reasons for your opinion

In Part 1 you must:

• answer the essay question
• use all the notes given!
• include a headline!

There are two types of essays on the FCE exam:

1) a “discuss-a-statement” essay (e.g. Smoking in the public areas should be banned
worldwide. Do you agree?)
2) a “which-is-better” essay (e.g. Is it better to study at a university or to work straight after
school?)
You are given the following instructions:
In your English class, you have been talking about the subject of cultural heritage. Now 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.

Is it a good thing that countries spend a lot of money on their heritage?

Notes:
Write about:
1. preserving the past
2. investing in the future
3. __________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

What can I identify from the instructions?

Main topic (Cultural heritage)

Target Reader (English teacher)

Style (Formal)

Headline (always the Essay

Question)

What has to be included (all

points covered)

What I should write (an Essay) and its Length (140-190, never less, when more, you risk
being irrelevant)

MOST ESSENTIAL POINTS:

• an essay is always written for the teacher, therefore the style is always FORMAL
• it is important to keep the focus of the topic question and that all your ideas and
opinions are relevant to the question
• always support your opinions with reasons and examples
• always!!! thins of a third idea of your own
• always cover all the points in the instructions!!! – if any of the three essay notes is
missed out, then the target reader will not be fully informed and you will be penalised
• it is advisable to use up to 5 paragraphs:
1. introduction
2. note 1 (+ reasons and examples)
3. note 2 (+ reasons and examples)
4. note 3 (+ reasons and examples)
5. conclusion (+ your own opinion)
 • varying the length of the sentences, using direct and indirect questions and using a
variety of structures and vocabulary may all help to communicate ideas more
effectively
• you have to express your opinion clearly on the subject of the essay, at the very
end of your essay
• always write grammatically correct sentences and use accurate spelling and
punctuation
• if you use more than 40 minutes of your time, you will have less time for the other
part as a result

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY:

• Introduction:
- state the topic clearly
- give a brief outline of the issue, saying why it is important or why people have
different opinions about it
- DO NOT express your opinion

Examples:
Some people say that …
In my country …
Most countries / people …
It is important to deal with this topic because …
• Main content:
- must be divided into 3 paragraphs (every note has its own paragraph)
- include relevant details to support the main idea
- give examples, maybe questions (but not too much), include surprising content
- open your paragraph with a linking phrase (see below)
• Conclusion:
- ALWAYS give YOUR OWN OPINION, state it clearly!
- give reasons and examples
• General:
- be objective, do not tend to be too emotional
- use linking words, adverbs, organise your ideas and make it easy for the reader to
follow your argument
- check your grammar, spelling and punctuation thoroughly

LINKING WORDS AND PHRASES

• to express personal opinions: In my opinion / view / I believe/feel/guess that / it
seems to me / as I see it/ I personally think / from my point of view
• to introduce other people’s opinions: some people think/say / many people argue
that / it is sometimes/often argued/suggested/said
• to show purpose: to / in order to / so as to / so that
• to list ideas: firstly / secondly / finally / in the first place / lastly
• to contract ideas: however / although / in contrast / whereas / but / nevertheless / in
spite of / despite
• to describe a cause: because / since / as / due to / for this reason / that is why / one of
the main reasons is that
• to show a sequence: first of all / then / after that / eventually / in the end / finally
 • to add information: in addition / moreover / what is more / besides / too /
furthermore / and
• to describe a consequence: consequently / as a result/consequence / therefore / so /
thus / for this reason / that is why / in consequence / which means that
• to conclude the topic: in conclusion / to sum up / in short / all in all / overall / to
conclude / to summarise

Sample answer:

Is it a good thing that countries spend a lot of money on their heritage?

Most countries spend large sums of money protecting their national heritage. However,
there is a strong argument that we should look forwards and not backwards, spending less
money on preserving the past and more on securing our future.

On the one hand, it is important that we remember our heritage. Once it is lost, it is lost
forever. Caring for important monuments helps with this. It also attracts tourists, which has
an economic benefit for everyone.

On the other hand, governments spend a lot of money on museums and keeping historic
sites in good condition when poor people need houses to live in and businesses need better
roads for transporting their goods.

Another strong argument is that by making heritage sites attractive for tourists - for
example, by putting on entertainment - we give a very untrue picture of the past and
sometimes damage the local environment.

