B2 First (FCE) Writing Section Guide
The B2 First Writing paper tests whether you can communicate clearly in written English using standard task types and appropriate register. Accounting for 25% of your total exam mark, this 1-hour and 20-minute section demands strict planning, coherent paragraph structure, and careful word choice rather than endless drafting.
The paper is split into two required tasks:
- Part 1 (Compulsory Essay): You write an essay between 140 and 190 words responding to a prompt, covering two given points and adding a third original idea.
- Part 2 (Choice of Task): You select one option from three prompts (an article, email or letter, report, or review) and write between 140 and 190 words in the appropriate register.
Time management is usually where students fall apart. Spending 50 minutes perfecting Part 1 leaves you scrambling to outline and write Part 2 in under half an hour. That panic leads straight to missing content points and careless grammar mistakes.
For Part 1, the essay structure needs to be predictable. Introduction, three distinct body paragraphs for your points, and a brief conclusion summarizing your opinion. Keep your tone neutral or formal, avoid contractions like "don't" or "can't," and use basic linking expressions to connect your arguments cleanly.
In Part 2, pick the format you actually practice during preparation. Reports need clear headings and factual language, while articles demand a personal, engaging tone to keep a reader interested. Whatever you do, check your word counts before handing in the paper; going wildly under 140 words usually means you skipped required details, and writing over 200 often introduces unnecessary errors.