How to write an FCE essay (with examples)
The FCE essay is the compulsory Part 1 task in B2 First Writing: 140 to 190 words giving your opinion on a question, using two given ideas and one of your own. It is written for your teacher in a neutral or formal style and marked out of 20 on four criteria.
- Task
- Part 1, compulsory
- Words
- 140–190
- Marks
- 20 (4 criteria × 5)
- Time to spend
- ≈ 40 min
What the FCE essay task asks you to do
Part 1 of the Writing paper is always an essay, and every candidate writes it. The task tells you that your class has been discussing a topic and your teacher wants an essay. You get an essay question or statement, and notes listing two ideas you must write about, with a third point left for your own idea. The instruction is to write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view, in 140 to 190 words.
Your own idea must be clearly different from the two given ideas, and a conclusion does not count as the third point. Leaving out any of the three is penalised. An essay is written for your teacher, so the register is neutral or formal, and it needs an introduction and a conclusion.
How it is marked: the essay is marked out of 20, with 0–5 for each of four criteria: Content (have you covered all three points and informed the reader?), Communicative Achievement (does it read like an essay, in a suitable register?), Organisation (paragraphs, linking, logical development) and Language (range and accuracy of grammar and vocabulary). Only whole marks are given. The Writing paper lasts 80 minutes for two tasks, the essay and one Part 2 task, which carry equal marks: 40 in total, your Writing score, worth 20% of your overall result. Writing approximately the right number of words is part of completing the task, so an answer far outside 140–190 words usually loses marks.
An FCE essay example with examiner-style notes
Read the task and plan your own answer in five minutes. Then open the model essay and compare.
In your English class you have been discussing transport in cities. 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.
Should public transport in cities be free for everyone?
Notes
Write about:
1. traffic and pollution
2. the cost
3. ………………… (your own idea)
Write your essay in 140–190 words.
Show the answer and explanation
Model essay (185 words)
Should public transport in cities be free for everyone?
In many cities, buses and trains are crowded and expensive at the same time. Making them free is an attractive idea, but is it a realistic one?
The strongest argument in favour is the effect on traffic. If people could travel for nothing, many would leave their cars at home, which would mean fewer traffic jams and cleaner air. This would benefit everyone, including those who still need to drive.
However, someone has to pay. Running a transport network costs a huge amount, so the money would have to come from taxes. As a result, people who rarely use buses or trains would be paying for those who use them every day, which some would consider unfair.
Another point to consider is quality. Free services might become even more crowded, and without income from tickets, there may be less money for new buses or repairs.
In my opinion, free transport for everyone is not the best solution. Cheaper fares for students and older people would bring many of the same benefits at a much lower cost.
Why it scores well
- Content: note 1 (traffic and pollution) is paragraph 2, note 2 (the cost) is paragraph 3, and the writer's own idea, the quality of the service, is paragraph 4. The opinion is clear and supported.
- Communicative Achievement: a neutral register that suits an essay for a teacher. The question in the introduction engages the reader, and the argument builds towards a reasoned conclusion rather than a list.
- Organisation: five paragraphs, one job each, joined by clear signals (However, As a result, Another point to consider is, In my opinion) and by reference words such as This and which.
- Language: a second conditional, relative clauses, modals of possibility (might, may) and precise vocabulary (realistic, network, income, fares) used accurately.
How to write a B2 essay in 40 minutes
- 01
Read the question and both notes, and decide your opinion before you write anything. Two or three minutes of thinking saves ten of rewriting.
- 02
Choose your own idea: something clearly different from the two notes that you can support with a reason. Write it down in three or four words.
- 03
Plan five short paragraphs: an introduction that shows the question is worth discussing, one paragraph for each note, one for your own idea, and a conclusion with your opinion.
- 04
In each body paragraph, make one point and support it with a reason, a result or an example. One developed point beats three listed ones.
- 05
Keep your opinion consistent. You can hint at it early, but state it clearly at the end, and make sure the body does not argue the opposite.
- 06
Leave five minutes to check verb forms, articles, spelling and the word count, and to confirm that all three points are there.
FCE essay mistakes that lose marks
A missing or repeated own idea. If your third point is really note 1 again ("pollution from cars"), the examiner treats it as missing, and Content suffers.
No clear opinion. The task asks for reasons for your point of view. An essay that lists pros and cons and then stops has not done the task.
Memorised introductions. "Nowadays, in today's modern world, there is a controversial issue…" uses fifteen words and says nothing. Get to the question quickly.
Writing far too much or too little. Going well beyond 190 words usually brings more mistakes and irrelevant ideas; stopping well short of 140 usually means an undeveloped point.
Linking words for a B2 essay
| Purpose | Linking words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Adding a point | In addition, What is more, Furthermore, Another point to consider is… |
| Contrasting | However, On the other hand, Although…, Despite (+ noun or -ing), While… |
| Cause and result | because of, As a result, This means that…, so…, which leads to… |
| Giving examples | For example, For instance, such as…, A good example of this is… |
| Giving your opinion | In my opinion, I strongly believe that…, It seems to me that…, From my point of view,… |
| Concluding | To sum up, All things considered, On balance, Overall,… |
Use them to show the logic of your argument, not to decorate it. Four or five well-chosen linkers in a 180-word essay is plenty; starting every sentence with one makes the writing feel mechanical.
FCE essay topics to practise
Original essay questions in the style of the exam. For each, write about both notes and add an idea of your own.
- Should young people be required to do some voluntary work? Notes: experience for the future; time for studying
- Do we rely too much on our mobile phones? Notes: communication with others; health
- Is it better to live in a big city or a small town? Notes: job opportunities; quality of life
- Should schools teach practical skills such as cooking and managing money? Notes: independence; time for exam subjects
- Are famous sports stars good role models for young people? Notes: hard work and success; behaviour off the field
- Should people be encouraged to take holidays in their own country? Notes: the environment; the cost
Practise the essay in full FCE Writing tests
Every FCE Writing test on this site starts with the compulsory essay. These are the essay questions in our six tests. Each paper is timed at 80 minutes, and your text gets an expert evaluation on the four Cambridge criteria.
- Test 1: ‘Schools should do more to help students use their break times well’
- Test 2: ‘All teenagers should have a regular job to do at home’
- Test 3: ‘Learning outside the classroom is just as useful as learning in lessons’
- Test 4: ‘Learning to cook should be an important part of everyone’s education’
- Test 5: ‘Good friends need to have the same interests’
- Test 6: ‘Communities should provide more leisure activities that people can enjoy free of charge’
FCE essay questions
How many words is the FCE essay?
140 to 190 words. Writing approximately the right number of words is part of completing the task, so an essay that is much shorter or longer is likely to lose marks.
Do I have to give my opinion in a B2 essay?
Yes. The instruction asks you to give reasons for your point of view, so your essay should make your opinion clear, usually in the conclusion, and support it in the body.
What happens if I forget my own idea in the FCE essay?
Your Content mark goes down. You must cover both notes and add a third idea of your own, and a conclusion does not count as that third idea.
Can I use contractions in an FCE essay?
The essay should be neutral or formal, so full forms such as do not and it is suit it better. An occasional contraction will not ruin an essay, but avoid a chatty style.
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.
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