Oxford House

  • Writing an effective essay: Cambridge B2 First

Escribir una redacción eficaz para el Cambridge B2 First | Oxford House Barcelona

  • Posted on 28/02/2018
  • Categories: Blog
  • Tags: B2 First , C1 Advanced , C2 Proficiency , Cambridge CAE Certificate of Advanced English , Cambridge CPE Certificate of Proficiency in English , Cambridge Exams , Cambridge FCE First Certificate of English , Learn English

Students take language certifications like the Cambridge B2 First qualification for lots of different reasons. You might do it to motivate yourself to improve your language abilities, to prove your level of English to an employer, or even to achieve an ambition like travelling around the world and going to live in an English-speaking country.

The Cambridge B2 First exam includes a two-part writing section, which can be daunting for some people. So if you’re thinking about taking an exam like this, we have some top tips to help you write an excellent exam essay.

Most of the advice in this article can also be applied to any exam where you have to write an essay, such as the C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency or IELTS .

Writing test structure

Before we get into the details, let’s take a look at the structure of the writing paper. You have 80 minutes to write two texts – and it will go quickly!

The first part is the essay; the second part is an article, email, letter, report, or review.

You will be given the essay title and two ideas or prompts . It’s essential that you include both of these ideas in your essay, as well as another relevant idea that you have to come up with yourself .

You have to write 140-190 words in each part and it shouldn’t take you more than 40 minutes per answer .

Writing an essay in three steps

Take a look at this example from a sample paper and then think about how you would answer it in an exam:

Essay title:

Some parents teach their children at home rather than sending them to school. Is this a good or a bad thing for the children?

  • 1. having a parent as a teacher
  • 2. making friends
  • 3. …..

Question taken from http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/first/exam-format/ (Cambridge Assessment English, Feb 2018).

What could the third idea be? Stop reading, grab a pen and write down some ideas! Keep them general, but relevant. When you’ve finished, scroll down to the bottom of the page to see some of our ideas * .

Step One: plan it (10 minutes)

Step One: Plan | Writing an effective essay for the Cambridge B2 First | Oxford House Barcelona

That’s what my old history teacher used to tell me. I hate to admit it, but he was right! If you don’t usually plan before you start writing, you really need to get into the habit . Ten minutes may seem a lot, but the more time you spend planning, the clearer your ideas will be and the quicker the writing process will be.

A good place to start is to brainstorm keywords and phrases related to the topic.

Brainstorming Keywords | Writing an effective essay for the Cambridge B2 First | Oxford House Barcelona

Next, you should think about how you’re going to begin ( the introduction ), how you’re going to connect the three main ideas ( the body ) and how you’re going to finish ( the conclusion ). If you know where you’re headed , you’re much less likely to get lost along the way!

Step Two: write it (25 minutes)

OK, you’ve got our plan – you’re good to go ! It’s important to know what the examiners are looking for. The mark you get for the essay is based on the following four aspects :

Content: Have you included all three ideas? Remember, all content should be 100% relevant to the topic, so don’t go off on a tangent !

Communicative achievement: Is the style or tone of your essay appropriate? It should be neutral and quite formal, so avoid contractions (e.g. it’s, don’t, they’ll) and first person pronouns (e.g. I, me, my, we, us, our).

Organisation: Does your essay follow a logical order? To help your writing flow , try to include linking words. Here’s a website with some examples.

Language: Have you used a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures? Don’t always write the first word that comes to mind – look for synonyms . Using some complex structures (e.g. different verb tenses, passives, inversion) will boost your marks, but be sure to use them correctly!

Step Three: check it (5 minutes)

This final step is essential. It’s your chance to read (and re-read) your essay to identify any mistakes. No matter how careful you’ve been, there are probably a few things that you can improve. Check for spellings. Check for plurals. Check for verb agreement . Basically, check everything!

5 quick tips to improve your proofreading

  • Keep a list of (your) frequent mistakes, so you know what to look out for
  • Read it slowly
  • Use your finger to guide your eyes
  • Correct one thing at a time (e.g. only punctuation, then only spelling)
  • Focus on the little words (pronouns, articles, prepositions, etc.)

Still not sure if this is the right exam for you?

There are many benefits of earning an English certification, but before you decide to do so, it’s very important to check your English level . This will help you select the right exam course and make sure you don’t waste time completing one that’s too hard or too easy for you.

If you decide to do an exam preparation course with us, one of our trained level testers will work with you to assess your level. But, if you can’t wait until then, here’s a multiple-choice test for you to complete to give you some idea.

This article also outlines the differences between the Cambridge and IELTS exams to help you decide which exam is for you.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Daunting (adj): something that worries you because it might seem difficult to do.

Prompts (n): something serving to suggest or remind.

To come up with (pv): to think of something such as an idea or a plan.

To get into the habit (exp): to begin to do something regularly or often.

Headed (adj): destined for.

You’re good to go! (exp): you’re ready!

To go off on a tangent (exp): to start doing, discussing, or thinking about something completely different.

To flow (v): to proceed smoothly and continuously.

adj = adjective

pv = phrasal verb

exp = expression

*Example ideas: ‘group work’, ‘bullying’, ‘class sizes’, ‘working parents’, ‘free curriculum’

Pass your Cambridge Exam with Oxford House Barcelona

Leave a reply.

Name (required)

Email (required)

5 Powerful Tools to Perfect Your Pronunciation

  • By: oxfordadmin
  • Posted on 22/02/2018

4 Ways English Words are Born

  • Posted on 07/03/2018

Related Post

essay cambridge first

Everything You Need To Know Ab

Although you learn plural nouns early on, they can be challenging. There are many rules and exceptions to remember plus ... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Importance of English For

No matter where you live, you’ve probably experienced record-breaking temperatures and severe weather. You may have se... Read More

essay cambridge first

Discovering Barcelona Through

We all know that Barcelona is a fantastic city to live in. You only need to spend the afternoon wandering around one of ... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 New Words To Improve Your Vo

The arrival of a new year presents an ideal opportunity to work on your language goals. Whether you’re preparing for a... Read More

essay cambridge first

Learning English through Chris

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! If you resisted the urge to sing that line instead of saying it, then, we... Read More

essay cambridge first

24 Christmas Phrases for Joyfu

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to get ready for the festive period than by learning some typical Chr... Read More

essay cambridge first

3 Easy Ways To Use Music To Im

Are you ready to embark on your latest journey towards mastering the English language? We all know that music is there f... Read More

essay cambridge first

Grammar Guide – Understandin

Do you sometimes feel a bit lost when deciding which tense to use? Are you a little unsure of the differences between th... Read More

essay cambridge first

Halloween Humour: Jokes, Puns

We all need a break from time to time. Sometimes we’re up to our eyeballs in projects at work, and we just need a mome... Read More

essay cambridge first

English for Business: 7 Ways L

If you’re interested in getting a promotion at work, earning a higher salary or landing your dream job, then working o... Read More

essay cambridge first

A Beginner’s Guide to Ch

Understanding the need for exams   An official exam is a fantastic way to demonstrate your English. Why? Firstly,... Read More

essay cambridge first

English Tongue Twisters to Imp

One of the most fun ways to practise and improve your pronunciation is with tongue twisters. That’s because they’re ... Read More

essay cambridge first

25 years of Oxford House – O

We all know that fantastic feeling we have after completing an academic year: nine months of English classes, often twic... Read More

essay cambridge first

Guide to the Cambridge C2 Prof

Are you working towards the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) exam? Have you been having sleepless nights thinking about wh... Read More

essay cambridge first

9 Tips For Communicating With

When travelling to or living in an English-speaking country, getting to know the local people can greatly enhance your e... Read More

essay cambridge first

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) writing exam? If those pre-exam jitters have started to appear,... Read More

essay cambridge first

English Vocabulary For Getting

Are you feeling bored of the way your hair looks? Perhaps it’s time for a new you. All you need to do is make an appoi... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Spelling Rules For Comparati

Messi or Ronaldo? Pizza or sushi? Going to the cinema or bingeing on a series at home? A beach holiday or a walking trip... Read More

essay cambridge first

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) writing exam? If so, you may be feeling a little nervous and co... Read More

essay cambridge first

Improve your English pronuncia

What are some of the trickiest words to pronounce in English? Well, we’ve compiled a useful list of ten of the most di... Read More

essay cambridge first

Using Language Reactor To Lear

If you love watching Netflix series and videos on YouTube to learn English, then you need to download the Language React... Read More

essay cambridge first

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) exam? Would you like to know some tips to help you feel more at... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to use ChatGPT to practise

Are you on the lookout for an extra way to practise your English? Do you wish you had an expert available at 2 a.m. that... Read More

essay cambridge first

Well done. You’ve been moving along your English language journey for some time now. You remember the days of telling ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Tips for the IELTS listening s

Are you preparing for the IELTS exam and need some help with the listening section? If so, then you’ll know that the l... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 new English words to improve

A new year is a perfect opportunity to focus on your language goals. Maybe you are working towards an official exam. Per... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Write a C1 Advanced Ema

Did you know that there are two parts to the C1 Advanced Writing exam? Part 1 is always a mandatory . Part 2 has ... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Interesting Christmas tradit

When you think of the word Christmas, what springs to mind? For most people, it will be words like home, family and trad... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to write a C1 Advanced Rep

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam and need a hand with writing your report/proposal for Part 2 of the... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 of the best apps to improve

Would you like to improve your English listening skills? With all the technology that we have at our fingertips nowadays... Read More

essay cambridge first

Tips for the IELTS Reading sec

Looking for some tips to get a high band score in the IELTS Academic Reading exam? If so, then you’re in the right pla... Read More

essay cambridge first

The 5 best Halloween movies to

Boo! Are you a fan of Halloween? It’s that scary time of year again when the creepy creatures come out to play, and th... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Write a Review for Camb

Are you planning to take the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) exam? If so, you will need to complete two pieces of writin... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Use Relative Pronouns i

Today we’re taking a look at some English grammar that sometimes trips up language learners. In fact, we’ve just use... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Get Top Marks: Cambridg

So you’re taking the ? If so, you’ll know that you have four sections to prepare for: speaking, reading and use of E... Read More

essay cambridge first

Travel Vocabulary To Get Your

Summer is here and we can’t wait to go on our summer holidays! If you’re thinking about travelling overseas this yea... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Get A High Score In The

So you’re preparing for the ! From wanting to live and work abroad to going to university in an English-speaking count... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 English Idioms To Take To T

Is there anything better than cooling off in the sea on a hot summer’s day? Well, if you live in Barcelona you hav... Read More

essay cambridge first

Tips for IELTS speaking sectio

Are you preparing for the IELTS test? If so, you’ll need to do the speaking section. While many people find speaking t... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to use 6 different English

Just when you think English couldn’t get any more confusing, we introduce you to English pronouns! The reason why peop... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to get top marks: B2 First

Congratulations – you’ve made it to the B2 First Reading and Use of English Part 7! Yet, before we get too excited, ... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Of The Best Apps For Improvi

Speaking is often thought to be the hardest skill to master when learning English. What’s more, there are hundreds of ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Do you like putting together puzzles? If so, your problem solving skills can actually help you with B2 First Reading and... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 Vocabulary Mistakes Spanish

If you ask a Spanish speaker what they find difficult about English language learning, they may mention false friends an... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Get Top Marks: B2 First

