JoannaESL

Lesson Plans and Ideas

B2 – Writing Part 1 (Essay) – The effects of fashion on people’s lives

Love it or hate it, we all follow trends and fashion. It’s also one of the evergreen topics that can be approached in many different ways. You can deal with fast fashion and sustainability, the newest trends during the fashion week, or do what I did and talk about its effects on our lives.

My inspiration to create Cambridge lesson plans comes in waves, depending on the students and their upcoming exams. One of my B2 students is taking her FCE exam at the beginning of March, which motivates me to craft lessons for her and ensure that she gets the highest score possible. I thought that this week we could review and tackle Writing Part 1. As this part is obligatory, it is essential to be well-prepared and ready to write the best essay possible while following and having a deep understanding of the writing assessment criteria.

Scroll until the end of the post to get the worksheet with the teacher’s notes, and the presentation in case you teach online (like I do!). This lesson material can also be found in  B2 Sample Paper 2 , and all the example essays are taken from  B2 First Handbook .

fce essay fashion

The other week in one of the podcasts that I listen to regularly, I heard about a fashion rule that we should all follow. Before you get dressed, think about three adjectives that best describe your style, and dress accordingly. I immediately thought that this activity could work well as a warm-up before the heavier part of the class, which is all about analysing the exam task and understanding the writing criteria. If you have a bigger group, you could ask them to write the three adjectives anonymously on sticky notes and then match the style descriptions with the students.

Once you match everyone with their style descriptions, present students with five  stylish  women. Students may work in pairs (or individually) and rank them from 1-5, 1 being the most fashionable and 5 being the least. Students present their order and justify their choices.

fce essay fashion

Introduce the writing task by showing the thesis of the essay –  Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives . Divide students into two groups. Group A thinks about reasons that support this statement. The other group thinks of reasons against this point. Once groups have a few ideas, put one student A with one student B, so they can debate each other’s points and reach a final decision.

Now, show students an example essay which relates to the previous statement. Students read for gist and check if any of the ideas mentioned in the previous activity appeared in the text. Read it again and identify three main points that the text deals with. Are they positive or negative?  (There are one positive and two negative points) . Show the exam task and explain the rules of FCE Writing Part 1. Say that in this part, students always have to write an essay. They need to include two points mentioned in the task and one extra idea of their own. Read the text again and underline the parts of the text that mention all three points. Point out the structure of the essay and the purpose of each paragraph.

  • Paragraph 1: Introduction
  • Paragraph 2: Points supporting the thesis (job creation)
  • Paragraph 3: Points against the thesis (judging appearance and the price of clothes)
  • Paragraph 4: Conclusion

Now that everyone read the example answer at least three times, analyse the examiner’s notes. Explain the criteria used in the writing assessment – content, communicative achievement, organisation and language. I think that students must understand what they are being assessed on to perform well in this part. It will help them see that even though grammar and vocabulary are important, they are not critical, and it’s possible to get a good score, even with some mistakes.

Once they understand the criteria, it’s time to put on the examiner’s hat. Show two essays answering the same task as before. Give some time to read the answers and discuss which of the two is better and why. It’s obvious that the second one is way better, but students may already start justifying their decisions using the writing assessment criteria. Put students into pairs and ask them to score the two answers. Look at everyone’s answers and compare them with the actual scores and explanations. Discuss if any of the scores surprised them.

If you have some spare time, you can give 5 minutes to plan the answers to the same task as before. Explain the importance of planning and thinking before jumping into writing. If you can afford it and make sure that everyone hands in their essay, give them about 40 minutes to write their answers. You can even shorten this time, as there was plenty of time to think about the answers, and most likely students already know what they want to write about. If you don’t have that much time, you can set it as homework.

Since the lesson was quite heavy with a lot of reading and analysis, finish by discussing four short questions on fashion and style. Think about the importance of getting dressed well and people who decide what’s fashionable or not.

Hope you enjoyed this instalment of FCE practice! Click the files below to get the presentation and the worksheet with the teacher’s notes.

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Published by joannaesl

A CELTA certified ESL teacher based in Altea, Spain. I share my experience regarding teaching in Spain, getting into ESL from scratch, but I also like to prepare lesson plans and classroom content. View all posts by joannaesl

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FCE topics: 7 fashion

Created on May 23, 2021

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Language development: Prepositional phrases

Use of English: multiple choice cloze

Use of English: key word transformation

Language development: Speculation and deduction

Writing: Following Fashion Essay (part 1)

Listening: (Part 3)

Language development: Permission and necessity

Speaking – Clothes and Fashion

Reading and Use of English (Part 3)

Reading and Use of English: Part 3

grammar :articles, determiners, prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns, conjunctions

The focus is either on grammar or lexicogrammar.

FCE Use of English Part 2 “Open cloze” consists of a short text with eight gaps. Unlike Part 1, there are no choices for what word you need. You must use your knowledge to fill the gap with the correct word.

lexicogrammar: phrasal verbs, linkers, fixed expressions, collocations

  • The answer will always be a single word.
  • Contractions (e.g. don’t, we’ve, won’t) count as two words. However, can’t is a contraction of cannot, which is one word.
  • Sometimes, there is more than one correct answer. Cambridge will always account for this and all options will be accepted. However, you should not write more than one answer.
  • Correct spelling is essential for all of the FCE Use of English paper.
  • Read the text before and after each gap before answering.

You should always try to complete FCE Use of English Part 2 in a systematic way. Don’t forget these essential points as you answer the task:

6) If the answer is a verb, check that you are using the correct form and that it agrees with its subject.7) The same word is unlikely to be used to fill two different gaps within one text.8) Always read the text quickly before you start to get a general idea. This should not take more than 1 minute.9) Don’t spend lots of time on a word you don’t know. Losing time on this activity might cost you points later in the exam because you won’t have enough time to do other tasks well.10)Check your answers, your spelling and don’t copy the example onto the answer sheet!

Throughout history people have worn clothing of one description or another. Apart (13)___ protection against the weather, clothes were also often used to show the wearer’s status and wealth. Over the years, numerous fashions in clothing have come and gone. (14) ___some of these have been popular for relatively short periods, others have lasted longer. Until the first half of the 20th century, the ability to follow fashion was limited to those (15)___ had the money to (16)___ so. But following fashion did not only demand money, it also required large amounts of leisure time. Wealthy people took fashion very seriously and close attention had to (17)___ paid to detail. Wearing the correct clothes for different occasions was very important, despite the (18)___ that this often meant changing clothes five or six (19) ___a day. More recently, fashionable clothes have come within the reach of ordinary people. The traditional craft of dressmaking, (20) ___usually involved sewing (21)___ hand, was both costly and slow. But today, large-scale manufacturing has made it easier for people to keep (22)____ with changes in fashion (23)____ having to spend a great (24)___ of money.

For questions 13 – 24, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap

Look at these comments made in a restaurant. Which ones are more likely to be made by a waiter (W) and which ones by a customer (C)? 1 Children under l2 are allowed to use the play area. 2 You don't have to give them a tip. 3 l'm afraid you cannot sit there - it's reserved. 4 You are not allowed to bring your own food into the restaurant area. 5 Excuse me Sir, children under l2 mustn't use the play area. 6 Steve, you are not supposed to use your mobile phone here. Turn it off. 7 l'm sorry, but you have to wear a tie to eat here. 8 I must try one of the desserts, they look delicious. 9 You can choose any table on this side, Madam. 10 I think we are supposed to leave a tip.

Permission and necessity: present

Expressing lack of necessity (10)

Expressing obligation (7) (the speaker feels it's necessary)(8) (the rules or situation make it necessary)(9) (the rules or situation make it necessary)

Expressing prohibition(3) (4)(5)(6)

Giving permission (1) (2)

b Write the words and phrases in the correct place in the table.

We went to that new restaurant yesterday. lt's very big, so we didn’t have to book a table. John wore a suit because he thought it would be very formal, but in fact, it wasn't, so he needn't have dressed so smartly. Of course, the children couldn't play in the restaurant but they were allowed to use the play area outside. The meal was very expensive though - we had to pay by credit card because we didn't have enough money with us. And worst of all, I wasn't allowed to use my phone to call a taxi I had to go outside!

Read the extract from an email about a new restaurant and answer the questions. I Was it necessary to wear a suit? 2 What was the worst thing about the restaurant?

Permission and necessity:past

It was done but it wasn't necessary. (6)

It wasn't necessary. (5)

It was necessary (4)

It was prohibited (2) (3)

It was permitted. (1)

Correct the mistakes in the sentences. 1 You ought complain about that soup - it's cold. 2 You shouldn't having a dessert if you are full up. 3 lf you don't llke pasta you'd better to have a pizza. 4 You must have try that new restaurant in Castle Street

Advice and recommendations

Dear Melanie, Thanks for agreeing to look after our house while we're away. Just a few things to remember: Be careful with the front door lock. (1) lt's necessary to pull the handle up before turning the key. But (2) it’s very important not to force the key or it'll break!Please feed the cat twice a day. you (3) are allowed to give him anything from the bottom shelf (4) lt's not necessary for you to pay us Lo use the phone and you (5) are permitted to use the computer. (6) We strongly recommend you try the local restaurant. (7) lt's a good idea to book though.Have fun, Louise

For this essay, you are asked the following question about fashion: Many people like to follow different styles in fashions. Is it a good or bad thing to keep up with these trends? Notes 1. slaves to fashion 2. too expensive and not practical 3. pressure from department stores

4. conclusion

3. ideas ( 2/3 paragraphs)

2.introduction

Following Fashion When it comes to fashion, most of us (1)____________ we can simply make up our own minds with what we wear each day. So, not many of us would (2)_____________ to being slaves to fashion. However, we are not just (3)____________ of the expensive fashion houses, which very few of us can afford. We are talking of fashions and trends in everyday clothes. It is the regular ones that we always wear, the ones we (4)____________ comfortable wearing because they (5)__________ cheap and practical. But, isn't this the same as everyone else is wearing? Doesn't that mean that we like to be fashionable? Of course, the large department stores to some extent, (6)___________ us what we wear. They keep our interest with their seasonal collections or a regular sale. They always (7)________________ a choice, but they are careful to choose the clothing, which (8) __________________ trending at that time. However, we must (9)_____________ that this extends far beyond the clothes we wear, it includes accessories, makeup and, hairstyles. So, it is easy for us to say, that we do not (10)_________ fashion, but don't we all like to be followers of a group?

Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives. Do you agree? Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view. Notes Write about: 1. whether people’s appearance is important 2. the price of clothes 3. …………………… (your own idea)

1) How would you describe the differences in how the people are dressed (e.g. scruffy, fashionable)?2) When do people wear these things? flip-flops pyjamas trouser suit fur coat high heels jumper open neck shirt parka sandals shorts slippers tracksuit trainers vesttop

Clothes and Fashion

In which situations would you: 1 dress down? 2 dress up? 3 get changed? 4 try something on? 5 tuck something in? 6 hang something up? 7 get a bigger size? 8 get something taken in?

must-have off the peg on the catwalk a slave to fashion to suit someone to take pride in one’s appearancetimeless vintage clothes

fashion show to go out of fashion hand-me-downs to have an eye for (fashion) to have a sense of style the height of fashion to keep up with the latest fashionto mix and match

to be on trend casual clothes classic style designer label dressed to kill to dress for the occasionfashion house fashion icon to get dressed up

A I can't afford new clothes. B I buy good qualrty c othes. C I don't care what I wear. D I choose clothes that are easy to look after E I wear fashionable clothes. F lt's important that my clothes are clean. G I dress to look smart H My priority is to be comfortable.

You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about the clothes they like to wear. For questions'l-5 choose from the list (A-H) what each speaker says. Use the letters only once. There are three extra Ietters which you do not need to use.

Combine modals of deduction and speculation must, might, could, may and then an infinitive verb to deduce and speculate about an action that happens in the present. modal (present) + infinitive Below is a sample scenario using modals of deduction and speculation in present. Know the proper modal to use depending on how true you think that an action occurs. You are waiting for Amanda with another friend, Danny. You ask Danny this question: Where is Amanda? Danny speculates: She must be on her way here. (fairly sure this is a good guess) She might arrive soon. (maybe) She could be lost. (maybe) She may be in the wrong place. (maybe) She can’t be at home. (fairly sure this isn’t true) Note that in this case, the opposite of ‘must’ is ‘can’t’.

Deducing and speculating about the present

Combine modals of deduction and speculation must, might, could, may and then an infinitive verb to deduce and speculate about an action that happens in the present. modal (present) + infinitive Below is a sample scenario using modals of deduction and speculation in present. Know the proper modal to use depending on how true you think that an action occurs.

You are waiting for Amanda with another friend, Danny.You ask Danny this question: Where is Amanda?Danny speculates: She must be on her way here. (fairly sure this is a good guess) She might arrive soon. (maybe) She could be lost. (maybe) She may be in the wrong place. (maybe) She can’t be at home. (fairly sure this isn’t true) Note that in this case, the opposite of ‘must’ is ‘can’t’.

Will / won’t We use will and won’t when we are very sure. He will be at school now. Should / shouldn’t We use should and shouldn’t to make an assumption about what is probably true, if everything is as we expect. They should get there by now. It shouldn’t take long to drive here. This use of should isn’t usually used for negative events. Instead, it’s a better idea to use will. Correct: The temperature will be too high today. Incorrect: The temperature should be too high today.

Can We use can for something that is generally possible, something we know sometimes happens. The cost of living can be very high in big cities. We do not use can to talk about specific possibilities. Correct: Mom could be at the supermarket. Incorrect: Mom can be at the supermarket.

Put together modals of deduction and speculation must, might, could, may, can’t and have and then a past participle verb to deduce and speculate about an action that occurred in the past. modal (past) + have + past participle It must have rained last night. She might / might not have registered for the seminar. They could have finished the training if not for the technical issues. You may / may not have done the dishes this morning. I can’t have wished ill of another person.

Deducing and speculating about the past

This is a sample scenario using modals of deduction and speculation in the past. Know the proper modal to use. Roy asked: Where was Sandra last night?Maria speculated: Sandra must have forgotten about our appointment. She might have worked late. Sandra could have lost track of time. She may have gotten sick. She can’t have stayed at home.

CouldWe can use could + infinitive to talk about a general possibility in the past. Labor could be low in the sixteenth century. This is not used to talk about specific possibilities in the past. Instead, we use could + have + past participle. He could have been working late. (not: ‘could be’. As this is a specific possibility, ‘could be’ is present tense)

Will We use will for something in the past that we are very certain happened. The parcel will have arrived before now. Should / Shouldn’t We use should and shouldn’t have to make an assumption about something that has probably happened, if everything is as we expect. The plane should have left by now. We shouldn’t have gone in that direction.

Modals of Deduction and Speculation Exercise Answer this exercise on modals of deduction and speculation.

1. Their shop is easy to locate. It’s right around the corner. She _____ miss it!a. might b. can’t c. must 2. Chris’s things are still here so he _____ gone home. a. shouldn’t have b. might have c. can’t have 3. What a great show! They _____ go on a world tour. a. can’t b. might c. must

4. She can’t remember the suspect’s face. But she _____ seen a distinguishing feature. a. couldn’t have b. must have c. may have 5. It _____ be sugar-free. It has ice cream in it. a. can’t b. may not c. must 6. Clara and Laura weren’t replying to my chat messages. Maybe they went to the movies or they _____ gone to a spa. a. might have b. couldn’t have c. must have

7. Anthony is very stressed out lately. I am not sure but he _____ gone on vacation. a. can’t have b. might have c. must have 8. Your sisters tell different versions of what happened. One of them _____ be lying. a. must b. may c. could 9. I _____ known about this faulty wiring. I would have noticed it. a. couldn’t have b. must have c. might have 10. Look at this piece of art. Maybe it’s Monet or it _____ be Van Gogh. a. would b. could c. couldn’t

1 l'm sure Tom's tired because he's yawning a Lot. MUST Tom_______________ because he's yawning a Lot. 2 I'm hungry because the last time I ate was live hours ago. FOR l'm hungry because I _________ five hours 3 He's so relaxed I’m sure he's,1ust got back from holiday. BEEN He's so relaxed - he __________ holiday.

For questions 1-6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

4 l'm not fit enough to go rn for a marathon. TOO l'm____________go in for a marathon. 5 It was possible that he was having a shower, which is why he couldn't hear the bell. MAY He ________shower, which is why he couldn’t t hear the bell. 6 l'm sure she hasn't left because her coat's still here. HAVE She __________ because her coat's still here.

Use of English:multiple choice cloze

Hairstyles Hairstyles tend to (0) C statements about what people are like They are sometimes used to give the (1)__ that we are different from others Alternatively, we can choose a particular hairstyle in the (2)__ that people will think we are fashionable. ln the UK in the early 1960s, the Beatles‘ hairstyle was copied by boys who, on the whole wanted and (3)__ to shock their parents. Later, middle-class 'hippies' let their harr grow long to (4)__ their commitment to an alternative lifestyle ln the 1970s,'sklnheads' shaved their heads and (5) __ to represent the working class; for those who felt themselves part of a multicultural society, dreadlocks were (6)__ fashion. Recently, fashion icons such as the footballer David Beckham have (7)__ a huge influence on men's hairstyles. ln fact, one consequence of the Beckham phenomenon is that young men now spend as much time and money (8) _ their appearance as young women do.

For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning )

They first met at a party. (preposition + noun phrase) She was taken ill during the film. (preposition + noun phrase) Would you like to come with me please? (preposition + pronoun) From there, it’ll take you about half an hour to our house. (preposition + adverb) Until quite recently, no one knew about his paintings. (preposition + adverb phrase)

Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and the words which follow it (a complement). The complement (underlined below) is most commonly a noun phrase or pronoun, but it can also be, an adverb phrase (usually one of place or time), a verb in the -ing form or, less commonly, a prepositional phrase or a wh-clause:

Prepositions and their complements

She’s decided on doing a Chinese language course. (preposition + -ing clause) Not: … decided on to do … It’s a machine for making ice-cream. (preposition + -ing clause) If you can wait until after my meeting with Jack, we can talk then. (preposition + prepositional phrase) We were really surprised at what they wrote. (preposition + wh-clause)

We can put an adverb before a preposition to modify it. This applies mainly to prepositions of time or place which are gradable (above, before, far, deep, down, opposite): They’ve moved far into the country. They left the party just before us. You can’t miss it. His office is almost opposite the coffee machine

Prepositional phrases can be complements of verbs. If we need a special preposition to introduce the complement of the verb, we call such verbs ‘prepositional verbs’:Do these keys belong to you? We’re not happy but we do approve of their decision. We sometimes use an adverb particle before the preposition. The verb + adverb particle + preposition structure forms a verb which has a single meaning. We call such verbs ‘phrasal prepositional verbs’. Their meaning is often not related to the meaning of the original verb: She really looks up to her grandfather. (admires) We’re all looking forward to having a few days’ holiday together. (anticipate with pleasure)

Prepositional phrases after verbs

Before I was sent to Milan to write an article about Fashion Week, I hadn't realized that it was a place where you are expected to look good (1) at all times / at the moment. So, when I arrived in scruffy jeans and with my hair all over the place, people stared at me as if they were (2) in danger of / in favor of contracting some dreadful disease. Things went (3) from time to time / from bad to worse. When I got to my hotel, (4) at least / at first the receptionist assumed I had walked in (5) by mistake / by the way and (6) to my surprise / to my advantage, asked the porter to give me directions. When she realized I was a guest, she apologized but (7) by that time / by heart I was (8) in a very loud voice / in an extremely bad mood. However, I had learnt my lesson. (9) From time to time / From then on, every morning (10) without fail / without notice I would spend hours in front of the mirror making sure I looked good before I went out.

