FCE Writing Test 5: friendship, a one-day visit and small cinemas
FCE Writing Test 5 is a free B2 First Writing practice test: two tasks in 80 minutes, 140–190 words each, marked on Cambridge’s four criteria. You discuss shared interests in friendship, advise a visitor, describe a skill learnt with someone else or review an independent cinema.
- Free, no sign-up to start
- Layout modelled on the computer-based exam
- Estimated Cambridge English Scale score
What is in FCE Writing Test 5
| Question | Task | What you write about |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essay | Good friends need to have the same interests. Do you agree with this statement? |
| 2 | You have received this email from your English-speaking friend Chris | |
| 3 | Article | The “Better with a Partner” task |
| 4 | Review | The “Small Cinemas, Big Experiences” task |
Question 1: essay (compulsory)
In your English class you have been talking about what makes a good friendship. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Good friends need to have the same interests. Do you agree with this statement?
- spending free time together
- learning from each other
- …………… (your own idea)
Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
FCE essay guide →Questions 2, 3, 4: choose one
2. Email
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend Chris.
I’ll be visiting your town for one day next Saturday. My train arrives at nine in the morning and leaves at six in the evening. Could you suggest a timetable for the day? I’d like to see something interesting, try some local food and spend a little time outdoors.
What should I bring?
Chris
Write your email.
FCE email guide →3. Article
You see this announcement in an English-language student magazine.
BETTER WITH A PARTNER
What skill is easier to learn with another person? Describe the skill and explain how learning together can help. Include an example of something you have learnt with a partner and give readers one useful suggestion for making it work.
The best articles will appear in our next issue.
Write your article.
FCE article guide →4. Review
You see this request on an English-language entertainment website.
SMALL CINEMAS, BIG EXPERIENCES
Have you recently visited a small independent cinema? Write a review describing the experience and evaluating what makes it different from a larger cinema. Tell us who would enjoy going there and whether you think it offers good value for money.
We are interested in the whole visit, not just the film.
Write your review.
FCE review guide →How it is marked
FCE Writing marking
Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language, 0–5 each: 40 marks for two texts. Our expert evaluation gives an estimate; 24/40 is about 160.
More FCE Writing tests
FCE Writing practice tests · FCE Mock Test 5 · Updated 15 November 2026
Ready for FCE Writing Test 5?
80 minutes. Free, no sign-up to start: you give an email address when you submit, and we email you when your expert evaluation is ready to view.