essay b2 estructura

Cómo escribir un essay Cambridge B2: estructura y guía paso a paso

Tanto si te presentas al Cambridge B2: First como al Cambridge C1: Advanced, sabes que en la primera parte del writing caerá un essay. ¿Sufres el síndrome de la hoja en blanco? ¿No sabes cómo escribir tu essay B2 o sientes que no tienes tiempo suficiente para terminarlo? Entonces necesitas leer esta entrada, en la que escribiremos juntos un ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2 paso a paso. Pero antes, respondo a algunas preguntas que puedes estar haciéndote sobre cómo escribir un essay B2.

Diferencia entre essay y article B2

Una de las preguntas que mis alumnos suelen hacer más a menudo es la diferencia entre essay y article . Esta es sobre todo es de tono y estilo: un article B2 expresa un punto de vista personal sobre un tema de una manera más cercana y desenfadadas, en la que el autor o autora suele hablar en primera persona y atraer a su lector con preguntas retóricas, afirmaciones sorprendentes y otros recursos que lo «enganchen».

En un ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2, por el contrario, emplearemos un tono más distante y académico (evitaremos hablar en primera o segunda persona). Además, trataremos de incorporar puntos de vista diferentes al nuestro.

¿Cuánto tiempo y espacio tengo para escribir mi ejemplo de essay B2?

Para saber cómo escribir nuestro ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2 debemos tener en cuenta su extensión   (140-190 palabras)  y el tiempo del que vamos a disponer para escribirlo (80 minutos para las dos tareas del  writing,  con lo cual  tienes 40 minutos para tu  essay) .

Ahora bien,  ¿qué pasa si excedo las 190 palabras? Nada.  No obstante, cuando sobrepasas ese límite por un margen amplio, inevitablemente terminas escribiendo sobre cosas que no son relevantes para la tarea, y eso sí lo penalizan. Por otro lado, si te enrollas demasiado, el tiempo no te alcanzará. Los diseñadores de la prueba lo tienen todo muy bien calculado.

¿Estás aprendiendo con este artículo?

Imagina lo que puedes aprender en una clase.

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Cómo escribir este ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2

1. responde a la pregunta del essay.

Lo primero que haremos para escribir este ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2 es leer el enunciado, en el que encontrarás una pregunta. Trabajaremos con este enunciado (pero puedes encontrar más aquí ):

Después, lo que tenemos que hacer para comenzar el essay es responder la pregunta.

Como suele ocurrir con los temas de Cambridge, es muy probable que no hayas dedicado mucho tiempo a este y no tengas una opinión formada. ¿Qué hacer entonces? Sencillo: vamos a escribir lo que nos salga de la punta… del boli. Brainstorming de toda la vida.

Esto es lo que me ha salido de la punta del boli:

Después , agregaremos las ideas que ya nos dan en el enunciado, y que debemos obligatoriamente incluir:

• friendlier at local businesses
• broader at department stores

Después de esta fase de brainstorming, queda claro que me inclino más por las tiendas de barrio que por los grandes almacenes. Esta será la respuesta a la pregunta del essay.

Para argumentarla, elegiremos una de las ideas que han salido en el brainstorming y nuestro desarrollo de las ideas que nos han dado en el enunciado.

2. Hacer un guion: la coherencia en mi ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2

En el segundo paso para escribir nuestro ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2, organizaremos las ideas en un outline a manera de guion. Además, desarrollaremos estas ideas explicándolas y proporcionando ejemplos.

Cuando tengas que escribir tu essay, no te devanes mucho los sesos. Tira de tu experiencia personal (o la de tu cuñado) como comprador/a en tiendas locales y grandes almacenes.

En el caso de nuestro ejemplo, empezaremos copiando la pregunta del essay. Después, continuaremos con una disadvantage del comercio local y luego escribiremos las ventajas. Este es el orden lógico si la idea que queremos transmitir es que preferimos comprar en local businesses (que es la respuesta que hemos dado a la pregunta del essay en el paso anterior).