Choose the correct answers.

c Cross out the word in each group that cannot be used with the preposition in bold. 1 on: sight / purpose / the beginning 2 for: fun / conclusion / a change /no long 3 in: uniform / the end / luck / time to time / conclusion / fashion 4 out of: date / fashion / sight / purpose /breath Replace the words in italics in the sentences with a prepositional phrase1 Fallen didn't turn up, so finally I decided to go in by myself 2 My clothes were no longer a popular style. 3 The doorman sard my pass was no longer valid. 4 l'm sorry, I didn't do it deliberately. 5 Please be honest with me in contrast with your usual behavior. 6 You're fortunate today l've found your wallet.

7. a difference8. a job 9. an excuse 10. something for living 11. a profit 13. a good impression

  • a suggestion
  • the washing up
  • a phone call

Hairstyles tend to make / do statements about what people are like.Young men now buy / spend as much time and money on their appearance as young women do.

b Complete the phrases with make or do.

d Choose the correct answers. 1 That fashion company's profits didn't raise / rise at all last year. 2 lt all started when Johnson became / grew the director 3 it soon emerged that he earned / won 52a million a year. 4 The r reputation was badly damaged / injured by the scandal 5 He was forced to retire / resign and look for another post. 6 But the company's wounds have still not cured / healed.

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How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

Luis @ kse academy.

  • noviembre 24, 2019

As you probably know already, Cambridge English exams usually have some or all of the following parts: Reading, Writing, Use of English and Listening. In this post I am going to talk about the FCE Writing B2 part and, more specifically, about how to write an essay for FCE Writing . We will see a good example of an essay for FCE and you can check out a full FCE Writing Guide where you can find more examples of emails , letters and other types of writings.

Essay Sample Answer

Este artículo también está disponible en castellano.

The Ultimate B2 First Writing Guide: 15 B2 Writing Sample Tasks and 300+ Useful Expressions (Guías de Writing para Exámenes de Cambridge)

What are the parts of the FCE Writing?

The First (FCE) Writing has only two parts. For each part, you must write a composition which will depend on the instructions you receive for each task. For the  first part , you will always be asked to  write an essay , as it is the only option provided. However, in the  second part , they allow you to choose one out of 3 options. These include  different types of writing , which are : letters/emails ,  articles ,  reviews and  reports . Each piece of writing must have between 140 and 190 words , approximately.

Since they are different types of writing , the language and structures to use will also differ. But that’s what I’m here for, to explain to you exactly how to write each part. And today, I’m starting with  how to write an essay .

How to Write an Essay for FCE Writing

An  essay is an opinion writing with which we analyse a topic , a situation or an issue from different points of view , providing different arguments and expressing our opinion about it. For this reason, an  essay must have the following features:

  • Purpose: What we usually do with an essay is to analyse and assess a topic, situation or issue which, in some way, is interesting or controversial. It is normally set as a writing task after a class debate. In the exam, you have to imagine the debate, obviously.
  • Tone and style: Given that you’re writing about a  serious or controversial issue , an essay is written in a formal style, so we must stick to an objective tone and style . Our language must be formal, thus avoiding words that are simply too common or generic (E.g.:  things, stuff, get,   etc.) and contractions (E.g.:  can’t, don’t, won’t,  etc.).
  • Structure: Like every piece of writing,  an essay must present a defined structure . For starters, we can choose either to give it a title or not. Personally, I would say that it is more appropriate to have an essay with title . Then, the body must be divided into introduction, idea 1, idea 2, idea 3 and conclusion. This means that, in general,  essays must have 5 paragraphs ,   although it is not entirely necessary.
  • Opinion:  There are countless ways of expressing your opinion in an essay, so you must choose the one that suits you best. However,  it is advisable to remain impartial throughout your writing and give your opinion only in the last paragraph , as a conclusion. But, as I say, it is optional. The most important thing is that you justify everything you say in your essay.
  • Coherence: Coherence is essential in every type of writing, but especially in an essay. As it tends to be an argumentative text, you must avoid writing incoherent paragraphs that have nothing to do with one another. Your ideas must  follow a logical order and be well connected with appropriate linkers .

FCE Writing Essay Example

Now that we are familiar with the  characteristics of an essay for First (FCE) Writing , let’s take a look at an  example of an essay at B2 level , both at the task and at a sample answer.

Instructions of an Essay

In the following image you can see the instructions of an essay which involves a typical topic, that of the environment:

How to Write an Essay for FCE sample task / cómo escribir un essay para Fce ejemplo actividad

In these instructions, we must pay attention to the following:

  • The  first paragraph introduces the topic: … different ways in which you can protect the environment.
  • The  second sentence is usually the same in every task:  Write an essay using  all the notes…
  • In the box , you are given the main topic as a question and they give you something to talk about:  recycle, using bicycles and walking, your own idea . As you can see, you have to come up with the third idea, something connected to the topic which is not provided in the exam task.

Given the model task above, each paragraph will correspond to a different idea, apart from the introduction and conclusion. Again, it is only natural to have 5 paragraphs. So, the best way to know how to write an essay for FCE Writing is to take a look at an  example of an actual essay for FCE Writing :

How to Write an Essay for FCE sample answer / cómo escribir un essay para Fce ejemplo respuesta

At first sight, the essay has  a title and 5 paragraphs (introduction + idea 1 + idea 2 + idea 3 + conclusion). And if we stop to read the essay more carefully, we’ll notice the following things:

  • The paragraphs are visual and well defined , which is very important.
  • The title summarises the topic  of the essay. Another option is to use the question ( What can people do to help protect the environment? ) as title. However, it usually tends to be too long, so I prefer to summarise it into a shorter heading.
  • Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea).
  • Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1.
  • Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2.
  • Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3.
  • Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.
  • It uses connectors to define the development of the essay:  firstly, second, finally, etc.
  • It doesn’t use many contractions or pet words.
  • One of the things that
  • In the last few decades,
  • For this reason,
  • First, / Second, / Third,
  • By doing so,
  • For example,
  • In conclusion,

This is a good example of an essay for FCE Writing . By the way, you must bear in mind that it has been written to simulate a strong B2 level, without reaching C1.

FAQ: Do I get penalised for writing over 190 words?

This is the most typical question in this part of the exam and the answer is « yes and no «. Let me explain myself. Cambridge English examiners don’t count the number of words and penalise you based upon that fact alone. There’s a rumour going around among teachers and pupils that says that for every 10 words over 190, they take «this many» points off, but it is not true. However, think about this: if you’ve written 50 or 100 words more than asked, you are probably including irrelevant information to the task , right? Now that’s a reason for losing points. In the same way that if you  write under 140 words you are probably missing essential information , don’t you think?

For this reason, I always recommend writing up to 10 or 20 words over the limit. In this way, you won’t lose any points for including irrelevant information.

FCE Writing Guide with examples (pdf)

Although I intend to write more posts on how to do each piece of writing for FCE, if you don’t want to wait any more, simply download the official KSE Academy FCE Writing Guide . In this guide you will learn:

  • How to write an essay  and 3 examples.
  • How to write an article  and 3 examples.
  • How to write a review  and 3 examples.
  • How to write a report  and 3 examples.
  • How to write an email or letter  and 3 examples.
  • Over 300 useful expressions for every FCE Writing .

Would you like to see a sample of this guide? Here it is!

Did you find this useful?  Why not share it with other teachers and students of English? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, y YouTube. 🙂

Luis @ KSE Academy

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First (FCE) Essay Questions

The essay task at Cambridge B2 First (FCE) level might be one of the first times learners encounter a truly formal writing task. At the previous level, B1 Preliminary (PET), all the writing tasks are relatively casual and informal. This is where the First Certificate writing forces candidates to prove they really know how to organise and deliver a robust formal text. However, at the end of the day, the FCE essay is a reasonably approachable task with can be overcome with a clear plan and plenty of practice. Here, we’ve got three questions on different FCE essay topics that are all common at B2 level. If you’re not sure how to write a good essay, try our how to improve an essay post.

cambridge first fce essay questions

FCE Essay topics

There are quite a range of possible topics at FCE level. However, some of them lend themselves better to writing tasks than others. Remember, a writing task always needs to have elements that can be compared to each other, which can be either complimentary or contrasting.

These are some of the FCE essay topics which a most likely to come up:

  • The environment
  • Education and work
  • Culture and customs
  • Leisure activities
  • Health and fitness

It’s a good idea to look at all of these topics in depth. Study vocabulary related to the topic and consider where you stand on different issues. In a class, you can do a vocabulary lesson followed by a class debate. Then follow up the debate with an essay question on the same topic as homework.

Common mistakes when writing an essay

At B2 level, exam candidates are often still crossing the boundary into being efficient user of English. While they may have a range of grammar and lexis to draw on, they may not always use it to good effect. As a teacher, you may encounter adult learners who haven’t written anything academic in decades. Likewise, you’ll find younger teens who haven’t yet had to produce a cohesive text in their academic careers.