To conclude, while there are strong arguments for not spending too much on preserving the
past, I believe it is important to protect the most famous sites for the future generations but
it is not realistic to try and save everything. We need to invest in the future too.
 essay headline ✔

introduction ✔

first note ✔

second note ✔

third note ✔

conclusion ✔

own opinion ✔

1. Highlight all the linking words you can see. linking words ✔
2. Does the writer use:
• a range of grammatical structures and tenses?
• challenging vocabulary and phrases? grammar and vocabulary ✔
3. Does the writer include irrelevant content? length ✔

HOW IS IT ASSESSED?
1. Content – all points covered, relevant to the reader, no irrelevant content included, own opinion
included
2. Structure – paragraphs, includes an appropriate introductory and concluding paragraph
3. Communicative Achievement – how the writer communicates their opinions and ideas, usage of
linking words
4. Language – a range of grammatical structures and tenses, challenging vocabulary (B2)
5. General Achievement – answered the question appropriately
Part 2: ARTICLE
The main purpose is to:
• inform
• interest
• engage the reader
• give an opinion or comment

HOW TO WRITE AN ARTICLE:

• always add a short headtitle! – this is different from an essay, though, your title
should:
- catch the reader’s attention
- and also be relevant
• it is usually written for an English-language magazine or newsletter and the reader is
assumed to have similar interests to the writer
• Introduction:
- a short introductory paragraph
- address your readers directly or ask them a question – involve your reader!
• in the instructions, there are usually two points you have to deal with, therefore use
two main paragraphs
• make sure you are relevant and cover all the points you are asked to in the
instructions
• style: neutral, not too formal, not too informal, rather personal (target: readers who
have similar interests as you do)
• develop the ideas, give examples where appropriate, show a range of structures,
use humour where appropriate
• Conclusion:
- or rather summary?, sum up your thoughts
- address your readers again
- finish your article with a funny fact or a joke, maybe a question
• make sure your reader is always involved and informed, therefore include only
relevant content
• the assessment is similar to the one in Part 1, therefore all the rules apply here too

USEFUL LANGUAGE
• involving the reader: Just imagine... / Have you ever...? / How would you feel if ...? /
Are you one of those people who ...? / If the answer is ..., you should.... / What would
live be like if...
• making the article lively and interesting: I was absolutely terrified when I realised...
More importantly, it was something I...
Not surprisingly, it's a good way of raising money.
The tent was worryingly small for three people!
It was the most amazing experience I have ever had.
• developing your points: Let's start with ... / Another advantage of ... / On top of that,
• giving your own opinion: I think that / In my opinion ... / It seems to me that ... / If
you ask me, ... / To my mind...
You see this announcement on an English-language website.

Articles wanted A charity event to remember

What is the most unusual way you've raised money for charity? How did you do it? What did
you have to do? Was the event a success? Would you do it again?

Write us an article answering these questions.

We will publish the best articles on our website.
Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Sample answer:

A charity event to remember

So why did I decide to do a 90-km walk in six days along the Great Wall of China? Well, the
reason was that our local children's hospital needed to raise money or it would be close.
However, I didn't realise how big of a challenge it would be.

Before I went, I thought that I would be walking along a flat surface but when I saw the
Great Wall, my heart sank. Part of the time we would be trekking up hundreds of high steps
and, worryingly, some of the paths had steep falls on either side and there was nowhere to
go because we were surrounded by mountains and forests. However, after a while, I started
to love the experience. I was in one of the most amazing places on earth and the views were
incredible.

In the end, the adventure was a great success. The hospital was delighted because a group
of us managed to raise several thousand pounds.

Would I be keen to help the hospital again next year? Yes, but I think I'll try and find an
easier challenge next time!
Part 2: REPORT !!!!!HEADINGS!!!!!
The main purpose is to:
• give factual information
• make suggestions or recommendations

HOW TO WRITE A REPORT:

• it is usually written for a superior (e.g. a teacher), therefore the style is usually formal
• a report consists of:
1) main headline
2) 4 paragraphs with their headings!
1st paragraph: Introduction
4th paragraph: Conclusion (Recommendations)
• divide your report into sections according to the instructions
• focus on a maximum of two points

HEADLINE
Introduction
The aim of this report is to outline …
(begin by stating the purpose of your report)
Describe how you got the information (To prepare for this report, I conducted interviews
with… / I visited three of the most popular … / I discussed the issue with … )
a) PURPOSE
b) SOURCE OF INFORMATION

2nd and 3rd Paragraph – each has its own heading (e.g. Advantages, Disadvantages)
Useful language:
According to… / The arguments against are… / The main reasons are… / Firstly… / Secondly…
Points in favour of/against are … / There are several ways in which …

Conclusion (Recommendations)
Give a clear summary of the situation and make a comment/suggestion only in the last
paragraph.
Useful language:
Taking all the factors mentioned into account… / I would therefore recommend… / Clearly,
more could be done to … / I would make the following recommendations…
a) SUMMARY
b) RECOMMENDATIONS
Making suggestions and recommendations:
a) I recommend that (the town council should)
b) I (would) recommend + verb-ing
c) I suggest + verb-ing
d) I suggest that (the town council should)
e) it would be a good idea (for someone) + infinitive (to do)
You work for the Student Travel Agency of your college. The principal of the college is
interested in the experiences of students who have worked abroad during their summer
holidays. She has asked you to write a report on the advantages and disadvantages of such
work. In particular, she wants to know whether the college should recommend "working
holidays" to its students.

Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Sample Answer:

Working holidays for students

Introduction

The aim of this report is to outline the advantages and disadvantages of working holidays abroad. In
order to obtain this information, I interviewed more than 30 students who had worked in different
countries.

The benefits of working holidays

A large number of the students I spoke to said that they had enjoyed working abroad and had
become more open-minded as a result. Apparently, they felt they had learnt a lot about the local
people and their way of life by working side by side with them.

The disadvantages of working holidays

Not surprisingly, many students complained that they had worked too hard in certain countries. They
believed that they had been exploited by their employers, who paid them very little money.
According to some students, there had also been problems with documents such as work permits.

Conclusion and Recommendations

It appears that the majority of students found the experience of working abroad very beneficial.
Therefore, I believe that the college should recommend "working holidays" to its students. However,
it should also warn them about the problems they could face and the precautions they need to take.
Part 2: REVIEW
The main purpose is to:
• describe - DESCRIPTION
• express a personal opinion about something you experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday…)
- EXPLANATION
• give a clear impression of what the discussed item is like - RECOMMENDATION

HOW TO WRITE A REVIEW:

• it is usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website,
therefore the target reader is important – use a personal or more neutral style
• it usually consists of 4 paragraphs (introduction, 2 main paragraphs and conclusion)
• always give your review a title!
• Introduction: say what you are reviewing, try to get the reader’s interest (similar to
an article)
• Main content: give your opinion of what you are reviewing, give details according to
the instructions (avoid being irrelevant!) but only focus on those you’ve been asked
to!
• Conclusion: summarise your view, include a recommendation
• use a range of vocabulary: adjectives (synonyms), adverbs, nouns – challenging and
do not repeat the same words
• use plenty of adjectives to describe the book/film/restaurant…, but also to describe
how you feel about it

USEFUL LANGUAGE
• what you liked: what I liked most was / the thing I liked most was / I was pleasantly
surprised by / … would appeal to … / if you get a chance to …
• what you disliked: what I disliked most was / I was disappointed by
• ways of praising: I think everyone will enjoy this … because / The … is
fascinating/marvellous… because … / This … is really worth (seeing/visiting…)
because…
• criticism: the script seemed rather predictable to me / the dancers were amateurish/
the waiters seemed tired …
• recommendations: judging from this CD/show … / overall, if you like …, you’ll
love/you should … / although some of … it’s still a great … / you really must / should
buy/see/read/visit … / I would definitely recommend ….

• reviews of books: main character, …is set in…, fiction (thriller, fantasy, romance),
non-fiction (cook book, travel book), atmosphere, main plot, author, written by…,
chapter, bestseller, unbelievable, surprising ending
• reviews of concerts: band, musician, guitarist, lead singer, orchestra, venue, lyrics,
audience
• reviews of exhibitions: painting, sculpture, gallery, on display, catalogue
• reviews of films: lead role, star actor, starring, written by…, directed by…, cast,
director, producer, …is set in…, based on a true story, not very believable, costumes,
design, photography, script, special effects, soundtrack, ending
 • reviews of TV programmes: chat shows, current affairs programme, debate,
documentary, series, soap opera, sitcom, host, presenter
• reviews of hotels, restaurants: location, service, setting, owned by…, run by…, head
chef, waiters, staff, receptionist, hotel facilities, reasonable prices, expensive,
overpriced, not worth the money, always fully booked, book in advance

You have seen this announcement in your college English-language magazine.

Music reviews wanted

Have you been to a great music concert recently?
Write us a review of the concert, telling us about the band or singer and their performance.
Say whether you would recommend seeing them perform live.
We will publish the best reviews next month.

Write your review in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Sample answer:

A concert to remember

Without doubt, the British rock band Arctic Monkeys have given this year's best live show.
As teenagers a few years ago, they made the fastest selling album ever but seemed shy and
awkward on stage. Now they have matured and become an amazing live act.

Since the frontman Alex decided to cut his hair and dress like a skinny rock star of the 1950s,
he moves confidently around the stage, waving his arms and encouraging us to shake our
hips. The crowd were ecstatic!

The set began with their hit, Do you wanna know. The guitar playing was tight, as always,
and the rhythm supported by Matt's powerful drumming. The band were on top form
throughout, winning fans with a list that combined older with new hits.

My only reservation is that although the songs have clever lyrics and great melodies and
sound fresh every time, some lack the emotional and poetic force of their best.

But this is a minor criticism. Overall, it was a performance to remember and all fans should
try and catch them while they're on tour.