Como ves, a mí me gusta representar la jerarquía de las ideas que quiero plasmar siguiendo una estructura diagonal. Así me resulta más fácil verlas.

3. Redactar tu essay: cohesión en mi ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2

El siguiente paso en la redacción de este ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2 es convertir las ideas del paso anterior en párrafos.

Recuerda que cada párrafo debe tratar una sola idea y que las diferentes oraciones deben seguir una secuencia lógica y estar bien cohesionados. Para ello he de emplear los conectores adecuados.

Ahora bien, a estos párrafos les hace falta algo, ¿no? Vamos, que parece que no tienen nada que ver el uno con el otro.

Aquí viene el segundo nivel de cohesión: hay que unir los párrafos entre sí para que formen parte de un todo coherente y el lector no se pierda. Para ello usamos el signposting , que no es otra cosa que emplear conectores (signposts, transition signals, llámalos como quieras) al principio de cada párrafo:

Antes de continuar, quiero que te fijes en lo siguiente:

• La idea principal está siempre al comienzo del párrafo.
• No escribo oraciones demasiado largas

En el último párrafo he metido alguna otra cosa que no iba en el guion original. No pasa nada: hazlo si ves que el párrafo se te ha quedado muy pobre y puedes añadir algo que explique mejor la idea principal. Pero tampoco te pases.

4. Escribir la conclusión de tu essay

Ahora que hemos puesto punto final a la última disadvantage , continuamos con el penúltimo paso para escribir este ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2: escribir la conclusión. Para ello, haremos un resumen de los argumentos expuestos y emplearemos conectores, tanto para la coherencia interna del párrafo como para la coherencia del essay.

Y para que nos quede una conclusión de 10, dejaremos al lector con algo que pensar:

5. Escribir la introducción

Por último, para terminar este ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2 escribo la introducción. La de jo para el final porque, personalmente, me parece lo más difícil. Si no es tu caso, puedes escribirla antes del paso anterior o después de haber respondido a la pregunta del essay.

La introducción sirve para atraer a tu lector. Este, sea en la vida real o sea tu examinador de Cambridge, es una persona ocupada y tienes que ponérselo fácil para que lea.

Para escribir nuestra introducción, seguiremos la forma de un embudo que comienza con afirmaciones de carácter genérico sobre el tema del essay . Haremos un poco de brainstorming:

• Department stores are present in every large town and most middle-sized ones
• Popular with elderly people and millenials

Después, terminaremos este embudo con la thesis statement , la oración central de tu essay que dará pie a la argumentación que le sigue. Por esto mismo, la thesis stamentent debe contener las palabras clave que aparecen en las oraciones principales (iniciales) de cada párrafo.

De acuerdo: quizá no sea un recurso muy original. Pero funciona.

6. Revisar y pulir

Después de haber seguido estos pasos para para escribir este ejemplo de essay Cambridge B2, solo queda revisar lo que hemos escrito. Nuestro essay ha quedado así:

Ahora hay que comprobar y corregir los fallos de organización (cohesión y coherencia) gramaticales, léxicos y ortográficos. De ello te hablo en este pdf descargable .

Y, si eres perfeccionista como yo, puedes tratar de pulir algunas cosas. SI TE SOBRA TIEMPO.

Que no es mi caso en este momento y probablemente no será el tuyo el día del examen. Así que acostúmbrate a la no perfección y haz tuya esta frase que me enseñó Lola, mi gurú:

Better done than perfect.

Te dejo con esta máxima espiritual. Y con los takeaways o ideas que quiero que te lleves después de haber leído este artículo.

Your takeaways

Para saber cómo escribir un essay B2, s igue los siguientes pasos:

• Responde la(s) pregunta(s) del writing.  
• Escribe un guion .
• Convierte tu guion en párrafos .
• Escribe una conclusión que resuma los puntos tratados y deje al lector con algo que pensar.
• Escribe la introducción. 
• Ponlo todo junto, revisa y corrige .

