Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking

Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking are extremely important if you want your English to sound natural, accurate and fluent. In the Cambridge B2 First exam, it is not enough to know individual words. You also need to know which words commonly go together.

For example, we say:

• make a decision, not do a decision
• take a risk, not make a risk
• meet a deadline, not catch a deadline
• express an opinion, not say an opinion

These natural word combinations are called collocations.

Using collocations correctly can help you improve your writing, sound more confident in speaking, and avoid common mistakes. In this lesson, you will learn useful collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking, grouped by topic, with meanings and example sentences.

What is a Collocation?

A collocation is a pair or group of words that are often used together in English.

For example:

• make progress
• do research
• gain experience
• raise an issue
• play a role
• take part in an activity

These phrases sound natural because native speakers use them regularly. If you use the wrong verb, the sentence may still be understandable, but it will sound awkward.

For example:

Incorrect:

• I did a mistake.

Correct:

• I made a mistake.

Incorrect:

• I gave an exam last week.

Correct:

• I took an exam last week.

Learning collocations helps you write and speak more naturally.

Why Are Collocations Important for B2 First?

In B2 First Writing and Speaking, you need to show that you can use a range of vocabulary accurately.

Collocations help you:

• sound more natural
• avoid basic vocabulary mistakes
• improve fluency
• write more precise sentences
• speak with more confidence
• express opinions clearly
• organise ideas in essays, reports, reviews and articles

Instead of saying:

• I want to get better at English.

You can say:

• I want to make progress in English.
• I want to improve my ability to communicate.
• I want to broaden my vocabulary.

These phrases sound more mature and exam-ready.

Useful Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking

Below you will find collocations grouped by common B2 First topics.

Thinking and Decision-Making Collocations

These collocations are useful when discussing choices, opinions, problems and solutions.

Make a decision

Meaning: to choose what to do

• It is difficult to make a decision under pressure.
• Young people often have to make important decisions about their future.

Reach a conclusion

Meaning: to decide something after thinking carefully

• After discussing the issue, we reached the conclusion that more research was needed.
• The police reached a conclusion after examining the evidence.

Change your mind

Meaning: to decide something different from what you decided before

• I was going to study medicine, but I changed my mind.
• She changed her mind at the last minute.

Weigh the pros and cons

Meaning: to consider the advantages and disadvantages before deciding

• You should weigh the pros and cons before moving abroad.
• We weighed the pros and cons of online learning.

Work and Study Collocations

These are especially useful for essays, reports and speaking questions about education, jobs and future plans.

Do research

Meaning: to study a subject carefully in order to learn more

• I did some research before writing my essay.
• Scientists are doing research into climate change.

Meet a deadline

Meaning: to finish something by the required time

• We worked hard to meet the deadline.
• Students often feel stressed when they have to meet tight deadlines

Gain experience

Meaning: to learn from doing something

• Volunteering helped me gain experience.
• Young people should gain work experience before choosing a career.

Take notes

Meaning: to write down important information

• It is useful to take notes while preparing for an exam.
• Students who take good notes often revise more effectively.

Attend a course

Meaning: to go to a series of lessons

• I am attending a course on business English.
• She attended a course to improve her writing skills.

Communication and Speaking Collocations

These collocations are useful in Speaking Part 3 and Part 4, where you need to discuss ideas and express opinions.

Express an opinion

Meaning: to say what you think

• Students should learn how to express an opinion clearly.
• In the speaking exam, you need to express your opinion and support it.

Make a suggestion

Meaning: to offer an idea or plan

• Can I make a suggestion?
• In Speaking Part 3, candidates often need to make suggestions and respond to their partner.

Have a conversation

Meaning: to talk with someone

• We had a conversation about the environment.
• It is easier to learn English if you regularly have conversations in English.

Ask a question

Meaning: to say something in order to get information

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions in class.
• Good students usually ask questions when they do not understand.

Give a presentation

Meaning: to speak formally to an audience

• We had to give a presentation about renewable energy.
• Learning how to give a clear presentation is useful for work and study.

Travel and Holiday Collocations

Travel is a common topic in English exams and everyday conversation.

Catch a flight

Meaning: to get on a plane in time

• We need to leave early to catch our flight.
• She nearly missed the chance to catch the flight.

Go on holiday

Meaning: to travel somewhere for rest or enjoyment

• We usually go on holiday in August.
• Many families go on holiday during the summer.

Miss the bus

Meaning: to arrive too late to get on the bus

• I missed the bus and had to walk.
• If you leave now, you won’t miss the bus.

Book a hotel

Meaning: to arrange to stay at a hotel

• We booked a hotel near the city centre.
• It is cheaper to book a hotel in advance.

Pack your bags

Meaning: to put your things into a suitcase or bag

• I need to pack my bags before tomorrow morning.
• Have you packed your bags yet?

