How to write an FCE report (with examples)
The FCE report is a Part 2 option in B2 First Writing: 140 to 190 words for a teacher, a manager or a club, giving facts and making recommendations. It is written in a neutral or formal style and is usually organised under headings.
- Task
- Part 2 option
- Words
- 140–190
- Reader
- A superior or a group
- Marks
- 20 (4 criteria × 5)
What the FCE report task asks you to do
A report is one of the four task types in Part 2 of the Writing paper, where you choose one task from three. It is written for a superior, such as a teacher, a manager or the director of a college, or for a peer group, such as the members of a club or your classmates. The prompt, no more than 70 words, explains the situation and usually lists the points to cover, for example: describe the current situation, explain a problem and recommend changes.
A report gives factual information and makes suggestions or recommendations. It should be easy to read quickly, so most good reports have a title and short sections with headings. The register is neutral or formal and the tone is objective: the reader wants information and practical recommendations, not personal stories.
How it is marked: like every Writing task, a report earns up to 20 marks: up to 5 each for Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language. Headings and a clear statement of purpose help Organisation and Communicative Achievement; Content depends on covering every point in the prompt and giving recommendations that answer the problem you have described.
An FCE report example
Read the task and turn the three points into headings before you open the model report.
The director of your college wants to improve the student common room and has asked you to write a report. Your report should:
- describe how students use the common room at the moment
- explain what problems there are
- recommend two changes that would make it better.
Write your report.
Show the answer and explanation
Model report (184 words)
Improving the student common room
Introduction
The aim of this report is to describe how the common room is currently used, outline its main problems and suggest how it could be improved. It is based on a short survey of forty students.
Current use
The room is busiest at lunchtime, when around half of those surveyed eat there. Others use it between classes to revise or simply to relax. Very few students go there after four o'clock.
Problems
The most frequent complaint was the lack of seating: at lunchtime, many students have to eat standing up or sitting on the floor. Several people also mentioned that the room is noisy, which makes it almost impossible to study.
Recommendations
I would recommend replacing the large sofas with smaller tables and chairs, which would provide more seats in the same space. In addition, it would be a good idea to turn the small room next door into a quiet study area, so that students who want to work are not disturbed. If these changes were made, the common room would be far more useful for everyone.
Why it scores well
- Content: all three bullet points are covered, and each recommendation answers one of the problems described (seating, noise).
- Communicative Achievement: a neutral, formal register that suits a report for a college director; a clear purpose in the first sentence; invented but believable data (a survey of forty students) that makes the report convincing.
- Organisation: a title and four headed sections, each doing one job, so the director can find any information at a glance.
- Language: passives (is based on, were made), reporting language (the most frequent complaint, around half of those surveyed), recommendation structures (I would recommend + -ing, it would be a good idea to) and a second conditional.
How to write a B2 report step by step
- 01
Identify the reader and list the points the prompt asks you to cover. Bullet points in the prompt usually become your sections.
- 02
Turn the points into short headings: Introduction, Current situation, Problems, Recommendations.
- 03
Start with one sentence stating the aim of the report and, if you like, where the information comes from (a survey, interviews, your own visits).
- 04
Present the facts clearly. You can invent believable details, such as numbers and examples, to make the report convincing.
- 05
Make recommendations that are specific and clearly linked to the problems you described, with a reason for each.
- 06
Keep the tone neutral and impersonal: no stories, no jokes, no chatty questions to the reader.
Common FCE report mistakes
No headings. A report without sections reads like an essay. Headings are a quick win for Organisation and show the examiner you know the genre.
Recommendations that do not match the problems. If you describe a noise problem, recommend something that solves it. Unrelated suggestions weaken Content.
A chatty or personal tone. "Honestly, the common room is a total disaster!" is fine in an email to a friend, not in a report to your director.
Spending half the words on the introduction. One or two sentences is enough. The marks are in the information and the recommendations.
FCE report structure at a glance
| Section | What it does | Useful language |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Says what the report is about | Improving the…, A report on… |
| Introduction | States the aim and the source of information | The aim of this report is to…, It is based on… |
| Findings (one or two headed sections) | Presents facts, facilities, problems or opinions | The majority of…, The most frequent complaint was…, Several people mentioned… |
| Recommendations | Suggests changes and gives reasons | I would recommend + -ing, It would be a good idea to…, …should be… |
| Conclusion (optional) | Sums up the expected result | If these changes were made,…, Overall,… |
Four or five sections fit comfortably in 140–190 words. If the prompt has three bullet points, three headed sections plus a short introduction is a natural shape.
Practise the report in full FCE Writing tests
Four of our six FCE Writing tests include a report 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 report questions
Does an FCE report need headings?
Headings are not compulsory, but reports may use them and they are strongly recommended. They make your report easy to follow and help your Organisation mark.
Who is the reader of a B2 report?
A superior, such as a teacher, a manager or a college director, or a peer group, such as the members of a club. The prompt always tells you who it is.
Can I invent facts and figures in an FCE report?
Yes. The examiners assess your English and how well you complete the task, not whether the facts are real. Invented details such as a survey of forty students make a report more convincing, as long as they are believable.
What is the difference between a report and an essay in FCE?
An essay argues a point of view for your teacher and is always Part 1. A report gives factual information and recommendations to a specific reader, usually with headings, and is one of the Part 2 options.
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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