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Breakout English

First (FCE) B2 Essay Structure – Essay Skeletons

There have been many occasions where my students have no time to learn the correct B2 essay structure for a Cambridge B2 First exam. Course books often do a great job of providing model answers, useful phrases and much more. However, sometimes people just want to be spoon-fed the correct way to write an essay. Well, are you hungry?

What is an essay skeleton?

An essay skeleton provides you with the base for an essay, without including any of the content. It includes all the necessary linkers, transitions and placeholders to emulate the ideal B2 essay structure. However, it is incomplete. In an ideal word, these skeletons can be memorised and adapted to any topic that you may find in the B2 First exam. Obviously, it isn’t likely to always be a perfect fit, so it can’t replace learning how to write an essay from scratch. However, if you are short on time or really struggling to produce a passing essay, this skeleton may be helpful.

B2 essay structure

A Cambridge B2 First essay has a reasonably set structure. This is because the tasks are always similar. Take a look at the task below:

When we analyse the task, the most obvious structure is to write 5 paragraphs. This allows us to keep a clear separation between our three points. It also gives us plenty of opportunities for lovely linking words . With a word limit of 190 words, these paragraphs will be quite short, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be clear and effective.

Our standard paragraph plan for a B2 essay structure is…

• Introduction – Including a thesis statement that mentions the 3 areas of focus
• Body paragraph 1 – In this case about pollution
• Body paragraph 2 – In this case about rubbish
• Body paragraph 3 – Our own idea (for example, endangered animals)
• Conclusion – Summarise the 3 areas and optionally choose the most important

The two proposed essay skeletons below follow this paragraph plan in order to produce the perfect B2 essay every time.

The materials

We’ve designed two essay skeletons. They are similar but have subtle differences. Either one of them can be used with any topic that may come up in the B2 First exam. If you want to practise using the essay skeletons, try it out with a B2 essay task .

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¿Cómo escribir un ensayo en inglés B2 (essay) para el First Certificate?

Por David Fernández 12 Comments

La sección de expresión escrita ( Writing Paper ) del First Certificate de Cambridge consta de dos partes. En la primera, debemos escribir un ensayo corto ( essay)  mientras que en la segunda parte podemos elegir entre escribir: un artículo, una carta , una crítica ( review) o  una reseña ( report) . En este artículo nos vamos a centrar en la primera parte: el essay.

Resumen del artículo

¿Qué es el  essay del First Certificate?

El essay   del First Certificate es una redacción en la que debemos expresar la opinión sobre un tema presentando argumentos a favor y en contra para luego llegar a una conclusión final. Una de las dificultados de escribir el ensayo del First Certificate es que la mayoría de las veces tampoco hemos escrito un ensayo en español.

¿Necesitas obtener un certificado oficial de inglés?

Descubre nuestros cursos online para preparar los exámenes de cambridge, ¿cómo escribir un ensayo.

• Lo primero que deberás hacer es leer detenidamente las instrucciones  para realizar la tarea correctamente y responder a cada una de las preguntas .Ten en cuenta que serás penalizado si  solo sigues parte de las instrucciones.
• Relee el enunciado del ensayo tantas veces sean necesarias ya que tu redacción debe partir de tal idea. Recuerda parafrasear el enunciado con tus propias palabras o de lo contrario perderás puntos.
• Organiza tus ideas . Para ello  hacer un esquema te resultará especialmente útil.
• Expresa y expón tus ideas de manera clara , es decir, con cohesión y coherencia. Ayúdate de conectores y ciertas expresiones, como las que te presentamos en la sección final de expresiones útiles.
• Usa un vocabulario variado y rico , evita las repeticiones y el abuso de las palabras «comodín» y demasiado generales ( make, thing, have, be… ).
• Empieza con un párrafo introductorio en el que se presenta el tema.
• Continua  con ideas a favor y en contra del tema a tratar. Recuerda que tus ideas deben estar claramente expuestas, presentadas en párrafos distintos y bien argumentadas mediante buenos  ejemplos y razones convincentes .
• Termina con tu propia conclusión .
• ¡Truco! : Enlaza tu conclusión con tu opinión. Es decir si tu conclusión es favorable al tema en cuestión, expón primero tus argumentos en contra, luego aquellos a favor para que sea más fácil la transición a la conclusión.
• Utiliza un estilo formal . Evita las contracciones ( isn’t, hasn’t ) y las expresiones y vocabulario informales y/o coloquiales.
• Intenta atrapar al lector . Para ello siempre será útil formular alguna pregunta y respaldar tus opiniones con buenas razones e incluso ejemplos actuales.
• Una vez acabada la redacción del essay comprueba que has cumplido los pasos anteriormente enumerados, revisa tu ortografía y gramática y asegúrate de que el ensayo es tanto comprensible como legible.