In my experience, these are the biggest mistakes B2 level students make when writing an essay for the FCE exam:

  • Not including your own idea – One of the requirements of every First essay question is to include your own idea. It says it right there in the task. However, some people understand this to mean they have to include their opinion. While you should include your opinion, that’s not why is say “your own idea”. Every essay should include three content points. Two of those are provided in the question and one more must be provided by the writer.
  • Paragraphs that are too long or too short – The word limit for the FCE essay question is quite short (140-190 words). This means writers have to be quite concise and get to the point quickly. Each paragraph will probably only contain 2-4 sentences. That said, 1 sentence paragraphs are never acceptable, especially when it’s one big long rambling sentence. Neither are 6 sentence paragraphs which leave you no words for other parts of your text.
  • Over-personalisation – Your FCE essay includes an element of opinion. In fact, the task explicitly asks you if you agree with a certain statement. However, that doesn’t mean you should fill the essay with 1st person pronouns and personal anecdotes. An essay is an academic text which should use objective evidence to support your point of view.
  • Lack of conclusion – Sometimes people write an essay that perfectly evaluates 3 different content points and then finishes with a statement that says all points are equal. This is a mistake. The question asks you whether you agree with a statement. Your conclusion should clearly express where you stand on the issue. Don’t be wishy-washy!
  • Trying too hard – The best First (FCE) essays are simple, to-the-point, well-structured and cohesive. Your essay isn’t going to change the world, so don’t go overboard. Once you’ve got a structure that works, rinse and repeat with different topics until you can consistently produce a well-polished text.

The materials

Here are three First (FCE) essay questions. They have been designed using typical FCE essay topics for B2 level. Use them to practise and improve in preparation for the Cambridge B2 First exam.

fce essay fashion

ESL Teacher 365

B2 First (FCE) Essay Writing Guide

The Cambridge B2 First (FCE) essay is easier to write than you think! Follow these steps to write the perfect essay.

Post Contents

What is the Cambridge B2 First Essay?

  • Part 1 of the writing test – there are 2 parts total
  • 140-190 word limit
  • You have about 40 minutes to plan and write your essay
  • You must answer a question using two notes and your own idea
  • The topic requires general knowledge only
  • The essay is always formal because it is written “for your teacher”

Step One: Look at the Task (1 minute)

To begin, all B2 First essays have a similar format . This is great because you know exactly how to write the essay before seeing the question.

Read the essay question carefully and HIGHLIGHT any keywords you need to write about.

Tip: If you don’t understand the question or notes, DON’T PANIC. Try your best to write the essay. You will still get points for grammar, vocabulary, and structure.

B2 First essay writing instructions

Sample exam test from Cambridge English .

Step Two: Write a plan (5 minutes)

A lot of my students dislike writing a plan. However, a plan helps you organize your thoughts and helps you write a better B2 First essay. Your essay needs 5 paragraphs . We will use the sample task from above as an example:

Paragraph structure for an essay

Introduction.

  • Rivers and seas
  • Your own idea

Next, to create a plan, write a few words for each paragraph . DO NOT write whole sentences. This takes too much time. Try to focus on keywords and short phrases .

Tip: “Your own idea” DOES NOT mean your opinion. You need to think of another topic related to the question to talk about. Some ideas for this task could be: recycling, agriculture, industry, etc.

Additionally, you can prepare a list of linking words and related vocabulary . Getting these words written down before you start helps you remember to use them.

Look at the example plan below. You can draw something similar on a blank piece of paper.

B2 First essay plan

Tip: Time yourself – see how long it takes for you to write a plan. Try to reduce that amount of time as much as possible.

Step 3: Write your essay (32 minutes)

On the official test, you must write with a pen . No erasable pens or pencils are allowed. I suggest writing your plan and essay with a pen every time you practice .

Let’s take a look at each paragraph of the essay.

The introduction to your essay should be 2-3 sentences long . It introduces the essay topic in a general way .

Tip: DO NOT include your opinion in the introduction. Your opinion goes in the conclusion.

If you are unsure how to write an introduction, try this structure and look at the example :

Structure of the introduction  

  • 1 sentence about the topic in general
  • 1-2 sentences about the topic more specifically, including a question if you like.

Example Introduction

On every continent, the amount of trash and waste is increasing each year. Rubbish causes damage to ecosystems all over the world. Is there a way for countries to reduce their carbon footprint and save our planet?

Body of the essay

The body of the essay has three paragraphs . These paragraphs talk about one idea with supporting examples .

For each paragraph, you need to write a topic sentence. A topic sentence is the main idea of the paragraph . DO NOT copy the notes. Instead, try to rewrite the idea in your own words. This is called “paraphrasing.” 

Your paragraphs should be 3-4 sentences .

Tip: Start each paragraph with a linking word .

Structure of a body paragraph

  • Linking word and topic sentence
  • Supporting sentences

Example body paragraph

Firstly, countries can decrease pollution and environmental stress by offering more public transportation. Cars and other vehicles which require petrol produce toxic fumes. If more electric buses and trams were available, fewer people would need to drive their cars.

Follow the same structure for each body paragraph.

Tip: Remember that “your own idea” is NOT your opinion . Write about an additional topic related to the question that you wrote down on your plan.

Finally, you get to say your opinion! In the conclusion, you need to summarize the topic and give your opinion on the question. A conclusion should be 1-2 sentences long.

Structure of the conclusion

  • Transition word and a sentence summarizing the topic
  • A sentence that gives your opinion

Example conclusion

To sum up, countries around the world must make changes in order to protect the environment. In my opinion, offering more public transport, reducing overfishing, and creating recycling programs are necessary for a cleaner planet.

Step Four: Review your writing (2 minutes)

This is another important step that students often miss. Take two minutes after writing your essay to check for spelling and grammatical errors.

Since you wrote in pen, simply cross out the incorrect word or words LIKE THIS and rewrite them.

How can I get a higher mark on the FCE essay?

Now that you know how to write an essay for the Cambridge B2 First exam, let’s look at how to get the best mark possible .

Increase your mark on your B2 First essay

  • Include 5-8 linking words – these words introduce paragraphs and connect ideas
  • Use a variety of grammatical structures – you should have both simple and complex forms. Try to use perfect and future forms, conditionals, comparatives, relative clauses and passive
  • Use formal vocabulary – do not use slang or simple words like “good, big, small, bad.” Also, do not use contractions. Write “cannot” instead of “can’t”
  • Make the essay interesting to read – the examiners read hundreds of essays so make yours easy to read and engaging
  • Use the correct amount of words (140-190) – it’s ok to be a few words over the limit, but not too many

Final Advice

The best way to improve your writing skills … is to write! Try to write a few essays each week and ask your teacher for feedback . I have had students who entered my class with very poor writing skills and with practice, they were able to pass the exam after only 10 weeks!

I help students prepare for the FCE exam with private lessons via Zoom. Email me at [email protected] or check out my private lessons page to learn more.

If you want more practice for the B2 First , try these Speaking exam tips , free writing checklist , and Reading part 1 practice.

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B2 First (FCE) Practice Online

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How to Write a Band 5 Essay for FCE B2 First 2021

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Introduction

In part 1 of the Cambridge English B2 First (FCE) Writing paper we have to write an essay, it’s compulsory. So in order to get top marks, it’s essential to be able to write a good one.

Luckily, we can do a lot to prepare and make sure we get our highest marks possible.

  • Spend approximately 40 minutes on the essay ; the Writing paper is 1 hour 20 minutes in total both parts are worth the same points.
  • The word limit is 140-190.
  • According to Cambridge English, the essay should: “Focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a statement, giving information, giving opinion, giving reasons, comparing and contrasting ideas and opinions, drawing a conclusion.”

What do I have to do?

Let’s look at an example question:

Write 140 – 190 words in an appropriate style.

In your English class you have been talking about education. 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.

‘The role of schools should be to prepare students for a working career.’ Do you agree?

  • learning valuable skills
  • ………………………… (your own idea)

The question always starts with the phrase “ In your English class you have been talking about… ” and a topic, e.g. the education.

Then, we have a statement about the topic and question:

Often, the question is “Do you agree?” , sometimes it’s more specific. In any case, you are asked to give an opinion.

Finally, we have some notes with three prompts. The first and second are always provided and the third is always “your own idea”.

In our essay, we must answer the question and refer specifically to the 2 given prompts and our own idea.

The 5 Paragraph Formula

This is a very simple five-paragraph formula you can use to structure any B2 First (FCE) essay:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Introduce the topic in our own words. This demonstrates to the examiner that we have understood the question. Say whether we agree or not with the statement. Two sentences are sufficient.

Paragraphs 2-4: Prompts

Give each prompt its own paragraph. The first sentence should introduce the prompt. Then, we should explain why it supports our opinion and give examples why.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

We should summarise the essay briefly in different words and repeat our opinion in a clear way.

This isn’t the only way you can structure your essay, but it’s easy to follow so I recommend it (as well as most teachers).

“ If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. ” ― Benjamin Franklin

Planning your essay before you start is important. Think about:

  • if you agree or disagree with the statement (if the question asks you).
  • detail and examples for prompt 1 and 2
  • your own idea for prompt 3.
  • high-level vocabulary related to the topic

Example Answer

Here’s an example essay for the question above:

It is widely accepted that our education system should give students the best chance for future employment. However, it is my opinion that schools should provide much more than this.

Firstly, we can not deny that examinations are unimportant. However, putting too much focus on testing can leave students feeling overstressed, and often does not provide space for them to develop their creativity. Furthermore, it makes the experience of learning boring.