Picture this: You’re in your B2 First exam and you’ve finished the Use of English part. You can put it behind you fo... Read More

essay cambridge first

12 Business Phrasal Verbs to K

Want to improve your English for professional reasons? You’re in the right place. When working in English, it’s comm... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to use articles (a, an, th

Knowing what articles are and when to use them in English can be difficult for language learners to pick up. Especially ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Are you preparing for ? Reading and Use of English Part 4 may not be your cup of tea – in fact most students feel quit... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing B2 First Part 3: Readi

Are you studying for the B2 First exam? You’re in the right place! In this series of blogs we want to show you al... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 new English words you need f

New words spring up each year! They often come from popular culture, social and political issues, and innovations in tec... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 of the Best Apps for Learnin

If you find yourself commuting often and spending a lot of time on the bus, you’ll most likely turn towards playing ga... Read More

essay cambridge first

The B2 First is one of the most popular English exams for students of English. It is a recognised qualification that can... Read More

essay cambridge first

4 Different Types Of Modal Ver

What are modal verbs? They are not quite the same as regular verbs such as play, walk and swim. Modal verbs are a type o... Read More

essay cambridge first

So you’ve decided to take the ! Formerly known as FCE or the First Certificate, this is by far most popular exam. Whe... Read More

essay cambridge first

Useful Expressions For Negotia

A lot of our global business is conducted in English. So, there’s a strong chance you may have to learn how to negotia... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing C1 Advanced Part 8: Re

If you’re wondering how to do Part 8 of the Reading and Use of English paper, you’re in the right place! After s... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Difference Between IELTS G

You’ve probably heard of . It’s the world’s leading test for study, work and migration after all. And as the world... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing C1 Advanced Part 7: Re

Welcome to Part 7 of the Reading and Use of English paper. This task is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. One where you have ... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Benefits Of Learning Engli

Who said learning English was just for the young? You're never too old to learn something new. There are plenty of benef... Read More

essay cambridge first

So, you’re preparing to take the . You’ve been studying for each of the four sections; reading, writing, speaking an... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Reels Accounts to Learn Engl

Are you looking for ways to learn English during the summer holidays? We’ve got you covered – Instagram Reels is a n... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing Cambridge C1 Advanced

Well done you! You’ve made it to Part 6 of the Reading and Use of English exam. Not long to go now – just three mor... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 Resources To Help Beginner E

Learning a new language is hard, but fun. If you are learning English but need some help, our monthly course is what y... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Famous Speeches To Help you

Everyone likes listening to inspiring speeches. Gifted speakers have a way of making people want to listen and take acti... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Write A B2 First Formal

Dear reader… We sincerely hope you enjoyed our previous blog posts about the Writing section of the B2 First. As promi... Read More

essay cambridge first

4 Conditionals In English And

Conditionals? Is that something you use after shampooing your hair? Not quite. You may have heard your English teacher t... Read More

essay cambridge first

After racing through the first four parts of the Cambridge English Reading and Use of English paper, you’ve managed t... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 Of The Best Apps For Learnin

There are roughly 170,000 words in use in the English language. Thankfully, most native English speakers only have a voc... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to write a B2 First inform

You're probably very familiar with sending emails (and sometimes letters) in your first language. But how about in Engli... Read More

essay cambridge first

How can I teach my kids Englis

Keep kids’ minds sharp over the Easter holidays with some entertaining, educational activities in English. There are l... Read More

essay cambridge first

How Roxana went from Beginner

Roxana Milanes is twenty five and from Cuba. She began English classes back in May 2019 at Oxford House, and since then ... Read More

essay cambridge first

4 Future Tenses In English And

“Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one.” - Doc Brown, Back to the future. Just like the and... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Business Idioms For The Wor

Business idioms are used throughout the workplace. In meetings, conversations and even whilst making at the coffee mac... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Tips For Reading The News In

We spend hours consuming the news. With one click of a button we have access to thousands of news stories all on our pho... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Write a Report: Cambrid

Imagine the scene. It’s exam day. You’re nearly at the end of your . You’ve just finished writing Part 1 - , and n... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 English Words You Need For 2

Back in December 2019, we sat down and attempted to make a list of . No one could have predicted the year that was about... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Christmas Movies On Netflix

Christmas movies are one of the best things about the holiday season. They’re fun, they get you in the mood for the ho... Read More

essay cambridge first

MigraCode: An Inspiring New Pa

Oxford House are extremely proud to announce our partnership with MigraCode - a Barcelona-based charity which trains ref... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Ultimate Guide To Video Co

The age of telecommunication is well and truly here. Most of our business meetings now take place via video conferencing... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Pronunciation Mistakes Spani

One of the biggest challenges for Spanish speakers when learning English is pronunciation. Often it’s a struggle to pr... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Ways You Can Learn English w

“Alexa, what exactly are you?” Alexa is a virtual AI assistant owned by Amazon. She is voice-activated - like Sir... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing Cambridge C1 Advanced:

Okay, take a deep breath. We’re about to enter the danger zone of the Cambridge exam - Reading and Use of English Par... Read More

essay cambridge first

What’s new at Oxford House f

Welcome to the new school year! It’s great to have you back. We’d like to remind you that , and classes are all st... Read More

essay cambridge first

European Languages Day: Where

The 26th of September is . It’s a day to celebrate Europe’s rich linguistic diversity and show the importance of lan... Read More

essay cambridge first

Back To School: 9 Tips For Lan

It’s the start of a new academic term and new courses are about to begin. This is the perfect opportunity to set your ... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Maximise Your Online Co

If there’s one good thing to come out of this year, it’s that learning a language has never been so easy or accessib... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Learn English With TikT

Are you bored of Facebook? Tired of Instagram? Don’t feel part of the Twitter generation? Perhaps what you’re lookin... Read More

essay cambridge first

A Brief Guide To Different Bri

It’s a fact! The UK is obsessed with the way people talk. And with , it’s no surprise why. That’s right, accents a... Read More

essay cambridge first

Study English This Summer At O

Summer is here! And more than ever, we’re in need of a bit of sunshine. But with travel restrictions still in place, m... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Reasons To Learn English Out

As Barcelona and the rest of Spain enters the ‘new normality’, it’s time to plan ahead for the summer. Kids and te... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Free Online Resources For Ca

Are you preparing for a Cambridge English qualification? Have you devoured all of your past papers and need some extra e... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Different Uses Of The Word �

The word ‘get’ is one of the most common and versatile verbs in English. It can be used in lots of different ways, a... Read More

essay cambridge first

What Are The 4 Present Tenses

There are three main verb tenses in English - , the present and the future - which each have various forms and uses. Tod... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Of The Best Netflix Series T

On average, Netflix subscribers spend streaming their favourite content. With so many binge-worthy series out there, it... Read More

essay cambridge first

Continue Studying Online At Ox

Due to the ongoing emergency lockdown measures imposed by the Spanish Government . We don’t know when we will be a... Read More

essay cambridge first

Five Ways To celebrate Sant Jo

The feast of Sant Jordi is one of Barcelona’s most popular and enduring celebrations. Sant Jordi is the patron saint o... Read More

essay cambridge first

What’s It Like To Study Onli

Educational institutions all over the world have shut their doors. From nurseries to universities, business schools to l... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Benefits of Learning English

Whatever your new year’s resolution was this year, it probably didn’t involve staying at home all day. For many of u... Read More

essay cambridge first

9 Tips For Studying A Language

With the recent outbreak of Covid-19, many of us may have to gather our books and study from home. Schools are clos... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Ways To Learn English At Ho

Being stuck inside can make you feel like you’re going crazy. But why not use this time to your advantage, and work on... Read More

essay cambridge first

Important Information –

Dear students, Due to the recent emergency measures from the Government concerning COVID-19, Oxford House premises wi... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 Books You Should Read To Imp

Reading is one of the best ways to practice English. It’s fun, relaxing and helps you improve your comprehension skill... Read More

essay cambridge first

Your Guide To Moving To The US

So that’s it! It’s decided, you’re moving to the USA. It’s time to hike the soaring mountains, listen to country... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to write a C1 Advanced Ess

The is an excellent qualification to aim for if you’re thinking of studying or working abroad. It’s recognised by u... Read More

essay cambridge first

Small Talk For Business Englis

Like it or not, small talk is an important part of business. Whether it’s in a lift, at a conference, in a meeting roo... Read More

essay cambridge first

English Vocabulary For Going O

It’s time for that famous celebration of love and romance - Valentine’s Day! It is inspired by the sad story of Sain... Read More

essay cambridge first

IELTS: Writing Part 2 –

When it comes to exams, preparation is the key to success - and the IELTS Writing Paper Part 2 is no exception! It is wo... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Unmissable Events at Oxford

At Oxford House, we know learning a language extends beyond the classroom. It’s important to practise your skills in m... Read More

essay cambridge first

Am I ready for the C1 Advanced

Congratulations! You’ve passed your Cambridge B2 First exam. It was a hard road but you did it. Now what’s next? Som... Read More

essay cambridge first

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. When you see its lush green landscape and breathtaking views, it’s easy to see w... Read More

essay cambridge first

How SMART Goals Can Help You I

New year, new you. As one year ends and another begins, many of us like to set ourselves goals in order to make our live... Read More

essay cambridge first

15 New English Words You Need

Each year new words enter the English language. Some are added to dictionaries like . Others are old words that are give... Read More

essay cambridge first

Our Year In Review: Top 10 Blo

2019 went by in a flash - and what a year it’s been! We’re just as excited to be looking back on the past 12 months ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Telephone Interviews In Englis

Telephone interviews in English can seem scary. Employers often use them to filter-out candidates before the face-to-fa... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Write a Great Article i

Writing in your only language can be a challenge, but writing in another language can be a complete nightmare ! Where do... Read More

essay cambridge first

A Black Friday Guide to Shoppi

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, it signals the start of the Christmas shopping period. Expect... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing C1 Advanced: Part 3 Re

The (CAE) is a high-level qualification, designed to show that candidates are confident and flexible language users who... Read More

essay cambridge first

AI Translators: The Future Of

Many people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) translators are surpassing human translators in their ability to a... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 Of The Best Apps For Learnin

Apps are a great tool for learning English. They are quick, easy to access and fun. It’s almost like having a mini cla... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Ways To Improve Your Speakin

There are four linguistic skills that you utilise when learning a new language: reading, writing speaking and listening.... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing Cambridge C2 Proficien

So, you’ve moved onto Part 3, and after completing Part 2 it’s probably a welcome relief to be given some help with ... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 Resources To Build Your Busi

Whether it’s in meetings, telephone conversations or networking events, you’ll find specific vocabulary and buzzword... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Ways to Become a Better Lear

It’s time for some back-to-school motivation. The new school year is about to start and everyone is feeling refreshed ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Our 10 Favourite YouTubers To

Haven’t you heard? Nobody is watching the TV anymore - 2019 is the year of the YouTuber! If you’re an English langu... Read More

essay cambridge first

So, you’ve completed the of your Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE). Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the e... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Secret French Words Hidden

“The problem with the French is that they have no word for entrepreneur.” This phrase was attributed to George W. B... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Ultimate Guide To Gràcia

The Gràcia Festival, or , is an annual celebration taking place in the lovely, bohemian neighbourhood of Gràcia in upt... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Things To Do In Barcelona In

Barcelona residents will often tell you than nothing happens in August. It’s too hot and everyone escapes to little vi... Read More

essay cambridge first

4 Past Tenses and When to Use

Do you have difficulty with the past tenses in English? Do you know the difference between the past simple and past perf... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Write A Review: Cambrid

Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 min... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 Hidden Benefits of Being Bil

Unless you were raised to be bilingual, speaking two languages can require years of study and hard work. Even once you�... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 Films to Practise Your Engli

What’s better than watching a fantastic, original-language movie in a theatre? Watching a fantastic, original-language... Read More

essay cambridge first

The 10 Best Instagram Accounts

Ever wonder how much time you spend on your phone a day? According to the latest studies, the average person spends on ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Challenge Yourself This Summer

Here comes the sun! That’s right, summer is on its way and, for many, that means a chance to take a well-deserved brea... Read More

essay cambridge first

You’ve done the hard part and finally registered for your , congratulations! Now all you need to do is pass it! H... Read More

essay cambridge first

These 5 Soft Skills Will Boost

Everyone is talking about soft skills. They are the personal traits that allow you to be mentally elastic, to adapt to n... Read More

essay cambridge first

Which English Exam Is Right Fo

Are you struggling to decide which English language exam to take? You’re not alone: with so many different options on ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Passing C2 Proficiency: A Guid

We’re sure you’ve done a great job answering the questions for of your . But now you’re faced with a completely d... Read More

essay cambridge first

Sant Jordi – Dragons, Bo

Imagine you have woken up in Barcelona for the first time in your life. You walk outside and you notice something unusua... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Ways To Improve Your Listeni

Have you ever put on an English radio station or podcast and gone to sleep, hoping that when you wake up in the morning ... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Simple Guide To Communicat

What’s the most challenging thing about going on holiday in an English speaking country? Twenty years ago you might ha... Read More

essay cambridge first

Stop Making These 7 Grammar Mi

No matter how long you've been learning a language, you're likely to make a mistake every once in a while. The big ones ... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Pass Your First Job Int

Passing a job interview in a language that’s not your mother tongue is always a challenge – but however daunting i... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Ways To Practise Your Speaki

“How many languages do you speak?” This is what we ask when we want to know about someone’s language skills... Read More

essay cambridge first

You have survived the Use of English section of your , but now you are faced with a long text full of strange language, ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Improve Your English Accent Wi

Turn on a radio anywhere in the world and it won’t take long before you’re listening to an English song. And, if you... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 English Expressions To Fall

It’s nearly Valentine’s day and love is in the air at Oxford House. We’ll soon be surrounded by heart-shaped ballo... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 Graded Readers To Help You P

Graded readers are adaptations of famous stories, or original books aimed at language learners. They are written to help... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Tools To Take Your Writing T

Written language is as important today as it has ever been. Whether you want to prepare for an , to respond to or it’... Read More

essay cambridge first

EF Report: Do Spanish Schools

The new year is here and many of us will be making promises about improving our language skills in 2019. However, how ma... Read More

essay cambridge first

Our 10 Most Popular Blog Posts

It’s been a whirlwind 2018. We’ve made so many amazing memories - from our twentieth-anniversary party to some enter... Read More

essay cambridge first

Time For A Career Change? Here

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get a job in an international company? Perhaps you’ve thought about tr... Read More

essay cambridge first

Eaquals Accreditation: A Big S

We are delighted to be going through the final stages of our accreditation, which will help us provide the best languag... Read More

essay cambridge first

A Guide To The Cambridge Engli

Making the decision to do a Cambridge English language qualification can be intimidating. Whether you’re taking it bec... Read More

essay cambridge first

8 Top Tips To Get The Most Out

A language exchange (or Intercambio in Spanish) is an excellent way to practise English outside of the classroom. The a... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Haunted History And Terrib

The nights are drawing in and the leaves are falling from the trees. As our minds turn to the cold and frosty winter nig... Read More

essay cambridge first

Why Oxford House Is More Than

If you’re a student at , you’ll know it is far more than just a language academy. It’s a place to socialise, make ... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Crazy Things You Probably D

From funny bananas, super long words and excitable foxes, our latest infographic explores 10 intriguing facts about the ... Read More

essay cambridge first

Meet our Director of Studies &

If you’ve been studying at Oxford House for a while there’s a good chance that you’ll recognise Judy - with her bi... Read More

essay cambridge first

Which English Course Is Right

The new school year is about to begin and many of you are probably thinking that it’s about time to take the plunge an... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Ways To Get Over The Holiday

We head off on vacation full of excitement and joy. It’s a time to explore somewhere new, relax and spend time with ou... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Essential Aussie Expression

Learning English is difficult! With its irregular verbs, tricky pronunciation and even harder spelling, lots of students... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Great Apps To Give Your Engl

The next time you’re walking down the street, in a waiting room, or on public transport in Barcelona take a look aroun... Read More

essay cambridge first

Here’s Why You Should Move T

Many students have aspirations to move abroad. This might be for a number of reasons such as to find a new job, to impro... Read More

essay cambridge first

Improving Your Pronunciation W

What do English, Maori, Vietnamese and Zulu have in common? Along with another , they all use the . If your first la... Read More

essay cambridge first

How To Improve Your English Us

Netflix has changed the way we spend our free time. We don’t have to wait a week for a new episode of our favourite TV... Read More

essay cambridge first

Oxford House Community: Meet O

The year has flown by and we are already into the second week of our summer intensive courses. Today we look back at th... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Amazing Events to Make It an

Things are hotting up in Barcelona. There’s so much to see and do during the summer months that it’s hard to know wh... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Improve Your English Ov

The long summer holiday is almost here and we’ve got some top tips on how you can keep up your English over the summer... Read More

essay cambridge first

World Cup Vocabulary: Let’s

Football, football, football: the whole world is going crazy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar! The beautiful game i... Read More

essay cambridge first

The 10 Characteristics Of A �

Learning a second language has a lot in common with learning to play an instrument or sport. They all require frequent p... Read More

essay cambridge first

Catch Your Child’s Imaginati

Imagine, for a moment, taking a cooking class in a language you didn’t know - it could be Japanese, Greek, Russian. It... Read More

essay cambridge first

Exam Day Tips: The Written Pap

Exams are nerve-wracking. Between going to class, studying at home and worrying about the results, it’s easy to forget... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Reasons to Study English at

Learning a second language, for many people, is one of the best decisions they ever make. Travel, work, culture, educati... Read More

essay cambridge first

Shadowing: A New Way to Improv

Speech shadowing is an advanced language learning technique. The idea is simple: you listen to someone speaking and you ... Read More

essay cambridge first

The Best Websites to Help Your

Our children learn English at school from a young age - with some even starting basic language classes from as early as ... Read More

essay cambridge first

15 Useful English Expressions

When was the last time you painted the town red or saw a flying pig? We wouldn’t be surprised if you are scratchin... Read More

essay cambridge first

Help Your Teens Practise Engli

Teenagers today are definitely part of the smartphone generation and many parents are concerned about the amount of time... Read More

essay cambridge first

IELTS: Writing Part 1 –

Are you taking an IELTS exam soon? Feeling nervous about the writing paper? Read this article for some top tips and usef... Read More

essay cambridge first

Business skills: How to delive

Love them or hate them, at some point we all have to give a business presentation. Occasionally we have to deliver them ... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 phrasal verbs to help you b

A lot of students think English is easy to learn - that is until they encounter phrasal verbs! We are sure you have hear... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Unbelievably British Easter

Have you heard of these fascinating British Easter traditions? Great Britain is an ancient island, full of superstition... Read More

essay cambridge first

Guide to getting top marks in

Your is coming to an end and exam day is fast approaching. It’s about time to make sure you are prepared for what man... Read More

essay cambridge first

Have you ever wondered where English words come from? There are a whopping 171,476 words in the . From aardvark to zyzz... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Powerful Tools to Perfect Yo

Foreign accent and understanding When you meet someone new, what’s the first thing you notice? Is it how they look?... Read More

essay cambridge first

Essential Ski Vocabulary [Info

Are you a ski-fanatic that spends all week dreaming about white-capped peaks, fluffy snow and hearty mountain food? ... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Tips to Get the Best Out of

Quizlet, Duolingo, Busuu...there are lots of apps on the market nowadays to help you learn and improve your English. But... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 False Friends in English an

Is English really that difficult? English is a Germanic language, which means it has lots of similarities with Germa... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Improve your English wi

If you’ve been studying English for a long time, you’ve probably tried lots of different ways of learning the langua... Read More

essay cambridge first

Myths and Mysteries of the Eng

Learning another language as an adult can be frustrating. We’re problem-solvers. We look for patterns in language and ... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Ways to Improve your Englis

Every year is the same. We promise ourselves to eat more healthily, exercise more and save money. It all seems very easy... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 English words you need for

Languages are constantly on the move and English is no exception! As technology, culture and politics evolve, we’re fa... Read More

essay cambridge first

Catalan Christmas Vs British C

All countries are proud of their quirky traditions and this is no more evident than . In South Africa they eat deep-fri... Read More

essay cambridge first

9 Ideas To Kickstart Your Read

You’ve heard about the four skills: reading, writing, and . Some might be more important to you than others. Although... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Write the Perfect Busin

Business is all about communication. Whether it’s colleagues, clients or suppliers, we spend a big chunk of our workin... Read More

essay cambridge first

10 Phrasal Verbs You Should Le

Why are phrasal verbs so frustrating? It’s like they’ve been sent from the devil to destroy the morale of English la... Read More

essay cambridge first

How to Ace the Cambridge Speak

Exams are terrifying! The big day is here and after all that studying and hard work, it’s finally time to show what y... Read More

essay cambridge first

7 Podcasts To Improve Your Lis

Speaking in a foreign language is hard work. Language learners have to think about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary... Read More

essay cambridge first

IELTS: Your Ticket to the Worl

Have you ever thought about dropping everything to go travelling around the world? Today, more and more people are quit... Read More

essay cambridge first

6 Language Hacks to Learn Engl

It’s October and you’ve just signed up for an English course. Maybe you want to pass an official exam. Maybe you nee... Read More

essay cambridge first

5 Reasons to Learn English in

Learning English is more fun when you do it in a fantastic location like Barcelona. Find out why we think this is the pe... Read More

essay cambridge first

FAQ Cambridge courses and Exam

  Is it better to do the paper-based or the computer-based exam? We recommend the computer-based exam to our stud... Read More

essay cambridge first

Cambridge English Exams or IEL

What exactly is the difference between an IELTS exam and a Cambridge English exam such as the First (FCE) or Advanced (C... Read More

Oxford House Language School C/Diputación 279, Bajos (entre Pau Claris y Paseo de Gracia). 08007 - Barcelona (Eixample) Tel: 93 174 00 62 | Fax: 93 488 14 05 [email protected]

Oxford TEFL Barcelona Oxford House Prague Oxford TEFL Jobs

Legal Notice – Cookie Policy Ethical channel

  • Remember Me

Privacy Overview

essay cambridge first

ESL Teacher 365

B2 First (FCE) Essay Writing Guide

The Cambridge B2 First (FCE) essay is easier to write than you think! Follow these steps to write the perfect essay.

Post Contents

What is the Cambridge B2 First Essay?

  • Part 1 of the writing test – there are 2 parts total
  • 140-190 word limit
  • You have about 40 minutes to plan and write your essay
  • You must answer a question using two notes and your own idea
  • The topic requires general knowledge only
  • The essay is always formal because it is written “for your teacher”

Step One: Look at the Task (1 minute)

To begin, all B2 First essays have a similar format . This is great because you know exactly how to write the essay before seeing the question.