Emotions and Feelings Collocations

These collocations are useful for stories, personal experiences and speaking answers.

Feel proud

Meaning: to feel pleased about something you or someone else has done

• I felt proud when I passed the exam.
• Parents often feel proud of their children’s achievements.

Lose your temper

Meaning: to suddenly become angry

• Try not to lose your temper during an argument.
• It is important to stay calm and not lose your temper.

Make a mistake

Meaning: to do something incorrectly

• Everyone makes mistakes when learning a language.
• You should learn from your mistakes instead of worrying about them.

Burst into tears

Meaning: to suddenly start crying

• She burst into tears when she heard the news.
• He was so disappointed that he almost burst into tears.

Give someone a hand

Meaning: to help someone

• Can you give me a hand with this exercise?
• It is kind to give someone a hand when they are struggling.

Everyday Life Collocations

These collocations are useful for simple, natural speaking answers.

Take a shower

Meaning: to wash yourself in a shower

• I usually take a shower in the morning.
• She takes a quick shower before work.

Do the shopping

Meaning: to buy food or other things from shops

• My mother usually does the shopping on Saturdays.
• We need to do the shopping before dinner.

Make a phone call

Meaning: to phone someone

• I need to make a phone call before the meeting.
• She made a quick phone call to her friend.

Cook a meal

Meaning: to prepare food

• He cooked a delicious meal for his family.
• I enjoy cooking meals at the weekend.

Go for a walk

Meaning: to walk for pleasure or exercise

• Let’s go for a walk after lunch.
• I often go for a walk to clear my head.

Writing and Exam Collocations

These collocations are especially useful for B2 First Writing tasks.

Write an essay

Meaning: to produce a formal piece of writing on a topic

• We had to write an essay about technology.
• In B2 First Writing Part 1, you usually write an essay.

Answer the question

Meaning: to respond directly to what is being asked

• Make sure you answer the question in your essay.
• Some students lose marks because they do not answer the question fully.

Correct a mistake

Meaning: to fix something that is wrong

• Try to correct your mistakes before handing in your work.
• It is easier to improve when you understand and correct your mistakes.

Check your work

Meaning: to read your work again to find mistakes

• Always check your work before the exam ends.
• I found several spelling mistakes when I checked my work.

Finish on time

Meaning: to complete something before the time limit

• I managed to finish on time.
• It is important to practise so you can finish on time in the exam.

Opinions and Beliefs Collocations

These are excellent for essays, discussions and Speaking Part 4.

Agree strongly

Meaning: to completely agree with something

• I agree strongly with the idea that education should be free.
• I strongly agree with the writer’s opinion.

Hold a belief

Meaning: to believe something deeply

• She holds the belief that children learn best through play.
• Many people hold strong beliefs about education.

Take a stand

Meaning: to clearly and publicly support or oppose something

• Young people should take a stand against bullying.
• The students took a stand on environmental issues.

Challenge an idea

Meaning: to question or disagree with an idea

• The article challenges the idea that technology is always harmful.
• The speaker challenged the idea that exams are the best way to test knowledge.

Effort and Achievement Collocations

These collocations are useful when talking about goals, success and personal development.

Make an effort

Meaning: to try hard

• You need to make an effort if you want to improve.
• She made a real effort to speak more fluently.

Achieve a goal

Meaning: to succeed in doing what you planned

• He finally achieved his goal of passing the exam.
• It takes time and discipline to achieve your goals.

Reach your potential

Meaning: to become as good as you can be

• Good teachers help students reach their potential.
• Every child should have the chance to reach their full potential.

Set a target

Meaning: to decide on a goal

• I have set a target to learn ten new words a day.
• Our teacher asked us to set realistic targets.

Overcome a difficulty

Meaning: to successfully deal with a problem

• She overcame many difficulties to become successful.
• Learning a language means overcoming difficulties.

Business and Money Collocations

These are useful for formal writing, business English and work-related speaking topics.

Run a business

Meaning: to manage a company or shop

• She runs a small business from home.
• My uncle has run his own business for twenty years.

Make a profit

Meaning: to earn more money than you spend

• The company made a profit last year.
• Small businesses often struggle to make a profit.

Cut costs

Meaning: to reduce spending

• The company had to cut costs during the crisis.
• One way to save money is to cut unnecessary costs.

Sign a contract

Meaning: to officially agree to something in writing

• He signed the contract after the meeting.
• You should read carefully before you sign a contract.

Launch a product

Meaning: to start selling a new product

• The company will launch a new product next month.
• A successful campaign can help a company launch a product.

Technology Collocations

Technology is a common topic in B2 First exams.

Come up with an idea

Meaning: to think of a new idea

• She came up with an idea for a new app.
• We need to come up with a solution quickly.