Datos a  tener en cuenta sobre el Writing del FCE

• Las dos partes del writing equivalen al 20% de la puntuación del FCE.
• El número de palabras debe ser entre 120 y 180 .
• El tiempo total para las dos partes de la sección de expresión escritas son 80 minutos . Organiza bien tu tiempo.

BONUS : Aquí te dejo una lista con más de 500 palabras en inglés para B2 y C1 Descargar Lista de Vocabulario y Phrasal Verbs

¿Cómo mejorar la redacción del ensayo?

La mejor forma de mejorar la redacción de ensayos es practicando . Recuerda:  Practice makes perfect!  Escribe tantos ensayos cortos como puedas. No olvides ayudarte de ciertos conectores y expresiones, como los que te proponemos a continuación, para así poder exponer tus opiniones de forma más clara:

Expresiones útiles para usar en el ensayo

Para decir lo que otros opinan :

• Some / many people feel that
• Others argue/claim/say/maintain that …
• Another point of view is that …
• Many people believe/think that …
• It is widely believed that …
• It is generally agreed that …
• It is sometimes claimed/said that …
• According to …

Para expresar tu opinión:

• I personally feel that …
• I (do) believe that …
• I firmly believe that …
• I partfully agree that …
• In my opinion …
• My personal view is that …
• It seems to me that …

Para dar ejemplos:

• For instance, …
• For example, …
• Such as, …

Para concluir / resumir:

• In conclusion, … / To conclude  …
• To summarize, … / To sum up …

Para añadir información:

• In addition to this, …
• What is more, …
• Apart from that, …
• As well as that, …
• Besides (this), …

Para mostrar contraste / concesión :

• However, …, but …, nevertheless, …
• .., although…, whereas …
• Having said that, …
• Despite this,… / Despite the fact that …
• In spite of …

Para exponer las dos caras :

• On the one hand,…
• On the other hand, …/ On the other side of the argument , …

Para razonar y/o explicar :

• Because of this,…
• because / since …
• This is because…
• The (main) reason for this is …

Otro modo de mejorar es leyendo otros essays . Estos te darán ideas. A continuación encontrarás varios ejemplos de ensayos.

Esperamos que este artículo te haya servido de ayuda. Si tienes alguna pregunta sobre el ensayo del First Certificate u otro tema, no dudes en poner un comentario más abajo. Te contestaremos tan breve como nos sea posible.

Nota : si estás preparando el First Certificate por tu cuenta, este artículo te puede interesar. Te contamos los mejores libros con exámenes para practicar y prepararte para aprobar con los materiales más usados en el mercado.

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27 octubre 2017 at 20:45

Es de mucha ayuda esta informacion, en cuanto a la clarides como se explica un tema de interes, te deja sin dudas y listo para hacer tu trabajo.

Muchas gracias por tan valiosa explicacion esto es lo que busco cuando tengo algun tema de interes y desconozco.