Read the essay question carefully and HIGHLIGHT any keywords you need to write about.

Tip: If you don’t understand the question or notes, DON’T PANIC. Try your best to write the essay. You will still get points for grammar, vocabulary, and structure.

B2 First essay writing instructions

Sample exam test from Cambridge English .

Step Two: Write a plan (5 minutes)

A lot of my students dislike writing a plan. However, a plan helps you organize your thoughts and helps you write a better B2 First essay. Your essay needs 5 paragraphs . We will use the sample task from above as an example:

Paragraph structure for an essay

Introduction.

  • Rivers and seas
  • Your own idea

Next, to create a plan, write a few words for each paragraph . DO NOT write whole sentences. This takes too much time. Try to focus on keywords and short phrases .

Tip: “Your own idea” DOES NOT mean your opinion. You need to think of another topic related to the question to talk about. Some ideas for this task could be: recycling, agriculture, industry, etc.

Additionally, you can prepare a list of linking words and related vocabulary . Getting these words written down before you start helps you remember to use them.

Look at the example plan below. You can draw something similar on a blank piece of paper.

B2 First essay plan

Tip: Time yourself – see how long it takes for you to write a plan. Try to reduce that amount of time as much as possible.

Step 3: Write your essay (32 minutes)

On the official test, you must write with a pen . No erasable pens or pencils are allowed. I suggest writing your plan and essay with a pen every time you practice .

Let’s take a look at each paragraph of the essay.

The introduction to your essay should be 2-3 sentences long . It introduces the essay topic in a general way .

Tip: DO NOT include your opinion in the introduction. Your opinion goes in the conclusion.

If you are unsure how to write an introduction, try this structure and look at the example :

Structure of the introduction  

  • 1 sentence about the topic in general
  • 1-2 sentences about the topic more specifically, including a question if you like.

Example Introduction

On every continent, the amount of trash and waste is increasing each year. Rubbish causes damage to ecosystems all over the world. Is there a way for countries to reduce their carbon footprint and save our planet?

Body of the essay

The body of the essay has three paragraphs . These paragraphs talk about one idea with supporting examples .

For each paragraph, you need to write a topic sentence. A topic sentence is the main idea of the paragraph . DO NOT copy the notes. Instead, try to rewrite the idea in your own words. This is called “paraphrasing.” 

Your paragraphs should be 3-4 sentences .

Tip: Start each paragraph with a linking word .

Structure of a body paragraph

  • Linking word and topic sentence
  • Supporting sentences

Example body paragraph

Firstly, countries can decrease pollution and environmental stress by offering more public transportation. Cars and other vehicles which require petrol produce toxic fumes. If more electric buses and trams were available, fewer people would need to drive their cars.

Follow the same structure for each body paragraph.

Tip: Remember that “your own idea” is NOT your opinion . Write about an additional topic related to the question that you wrote down on your plan.

Finally, you get to say your opinion! In the conclusion, you need to summarize the topic and give your opinion on the question. A conclusion should be 1-2 sentences long.

Structure of the conclusion

  • Transition word and a sentence summarizing the topic
  • A sentence that gives your opinion

Example conclusion

To sum up, countries around the world must make changes in order to protect the environment. In my opinion, offering more public transport, reducing overfishing, and creating recycling programs are necessary for a cleaner planet.

Step Four: Review your writing (2 minutes)

This is another important step that students often miss. Take two minutes after writing your essay to check for spelling and grammatical errors.

Since you wrote in pen, simply cross out the incorrect word or words LIKE THIS and rewrite them.

How can I get a higher mark on the FCE essay?

Now that you know how to write an essay for the Cambridge B2 First exam, let’s look at how to get the best mark possible .

Increase your mark on your B2 First essay

  • Include 5-8 linking words – these words introduce paragraphs and connect ideas
  • Use a variety of grammatical structures – you should have both simple and complex forms. Try to use perfect and future forms, conditionals, comparatives, relative clauses and passive
  • Use formal vocabulary – do not use slang or simple words like “good, big, small, bad.” Also, do not use contractions. Write “cannot” instead of “can’t”
  • Make the essay interesting to read – the examiners read hundreds of essays so make yours easy to read and engaging
  • Use the correct amount of words (140-190) – it’s ok to be a few words over the limit, but not too many

Final Advice

The best way to improve your writing skills … is to write! Try to write a few essays each week and ask your teacher for feedback . I have had students who entered my class with very poor writing skills and with practice, they were able to pass the exam after only 10 weeks!

I help students prepare for the FCE exam with private lessons via Zoom. Email me at [email protected] or check out my private lessons page to learn more.

If you want more practice for the B2 First , try these Speaking exam tips , free writing checklist , and Reading part 1 practice.

ESL Teacher 365 Online Courses & Memberships

Teach online in 10 days mini-course.

A step-by-step 10 lesson mini-course that will teach you how to become an online teacher so that you can life a life of freedom & flexibility - with unlimited income potential!

TEFL Teacher Roadmap Teach Course

A proven step-by-step formula that will teach you how to move abroad with confidence & clarity. A self-study online course for anyone asking "NOW WHAT?!" after completiting their TEFL certificate.

Teach Abroad Club Membership

Ready to start your teach abroad adventure? Teach Abroad Club is the ONLY monthly membership & community that supports you through the teach abroad process - every step of the way. OPEN for enrollment until March 27.

Follow ESL Teacher 365

More posts from the blog.

8 Things You Should Look for in an International Teaching Contract

8 Things You Should Look for in an International Teaching Contract

Jan 23, 2024

What should you look for when it comes to international teaching contracts? Find out in this guest post by Christopher Jacklin.

Effective Feedback in the ESL Classroom: Key Strategies for Success

Effective Feedback in the ESL Classroom: Key Strategies for Success

Oct 12, 2023

Strategies for Feedback in the ESL Classroom – a guest post by RVF International.

Teach Abroad in China 2024

Teach Abroad in China 2024

Oct 6, 2023

How to teach English abroad in China – a complete guide to visas, types of schools, salaries and benefits of teaching in China.

Thanks for visiting ESL Teacher 365!

Thanks for visiting ESL Teacher 365!

Certified Teacher & Founder of ESL Teacher 365

I am passionate about helping people teach abroad & online so they can live a life of adventure !

I’ve taught in 6 different countries and love sharing my teach abroad (and online) tips and tricks.

The world is yours to teach and explore!

– Jamie

[email protected]  

Disclaimer: ESL Teacher 365 participates in Amazon Associates and other afilliate programs. This means I may earn a small commission if you use one of my links, at no extra cost to you. This helps me continue to provide helpful resources for teachers. Thank you!

Kse Academy Logo

How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

Luis @ kse academy.

  • noviembre 24, 2019

As you probably know already, Cambridge English exams usually have some or all of the following parts: Reading, Writing, Use of English and Listening. In this post I am going to talk about the FCE Writing B2 part and, more specifically, about how to write an essay for FCE Writing . We will see a good example of an essay for FCE and you can check out a full FCE Writing Guide where you can find more examples of emails , letters and other types of writings.

Essay Sample Answer

Este artículo también está disponible en castellano.

The Ultimate B2 First Writing Guide: 15 B2 Writing Sample Tasks and 300+ Useful Expressions (Guías de Writing para Exámenes de Cambridge)

What are the parts of the FCE Writing?

The First (FCE) Writing has only two parts. For each part, you must write a composition which will depend on the instructions you receive for each task. For the  first part , you will always be asked to  write an essay , as it is the only option provided. However, in the  second part , they allow you to choose one out of 3 options. These include  different types of writing , which are : letters/emails ,  articles ,  reviews and  reports . Each piece of writing must have between 140 and 190 words , approximately.

Since they are different types of writing , the language and structures to use will also differ. But that’s what I’m here for, to explain to you exactly how to write each part. And today, I’m starting with  how to write an essay .

How to Write an Essay for FCE Writing

An  essay is an opinion writing with which we analyse a topic , a situation or an issue from different points of view , providing different arguments and expressing our opinion about it. For this reason, an  essay must have the following features:

  • Purpose: What we usually do with an essay is to analyse and assess a topic, situation or issue which, in some way, is interesting or controversial. It is normally set as a writing task after a class debate. In the exam, you have to imagine the debate, obviously.
  • Tone and style: Given that you’re writing about a  serious or controversial issue , an essay is written in a formal style, so we must stick to an objective tone and style . Our language must be formal, thus avoiding words that are simply too common or generic (E.g.:  things, stuff, get,   etc.) and contractions (E.g.:  can’t, don’t, won’t,  etc.).
  • Structure: Like every piece of writing,  an essay must present a defined structure . For starters, we can choose either to give it a title or not. Personally, I would say that it is more appropriate to have an essay with title . Then, the body must be divided into introduction, idea 1, idea 2, idea 3 and conclusion. This means that, in general,  essays must have 5 paragraphs ,   although it is not entirely necessary.
  • Opinion:  There are countless ways of expressing your opinion in an essay, so you must choose the one that suits you best. However,  it is advisable to remain impartial throughout your writing and give your opinion only in the last paragraph , as a conclusion. But, as I say, it is optional. The most important thing is that you justify everything you say in your essay.
  • Coherence: Coherence is essential in every type of writing, but especially in an essay. As it tends to be an argumentative text, you must avoid writing incoherent paragraphs that have nothing to do with one another. Your ideas must  follow a logical order and be well connected with appropriate linkers .

FCE Writing Essay Example

Now that we are familiar with the  characteristics of an essay for First (FCE) Writing , let’s take a look at an  example of an essay at B2 level , both at the task and at a sample answer.

Instructions of an Essay

In the following image you can see the instructions of an essay which involves a typical topic, that of the environment:

How to Write an Essay for FCE sample task / cómo escribir un essay para Fce ejemplo actividad

In these instructions, we must pay attention to the following:

  • The  first paragraph introduces the topic: … different ways in which you can protect the environment.
  • The  second sentence is usually the same in every task:  Write an essay using  all the notes…
  • In the box , you are given the main topic as a question and they give you something to talk about:  recycle, using bicycles and walking, your own idea . As you can see, you have to come up with the third idea, something connected to the topic which is not provided in the exam task.

Given the model task above, each paragraph will correspond to a different idea, apart from the introduction and conclusion. Again, it is only natural to have 5 paragraphs. So, the best way to know how to write an essay for FCE Writing is to take a look at an  example of an actual essay for FCE Writing :

How to Write an Essay for FCE sample answer / cómo escribir un essay para Fce ejemplo respuesta

At first sight, the essay has  a title and 5 paragraphs (introduction + idea 1 + idea 2 + idea 3 + conclusion). And if we stop to read the essay more carefully, we’ll notice the following things:

  • The paragraphs are visual and well defined , which is very important.
  • The title summarises the topic  of the essay. Another option is to use the question ( What can people do to help protect the environment? ) as title. However, it usually tends to be too long, so I prefer to summarise it into a shorter heading.
  • Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea).
  • Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1.
  • Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2.
  • Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3.
  • Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.
  • It uses connectors to define the development of the essay:  firstly, second, finally, etc.
  • It doesn’t use many contractions or pet words.
  • One of the things that
  • In the last few decades,
  • For this reason,
  • First, / Second, / Third,
  • By doing so,
  • For example,
  • In conclusion,

This is a good example of an essay for FCE Writing . By the way, you must bear in mind that it has been written to simulate a strong B2 level, without reaching C1.