Secondly, schools absolutely should teach students useful skills which they can use throughout life. But they should focus on a range of skills, not just work-related ones. For example, if students learnt about finance and health they would benefit in other areas of their lives, outside of work.

Finally, the importance of social interaction in education must not be forgotten. For many young people, schools provide an opportunity for students to form relationships which will serve them throughout their entire lives. A person with strong social skills will not only do well in their careers but will be happier too.

In conclusion, while it is important to give students good job opportunities, schools also have a responsibility to make learning enjoyable, relevant and creative. Life is not just about work, and education should reflect this.

Tone and register

Your essay should have a formal or neutral tone, never informal. Here are some ways to make your writing more formal.

Avoid contractions

❌ It’s widely believed… ✅ It is widely believed…

❌ We’ve seen… ✅ We have seen…

Avoid personal stories and information

Only refer to yourself when giving your opinion about the question. Avoid talking personally otherwise. Don’t use personal experiences as examples.

❌ Whilst I was travelling last year… ✅ It is my opinion that…

Phrasal verb alternatives

Phrasal verbs often have a more formal alternative; for example:

❌ They took part… ✅ They participated…

❌ People are finding out that… ✅ People are discovering that…

Avoid exclamation marks

❌ Furthermore, it makes the experience of learning boring! ✅ Furthermore, it makes the experience of learning boring.

Use the passive voice

If you haven’t included a passive example, think about sentences where you can:

✅ We must not forget the importance of social interaction in education. ✅ ✅ ✅ The importance of social interaction in education must not be forgotten.

How is the Essay assessed?

There are four areas that examiners focus on when assessing your essay:

  • Content – focuses on how relevant your writing is to the task and if you have answered the question
  • Communicative Achievement – focuses on how appropriate your writing style is
  • Organisation – focuses on how well you have constructed the essay
  • Language – focuses on your range of grammar and vocabulary

Each area is marked on a scale of 0 to 5.

Here are some main points to remember in order to get top marks:

Answer the question!

Often, students lose easy points because they write more than necessary about irrelevant things, or they forget to completely answer the question and prompts. It doesn’t matter if you write better than Shakespear, if you don’t answer the question correctly you can’t get full marks.

The most important things to remember are to:

  • clearly give your opinion to the statement and question
  • introduce each of the 3 prompts and give details and examples

Improve your conditionals

Here’a a good tip: if you find yourself writing a conditional sentence with ‘if’, see if it’s possible to change it to a second conditional. If so, do it. This is an easy way to demonstrate a higher lever.

Compare these sentences:

For example, if students learn about finance and health they will benefit in other areas of their lives, outside of work. ✅

For example, if students learnt about finance and health they would benefit in other areas of their lives, outside of work. ✅ ✅ ✅

Both sentences are correct for an essay and express the same idea. But the second sentence will get more points because it uses more complex grammar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it matter if i write more than 190 words.

Not exactly, a few words over the limit won’t make a difference, so don’t waste time counting words. It’s not a strict rule. However, if you write much less than the limit then you probably aren’t covering all the points with enough detail. If you write much more than the limit, you’re likely including irrelevant information. In both cases, you would lose points for Content.

Does my spelling have to be perfect?

One or two small errors won’t matter but if your errors make the essay hard to understand you could lose points.

Do I have to include a title?

No, but you can if you want.

Should I use British or American English?

It does not matter which you use, but you must be consistent. Don’t change between the two.

Common B2 First Essay Topics

Here are some common B2 First (FCE) essay topics; make sure you have a good range of vocabulary for each:

  • Environment
  • Entertainment
  • Young people
  • Advertising

Tools, Links and Downloads

  • Write and Improve – Free tool that marks writing in seconds.
  • Sample Writing Paper – Computer Based (Cambridge English)
  • B2 First Teachers Handbook (Cambridge English)
  • Google Docs – Excellent grammar and spelling checker.

I hope you find this guide for the B2 First (FCE) Writing essay helpful. Practice makes perfect so make sure to write as often as you can. Use the comments below to leave your answer to the sample question above.

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Really clear and easy to follow easy planning – thanks

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Thanks Lucy 👍

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Actually very clear and useful! Thanks a lot!!!

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Teacher Phill

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write an Essay

Image of a notepad with the word essay written on it

Essay writing is easier than you think

The very first reaction I usually get when I want to practise essay writing with my students is wild panic. Everybody around me starts rolling on the floor crying and screaming. I try to calm them down, but there is no way of doing it and eventually all of them quit and tell me that they will never be able to pass the FCE exam.

Of course, this was a little bit of an exaggeration, but it is true that most students get stressed as soon as they here the word essay when, actually, there is no real reason for that. In fact, essay writing might be the easiest type of writing in Cambridge B2 First because there is a plan that you can follow every single time you sit down with pen and paper to practise as well as in the exam itself.

So, let’s look at essays, how they are organised and what exactly you have to be careful with in order to pass easily and get the high marks you deserve.

What a typical essay task looks like

Looking at different essay tasks, the first thing that students often realise is that all tasks look the same. Their structure doesn’t change, which gives you the advantage of being able to plan a strategy before you even take the exam. Every time you practise is like the real exam.

Example of an essay task in Cambridge B2 First

Above there is a typical essay task. As you can see there is not a lot of information, but we still have to look at it carefully and decide what we are asked to do exactly.

The first step is always to underline the key points in the task so you know what to do and what information to include in your essay.

Example of an FCE essay writing task with the key information underlined

In the image above I underlined and circled the most important information for you. When you look at a writing task – and I mean every kind of writing task, not only essays – you should think about two things: what you have to include in your text and who is going to read it.

While the first point seems obvious students often forget about the second one and miss out on higher marks. In our example your English teacher is going to read the essay. What does that mean for you when you write it? Think about the style and tone of the language you are going to use. Does your English teacher expect informal language like in a text message to your best friend or should it be rather formal? I think you understand what I mean.

Choosing the correct register and tone (formal English) for your essay will earn you higher marks so don’t forget about it.

The second point we need to consider is what we have to write about. In every essay task there are a situation/topic (problems with pollution and damage to the environment), a question for you to answer (Do you think these problems can be solved?) and three topic points (transport, rivers/seas, your own idea).

You must deal with all these things if you want to pass with high marks. If something is missing you will lose marks. That includes your own idea. I see it all the time that students write about the two ideas given in the task, but they ignore the fact that they have to add a third topic on their own. Don’t make the same mistake. Always write about all three topic points.

With this flood of information the next step is to think about how we can organise our essay. Luckily, there is a plan that works and I’m going to share it with you.

The 3 main parts of an essay

Looking back at our example from before we can see that there are three topic points which we need to deal with: transport, rivers and seas as well as your own idea.

I think it is not difficult to see that we can turn these three topics into three paragraphs, one for each idea. These three paragraphs are called the body of the essay. However, an essay wouldn’t be an essay without an introduction at the beginning and a conclusion at the end. All together that’s five paragraphs and we could structure it like this:

  • Introduction
  • Rivers and seas
  • Your own idea

With an introduction, body and conclusion every essay has three main parts. You can follow this for any essay question in the FCE exam and it works every single time.

Yeah, it sounds good to me too. 🙂

But what exactly do we have to include in these different parts? Let me give you an overview so you get a better idea.

When I read the introduction to an essay I can often tell immediately if the essay is going to be great or if the student needs to work more on it. Think of the introduction as an appetizer before the meal begins. It gives you an idea of what to expect so you don’t want to disappoint the reader from the start.

Your introduction should always put the topic in the context of today’s world and paraphrase the question of the essay. It is also a good idea to include your opinion so the reader knows from the beginning what you think.

Let’s have a look at an example introduction for an essay about the above topic:

More and more countries and cities struggle with dirty air and water and while it is difficult to find a solution to these issues, I believe that there are ways to improve the situation and to protect the environment.

In this introduction all the key elements are covered. The topic is put in context (“More and more countries and cities struggle with…”), the question is paraphrased (“…while it is difficult to find a solution to these issues,…”) and the candidates opinion is clear (“I believe that…”).

All you need to do is to memorise this formula and use it in every essay you write. The examiner and you will be happy. 🙂

The body is like the meat in a hamburger. It’s the best part and you want it to be full of flavour. For your essay it means the following:

Each paragraph of the body starts with a topic sentence which introduces the main idea of the paragraph. After that, you add reasons, examples and you can even acknowledge other points of view.

A great topic paragraph in the body doesn’t just talk about advantages and disadvantages. Think about how you can support the message in your topic sentence to convince the reader.

Here is an example for you.

Firstly, congestion on roads not only in major cities, but also in smaller towns causes a lot of pollution and noise and even though this situation seems to get worse and worse many countries are trying to encourage people to use alternatives like electric cars, which is a good first step to deal with this kind of challenge.  

In this example paragraph the candidate simply followed the formula from above. The first sentences states what the problem is. After that, she acknowledges that the issue seems pretty bad, but then she explains different alternatives to cars that could improve the situation.

Also, notice the different linking expressions she uses in this paragraph (Firstly, not only…but also, and even though, which is). Examiners like a variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas so try to include them in your essay.

That’s really all you need to do. Repeat the same process for the other two topic points and you should be able to impress and achieve great marks.

Last but not least, a good essay is rounded off with a nice conclusion. Here, it is your job to tie everything together like a Christmas present. You don’t want the gift wrapping paper or the bow on the present to be ugly so make sure that you conclusion is on point.

In a good conclusion you should summarise the essay in one sentence and clearly state your opinion on the question one last time.

I told you above that the introduction is there to make a good first impression on the reader. The conclusion plays the role of giving a good last impression. You don’t want the examiner to be happy until the end and then read a conclusion that is only average. Make sure that every part is great.