30 octubre 2017 at 12:22

Gracias por tu comentario Claudia. Saludos

31 enero 2018 at 13:16

Los ensayos no llevan título? en algunos libros de writing indican que sí. Gracias

31 enero 2018 at 16:25

Buenas tardes,

El titulo de los ensayos es el que te pone en la tarea del examen, que es la obligatoria ( Part 1 – Compulsory task) y no hay que pensar en un otro distinto. Los writings que necesitan titulo son: Report, Article y Review.

24 septiembre 2018 at 01:55

El wrting del fce ocupa el 20% de la puntuacion, y como se reparte el otro 80% entre uoe,reading y speaking?

11 diciembre 2018 at 11:02

UOE 20%, reading 20%, writing 20%, listening 20% y Speaking 20%. There you go!

16 octubre 2018 at 20:16

Algun truco para desarrollar el punto personal? Siempre los que se me ocurren tienen que ver con los ejemplos dados

16 noviembre 2018 at 13:43

Mil gracias! Por favor comprobad los links a los ejemplos no funcionan.

11 diciembre 2018 at 10:57

Gracias Judith, lo revisamos. Thanks a mill!

21 mayo 2020 at 22:35

Buenas tardes nesecito hacer un ensayo por cada veinte hojas leidas de así hablo zaratustra me pueden ayudar gracias

23 mayo 2020 at 10:56

Hola Esperanza. Quizá te interesan nuestros cursos online con profesor en directo que empiezan la semana que viene. En ese curso harás todo tipo de Writings. https://www.examenes-cambridge.com/cursos-preparacion-cambridge-online

8 abril 2021 at 16:30

Gracias por esta valiosa información

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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.

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:

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 :

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. 🙂

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How to write an article? | B2 First (FCE)

In the B2 First Writing Paper you could be asked to write an article about a variety of topics. However, it’s often something you’ve recently learned to do or know a lot about. For example, the question might be about a concert you’ve been to recently, you favourite hobby or your hometown.

The idea is to write in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them interested until the very end.

Differences between articles and essays

• In an article, you need to constantly be telling the reader what  you think .
• The  article is informal,  the essay is formal and neutral.
• The essay has a clear organisation, whereas the article  might not .

B2 First (FCE) Article: Structure

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) article: writing guide.

Articles usually have a title. The title should be informative (give the reader an idea of the subject) and attractive ( make the reader want to read the article ).

• No need for a complete sentence

Title A: The Internet: A Great Invention

Title B: Keep It Healthy!

Introduction

The start of the article should be linked to the title, introduce the topic and engage the reader. Often, an article starts with a question that introduces the topic which will be discussed in the article.

• General statement about the topic.
• Start with a question, problem or quotation.

Introduction A: The Internet has changed the way we live. It started as something that we could access only through a computer, but nowadays it is everywhere, and I love it!

Introduction B:  Are you a busy college student? Do you struggle to keep fit and eat healthily? Don’t worry! I am going to tell you exactly what you should do. Keep on reading, you will thank me later!

Paragraphs 1-2

Each should be clearly defined, not too long and clearly linked.

• Describe issues in detail and use one paragraph per issue.
• Use linkers, sequencing and sophisticated vocabulary.

Paragraph A1: One of the cool things about the world wide web is that you can ….. Paragraph A2: However, the greatest thing about the Internet is how you can learn tons of things… Paragraph 1B: First of all, you must start moving your body. You could go to the gym if ….. Paragraph B2: Secondly, your diet is just as important. I suppose you live on a low budget

An ending can state an opinion, give the reader something to think about, summarise the article or even end with a quotation.

Conclusion A: If you follow all these tips, I’m sure you will keep fit easily! And if you already tried that, let me know how you feel now

Conclusion B: In conclusion, the Internet has a lot of great things. For me, the best are finding information and learning online. What about you? What are your favourite things about it?

  Let’s summarize! – How to write an Article?