FAQ: Do I get penalised for writing over 190 words?

This is the most typical question in this part of the exam and the answer is « yes and no «. Let me explain myself. Cambridge English examiners don’t count the number of words and penalise you based upon that fact alone. There’s a rumour going around among teachers and pupils that says that for every 10 words over 190, they take «this many» points off, but it is not true. However, think about this: if you’ve written 50 or 100 words more than asked, you are probably including irrelevant information to the task , right? Now that’s a reason for losing points. In the same way that if you  write under 140 words you are probably missing essential information , don’t you think?

For this reason, I always recommend writing up to 10 or 20 words over the limit. In this way, you won’t lose any points for including irrelevant information.

FCE Writing Guide with examples (pdf)

Although I intend to write more posts on how to do each piece of writing for FCE, if you don’t want to wait any more, simply download the official KSE Academy FCE Writing Guide . In this guide you will learn:

  • How to write an essay  and 3 examples.
  • How to write an article  and 3 examples.
  • How to write a review  and 3 examples.
  • How to write a report  and 3 examples.
  • How to write an email or letter  and 3 examples.
  • Over 300 useful expressions for every FCE Writing .

Would you like to see a sample of this guide? Here it is!

Did you find this useful?  Why not share it with other teachers and students of English? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, y YouTube. 🙂

Luis @ KSE Academy

  • Clases privadas
  • Prueba de nivel
  • Condiciones
  • Política de privacidad

Cambridge English

  • A2 Key (KET)
  • B1 Preliminary (PET)
  • B2 First (FCE)
  • C1 Advanced (CAE)
  • C2 Proficiency (CPE)
  • Linguaskill

Blog de inglés

  • Gramática inglesa
  • Phrasal Verbs
  • Diferencias
  • Enviar mensaje
  • 958 964 684
  • Calle Arabial 4, 18004 Granada
  • Lista de espera

Comienza a escribir y presiona Intro para buscar

  • B1 Preliminary (PET)
  • B2 First (FCE)
  • C1 Advanced (CAE)
  • C2 Proficient (CPE)

Not a member yet?

  • Part 1 0 / 30
  • Part 5 0 / 25
  • Part 6 0 / 25
  • Part 7 0 / 20
  • Part 2 0 / 30
  • Part 3 0 / 30
  • Part 4 0 / 20
  • Part 1 NEW 0 / 25
  • Part 2 NEW 0 / 25
  • Part 3 NEW 0 / 25
  • Part 4 NEW 0 / 25
  • Part 1 0 / 25
  • Part 2 0 / 25
  • Part 1 0 / 10
  • Part 2 0 / 10
  • Part 3 0 / 10
  • Part 4 0 / 10

Get unlimited access from as little as 2.60 € / per month. *One-time payment, no subscription.

Your teacher has asked you to write an essay on the dangers of social media, and how people can protect themselves.

Your teacher has asked you to write an essay on the importance of learning foreign languages.

  • New account

Login into your account...

Not a memeber yet? Create an account.

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login

Breakout English

Breakout English Logo (1)

First (FCE)

Breakout English has a number of First (FCE) materials for you to use in class or at home to prepare for the Cambridge B2 exam. The Cambridge First exam is a big step up from B1 level exams. At B2, Cambridge introduces the Use of English section while also increasing the challenge of several other task types in the Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking papers.

Fun writing activity: The consequences game

Fun writing activity: The consequences game

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Relative Clauses

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Relative Clauses

Uses of punctuation marks – Writing well-structured sentences

Uses of punctuation marks – Writing well-structured sentences

250 First (FCE) Key Word Transformations B2

250 First (FCE) Key Word Transformations B2

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Comparatives and Superlatives Exercises

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Comparatives and Superlatives Exercises

First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 Examples

First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 Examples

Dependent prepositions exercises – Use of English part 2

Dependent prepositions exercises – Use of English part 2

Word Formation Exercises – Conversation Questions

Word Formation Exercises – Conversation Questions

How to write a report

How to write a report

First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 Useful Phrases

First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 Useful Phrases

How to do First (FCE) Reading Part 6 – Gapped text

How to do First (FCE) Reading Part 6 – Gapped text

Christmas Find Someone Who – Open cloze

Christmas Find Someone Who – Open cloze

B2 First (FCE) Writing Part 1 – Improve an Essay

B2 First (FCE) Writing Part 1 – Improve an Essay

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Phrasal Verbs

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Phrasal Verbs

Informal vs formal letters and emails

Informal vs formal letters and emails

How to write a film review

How to write a film review

Just a Minute Topics

Just a Minute Topics

Gerunds and Infinitives List

Gerunds and Infinitives List

Christmas Speaking Activities

Christmas Speaking Activities

The best First Certificate books

The best First Certificate books

IELTS Academic Writing Part 1 – Describing change and surveys

IELTS Academic Writing Part 1 – Describing change and surveys

First (FCE) Essay Questions

First (FCE) Essay Questions

First (FCE) Speaking Part 2 Pictures

First (FCE) Speaking Part 2 Pictures

First (FCE) Song – Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

First (FCE) Song – Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

Christmas Songs Listening

Christmas Songs Listening

The 120 most useful phrasal verbs list

The 120 most useful phrasal verbs list

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Conditionals

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Conditionals

Linking words – How to improve your writing

Linking words – How to improve your writing

Writing an Article – Rhetorical Questions

Writing an Article – Rhetorical Questions

First day get to know you questions

First day get to know you questions

First (FCE) Speaking – Sample Tests

First (FCE) Speaking – Sample Tests

First (FCE) Song – Shallow – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper

First (FCE) Song – Shallow – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper

How to do First (FCE) Use of English Part 2 “Open Cloze”

How to do First (FCE) Use of English Part 2 “Open Cloze”

Word Formation Games

Word Formation Games

How to teach Cambridge exam classes

How to teach Cambridge exam classes

Wishes and Regrets

Wishes and Regrets

How to do First (FCE) Speaking Part 2 – Useful Phrases

How to do First (FCE) Speaking Part 2 – Useful Phrases

Expressing Preferences – Would you rather…

Expressing Preferences – Would you rather…

Agree / Disagree Language – The Environment

Agree / Disagree Language – The Environment

Cambridge Speaking Part 1 – Chat Cards

Cambridge Speaking Part 1 – Chat Cards

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Reporting Verbs Exercise

First (FCE) B2 Key Word Transformations – Reporting Verbs Exercise

First day of exam – Get to know the exam (Cambridge)

First day of exam class – Get to know the exam (Cambridge)

First (FCE) Word Formation Board Game

First (FCE) Word Formation Board Game

No post found

essay cambridge first

How to prepare for First (FCE)

In order to demonstrate a B2 level, Cambridge First (FCE) challenges candidates to produce complex language and deal with complex topics. It will be necessary to have a solid grasp of less frequent vocabulary, such as phrasal verbs, as well as a strong knowledge of the way language is linked together to form a variety of writing texts and spoken discourse.

By the time someone has passed the Cambridge B2 exam, you can be sure that they are able to communicate effectively in any everyday situation and quite possibly be able to handle more difficult or abstract topics as well. It’s a strong level, which anyone who achieves it should be considered to have better than average English.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the exam:

  • Start reading and listening to more English – You should be able to handle a lot of texts and listenings in English and practice makes perfect. It will build your vocabulary and help your pronunciation too. Try something like TED-Ed videos, which are short and thought-provoking.
  • Study vocabulary – You will need to know phrasal verbs and linking words as well as dealing with topics like the environment and education. Studying vocabulary for these topics will help in all parts of the exam.
  • Learn complex grammar – To show your level of English at B2 level, you want to use grammar like the passive voice, conditionals and reporting verbs well. These grammar areas will help to prove you are worthy of the level.
  • Write – Writing is an important part of the exam and you will need to feel comfortable writing essays, letters/emails, articles, reviews and reports. This also means understanding the difference between formal and informal writing.
  • Take a class – The First Certificate exam isn’t easy. Having a teacher and peers supporting your progress and providing motivation makes a huge difference.
  • Do practice exams – You can get books of practice exams which will help you feel familiar with the format and improve your test-taking skills.

Enjoy the First (FCE) materials!

More Cambridge materials

breakout english first fce materials

Teacher Phill

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How your writing is marked

Image of a marked writing task

How your writing is marked

One of the big mysteries about the FCE exam is how the writing exam is marked. Many of my students ask me about this and, to be honest, it is pretty complex. However, let me break it down for you and let’s go from simple to complex so at the end of the article you will feel more confident and understand what you need to do in order to get great marks in the writing paper.

There are four marking scales in the writing exam. Each of these scales looks at specific aspects of your writing. Generally speaking the four parts are:

  • Content – answering the task, supporting your ideas
  • Communicative achievement – register, tone, clear ideas, conventions of the specific task type
  • Organisation – structure of the text, logical order, connected ideas
  • Language – grammar and vocabulary

Each scale is scored out of 5 so you can get a maximum of 20 marks where 3/5 basically means that you have passed this part of your writing.

The four marking scales

Now, of course, it is time to have a look at the four different marking scales in a little bit more detail. I’m going to keep it as simple as possible with examples and explanations so you know what to do.

The very first thing an examiner is going to look at is the Content scale. Here they check if you actually answered the task, if you answered it completely and if the reader of the text is fully informed.

So, what exactly does that mean? To find out let’s have a look at an example task from an FCE practice exam.

Example of an FCE writing task

Looking at the example above there are four different things that we need to include in our writing if we want to score high marks on the Content marking scale.

First of all, there is a question for you to answer and, secondly, there are three topic points that you have to include in this essay. (Yes, your own idea means that you have to write something. Don’t forget this one.) It is also very important that you support your ideas with reasons and examples, which is one thing that separates the average candidates from the great ones. If you want to score high marks, you have to take your writing to a higher level.

To sum this up, always answer all the things that are asked in the task, but don’t stop there. Use reasons and examples to support your ideas to get higher marks and not ‘just pass’.

2. Communicative Achievement

The next marking scale is an interesting one because, in my opinion, it is easy to get good marks here, but at the same time, make mistakes just as easily.

To get high marks in Communicative Achievement you firstly need to show that you understand who is going to read your text. You might think that, of course, it is the examiner, but I’m talking about more of an imaginary reader. Let’s look at two more examples. Who is going to read your text? You got it, your English teacher is the one.

Example of a review task in Cambridge B2 First

Now the question is what that means for your writing task? Ask yourself what kind of language and tone you would use if you wrote something for your English college magazine or the manager of a leisure centre. Would it be formal or informal? Would you use a lot of slang words and colloquial expressions?

In our first example, we would try to keep it light and rather informal because students are going to be the ones reading it. In the report, on the other hand, we would choose more formal language and stay a little bit more serious than, let’s say, in a review of your favourite film. Make sure that this becomes clear in your choice of grammar and vocabulary as well as some other stylistic features like contractions (I’m vs I am) etc.

Another important point for you to consider is what a report looks like compared to a review? Do you need a title? Subheadings? An introduction and/or conclusion? A greeting and salutation? Think about the specific features of each type of writing and make sure that the text you write looks that way.

Lastly, the Communicative Achievement scale also assesses your ability to clearly express your ideas and to hold the readers attention. You should ask yourself if you would enjoy reading your text and if your arguments or ideas are clearly communicated.