To sum up, our environment needs our help and although the air we breathe as well as waterways in many parts of the world are heavily polluted I strongly believe that we can solve these issues if governments and the people work together.  

The first part of this conclusion summarises the problem one last time and in the second half the candidate clearly states her opinion and that’s it. Don’t make your life harder than it already is and instead focus on the criteria that really matter.

Plan before you write

Earlier we had a look at the different paragraphs in an essay and I told you that five is a good number. A lot of students take this information and jump straight into writing as soon as they see the task.

Stop right there! When you plan to improve something around your house or in your apartment, do you just run to the store and buy five buckets of paint or do you think about the size of the room and how much paint you need, what colour you want and what kind of brushes and paint rollers you will have to get?

Treat your essay like a home improvement project and make a plan before you start writing. It only takes five minutes, but, in the end, it can save you time because once you start, you don’t have to worry about ideas any more…it’s all there in your notes.

To create a plan make a list of the five paragraphs of your essay. As we said before this could be something like this:

Now, all you have to do is to add a few words to each point so you won’t forget what you want to write about. I thought of a few things for our example task:

  • Introduction – problems with pollution, is there a solution?
  • Transport – -: CO2 emissions, noise +: electric cars
  • Rivers and seas – -: sea life and plastic +: projects to clean oceans
  • Animal agriculture – -: CO2 emissions, excrement +: vegan/vegetarian lifestyles, sustainable farms
  • Conclusion – summary, it’s a big problem but there is hope

It took me about three minutes to write this and if I wanted to write the full essay, I would have all the ideas I need already in front of me. The next step would be to add more information to each point and voilà, the essay is done.

How your essay is marked

Marking FCE writing tasks is like a science and for a lot of students it feels as if there is this big mystery and nobody really knows how it works. Actually, there are very clear rules that the examiners have to follow and the criteria are publicly available.

While it is possible to find all the information on your own I thought it would be a good idea to put everything together in an article for you. Check out how your writing tasks are marked by clicking here .

Practice makes perfect

I hope that my article is going to help you with your essays. As you saw you can analyse and structure every task the same way. With all your new knowledge the only thing you have to do is start practising. If you put in the time and work, essay writing will become quite easy and you can focus on other areas of your English that need more improvement.

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

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Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 1

20 English Essay Topics/Questions | B2 First (FCE)

fce essay fashion

The language of an English essay should be formal . Also, make sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate connectors to link your sentences and paragraphs .

How to write B2 First (FCE) essay?

Ad: When writing a professional essay, you can choose a professional essay writing service for your instant success.

B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example Topics / Questions

Below is a sample list of academic essay writing topics/tasks for B2-level (intermediate) students. You can use them to practice writing English essays or to prepare for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 1 | First (FCE)

You have watched a documentary about young children in poor areas who leave school to work. 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.

Teenagers are dropping out of school to find a job. How can we help them to continue their education?

Write about:

  • family problems
  • financial difficulties
  • …………… (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 2 | First (FCE)

In your social studies course, you have watched a documentary on the potential effects of too much pollution on the air quality of city centres. Your professor has assigned you an essay to write.

Keeping the air quality in city centres at healthy levels for their residents is a concern for many places. How can we solve the problem of pollution in city centres?

  • automobiles
  • ………………  (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 3 | First (FCE)

In your education class, you have listened to a lecture on the importance of teaching foreign languages in school. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Learning a foreign language helps students develop a set of important skills. Why should foreign languages be taught in schools?

  • new cultures
  •  employment
  • …………. (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 4 | First (FCE)

You have listened to a radio programme about the problem of widespread starvation in many parts of Africa. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

In many parts of Africa, people are dying of starvation and lack of freshwater. Can these problems be solved?

  • lack of organised farming
  • …….. …….. (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 5 | First (FCE)

You have watched a video on a non-profit organisation working to stop the use of animals for testing medicines used by human beings. Now, your professor has asked you to write an essay.

Testing on animals is a standard in scientific research. What is the best way to deal with this problem?

  • animals suffer
  • outdated form of research
  • …… ……..  (your own idea)

engxam logo english exams

Get Your (FCE) Essay Checked!

B2 - essay topic / question 6 | first (fce).

You have listened to a radio programme about deforestation, the cutting down of trees in many wild areas around the world. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Many forests around the world are being destroyed for agricultural, commercial, or housing use without allowing time for the forests to regenerate themselves. What can be done to improve the situation?

  • what contributes to the greenhouse effect
  • ………. (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 7 | First (FCE)

In your English class, you have been talking about endangered species, animals or plants that will likely become extinct. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Around the world, many wildlife species are in danger of extinction. How can we protect endangered animals?

  • hunting wild animals
  • ………..  (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 8 | First (FCE)

You have watched a Youtube video about the problem of computer game addiction in children. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

More and more young people spend most of their time playing computer games. How can we help children to overcome this addiction?

  • bad grades at school
  • no social life
  • ………… (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 9 | First (FCE)

You have listened to a radio programme about the impact of smoking on people’s health. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Smoking is responsible for many health problems throughout the world. Do you think it should be made illegal?

  • lung cancer
  •  passive smoking
  • ……………… (your own idea)

FCE, CAE, CPE

More than practice tests, b2 - essay topic / question 10 | first (fce).

In your English class, you have been talking about the problem of obesity in young people. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

In Europe and the USA a lot of young people have an obesity problem. What can be done to solve this problem?

  • (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 11 | First (FCE)

Has technology made a positive contribution to sport today?

  • The use of technology to improve performance
  • The use of technology in refereeing decisions

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 12 | First (FCE)

It is better to work at home than in an office. Do you agree?

  • Contact with people
  • Working hours

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 13 | First (FCE)

Life is harder for young people now than in the past. Do you agree?

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 14 | First (FCE)

Is it better to go shopping in small local businesses or large out-of-town shopping centres?

  • Where things are cheaper
  • Where service is better

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 15 | First (FCE)

Is it better to spend a summer holiday in the countryside or on the coast?

  • Leisure options

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 16 | First (FCE)

Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:

Do you agree that community service works better than fines?

  • effort and time
  • lesson learned
  • ………………(your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 17 | First (FCE)

Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?

  • clear the air
  •  ………….( your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 18 | First (FCE)

Nowadays children are suffering from obesity, that was once considered to be meant for adults only. What are its causes and what solutions can be offered?

  • busy lifestyle

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 19 | First (FCE)

Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?

  • role of older sibling

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 20 | First (FCE)

Modern lifestyles can seriously endanger our health.

Do you agree?

  • physical activity
  • …….. (your own choice)

B2 First (FCE) Essay: Download (PDF)

Download B2 First (FCE) Essay: Topics (PDF)

Practice Tests Online

B2 first (fce) essay: assessement criteria.

Your essay will be assessed according to these four criteria:

Would you pass B2 First (FCE)?

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Home » B2 First » FCE Course » FCE Writing » FCE Essay – Pass B2 First Writing

FCE Essay – Pass B2 First Writing

Table of Contents

FCE Essay Writing

Do you want to know how to write an FCE essay which will boost your marks on the Cambridge scale ?

If the answer is “I have no idea how to get top marks”, then this page will be incredibly helpful for you.

FCE Essay Tip :  this is available for Gold members only.

To access this tip and more, register here >>

If you are a teacher, helping your students pass this exam, you will be able to use this page in your classes or for homework activities. Continue reading the page and you will see, there are worksheets for you to print out etc.

Before we continue, if you haven’t seen my page explaining how examiners mark your FCE writings, visit my FCE writing marking criteria page now.

If you have read and understood how examiners mark your writing and you are a member of this website, watch the video below:

FCE Handbook for Teachers

How To Write An FCE Essay

The next video will take you through all the information you will find on this page, including:

3:30 – Examiner Advice for FCE essays

4:48 – Example FCE essay question

7:53 – Write an Essay Plan

13:05 – Analysing An Essay

19:31 – Pass or Fail?

20:27 – You don’t need to pass the writing paper

20:53 – Essay Vocabulary

20:53 – Homework

22:46 – Send me your FCE writing

FCE Essay Advice Summary

This summary is available for Gold members only. Register here >>

FCE Essay Question 1

Part 1 – You must answer this question.

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

You have been discussing environmental topics in a university lecture. Your professor has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using the notes below and give reasons to support your ideas.

Can we solve environmental problems globally? Notes Write about: Science Economics …………… (your own idea)

FCE Essay Plan Template

You should always plan your answer.

Can you remember how long I suggested to plan your answer for in the video above ?

If you said 2 minutes, you should go up and watch this video again now .

If you said 5 minutes, great…

Handshake, Hand, Give, Business, Man, Giving, Offer

Write An Essay Plan

Take 5 minutes (like in the exam) and write down a plan for the question above .

Write your plan on a separate sheet of paper, you can use this online template or this physical template or use your own style (it’s up to you). If you use my template, remember to add 3 body paragraphs (one for each note).

FCE Speaking Tip :  this is available for paid members only.

My B2 Essay Plan

Type of Writing : Essay .

Target Reader: University professor.

Content : Talk about all 3 notes. Good and bad points for each note.

Language : Formal. Neutral. Passive constructions. Linking words.

It’s also a good idea to write down some words which you can use in the essay (these will help you think of ideas).

Vocabulary: Pollution. Traffic. Transport. Technology. Animals. Money. Economy. Subsidies. Finance. Financial institutions. Big companies. Green technology.

Introduction (30 words) – Popular topic nowadays. Difficult question to answer.

First paragraph (40 words) – science Science can help us resolve environmental problems. Linking word. Problem of science.