• Try and engage the reader’s attention and interest. Ask questions at the beginning.
• There should be a link between the opening sentence and the title.
• Personalise the article using true stories or anecdotes.
• If you decide to take a light-hearted approach or a more serious one, maintain the same style throughout the article.
• Check your work for accuracy, punctuation and spelling.

Article could be light or serious (but should be consistent), depending on who the target reader is. May use some rhetorical questions e.g. Can you imagine a school where every student enjoys themselves?

More than Practice Tests

B2 first (fce) article: model answers, fce article example 1.

A local magazine has asked readers to write an article about their favourite things about the Internet. Write the article talking about the things you do with the Internet and recommend a website to other readers.

Write your article.

Student’s FCE Article Answer:

The Internet: A Great Invention

The Internet has changed the way we live. It started as something that we could access only through a computer, but nowadays it is everywhere, and I love it!

One of the cool things about the world wide web is that you can look up anything you want and nd out the answer straight away. Isn’t that fantastic? For example, imagine you are arguing with your friends about how to do something. Easy solution! Go online and find the answer.

However, the greatest thing about the Internet is how you can learn tons of things very cheaply or even for free! In fact, my favourite website is www.udemy.com,where people register to teach and learn about different things: music, website design, making apps, history, etc. So I totally recommend it to everyone!

In conclusion, the Internet has a lot of great things. For me, the best are finding information and learning online. What about you? What are your favourite things about it?

Get Your (FCE) Article Checked!

Fce article example 2.

Fitness bloggers wanted!

Our fitness magazine is looking for influencers to write an article on how to stay fit when you are a college student. So if you have any cool ideas, send us an article in which you:

• Explain the type of exercise you recommend • Recommend a healthy but cheap diet • Give other ideas you like

Write your article .

Keep It Healthy!

Are you a busy college student? Do you struggle to keep fit and eat healthily? Don’t worry! I am going to tell you exactly what you should do. Keep on reading, you will thank me later!

First of all, you must start moving your body. You could go to the gym if you have the time. But if you’re busy – you’re a student, you should be busy! – don’t sign up for a gym. Instead, start cycling to college and give up using elevators. You’ll see how your fitness improves quickly!

Secondly, your diet is just as important. I suppose you live on a low budget, so I suggest you don’t eat out much. Eating out can be unhealthy and expensive. Sogo to your local supermarket and buy healthy, inexpensive vegetables and fruit.

Finally, pay attention to how you sit when you are studying. Posture is super important to feel well, especially if you are a student or an office worker.

If you follow all these tips, I’m sure you will keep fit easily! And if you already tried that, let me know how you feel now

B2 First (FCE) Article: Example topics

Fce sample article topic 1.

You see this announcement in the Leisure and Entertainment  magazine.

Could you live without internet for a month? Write and tell us what difference this would make to your life. We will publish the best article.

FCE Sample Article Topic 2

You see this announcement in a magazine.

We invite you to write an article on ‘The City of the Future’. In what ways will Cities be different in the future? In what ways will they be the same? The writer of the best article will receive a prize.

FCE Sample Article Topic 3

You have seen this notice in an international magazine.

Inventions have affected all our lives! Write us an article about one invention, explaining why you think it is important and saying how it has affected your own life.

The best article will be published in the magazine.

B2 First (FCE) Article: Writing Checklist

After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.

How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:

• Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
• Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
• Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?

Communicative Achievement

• Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
• Have I communicated a balance of straightforward and more complex ideas?
• Have I used a suitable style and register (formal or informal) for the task?

Organisation

• Have I used paragraphs appropriately to organise my ideas?
• Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre of the text (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
• Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words, pronouns, etc. to refer to different things within the text?)
• Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
• Have I used a wide range of vocabulary?
• Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
• Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures?
• Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
• Is my use of grammar accurate?
• Is my spelling accurate?

