B2 First (FCE) Writing – Practice Test 1 — Explanation

Welcome to this free Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing practice test. It follows the real exam format exactly — the same two parts, the same task types and the same word limits — so you know precisely what to expect on exam day. Each exercise gives you the full task, a model answer and useful phrases, plus short questions that check you know how to build a strong answer.

The B2 First Writing paper lasts 1 hour 20 minutes and is worth 20% of your total mark. You write two texts of 140–190 words each, so plan on roughly 40 minutes per part, including a few minutes to plan and a few more to check what you have written.

What is the B2 First (FCE) Writing exam?

The Writing paper shows that you can produce clear, well-organised texts for different readers and different purposes. You need to develop your ideas beyond simple statements, connect them logically, control a range of B2 grammar and vocabulary, and choose a style that fits the reader — neutral and slightly formal in an essay, friendlier in an email to a friend, lively and personal in a review.

The two parts

• Part 1 (Question 1) — an essay. This part is compulsory. You are given an essay title and two notes, plus a third note that says your own idea. You must write about both given notes and one idea of your own, in 140–190 words, in a fairly formal, neutral style. Your essay needs a clear introduction, a paragraph for each point, and a conclusion that states your opinion.
• Part 2 (Question 2, 3 or 4) — one task of your choice. You choose one of three tasks and write 140–190 words. The task types are an article, an email or letter, a review, and sometimes a report. Each task tells you who will read your text and what it must include — read this carefully, because it decides both your content and your style.

How you are marked

Examiners give a mark out of 5 for each of four subscales:

• Content — you do everything the task asks. In Part 1 that means covering both given notes plus your own idea; in Part 2 it means answering every element of the task you chose.
• Communicative Achievement — your text is the right style and register for its reader, and it holds their attention.
• Organisation — your writing is in clear paragraphs, with a logical order and linking words such as however, on the other hand, as a result and to sum up.
• Language — you use a range of B2 grammar and vocabulary with good control: some complex sentences, conditionals, passives and less common words used accurately.

How to get a good score

• Plan for five minutes. Decide your paragraphs and your final opinion before you write the first sentence — it is the fastest way to gain marks for Organisation.
• Cover every element. A brilliantly written essay that ignores one of the notes still loses marks for Content.
• Add your own idea properly. In Part 1 the third note is not optional, and it should be developed as fully as the other two.
• Match the style to the reader. Avoid contractions and very informal words in the essay; use them freely in an email to a friend.
• Show your range. Include a conditional, a passive or a relative clause, and prefer precise vocabulary (convenient, affordable, overcrowded) to vague words like good or bad.
• Stay inside 140–190 words and leave three minutes to check tenses, articles, spelling and punctuation.

Ready? Start with the compulsory essay in Part 1 below, then choose one task in Part 2.