Second paragraph (40 words) – economics

Economics can help us solve problems, but it can also prevent us.

Third paragraph (40 words)

Social co-operation. This is fundamental, we also need this for science and economics.

Conclusion  (30 words) – Can I make a decision based on the 3 main paragraphs?

Sample FCE Essay Answer 1

Here is an answer that an FCE student wrote before taking the exam. You should download the answer and write any mistakes you find.

FCE Essay – Download This Sample Answer

fce essay sample answer

B2 First Examiner Assessment Scale Template

Have you written any mistakes you found on the student’s essay?

Now it’s time to complete the examiner’s assessment scale with your marks and thoughts about the writing. If you can’t remember how to do this, go back and read this page again.

Complete an online version of the template below here (it looks a bit different)

Download the physical template here, then print it off and write your thoughts on it .

Sample FCE Essay 1 My Critique

Every problem regarding ‘the’ environment and pollution can be solved. Science is always working on new solutions , ‘and’ new suggestions for alternative  means of production are frequently put on the table (good language) . The most difficult issue in this scenario is the interest s of different social groups in the world society (this is okay to mention here if it is your own idea and third point) .

The vision of profit gains must been align with environmental protecti on ve measures which is really challenging (good word) . First (why did you write ‘first’ – do you mean ‘The first’) positive changes begin with this alignment, for example, hotels proposing to clients to use the same bath towe ’l’ r while they stay s in. I t s is good for nature, and i t ( your spelling doesn’t need to be perfect in the exam, but you will lose marks if bad spelling confuses the meaning of your sentence) good for the business men (you could expand on what you mean here) .

For all other matters, conciliate (I don’t know this word. Perhaps you mean ‘finding an effective relationship between’) both aspects (does ‘both aspects’ refer to ‘the environment’ and ‘economics’)  is not a simple task, more difficult than the most high tech science. Efforts for environmental purposes should focus on changing culture, values, business perspectives of profits in global society, otherwise there will ‘not’ be not enough progress.

Examiner Assessment Scale Template With My Comments

Fce essay pass or fail.

This student got:

Communicative Achievement: 3

Organisation: 2

Language: 4

Total = 11/20

You need to get 24/40 in the Writing paper to pass at B2 level.

So if the student got 13/20 for their part 2 writing, they would pass this part of the exam.

You do not need to pass every exam paper but you need to have an average of 60% across all 5 exam papers to pass and get your B2 certificate.

If you want to find out more about how to calculate your scores, read page 4 of this document .

FCE Essay Vocabulary

Try to remember the words and phrases below which you can use in B2 First essays. A good way to remember is to write them down on a separate sheet of paper. Add more words and phrases to your list and write them in the comments section at the bottom of this page! If you are unsure about what language to use in an essay, you can also ask me in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Introducing an argument or point of view

Some/Many/A few people think/feel/say that… Other people disagree/argue that…. One point of view is… The general belief is that… Most people believe that… Public opinion is divided on the topic of… It is sometimes/often said/thought/claimed that….

Giving opinions

In my opinion I am of the belief that… In contrast to …. I feel that… My personal opinion is that… It is my wholehearted/sincere opinion that…

Linking Words and Phrases

However Nevertheless In addition… Firstly…Secondly On the one hand…On the other hand… In contrast… Meanwhile Whereas

FCE Essay Question 2

At school you have been talking about environmental issues. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay on this topic.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons to support your view. (140-190 words)

The awareness of environmental problems has grown over the last few years. Do you think it’s possible for us to solve these problems?

Notes Write about: Plastic Transport ……………… (your own idea)

You should complete this online plan in no longer than 5 minutes. This is how long I recommend you plan for in the exam.

Alternatively, download and add a third paragraph to this FCE Essay plan template.

My B2 First Essay Plan

The plan below is available for paid members only. Register here >>

FCE blurred

FCE Essay Answer Example 2

Here is an answer to the question above which one of my students wrote.

FCE Essay – Download This Sample Answer and correct any mistakes you find.

Examiner Assessment Scale Template

If you have written down the mistakes above, you’re ready to complete the assessment scale below. If you want more help with this, check out my FCE writing marking criteria page .

Complete an online version of the template below here

Download, print and complete the template below here .

FCE Essay 2 My Critique

Compare the mistakes you found with the ones I have written below…

At school, during ‘ science and geography ’ lesson s of science and geography , everyone studies how ‘ the’ is made natural environment ‘is made’ and how we can protect it. Despite ‘the fact’ we study the importance of environment , we don’t pay much attention to this ‘in reality’ . At the moment we are attending particular and extreme phenomena, so we are very scared and worried and we want to change. It may not be as easy as it sounds. 

( I would start a new paragraph here) First ly , it is difficult to change ‘ our’ own lifestyle and habits. Change has an economic and personal cost. We don’t mind how much plastic we use every day. Plastic is everywhere: it wraps the (you don’t need ‘the’ here because we’re talking about ‘food’ in general) food, it is useful when we want to eat quickly, it is also in our clothes. The products , that don’t have plastic in their pack aging s , are more expensive ( this is a defining relative clause, not a non-defining relative clause) : . I think for example , when I buy drink s in the glass bottle s , they are very expensive. So , if I want to save money , I buy plastic bottles. Then I observe that (‘Another example that I have observed is…’) in the supermarket I can find many small food packs, also for single dose’ s/’portions’ of food’ . I don’t waste food but I pollute more ‘because of this’ . So we can find sustainable development (If you want to keep this sentence, you should explain in more detail what you mean) . 

( I would start a new paragraph here) Another problem is about transport: we are all in favor that we have to use more public transport s . The problem is that too often we don’t have a good public transport service with a capillary distribution (this term is only used in specific fields of work and is not used in everyday English) . However we can ‘make an’ effort to use ‘ our’ own car ’s’ only if it is necessary. 

‘The’ last thing it is about differentiated collection of waste: too few people do es it (You should remove this sentence . Don’t introduce too many ideas without developing them into detailed arguments).

I think that there are many ‘environmental’ problems but we have to stop to think that ‘these’ are only an obstacle. It is ‘ They are ’ also an opportunity. So it is important to change our mind’ set’ but we need also ‘need’ of more education in every where place ( ‘in’ school s , within famil ies y , at cinema s , etc.) about good (‘environmentally friendly’) behavior. Second ly, (I would only write this if I’ve written ‘firstly’ before it) , if the law and the penalties don’t work, probably we would change them in (‘people’s behaviour’?) ‘through’ incentives. For example , if the condo (what is ‘the condo’?) applies perfectly the rules about differentiated collection of waste it would have a discount in the invoice (I don’t understand this sentence) . Third ly , we need more investment ‘ in ’ for transport and sustainable development.

FCE Essay Example 2 Pass or Fail

This student achieved:

Language: 2

Total = 8/20

So the student would need to get 16/20 for their part 2 writing in order to pass this part of the exam.

I can tell by reading this essay that the student has not prepared much for this part of the exam, so it is unlikely that they would get a much higher mark for their part 2 writing.

Homework Write An FCE Essay

Wow….you’ve made it this far through the page….congratulations, you should now have a good idea how to write an FCE essay!

I hope I didn’t bore you zzzzzzzzzzz…here’s a random picture 😉

Tiger, Budgie, Tiger Parakeet, Photoshop

Anyway, now it’s your turn to write an essay. You can answer the question above or answer a different question. Then you have 3 options:

  • Submit your writing via my FCE writing assessment service
  • Write your answer in the comments section at the bottom of this page
  • Write an answer and be too shy to send it to me or write it below (not a good way to learn)
  • Be lazy, don’t write an answer (the worst way to prepare for the B2 First exam)

I’ll leave the choice up to you.

Adios amigos…don’t forget to click the Next Page >> link below 😉

Class/Homework Activities For Teachers

Are you a teacher?

You can use my resources to help your students in class or set them homework activities.

In Class With Computers / Homework Activities

If your students use computers in class, or you want to set them activities for homework, this is what I recommend.

Tell your students to:

  • Become a member of this website so they can access all the information. Email: [email protected] if you have many students and you’d like me to create a discount code for them.
  • Watch this video and make notes of the important points on the relevant parts of this form (they will be emailed a copy of the form which they can bring into class): https://studentlanguages.com/fcewritingtips/
  • Read this essay question: https://studentlanguages.com/fce-essay/#FCE_Essay_Question_1 and spend 5 minutes writing a plan for it here: https://studentlanguages.com/fcewritingplantemplate/
  • Compare their plan with my plan here: https://studentlanguages.com/fce-essay/#My_B2_Essay_Plan
  • Print and correct any mistakes they find on this sample essay answer >>
  • Complete the assessment scale template for the sample essay answer
  • Compare steps 5 and 6 above with my critique and my notes on the examiner assessment scale
  • Update this form during future classes.

In Class Without Computers

If your students don’t have computers in class, this is what I recommend.

  • Become a member of this website  so they can access all the information and bring all the materials they need to class. Email: [email protected] if you want me to create a discount code for lots of your students.
  • Print off this form for your students to complete while you show them  this video in class or tell them to complete the form while watching the video for homework.
  • Read this essay question: https://studentlanguages.com/fce-essay/#FCE_Essay_Question_1 , then take 5 minutes and write a plan for it here >>
  • Complete the examiner assessment scale template for the sample essay answer

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Essay on Fashion for Students and Children

500+ words essay on fashion.

Fashion refers to anything that becomes a rage among the masses. Fashion is a popular aesthetic expression. Most Noteworthy, it is something that is in vogue. Fashion appears in clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, hairstyles, lifestyle, and body proportions. Furthermore, Fashion is an industry-supported expression. In the contemporary world, people take fashion very seriously. Fashion is something that has permeated every aspect of human culture.