Let’s put this all together before we move on to the next point. Communicative Achievement looks at your ability to use an appropriate style and tone, the correct features for each specific task like title, subheadings, etc. as well as how well you express your ideas and hold the readers attention. It is a lot of stuff, but if you prepare and study these things a little bit, I see no reason why you wouldn’t rock it.

3. Organisation

Organisation, similar to Communicative Achievement, is an area where you can score marks very easily, but a lot of students don’t reach their full potential. We can look at two major problems that students face to explain where candidates lose (or don’t get more) marks.

To begin with, your writing tasks should always be organised in paragraphs. Making paragraphs is an easy task, but there is a little bit more to it than you might think at the beginning.

Looking back at our example from the beginning, how many paragraphs do you think we should use in the essay?

Example of an essay task in Cambridge B2 First

Tough question, I know. When we think about an essay, there should always be an introduction and a conclusion so two paragraphs are already locked in. The task above requires you to write about three topic points: transport, rivers and seas, and your own idea. That’s an additional three paragraphs and a total of five. Do this for every task before you start slamming words onto paper. It will save you a lot of headaches and self-hate.

I often see practice writing tasks that look well organised when I first read them. There are paragraphs clearly separated from each other and I feel a little rush of happiness…until I actually read it and realise that ideas are mixed thoughts are jumping around between different paragraphs and there is no logical order in what my students produce.

However, I don’t blame anyone for doing this because, especially at the beginning of your FCE journey, you simply don’t know what is expected of you.

So, paragraphs are great, but you have to put them in logical order (which depends on the task you’re working on) and have one main idea per paragraph. Don’t try to cram five different things in one. Make a plan before you start writing and avoid these unnecessary mistake.

Secondly, the examiner looks at your ability to connect your ideas using linking words and other methods. Once again, these words and methods can be similar for some task types but different for others.

Organisation checks your ability to bring a logical order to your writing. Use paragraphs for your main ideas and connect everything with linking words and other useful language. Make a plan and get organised before you start writing, save yourself some time and avoid getting stressed out.

4. Language

Language is probably the one marking scale that is quite straight forward. You are assessed on your use of grammar and vocabulary, which includes if you make a lot of errors as well as how wide your range of grammar and vocabulary is.

For example, if you are writing about travelling you should show a wide range of vocabulary specific to this topic. For a task about the environment the vocabulary changes. I guess that makes sense. The more pointed towards the task your words and expressions are, the better it is for your marks.

In the grammar department it is not so much about the task, but rather about you trying to use structures that are outside of your comfort zone or not. You don’t have to be perfect at this level of English so the FCE examiners recognise even attempts at more complex grammar.

So, the next time you practise writing for the exam challenge yourself to use at least three grammatical structures that you find difficult, such as conditionals, the passive voice or reporting verbs. Again, in the exam you won’t get punished for trying so why not try?

Writing is not as bad as it seems

After all this information you might feel a little overwhelmed wondering how you can meet all these requirements and get high marks. The good thing is that you really don’t need to worry too much. I know that you already do a lot of the points discussed in this post well. Your job is now to find the areas in which you can improve and start to work on them. All you need to do is trust yourself (and Teacher Phill).

I hope this article helps you understand better how the writing exam works and, more importantly, what happens after you finish the exam. As always, don’t wait until it’s too late. Tackle your problems now and you will improve. If you start today, I’m sure there won’t be a problem once you are in the examination room and your pen is going to fly over the paper.

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

Similar Posts

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 4

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 4

Reading & Use of English Part 4 The FCE exam has become very important in many countries in the world….

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 7

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 7

Reading & Use of English Part 7 If you are looking for the best information you can get about Reading…

The 25 most common mistakes in the FCE exam (and how you can avoid them)

The 25 most common mistakes in the FCE exam (and how you can avoid them)

Offence wins games, but defence wins championships The FCE exam is one of the most important language exams in the…

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 6

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Reading & Use of English Part 6

Reading & Use of English Part 6 Read all the most important information you can get online about Reading &…

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Speaking

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Speaking

Cambridge B2 First Speaking in a nutshell Speaking is one of the five exam papers in Cambridge B2 First, the…

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write a Review

Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write a Review

Get Your Free B2 First Writing Cheat Sheet Now! Just leave your name and email address below. Yes, I want…

the explanation regarding how to write and mark an essay has been most helpful. thanks

Thanks a lot for the piece of advice and encouragement in your article above. I’m still not very much confident about the range of linking words to express ideas better. Could you , please, recommend me a list of them or any other source of information about their usage?

I would simply do a Google search on linking expressions and I’m sure you will find tons of useful resources. 🙂

Thanks a lot!!! Very clear and extremely useful!

I’m happy you like the article. Thank you. 🙂

Comments are closed.

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Travel and Tourism Industry — The History of Moscow City

test_template

The History of Moscow City

  • Categories: Russia Travel and Tourism Industry

About this sample

close

Words: 614 |

Published: Feb 12, 2019

Words: 614 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Image of Dr. Oliver Johnson

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Geography & Travel

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

9 pages / 3964 words

4 pages / 2143 words

2 pages / 1026 words

2 pages / 1057 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Travel and Tourism Industry

Traveling is an enriching experience that allows individuals to explore new cultures, meet people from different backgrounds, and broaden their perspectives. In the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to embark on an amazing [...]

Paris, known as the City of Light, is one of the most iconic and culturally rich cities in the world. My recent visit to Paris was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to immerse myself in the history, art, and beauty of [...]

Travelling has always been an exhilarating experience for me, and my recent trip to Rome was no exception. The ancient city, with its rich history and breathtaking architecture, left a lasting impression on me. It was a journey [...]

Traveling by air has become increasingly popular in recent years, with millions of people taking to the skies for both domestic and international travel. One of the key components of air travel is the purchase of flight tickets, [...]

When planning a business trip all aspects and decisions rely heavily on the budget set by the company for the trip. Once Sandfords have confirmed the location careful consideration should be used to choose the travel method and [...]

4Sex Tourism in ThailandAs we enter a new millenium the post-colonial nations in the world are still searching for ways to compete in an increasingly globalized, consumption driven economic environment. Many developing countries [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

essay cambridge first

  • Skip to main content
  • Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Shots - Health News

  • Your Health
  • Treatments & Tests
  • Health Inc.
  • Public Health

First human transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney performed

Rob Stein, photographed for NPR, 22 January 2020, in Washington DC.

Surgeons perform the first transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney into a living human at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Michelle Rose/Massachusetts General Hospital hide caption

Surgeons perform the first transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney into a living human at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

For the first time, surgeons have transplanted a kidney from a genetically modified pig into a living person, doctors in Boston said Thursday.

Richard Slayman, 62, of Weymouth, Mass., who is suffering from end-stage kidney disease , received the organ Saturday in a four-hour procedure, Massachusetts General Hospital announced . He is recovering well and is expected to be discharged Saturday, the hospital said.

"I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive," Slayman said in a statement released by the hospital.

The procedure is the latest development in a fast-moving race to create genetically modified pigs to provide kidneys, livers, hearts and other organs to help alleviate the shortage of organs for people who need transplants.

How genetically modified pigs could end the shortage of organs for transplants

Shots - Health News

How genetically modified pigs could end the shortage of organs for transplants.

"Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure," said Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, the hospital's director for clinical transplant tolerance, in the hospital statement.

Animal organs could ease transplant shortage

Several biotech companies are racing to develop a supply of cloned pigs whose DNA has been genetically modified so they won't be rejected by the human body, spread pig viruses to people or cause other complications. NPR recently got exclusive access to a research farm breeding these animals for a company in this competition, Revivicor Inc. of Blacksburg, Va.

The kidney transplanted in Boston came from a pig created by eGenesis of Cambridge, Mass. The eGenesis pigs are bred with 69 genetic modifications to prepare organs for human transplantation. The changes protect against a virus known to infect pigs as well as delete pig genes and add human genes to make the organs compatible with people.

"We are grateful for the courageous contribution of the patient and to the advancement of transplantation science," said Mike Curtis, chief executive officer for eGenesis in the statement. "This represents a new frontier in medicine and demonstrates the potential of genome engineering to change the live of millions of patients."

The Government's Plan To Fix A Broken Organ Transplant System

1A

  • LISTEN & FOLLOW
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Amazon Music

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

The field is stirring excitement about harnessing cloning and gene-editing technologies to solve the persistent shortage of organs for human transplantation. More than 103,000 people are currently on the waiting list for organs. About 17 die every day because they can't get one.

End-stage renal disease is 3.8 times more common among Black people than white people in the U.S., according to federal statistics .

The transplant "represents a potential breakthrough in solving one of the more intractable problems in our field, that being unequal access for ethnic minority patients to the opportunity for kidney transplants due to the extreme donor organ shortage and other system-based barriers," said Dr. Winfred Williams, the kidney specialist treating Slayman, who is a Black man.

Reservations about using animal organs in people

But the research is also raising several concerns. One worry is about the possibility of spreading animal viruses to humans. Another is about slaughtering thousands of animals every year to harvest their organs.

"I think we need to be very, very careful," L. Syd M. Johnson , a bioethicist at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., told NPR. "I have a lot of concerns about a therapy that is very much unproven."

Some also question testing these organs on gravely ill patients.

"If the FDA wants to explore the use of pig kidneys in humans, it would be better to authorize a phase I clinical trial so we can begin to gather more systematic evidence about this," Michael Gusmano , a bioethicist at Lehigh University, wrote NPR in an email.

Surgeons have already transplanted kidneys and livers from genetically modified cloned pigs into baboons and a handful of brain dead people. Surgeons at the University of Maryland even tested hearts in two men who had run out of other options. They lived for several weeks after the procedures.

Slayman got a human kidney transplant after being on dialysis for seven years, according to the hospital. But his transplanted kidney showed signs of failure after about five years, forcing Slayman to resume dialysis last May. He's since been suffering serious complications.

The transplant of the pig kidney was made possible by the Food and Drug Administration as part of a " compassionate use " program aimed at helping desperate patients.

"When my transplanted kidney began failing in 2023, I again trusted my care team at MGH to meet my goals of not just improving my quality of life but extending it," Slayman said in the hospital's statement, adding the doctors explained the "pros and cons of this procedure."

  • xenotransplantation
  • massachusetts general
  • kidney disease
  • kidney transplant

Even in loss to Baylor, Vanderbilt women's basketball has tasted what March Madness can be

essay cambridge first

BLACKSBURG, Va. — When Jordyn Cambridge arrived at Vanderbilt in 2018, all the program knew was losing.

Vanderbilt women's basketball hadn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2014. Hadn't won a game in March Madness since the year before that. The team had become complacent with losing.

When Shea Ralph took over the program in 2021, she said, Cambridge was one of the few players who expressed a strong desire simply to win.

Three years later, the Commodores (22-10) got a tough lesson in what it takes to truly have a winning culture. No. 12 seed Vanderbilt ended its season with a thud of an 80-63 loss to No. 5 seed Baylor in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Cassell Coliseum on Friday.

"The feeling we've had today, that's motivation itself," Sacha Washington said. "But just winning our First Four game, that's everything for us. And we know we can be back here and we will."

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA tournament brackets, scores, schedules, teams and more.

A frequent refrain among the players and coaches was that nobody outside the locker room thought they would make it this far. Vanderbilt, picked to finish last in the SEC, put the league on notice by finishing sixth and getting into the tournament.

