B2 First (FCE) Writing – Practice Test 1 — Part 1 – Write an essay

Question 1 — The task

In your English class you have been talking about life in cities. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

City centres should be closed to private cars. Do you agree?

Notes
Write about:
1. clean air
2. local shops
3. ……………… (your own idea)

Model answer (about 170 words)

Traffic in our city centres has become a serious problem, and many people now argue that private cars should be banned from them altogether. In my opinion this idea deserves to be taken seriously, although it would have to be introduced carefully.

The strongest argument concerns clean air. Cars produce most of the pollution we breathe in busy shopping streets, and removing them would make the centre quieter, healthier and far more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.

On the other hand, local shops depend on customers who arrive by car, especially those buying heavy items. If a ban were introduced overnight, some small businesses would certainly lose money and a few might even close.

I also believe that such a change would only work alongside excellent public transport. Unless buses and trams are frequent and affordable, people living outside the centre would simply be shut out of it.

To sum up, I support closing city centres to cars, but only where good alternatives already exist and shopkeepers are given time to adapt.

Useful language

• Introducing the topic: … has become a serious problem, Many people now argue that…
• Giving your opinion: In my opinion…, I firmly believe that…, It seems to me that…
• Adding a contrasting point: On the other hand…, However…, Nevertheless…
• Adding your own idea: I also believe that…, A further point worth making is…
• Concluding: To sum up…, All things considered…, On balance, I would argue that…