Many students seem to miss basic facts about B2 First Writing Part 1, so this page is to fill in some of that missing information. There are also separate pages for more detailed information and advice for each part.
B2 First Writing Part 1 General Description:
| Format | There is an opening to set the scene, and then an essay question with two given prompts, plus a prompt requiring candidates to write about their own additional idea. |
| Timing | 40 minutes |
| Number of Parts | 1 |
| Task Types | Part 1 is writing an essay (one compulsory task) 140 – 190 words. |
| Focus | The focus is on agreeing or disagreeing with a statement, giving information, giving opinions, giving reasons, comparing and contrasting ideas and opinions, drawing a conclusion. |
| Marks | There are 20 marks for each part, meaning a total of 40 for the whole writing test. |
Preparation
Practice writing B2 First Writing Part 1 essay questions, so you can get used to writing in a formal or neutral style.
The question for Part 1 may be up to 120 words and will set the scene and topic for the essay.
The essay may take the form of a direct question or statement, which candidates are asked to give their opinions about.
The essay will have two given prompts which supply ideas clearly linked to the question or statement. You
must address both prompts and also introduce a third distinct idea of your own. This third idea is in addition to any
overall conclusions.
You need to ensure that all the content of your essay is clear and easy to follow. Effective organisation and cohesion are important features of a successful essay.
A range of grammar structures will be required to communicate ideas and opinions, along with the use of appropriate vocabulary.
Before your test, try to get some experience discussing the advantages and disadvantages of aspects of all kinds of
topics at B2 level.
Being able to support an opinion with reasons and examples is another skill required when writing an effective essay. The two given prompts help to guide and develop the essay and clearly relate to the question or statement. You also need to think of a third idea of your own which is distinct from the two given prompts. If any of the three essay prompts is missed out, then the target reader will not be fully informed and the candidate will be penalised.
Use the official Cambridge B2 First Exam books for official writing questions and sample answers. These can also be found here and here.
B2 First Writing Part 1: General Tips
a) It is vital that candidates read the rubric, essay question and prompts very carefully in order to understand what they are expected to do. Successful essays address the question or statement in a clear and logical way. It is important that you keep to the focus of the topic in question and that all their ideas and opinions are relevant to the question.
b) The target reader is usually a teacher, so the tone of your essay is formal.
c) Express their ideas in a clear and logical way, making sure that the development of the essay is smooth and easy to follow. Varying the length of sentences, using direct and indirect questions and using a variety of structures and vocabulary may all help to communicate ideas more effectively.
d) If your essay has a simple structure, for example, introduction, a paragraph about the first point, a paragraph about the second point, another paragraph about your own idea and also a conclusion, then it is much easier for the reader to follow.
e) Using a variety of linking words is important, as is ensuring that the flow of ideas in the writing is logical and easy for the reader to follow.
f) You should use a range of complex language. If, in doing so, you make mistakes, you will always be given credit for the complex language attempted, as long as the mistakes do not impede communication.
g) Be aware of the importance of spelling and punctuation. Although spelling errors and faulty punctuation are not specifically penalised, they can sometimes impede communication. (N.B. American usage and spelling are acceptable.)
h) Always plan so you can check your work.
i) Part 1 and Part 2 in the B2 First Writing test carry equal marks, so you should practise planning the time you spend on each question carefully.
Digital Test
j) Practice typing and editing your answers, so you can complete both tasks within the required time.
Paper Test
k) The questions are in a booklet. The answers are written in a separate booklet with lined pages.
l) Any corrections candidates make should be clear, so that they can be easily followed.
m) Counting words wastes time in an examination and leads to clumsy alterations to what a candidate has already written. Practice writing tasks within the word limit so that you can estimate when you have written enough.
n) It is important to write clearly so that the answers are easy to read.
o) It is not important whether you write in upper or lower case, or whether their writing is joined up or not.
Conclusion
I hope that has helped to give you a better understanding of what is required for B2 First Writing Part 1, and that you will look into each part in more detail. There is a full list of pages on the B2 First Writing test here. Good luck with your test!
information on this page is adapted from The Cambridge B2 First Handbook for Teachers for Exams