B2 First Writing can feel difficult at first because you need to organise your ideas clearly, use the right style and answer the task fully. In this section, you will find useful B2 First Writing lessons, examples and tips to help you prepare for the writing paper step by step.
The B2 First Writing paper has two parts. In Part 1, you must write an essay. In Part 2, you choose one task from several options, such as an article, review, email, letter or story.
To do well, you need more than good grammar. You also need to understand the task, plan your answer, organise your paragraphs and use suitable language for the reader.
What Do You Need to Practise for B2 First Writing?
In B2 First Writing, you should practise:
- planning before you write
- answering all parts of the task
- using clear paragraphs
- linking ideas naturally
- using formal or informal language correctly
- giving reasons and examples
- using a good range of grammar and vocabulary
- checking your work for common mistakes
The aim is not to write something complicated. The aim is to write something clear, organised and appropriate.
Want All Your B2 First Writing Practice in One Place?
If you are preparing for B2 First Writing and would like more structured guidance and practice, take a look at my B2 First Writing Bundle.
The collection includes three ebooks with clear explanations, model answers, guided practice and exam-style writing tasks to help you prepare for both parts of the Writing paper.
You can use the books alongside the free lessons on this page: learn the structure here, study more examples in the books, and then practise writing your own answers.
B2 First Essay
The essay is compulsory in B2 First Writing Part 1. You are given a topic and two ideas. You must also add one idea of your own.
A good B2 First essay should have:
- an introduction
- two or three main paragraphs
- clear reasons and examples
- a short conclusion
- formal or neutral language
Useful lessons:
- How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE)
- How to Write an Introduction for a B2 First Essay
- How to Write a Good Conclusion for a B2 First Essay
- Useful Phrases for B2 First Essays
- Common B2 First Essay Mistakes
- B2 First Essay Example: Technology and Traditional Value
Need More Help with B2 First Writing?
If you would like to go beyond individual lessons and work through B2 First Writing step by step, Mastering Writing Skills for B2 First gives you clear guidance, model answers and practical exercises for the different writing tasks.
B2 First Article
An article is usually written for a magazine, website or school publication. It should be interesting, lively and easy to read.
A good B2 First article should:
- have an engaging title
- catch the reader’s attention
- use a friendly and natural style
- include examples or personal experience
- finish with a strong final sentence
Useful lessons:
B2 First Review
In a review, you usually write about a film, book, restaurant, app, product, place or event. You need to describe it and give your opinion.
A good B2 First review should:
- describe the subject clearly
- explain what you liked or disliked
- give reasons for your opinion
- use descriptive vocabulary
- make a recommendation
Useful lessons:
- B2 First Review Writing
- How to Write a Film Review
- How to Write a Book Review
- Adjectives that Describe Places
B2 First Email and Letter
Emails and letters can be formal or informal. The most important thing is to choose the right tone.
For an informal email, you can use:
- friendly phrases
- contractions
- direct questions
- personal comments
For a formal email or letter, you should use:
- polite language
- clear paragraphs
- complete sentences
- formal expressions
Useful lessons:
- B2 First Informal Email
- B2 First Formal Email
- Useful Phrases for Emails and Letters
- How to Write a Letter of Complaint
- Formal vs Informal Language
B2 First Story
A story needs a clear beginning, middle and ending. It should also be interesting for the reader.
A good B2 First story should include:
- a clear situation
- interesting events
- past tenses
- linking words for time and sequence
- some descriptive language
- a satisfying ending
Useful lessons:
B2 First Report
A report is one of the possible tasks in B2 First Writing Part 2. Reports are usually written for a teacher, manager, club organiser or school magazine. They should be clear, organised and practical.
A good B2 First report should:
- use a clear title
- include short headings
- describe a situation or problem
- give useful information
- make suggestions or recommendations
- use formal or semi-formal language
Useful lessons:
- B2 First Report Writing
- Showing Reference in English
- Prepositional Phrases for Formal Writing
- Asking for and Giving Recommendations in English
Useful Language for B2 First Writing
To improve your writing, learn useful phrases that help you organise ideas and express opinions clearly.
Useful language includes:
- linking words
- phrases for giving opinions
- phrases for adding examples
- phrases for comparing ideas
- phrases for making recommendations
- phrases for conclusions
Useful lessons:
- Linking Words for B2 Writing
- Useful Phrases for Giving Opinions
- Useful Phrases for Adding Examples
- Words and Phrases for Conclusions
Common B2 First Writing Mistakes
Many learners lose marks because of small but repeated mistakes. These mistakes often appear in grammar, spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and task response.
Common problems include:
- not answering all parts of the task
- writing too much or too little
- using informal language in a formal task
- forgetting paragraphs
- repeating the same vocabulary
- using linking words incorrectly
- making basic tense mistakes
- not checking the final answer
The best way to improve your writing is to practise regularly and get feedback.
Try this simple study routine:
- Choose one writing task.
- Spend five minutes planning.
- Write your answer in the correct number of words.
- Check your grammar, vocabulary and paragraphing.
- Underline useful phrases you used well.
- Write down three mistakes to avoid next time.
You do not need to write every day, but regular practice helps a lot. One or two writing tasks a week can make a real difference if you also review your mistakes.
Ready to Put It into Practice?
Knowing how a B2 First writing task works is only the first step. You also need plenty of practice.
My B2 First Writing Practice Workbook gives you guided activities, planning practice and exam-style tasks for essays, articles, emails, letters, reviews and reports.
It is ideal if you already understand the basic writing formats but want to become faster, more organised and more confident when you write.
Private B2 First Writing Lessons
If you would like personal help with B2 First Writing, I offer private English lessons online.
In writing lessons, we can work on:
- essays
- articles
- reviews
- emails and letters
- stories
- grammar and vocabulary for writing
- organisation and paragraphing
- feedback on your written work
Each lesson lasts 55 minutes and costs €30.
If you would like help with your writing, visit the Contact page and send me a message.
Final thoughts
B2 First Writing becomes much easier when you understand the task types and practise them one by one. Start with essays because they are compulsory, then move on to articles, reviews, emails and stories.
Use these B2 First Writing lessons to build confidence, improve your organisation and write clearer, more accurate answers for the exam.