The Commodores beat Columbia in the First Four on Wednesday to advance to the main bracket, but they still need to get to where they can beat elite teams. Most of their games against teams at the top of the bracket this season ended in blowouts. They allowed Baylor to shoot 43% from 3-point range and turned the ball over 21 times. But for Ralph, having proof of concept can only help the team get better through the transfer portal. For the players who do return, they now have the experience of earning a tournament bid — and the pain of it coming to an end.

"That we're capable, that we can do it," Cambridge said when asked what she hoped her teammates would take away. "And I think this year, everything that we went through as a team showed that now we know what it takes. And obviously there are some things that we could have probably done better and clean some stuff up. But I mean, it was a first experience for all of us."

Cambridge played her final game of college basketball Friday. A sixth-year senior, she is out of eligibility after a career that included a litany of injuries, and she does not plan to pursue a pro career. She had 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals against Baylor.

It was Cambridge who led the charge to transform Vanderbilt. It was her hard-nosed, defense-first style that the rest of the team adopted as its image. She pushed her body to the limit, often unable to practice. But she never stopped believing that she could lead her team to the NCAA tournament, and in her final year, she did it.

"Nobody thought we'd be here," Cambridge said. "Only the people on our campus thought we'd be here. We knew we'd be here. I knew we'd be here. And I'm proud of how far we got. And I'm proud of the way that we continue to fight through adversity. And I'm proud of myself because . . . nobody except for the people in our program knows what I had to do just to be able to step on the court every time, and I wouldn't have had it any different way."

For Ralph and Vanderbilt, the next step will be figuring out how to build on the foundation Cambridge established, but doing it without her. Younger players like Washington, Iyana Moore and Khamil Pierre got their first taste of the dance, and Ralph already has secured the commitment of top recruit Mikayla Blakes .

After losing for so long, the Commodores finally know what it's like to win. And they know the pain of losing when it's not all they know.

For Vanderbilt, 2024 was a big step forward. Now it's time to take the next step.

SEC SUPPORT How Shea Ralph said SEC coaches are showing support for Vanderbilt at March Madness

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at  [email protected]  or on Twitter  @aria_gerson .

Weymouth man receives groundbreaking kidney transplant from a surprising donor at MGH

essay cambridge first

Massachusetts General Hospital completed the world’s first successful transplant of a genetically edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old Weymouth man living with end-stage kidney disease.

Surgeons from the  Mass General Transplant Center  conducted the four-hour surgery on Saturday, March 16.

The patient, Richard Slayman, is recovering and is expected to be discharged soon, according to the hospital.

"The procedure marks a major milestone in the quest to provide more readily available organs to patients," the hospital said in a news release.

The procedure was carried out under the leadership of doctors Leonardo V. Riella , medical director for kidney transplantation,  Tatsuo Kawai, director of the Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance and Nahel Elias, MD , the interim chief of transplant surgery and surgical director for kidney transplantation.

The pig kidney underwent 69 genomic edits prior to the transplant, the hospital said.

Mass General Brigham transplant milestones include the world’s first successful human organ transplant, a kidney, performed at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1954 and the nation’s first penile transplant, which was performed at Mass General Hospital in 2016.

“Mass General Brigham researchers and clinicians are constantly pushing the boundaries of science to transform medicine and solve significant health issues facing our patients in their daily lives,” said Dr. Anne Klibanski, the president and CEO of Mass General Brigham. “Nearly seven decades after the first successful kidney transplant, our clinicians have once again demonstrated our commitment to provide innovative treatments and help ease the burden of disease for our patients and others around the world.”

eGenesis collaborated with hospital on making pig kidney safe for humans

The hospital said the pig kidney was provided by eGenesis of Cambridge from a pig donor that was genetically edited to remove harmful pig genes and add certain human genes to improve its compatibility with humans.

Scientists inactivated porcine endogenous retroviruses in the pig donor to eliminate any risk of infection in humans. Mass General and eGenesis have conducted extensive collaborative research over the past five years, according to a news release. The findings were published  in the journal Nature  in 2023.

“We are grateful for the courageous contribution of the patient and to the advancement of transplantation science,” said eGenesis CEO Mike Curtis. "This represents a new frontier in medicine and demonstrates the potential of genome engineering to change the lives of millions of patients globally suffering from kidney failure.” 

More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for organ transplants, and 17 people die each day waiting for an organ, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing .

A kidney is the most common organ needed for transplant, and end-stage kidney disease rates are estimated to increase 29-68% in the U.S. by 2030, according to information published in the  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Weymouth patient 'a beacon of hope' for others needing transplants

“The real hero today is the patient, Mr. Slayman, as the success of this pioneering surgery, once deemed unimaginable, would not have been possible without his courage and willingness to embark on a journey into uncharted medical territory," said  Dr. Joren C. Madsen, director of the hospital's Transplant Center. "As the global medical community celebrates this monumental achievement, Mr. Slayman becomes a beacon of hope for countless individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease and opens a new frontier in organ transplantation."

Positive outcomes: From old friend to kidney donor: Former Quincy city councilor gets 'a new life'

Slayman has been a Transplant Center patient for 11 years.

He has been living with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for many years and had received a kidney transplant from a dead human donor in December 2018, which was performed at the hospital after being on dialysis for the previous seven years.

The transplanted kidney showed signs of failure around five years later, requiring Slayman to resume dialysis in May 2023, according to the hospital. Since resuming dialysis, he had dialysis vascular access complications requiring visits to the hospital every two weeks for de-clotting and surgical revisions, which impacted his quality of life. The complications are a common problem among dialysis patients, the hospital said.

"I have the highest level of trust in the doctors, nurses and clinical staff who have cared for me." he said in a statement. "When my transplanted kidney began failing in 2023, I again trusted my care team at MGH to meet my goals of not just improving my quality of life but extending it."

He said his nephrologist, Dr. Winfred Williams , and the Transplant Center team suggested the pig kidney transplant and laid out the pros and cons of this procedure.

"I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive," Slayman said.

The FDA's role in allowing the surgery to proceed

The procedure was performed under a single "compassionate use" FDA Expanded Access Protocol , referred to as which is granted to a single patient or group of patients with serious, life-threatening illnesses or conditions to gain access to experimental treatments or trials when no comparable treatment options or therapies exist, the hospital said in its release.

Slayman also received infusion of novel immunosuppressant drugs.

Neighbor in need: Have a kidney to spare? Plymouth man desperately needs one

Riella led the group of Mass General Transplant Center physicians in applying for FDA approval. which was reviewed by the FDA before its approval in late February.

“Seventy years after the first kidney transplant and six decades following the advent of immunosuppressive medications, we stand on the brink of a monumental breakthrough in transplantation," Riella said.

  • Delegate Totals
  • Latest Results
  • State Results
  • Voter Guide
  • Primary Calendar

Advertisement - scroll for more content

2024 Ohio Primary Election Results

Races to watch, president republican primary, president democratic primary, u.s. senate republican primary.

Advertisement

U.S. President

U.s. senate , ohio, class i, republican, class i, democratic, u.s. house , ohio, district 1, democratic, district 1, republican, state senate , ohio, district 2, republican, district 4, democratic, state house , ohio, district 2, democratic, supreme court term commencing jan. 1, supreme court term ending dec. 31, democratic appeals court district 1-feb. 11, appeals court district 1-feb. 9, supreme court term commencing jan. 2, election news.

US Supreme Court to consider Wyoming-born buffer zone challenge

US Supreme Court to consider Wyoming-born buffer zone challenge

George Santos switches from GOP to independent after chaotic House day

George Santos switches from GOP to independent after chaotic House day

Marjorie Taylor Greene goes full MAGA, moves to oust Speaker Johnson

Marjorie Taylor Greene goes full MAGA, moves to oust Speaker Johnson

Stay up to date with the know your vote newsletter wherever you go..

Choose how you would like to receive the latest news from the campaign trail.

Main navigation

Write & improve.

write & improve with cambridge

Improve your English writing online

Want to improve your writing skills? Our free online tool helps you to practise your writing and get valuable feedback instantly. Write & Improve is simple to use: just choose a task, write or upload a written response and use the feedback to quickly improve.

It shows you how to improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Join over 2 million learners of English who have used Write & Improve to improve their writing.

Start practising now

Improve your writing now – it's free!

  • There is no limit on how many times you can use the tool – keep practising as much as you need to and build your confidence.
  • Encourages you to think about what to improve.
  • Keep improving and see your progress.
When I was preparing for my B2 First exam I practised really hard and I succeeded, so I'm in love with this tool that I still use almost every day. Aaron from Ecuador

Aaron from Ecuador

With Write & Improve my grades get better and I am inspired to do more. It is really graphical and easy to use, highlighting your mistakes in a very visual way. Victoria from Uruguay

essay cambridge first

Write & Improve helps when practising writing particular types of documents. I've been able to see my progress and how my learning has changed. Jorge from Switzerland

Jorge from Switzerland

essay cambridge first

By the BOOK

Morgan Parker Says ‘Poetry Is Under Everything’ She Writes

Crafting the arguments in “You Get What You Pay For,” her first essay collection, “felt like pulling apart a long piece of taffy,” says the author of “Magical Negro.”

Credit... Rebecca Clarke

Supported by

  • Share full article

What books are on your night stand?

The craft anthology “How We Do It,” edited by the great Jericho Brown, and Shayla Lawson’s astounding “How to Live Free in a Dangerous World.”

Describe your ideal reading experience (when, where, what, how).

Probably on the smoking patio of a wine bar at happy hour on a sunny day, with a pencil in my hand and Dorothy Ashby or Ambrose Akinmusire playing through noise-canceling headphones. Or just a quiet morning on my couch with coffee, so engrossed I forget to flip the record.

What’s the last book you read that made you laugh?

“Erasure,” by Percival Everett . I picked up a used copy at Shakespeare & Company recently — after seeing Cord Jefferson’s brilliant adaptation , “American Fiction” — and even on a reread, it made me laugh out loud from the first page.

The last book that made you cry?

Weird or obnoxious if I say my own? Before that, it was probably Y.A.

Do you count any books as guilty pleasures?

That category’s filled to the brim and beyond by reality TV.

How do you organize your books?

Loosely or not at all. This is much to the horror of my Virgo pals, and while I used to take pride in navigating my shelves on familiarity alone, it’s something I’ve vowed to work on. Still, I doubt I’ll ever be an alphabetical type, and clearly I find genre segregation constricting. I do group things thematically, or even interpersonally — music biographies, Black Panthers, Harlem Renaissance; Jessica Hopper is next to John Giorno, and Chase Berggrun’s “R E D” is next to “Dracula”; Julie Buntin’s “Marlena” is beside her husband Gabe Habash’s “Stephen Florida”; Alison C. Rollins is next to her partner Nate Marshall is next to his bestie José Olivarez. At some point Hilton Als’s “White Girls” ended up next to “Male Fantasies,” and I don’t think I’ll ever separate them.

Which genres do you avoid?

There’s an essay in “You Get What You Pay For” where I mention reading a self-help book (as recommended by my now-former psychiatrist). I’d never read one before and have not since.

How does your poetry relate to your essay writing?

