How to write an FCE article (with examples)
The FCE article is one of the Part 2 options in B2 First Writing: 140 to 190 words for a magazine or website, written to interest the reader as well as inform them. It should engage the reader from the start and include some opinion or comment.
- Task
- Part 2 option
- Words
- 140–190
- Readers
- Magazine or website
- Marks
- 20 (4 criteria × 5)
What an FCE article task asks you to do
In Part 2 of the Writing paper you choose one task from three, and an article is one of the task types that can appear (the others are an email or letter, a report and a review). Part 2 prompts are short, no more than 70 words, and set out the context, the purpose and the reader. For an article, the prompt is usually an announcement in an English-language magazine, newsletter or website inviting readers to send in articles on a topic, with two or three questions to answer.
An article is written for the readers of that publication, so it should engage them as well as inform them, and it should include some opinion or comment. A title, an opening that draws the reader in, a direct and personal tone and a memorable ending are what make an article different from an essay on the same subject. The register is usually neutral or informal.
How it is marked: out of 20, on the same four criteria as the essay: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language, each 0–5. For an article, Communicative Achievement is where marks are won or lost: an answer that covers every question but reads like a formal essay will score lower than one that sounds like a real magazine piece.
An FCE article example
Read the task and spend five minutes planning: a title, an opening, one paragraph per question and an ending. Then open the model article.
You have seen this announcement on a website for English learners.
Articles wanted: A place that matters to me
Tell us about a place that is special to you. Why is it important to you? Would other people enjoy it too?
The best articles will appear on our website next month.
Write your article.
Show the answer and explanation
Model article (177 words)
The bench at the end of the pier
Everyone has a place where they go to think. Mine is an old wooden bench at the end of the pier in my home town, and it has heard more of my secrets than any of my friends.
My grandfather used to take me there on Sunday mornings when I was small. We would buy hot chocolate from the kiosk, sit side by side and guess where the ships on the horizon were going. He always invented the most ridiculous destinations, and I always believed him.
These days I go there on my own, usually when I have a decision to make. There's something about the wind and the endless grey water that makes my problems seem smaller. Half an hour on that bench and I usually know what to do.
Would you enjoy it? If you're looking for excitement, probably not – it's just a bench, after all. But if you need somewhere quiet to clear your head, you could do much worse. Just don't forget a warm coat!
Why it works
- Content: all three questions are answered: the place (paragraph 1), why it matters (paragraphs 2 and 3) and whether others would enjoy it (paragraph 4).
- Communicative Achievement: a title that makes you curious, an opening that speaks to every reader, a friendly tone with a direct question to the reader, and a light final line. It reads like a real website article.
- Organisation: the paragraphs move from past to present to the reader, and each one opens with a clear signal (My grandfather used to…, These days…, Would you enjoy it?).
- Language: used to and would for past habits, There's something about… that…, and vivid, precise vocabulary (horizon, ridiculous destinations, clear your head, you could do much worse).
How to write a B2 article: structure and steps
- 01
Underline every question in the announcement. Each one needs an answer, and the last one is the easiest to forget.
- 02
Think of a short title that makes people want to read on: a question, a surprising phrase or a promise. Avoid "My article".
- 03
Open with a hook: a direct question to the reader, a surprising statement or a short scene. Then get to your topic within two sentences.
- 04
Give each question in the prompt its own paragraph, and make it personal with a specific detail, memory or example.
- 05
Talk to the reader. Use you, the occasional rhetorical question and a neutral to informal tone, as you would on a real website.
- 06
End with something memorable: a recommendation, a return to your opening idea, or a final thought for the reader.
Common FCE article mistakes
Writing an essay with a title on top. "Firstly", "In conclusion" and an impersonal tone make an article sound like the wrong genre, which lowers Communicative Achievement.
No title, or a dull one. The title is the first thing a magazine reader sees. A good one costs five words and shows the examiner you know the genre.
Missing a question. A common mistake is to write a lively description and forget the final question in the prompt, such as whether other people would enjoy the place.
Hooks that lead nowhere. Starting with "Have you ever wondered…?" and then never returning to the question feels memorised. Make the hook connect to your content.
Ways to start and end an FCE article
Openings
- A question to the reader: "When did you last spend a whole day without your phone?"
- A surprising statement: "The most important room in my school isn't a classroom. It's the kitchen."
- A short scene: "It was six in the morning, the lake was completely still, and I had the whole beach to myself."
- A general truth made personal: "Everyone has a place where they go to think. Mine is…"
Endings
- A recommendation: "If you ever get the chance, go. You won't regret it."
- Back to the start: "So, a day without my phone? Hard, but I'd do it again."
- A light final line: "Just don't forget a warm coat!"
Article or essay? The key differences
| Article (Part 2) | Essay (Part 1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reader | Readers of a magazine, newsletter or website | Your English teacher |
| Purpose | Interest and engage, with some opinion | Argue a point of view with reasons |
| Register | Neutral or informal | Neutral or formal |
| Title | Expected, and should catch the eye | Usually the essay question itself |
| Typical features | You, questions to the reader, personal examples, humour | Balanced arguments, linkers, a clear conclusion |
Practise the article in full FCE Writing tests
Four of our six FCE Writing tests include an article among the three Part 2 tasks. Each paper is timed at 80 minutes, and your text gets an expert evaluation on the four Cambridge criteria.
FCE article questions
Does an FCE article need a title?
Give it one. A title is a normal part of an article, and a good one helps your Communicative Achievement mark by showing you know the genre.
What is a good FCE article structure?
A title, an opening paragraph with a hook, one paragraph for each question in the prompt, and a short ending that speaks to the reader. Four or five paragraphs fit the 140–190 word limit.
Can I use informal language in a B2 article?
Yes. Most article tasks suit a neutral or informal style, with contractions, direct questions and a personal tone. Avoid slang and text-message abbreviations.
Is the FCE article in Part 1 or Part 2 of the Writing paper?
Part 2. Part 1 is always an essay. In Part 2 you choose one task from three, and an article may be one of them.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 26–33
- B2 First exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
Ready for B2 First? Find out today
Take a free FCE mock test and get an estimated Cambridge English Scale score, with your marks part by part.