Essay on Fashion

History of Fashion

The origin of Fashion is from the year 1826. Probably everyone believes Charles Frederick to be the first fashion designer of the world. He also established the first Fashion house in Paris. Consequently, he began the tradition of Fashion houses. Furthermore, he gave advice to customers on what clothing would suit them. He was prominent form 1826 to 1895.

During this period, many design houses hired artists. Furthermore, the job of these artists was to develop innovative designs for garments. The clients would examine many different patterns. Then they would pick the one they like. Consequently, a tradition began of presenting patterns to customers and then stitching them.

At the beginning of the 20th century, new developments in Fashion took place. These developments certainly began in Paris first. Then they spread in other parts of the world. Consequently, new designs first came into existence in France. From Paris, they went to other parts of the world. Hence, Paris became the Fashion capital of the world. Also, Fashion in this era was ‘haute couture’. This Fashion design was exclusively for individuals.

In the mid-20th century, a change took place. Now Fashion garments underwent mass production. There was a significant increase in the rate of production of Fashion garments. As a result, more and more people became involved with Fashion garments. By the end of the 20th century, a sense of Fashion awareness was very strong. Now people began to choose clothes based on their own style preference. Hence, people began to create their own trends instead of relying on existing trends.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Fashion Trend

Political influences certainly play a major role in influencing Fashion. Many politicians become fashion symbols. Notable examples are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. Also, political revolutions make a huge impact on the Fashion trend. For example, in 1960’s America, liberal clothing styles became popular among the younger generation. This was due to the Liberal revolution.

Another significant factor which influences Fashion trend is technology. There certainly has been a rapid growth of technology in the Fashion industry. For example, wearable technology has become a popular Fashion trend. Furthermore, 3D printing technology and the internet have also made an impact on Fashion.

Social influences are probably the strongest influences on the Fashion trend. Many music stars strongly influence Fashion choice. For example, wearing hoodies became famous due to rap musicians. Furthermore, movie and television actors create a big impact on Fashion. Many youngsters love to emulate the Fashion sense of their favourite celebrity.

To sum it up, Fashion certainly has become a part and parcel of human life. It certainly is a force that is here to stay. Most noteworthy, Fashion has immersed every place on Earth.

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IMAGES

  1. Essay on Fashion in 500+ Easy Words

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  2. How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

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  3. FCE Exam Writing Samples and Essay Examples

    fce essay fashion

  4. Essay on Is Fashion Important for all Class in 100 to 500 Words in English

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  5. How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

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  6. Expository Essay on Fashion in 1100-1200 words

    fce essay fashion

VIDEO

  1. Was 2000’s fashion REALLY that bad

  2. Different types of blouse designs 9965912223 #fashion #wholesale #blousepattern #blousestitch

  3. L36 YUK DI ORDER BAJUNYA MAM, Baju atasan wanita terbaru 2023, Gamis terbaru 2023

  4. Exam Khatam baat Khatam 😂// #funny #viral #ytshorts #s

  5. Rekomendasi 5 Model Dan Harga Baju Gamis Terbaru

  6. FASHION NOVA/SHEIN HAUL

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Question 1

    A third aspect states how choice for consumers is limited due to the fashion industry's control over design and the market (the fashion industry in some people opinion, controls the market of clothes). Communicative Achievement 3 The conventions of essay writing are used appropriately. There is an introduction, topic paragraph and a ...

  2. Essay

    FCE Essays - Sample/model answers and examiner comments. An essay is always written for the teacher. It should answer the question given by addressing both content points and providinga new content point of the writer's own. The essay should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion,and should be written in an appropriate register and tone

  3. B2

    Show the exam task and explain the rules of FCE Writing Part 1. Say that in this part, students always have to write an essay. They need to include two points mentioned in the task and one extra idea of their own. Read the text again and underline the parts of the text that mention all three points. Point out the structure of the essay and the ...

  4. B2 Following Fashion

    B2 Following Fashion is an exercise for the B2 First Writing Part 1 which discusses the ways we tend to follow fashion in order to be part of a group. This Following Fashion essay is written for a teacher. It is well organised, with an introduction, opinions on the ideas given and with an appropriate conclusion. B2 Following Fashion.

  5. How to write an essay?

    B2 First (FCE) Essay: Tips. Plan your essay before you write. Make sure you know how to comment on all the points that are asked. Invent information if you don't have any ideas. Divide the essay into paragraphs - put one answer in one paragraph. Use advanced vocabulary when you can and formal language.

  6. FCE topics: 7 fashion

    Reading and Use of English: Part 3. fashion. grammar :articles, determiners, prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns, conjunctions. The focus is either on grammar or lexicogrammar. FCE Use of English Part 2 "Open cloze" consists of a short text with eight gaps. Unlike Part 1, there are no choices for what word you need.

  7. PDF B2

    Paragraph 1: a general introduction (generates interest) Paragraph 2: Advantages of the fashion industry Paragraph 3: Disadvantages of the fashion industry Paragraph 4: Conclusion + writer's opinion. The structure is very clear and helps locate and identify the main points of the essay. TOTAL TIME: ~45 mins.

  8. PDF B2 First Writing Part 1

    7. Now ask students to look at the candidate answers to the sample question and to put them in order, with the strongest answer first. When they do this, they can think about how each candidate has done

  9. B2 First (FCE) Writing Part 1

    EXAM PART: First (FCE) Writing Part 1 - Essay. EXAM SKILLS: Improving content and communicative achievement in essay writing. TOPIC: Lifestyle (living in the city vs living in the countryside) TIME: 30 minutes + 45 minutes writing (in-class or for homework) PREPARATION: One copy of the worksheet per student.

  10. How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

    Each paragraph has a clear purpose: Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea). Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1. Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2. Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3. Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.

  11. FCE (B2 First) Writing Exam (Essay)

    First, you need to read the FCE writing essay task and identify exactly what needs to be included. Let's look at a sample question: You've recently had a discussion in English class about society. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

  12. FCE

    An essay. ① is always written for the teacher. ② should answer the question given… ③ by addressing both content points and providing a new content point of the writer's own. ④ should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion and should be written in an appropriate register and tone. While it is possible ...

  13. First (FCE) Essay Questions

    The question asks you whether you agree with a statement. Your conclusion should clearly express where you stand on the issue. Don't be wishy-washy! Trying too hard - The best First (FCE) essays are simple, to-the-point, well-structured and cohesive. Your essay isn't going to change the world, so don't go overboard.

  14. B2 First (FCE) Essay Writing Guide

    Part 1 of the writing test - there are 2 parts total. 140-190 word limit. You have about 40 minutes to plan and write your essay. You must answer a question using two notes and your own idea. The topic requires general knowledge only. The essay is always formal because it is written "for your teacher".

  15. How to Write a Band 5 Essay for FCE B2 First 2021

    This is a very simple five-paragraph formula you can use to structure any B2 First (FCE) essay: Paragraph 1. Introduction Introduce the topic and agree or disagree with the statement - 2 sentences. Paragraph 2. Prompt 1 Introduce, explain and example - 3 sentences. Paragraph 3. Prompt 2 Introduce, explain and example - 3 sentences.

  16. Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write an Essay

    These three paragraphs are called the body of the essay. However, an essay wouldn't be an essay without an introduction at the beginning and a conclusion at the end. All together that's five paragraphs and we could structure it like this: With an introduction, body and conclusion every essay has three main parts.

  17. 20 English Essay Topics/Questions

    Article navigation: B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example Topics / Questions B2 First (FCE) Essay: Download (PDF) An essay is a piece of writing in which you are asked to discuss a topic that might be controversial or relevant somehow. It usually follows a class discussion. The language of an English essay should be formal.Also, make sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate ...

  18. PDF Microsoft Word

    1. Introduce the topic 'Following fashion' to your students. Ask if they like to follow fashion trends. 2. Check understanding of the following with a vocabulary warm-up activity: expensive, trends, comfortable, fashionable, seasonal, collections, hairstyles, accessories, followers, clothing. 3. Draw a table on the board:

  19. How To Write An FCE Essay

    FCE Essay Question 1. Part 1 - You must answer this question. Write your answer in 140-190 words in an appropriate style. You have been discussing environmental topics in a university lecture. Your professor has asked you to write an essay. Write an essay using the notes below and give reasons to support your ideas.

  20. PDF B2 First for Schools Writing Part 1 (An opinion essay) Summary

    • Learn useful techniques for planning your own essay. • Evaluate two examples of a Writing Part 1 essay. • Practise and evaluate your own answer to a Writing Part 1 task. Review: Writing Part 1 . The B2 First for Schools Writing paper has two parts. Part 1 has only one task, which you . must. answer. You will: be given the essay title.

  21. FCE Essay Fashion

    FCE Essay Fashion - Free download as (.rtf), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.

  22. PDF FCE Speaking

    fashion, FCE speaking part 4 practice Completion Time: 60 minutes Skill/Grammar: Discussion Age/Level: First Certificate Exam Resources: Clothes and Fashion Worksheet Teacher's Notes Warm-Up (10 minutes) • Give out the worksheet and ask students to match the pictures to the descriptions. Discuss the questions as a class.

  23. Essay on Fashion for Students and Children

    500+ Words Essay on Fashion. Fashion refers to anything that becomes a rage among the masses. Fashion is a popular aesthetic expression. Most Noteworthy, it is something that is in vogue. Fashion appears in clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, hairstyles, lifestyle, and body proportions. Furthermore, Fashion is an industry-supported expression.