The truth is that poetry is under everything. It’s the lyric and sensory backbone. It’s what drives the sound, pace and imagery. (Everyone knows the best prose writers write and read poetry.) But while a poem strives for precision of language, the essay strives for precision of thought, even argument. In a poem, you can build (or approximate) an argument by plopping two images next to each other. It persuades by pointing. Writing these essays felt like pulling apart a long piece of taffy — I found myself reiterating a lot of what I’ve already expressed in poems, so it almost became a project of stretching out each poetic line, breaking down each concept to its root. The process is about asking, pondering, searching — and letting language take part in the answering.

You have a knack for terrific book titles. How did you name your new collection?

Thank you! I love a good title, but I also acknowledge the high bar I have set for myself. With this one, I struggled a bit, I think because it took me a while to understand the book myself, let alone how to introduce it to the world. The essays encompass a lot of seemingly disparate themes and even tonal registers, so framing the overall collection was daunting. I’d been tossing around a couple of options, including “Cheaper Than Therapy,” which appears as an essay title, when Jay-Z made the choice for me. I was in Italy at a residency, grieving the recent loss of my aunt and watching the “Big Pimpin’” video over and over as I worked on an essay about it for the book. I’d left my heavily tabbed copy of “Decoded” at home in Los Angeles, but was scrolling a PDF for details about the video shoot when I came across the line: “If the price is life, then you better get what you paid for.”

You describe yourself as foolish for believing “words could be the pathway to empathy and writing an active resistance against hate.” Might publishing this book change your mind?

Honestly? It’s my only hope.

What’s the last book you recommended to a member of your family?

“Heavy,” by Kiese Laymon, to my mom; Blair LM Kelley’s “ Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class,” to my dad; and “A Is for Activist,” to my 8-month-old cousin.

What do you plan to read next?

Phillip B. Williams’s “Ours” was just published, and I’ve been excited about it for literally years. Vinson Cunningham’s “Great Expectations” came out the same day as my book, so I plan to make that my tour read.

You’re organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?

June Jordan, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin — but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t get just as much fun and fulfillment from a night with Angel Nafis, Danez Smith and Saeed Jones.

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

You never know what’s going to go wrong in these graphic novels, where Circus tigers, giant spiders, shifting borders and motherhood all threaten to end life as we know it .

When the author Tommy Orange received an impassioned email from a teacher in the Bronx, he dropped everything to visit the students  who inspired it.

A few years ago, Harvard acquired the archive of Candida Royalle, a porn star turned pioneering director. Now, the collection has inspired a new book , challenging the conventional history of the sexual revolution.

Gabriel García Márquez wanted his final novel to be destroyed. Its publication this month  may stir questions about posthumous releases.

Do you want to be a better reader?   Here’s some helpful advice to show you how to get the most out of your literary endeavor .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

Advertisement

IMAGES

  1. (DOC) How to teach Cambridge First Certificate Writing Part One essays

    essay cambridge first

  2. B2 FIRST

    essay cambridge first

  3. Top 10 tips to write a Cambridge essay

    essay cambridge first

  4. Example essay Example article FCE Writing CAE Writing Ejemplos de

    essay cambridge first

  5. Everything That You Need To Know About The FCE Writing Exam

    essay cambridge first

  6. Cambridge first certificate essay

    essay cambridge first

VIDEO

  1. IELTS writing Vocabulary

  2. Essay writing|| My first vote|| English essay writing|| competitive essay #english#essay#writing

  3. ENG 101 ESSAY 1 FA23

  4. Writing Summary for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam

  5. Writing Workshop: Planning your essay

  6. IELTS

COMMENTS

  1. PDF B2 First for Schools Writing Part 1 (An opinion essay) Summary

    • Learn useful techniques for planning your own essay. • Evaluate two examples of a Writing Part 1 essay. • Practise and evaluate your own answer to a Writing Part 1 task. Review: Writing Part 1 . The B2 First for Schools Writing paper has two parts. Part 1 has only one task, which you . must. answer. You will: be given the essay title.

  2. Writing an effective essay: Cambridge B2 First

    The first part is the essay; the second part is an article, email, letter, report, or review. You will be given the essay title and two ideas or prompts. It's essential that you include both of these ideas in your essay, as well as another relevant idea that you have to come up with yourself. You have to write 140-190 words in each part and ...

  3. How to write an essay?

    B2 First (FCE) Essay: FAQ B2 First (FCE) Essay: Useful Phrases & Expressions. The essay is a compulsory task to be completed in Part 1 of the writing section in the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) that is written to convince someone of something or to simply inform the reader about a particular topic. There is no single, method of successful writing ...

  4. Essay

    FCE Essays - Sample/model answers and examiner comments. An essay is always written for the teacher. It should answer the question given by addressing both content points and providinga new content point of the writer's own. The essay should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion,and should be written in an ...

  5. Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write an Essay

    In fact, essay writing might be the easiest type of writing in Cambridge B2 First because there is a plan that you can follow every single time you sit down with pen and paper to practise as well as in the exam itself. So, let's look at essays, how they are organised and what exactly you have to be careful with in order to pass easily and get ...

  6. B2 First preparation

    The B2 First handbook gives an overview of the exam and its place within Cambridge English examinations. This is followed by a focus on each paper and includes content, advice on preparation, and example papers. B2 First handbook for teachers. B2 First: Handbook for Teachers Listening Audio Files (ZIP, 72MB)

  7. PDF B2 First Writing Part 1

    B2 First Writing Part 1 . Teacher's notes . Aims of the lesson . to familiarise students with Part 1 of the Writing paper ... structuring an essay, but one way that works well for this type of question is: Paragraph 1 introduction Paragraph 2 point one - problem + solution

  8. First (FCE) Essay Questions

    The essay task at Cambridge B2 First (FCE) level might be one of the first times learners encounter a truly formal writing task. At the previous level, B1 Preliminary (PET), all the writing tasks are relatively casual and informal. This is where the First Certificate writing forces candidates to prove they really know how to organise and ...

  9. B2 First (FCE) Writing Part 1

    The Cambridge B2 essay might be the first time you need to write an essay for an exam, but it won't be the last. This task continues to be obligatory at C1 and C2 levels. If you are doing a Trinity or IELTS exam, you'll also need to write an essay. Basically, there is no escape. You either learn to write a good essay or you don't pass ...

  10. B2 First (FCE) Essay Writing Guide

    Sample exam test from Cambridge English.. Step Two: Write a plan (5 minutes) A lot of my students dislike writing a plan. However, a plan helps you organize your thoughts and helps you write a better B2 First essay. Your essay needs 5 paragraphs.We will use the sample task from above as an example:

  11. How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

    Each paragraph has a clear purpose: Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea). Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1. Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2. Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3. Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.

  12. Part 1

    Part 1 - Writing - B2 First (FCE) | Practice, Write & Improve. Writing: Part 1. Test 1 / 25. Answer the question below. Write 140 - 190 words in an appropriate style. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay on the dangers of social media, and how people can protect themselves. Do you think social media can be dangerous?

  13. 20 English Essay Topics/Questions

    Article navigation: B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example Topics / Questions B2 First (FCE) Essay: Download (PDF) An essay is a piece of writing in which you are asked to discuss a topic that might be controversial or relevant somehow. It usually follows a class discussion. The language of an English essay should be formal.Also, make sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate ...

  14. First (FCE)

    First (FCE) Breakout English has a number of First (FCE) materials for you to use in class or at home to prepare for the Cambridge B2 exam. The Cambridge First exam is a big step up from B1 level exams. At B2, Cambridge introduces the Use of English section while also increasing the challenge of several other task types in the Reading, Writing ...

  15. Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Writing

    Each of these two pieces of writing needs to be between 140-190 words in length, or 280-380 words in total. As there are five different parts to the exam, Writing counts 20% towards your overall grade. In the writing paper there are two parts, the first one being an essay and the second one your choice of several possible types of writing.

  16. PDF Cambridge English: First Lesson Plan: Writing

    This lesson plan accompanies Cambridge English: First 1 Writing Test 4 Part 1. This lesson is suitable for students at the beginning or in the middle of their Cambridge English: First ... Suggested answers are animals, environment, and essay. • Ask students to underline the key information in the rest of the question and to compare/discuss ...

  17. Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How your writing is marked

    Each of these scales looks at specific aspects of your writing. Generally speaking the four parts are: Content - answering the task, supporting your ideas. Communicative achievement - register, tone, clear ideas, conventions of the specific task type. Organisation - structure of the text, logical order, connected ideas.

  18. What's going to happen to essays in EAP courses?

    This is the first academic year when AI is not a curious novelty anymore but an additional player to be dealt with. So I asked myself the question: If most of an EAP course involves reading and writing texts and if an AI tool can swiftly complete these, then what's the whole point of taking such classes, and how will essays in EAP courses change?

  19. PDF B2 First for Schools

    About B2 First for Schools. Tests reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, plus use of English. Comes after B1 Preliminary for Schools and before C1 Advanced. Shows that learners have the language skills they need to communicate in an English-speaking environment, including:

  20. 7

    The Cambridge History of Russia - September 2006. ... Interpretive Essays (New York: ... If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive. The emergence of Moscow (1359-1462) ...

  21. How veteran experience led to Vanderbilt basketball's first March

    But each of those veterans played a role in leading Vanderbilt to its 72-68 win over the Lions (23-7) in the First Four. The 12th-seeded Commodores advance to play Baylor on Friday (5 p.m. CT, ESPNU).

  22. The History of Moscow City: [Essay Example], 614 words

    The History of Moscow City. Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia as well as the. It is also the 4th largest city in the world, and is the first in size among all European cities. Moscow was founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruki, a prince of the region. The town lay on important land and water trade routes, and it grew and prospered.

  23. First human transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney performed

    The kidney transplanted in Boston came from a pig created by eGenesis of Cambridge, Mass. The eGenesis pigs are bred with 69 genetic modifications to prepare organs for human transplantation.

  24. Vanderbilt women's basketball's March Madness exit can be built upon

    — When Jordyn Cambridge arrived at Vanderbilt in 2018, all the program knew was losing. Vanderbilt women's basketball hadn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2014. Hadn't won a game in March ...

  25. Mass General performs world's first pig-to-human kidney transplant

    The pig kidney underwent 69 genomic edits prior to the transplant, the hospital said. Mass General Brigham transplant milestones include the world's first successful human organ transplant, a ...

  26. 2024 Ohio Primary Election: Live Results and Maps

    Ohio's U.S. Senate race this fall will be one of the most watched in the nation. Three Republicans are running on March 19 for the chance to take on U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. Republicans see Ohio ...

  27. History of Moscow

    The first reference to Moscow dates from 1147 as a meeting place of Sviatoslav Olgovich and Yuri Dolgorukiy. At the time it was a minor town on the western border of Vladimir-Suzdal Principality. ... (Cambridge UP. 1981) online; Porter, Cathy. Moscow in World War II (1987) online; Roosa, Ruth A. "Capitalism and politics in Russia: A social ...

  28. Write & Improve

    Our free online tool helps you to practise your writing and get valuable feedback instantly. Write & Improve is simple to use: just choose a task, write or upload a written response and use the feedback to quickly improve. It shows you how to improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Join over 2 million learners of English who have used ...

  29. Interview: Morgan Parker on 'You Get What You Pay For: Essays'

    Crafting the arguments in "You Get What You Pay For," her first essay collection, "felt like pulling apart a long piece of taffy," says the author of "Magical Negro."

  30. Cancer diagnosis: What we know about Kate's condition

    When was Kate first hospitalized? ... Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Daystar Evangelical Church on March 26, 2022 in Great Abaco, Bahamas. ...