Solve a problem

Meaning: to find an answer to a problem

• They worked together to solve the problem.
• It took several hours to solve the technical problem.

Install software

Meaning: to put a program on a computer.

• The technician helped us install the new software.
• It is important to install software updates regularly.

Back up data

Meaning: to make a copy of information so it is not lost

• You should back up your data regularly.
• I forgot to back up my files.

Surf the internet

Meaning: to look at websites online

• He spent the evening surfing the internet.
• Many teenagers surf the internet in their free time.

Formal Collocations for B2 First Writing

These collocations are particularly useful in essays, reports and formal letters.

Play a vital role

Meaning: to be very important

• Parents play a vital role in children’s development.
• Technology plays a vital role in modern communication.

Raise an issue

Meaning: to mention a topic or problem for discussion

• The article raises an important issue.
• I would like to raise the issue of student stress.

Provide insight

Meaning: to give a deeper understanding

• The research provides insight into teenage behaviour.
• The article provides useful insight into online learning.

Pose a threat

Meaning: to be dangerous or harmful

• Climate change poses a threat to the environment.
• Cybercrime poses a serious threat to businesses.

Take into account

Meaning: to consider something before making a decision

• We must take into account the cost.
• Teachers should take into account students’ different abilities.

How to Use Collocations in B2 First Writing

Do not simply memorise long lists. Instead, learn collocations in useful groups.

For example, if you are writing an essay about education, you could use:

• play a vital role
• gain experience
• reach your potential
• make progress
• take into account
• raise an issue

Example paragraph:

Education plays a vital role in helping young people reach their full potential. Schools should not only teach academic subjects, but also help students gain practical experience and develop useful skills. However, teachers need to take into account the fact that students learn in different ways.

This sounds much stronger than using only simple words.

How to Use Collocations in B2 First Speaking

In the Speaking test, collocations can help you sound more fluent and natural.

For example, instead of saying:

• I like travelling because I can learn things.

You can say:

• I enjoy travelling because it helps me broaden my knowledge and gain experience of different cultures.

Instead of saying:

• I think exams are stressful.

You can say:

• I think exams can put pressure on students, especially when they have to meet deadlines and finish on time.

Instead of saying:

• I want to be better at English.

You can say:

• I want to make progress, improve my ability to communicate and gain confidence in speaking.

Small changes like these can make your answers sound much more natural.

Common Mistakes with Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking

Mistake 1: Using “do” instead of “make”

Incorrect:

• I did a mistake.

Correct:

• I made a mistake.

Other common examples:

• make a decision
• make progress
• make an effort
• make a suggestion

Mistake 2: Using “make” instead of “do”

Incorrect:

• I need to make research.

Correct:

• I need to do research.

Other common examples:

• do homework
• do research
• do the shopping
• do the cleaning

Mistake 3: Translating directly from your language

Incorrect:

• I gave an exam yesterday.

Correct:

• I took an exam yesterday.

In English, collocations often cannot be translated word for word. You need to learn them as complete phrases.

Mistake 4: Learning collocations without context

Do not just learn:

• make a decision
• gain experience
• take notes

Learn them in sentences:

• I had to make a difficult decision.
• Volunteering helped me gain valuable experience.
• I always take notes during lessons.

Context helps you remember and use collocations correctly.

Download the Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking – Printable Table Handout in PDF here

Download the Extensive Practice Worksheet for B2 First Writing and Speaking in PDF here

Final Thoughts

Learning collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking is one of the best ways to make your English sound more natural and fluent.

Instead of learning single words, learn useful word partnerships:

• make a decision
• meet a deadline
• express an opinion
• gain experience
• play a vital role
• raise an issue
• take into account

These phrases will help you write better essays, give clearer speaking answers and avoid common mistakes.

The more collocations you know, the more confident and accurate your English becomes — and that is exactly what you need for B2 First.

Related posts:

How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) 

50 Formal and Informal Verb Pairs 

100 Formal and Informal Noun Pairs 

Grammatical Patterns after Reporting Verbs 

Expressing Opinions and Arguments in English

Suggestions in English 

Expressing Cause and Effect in English 

Time Conjunctions in English

Visit our bookshop for more

 

FAQ 

What are collocations for B2 First?

Collocations for B2 First are natural word combinations that help candidates sound more fluent and accurate in the Cambridge B2 First exam. Examples include make a decision, meet a deadline, express an opinion and play a vital role.

Why are collocations important in B2 First Writing?

Collocations are important in B2 First Writing because they help you use vocabulary naturally. They can make essays, articles, reports and emails sound more fluent, precise and exam-ready.

How can I learn B2 First collocations?

The best way to learn B2 First collocations is to group them by topic, practise them in full sentences and use them in writing and speaking tasks instead of memorising isolated lists.