B2 First (FCE) Article: Tips

• PLAN your article.
• Give your article a title.
• Ask rhetorical questions to get your readers’ attention. Eg. What would the world be like without oil? What will life be like in 20 years time?
• Speak directly to your readers. Eg. Let’s just imagine some of the possibilities.
• Give examples where appropriate.
• Use humour where appropriate
• Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.
• Finally, give your opinion where appropriate.
• REVISE your article to correct mistakes

Would you pass B2 First (FCE)?

B2 first (fce) article: useful phrases & expressions.

We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is taking a shortcut, if you learn several expressions for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized text.

La farmacia viagra online ti dà i migliori prezzi per i farmaci generici. Breve tempo di elaborazione! Oltre mezzo milione di clienti! Pillole bonus gratuite per tutti gli ordini!

Rhetorical phrases:

Have you ever ……..?  What do you think about ……..?  Are you one of those people who thinks that ……? Are you one of those people who …….? What would life be like if ……? Will the future bring us ….. ?

Introducing your first point:

Firstly In the first place First of all   The first thing to consider is  One thing to consider is  To begin with

Introducing more points:

Secondly   Another consideration  Yet another consideration  Another thing to consider is Added to that  Apart from that  In addition to this

Introducing your final points:

In conclusion  To conclude  To sum up  So

Introducing your opinion:

I think   In my opinion  Personally, I believe that   In my view  If you ask me  To my mind  My personal opinion is

What is your level of English?

Cambridge FCE > FCE practice tests > Aprende a escribir un ensayo o essay para el Writing FCE

Aprende a escribir un ensayo o essay para el Writing FCE

La sección del Writing B2 First consta de dos partes: la primera, en la que hay que escribir un ensayo, y la segunda, en la que puedes elegir entre cuatro textos distintos: artículo, informe, reseña o una carta/correo electrónico.

En esta primera parte del examen no hay escapatoria, ya que escribir un ensayo es obligatorio para poder pasar la prueba escrita del FCE. Es una parte muy importante porque es el 50% de la nota que vayamos a obtener en el Writing.

Hay que tener la parte del ensayo muy clara. Por ello, en este artículo vamos a aprender:

• ¿Cómo escribir un essay para el FCE?
• Essay b2 cambridge ejemplos

¿Cómo se estructura el essay FCE?

¿cuáles son las otras partes del writing fce, entrénate para el fce con globalexam.

El objetivo es que, al acabar de leer estas líneas, tengamos una idea clarísima de cómo escribir cualquier essay, del tema que sea.

¿Cómo escribir un essay  o ensayo para el FCE?

Un essay (ensayo) es un texto académico en el que debemos expresar nuestra opinión analizando un tema, un problema o una situación, presentando argumentos a favor y en contra para luego llegar a una conclusión.

• Nuestra misión: escribir un ensayo en el cual debemos dar nuestra opinión sobre el título, usar las dos ideas proporcionadas y agregar una nueva idea que también este relacionada con el título.
• Tono : En el essay tienes que tener un tono formal ya que se trata de un tema importante por lo que utilizar un tono informal es inapropiado.
• Estructura : El essay cuenta con 5 partes: Introducción, Idea 1, Idea 2, Idea 3 y conclusión por lo que es importante diferenciar estas partes.

• Opinión : Si bien es cierto un essay se trata de dar una opinión, lo ideal es que hables de manera neutral en las primeras 4 partes del ensayo y solo dar tu opinión en la ultima parte (la conclusión). No olvides que siempre tienes que justificar toda la información que pones en tu essay.
• Número de palabras: Como en todos los escritos del Writing FCE, tienes que escribir entre 140-190 palabras . Recuerda que si pasas de las 190 palabras, puede que estes dando información innecesaria. De lo contrario, si haces menos de 140 palabras puede que no estes dando la información que esperan por lo que te podrían penalizar.

¿Quieres saber qué criterios te van a calificar? El Writing FCE se evalúa según varios criterios. Tienes que estar bien preparado para obtener la máxima puntuación.

Essay b2 cambridge ejemplo

Some people think success is everything. For others, happiness is all they need. In your opinion, what’s more important, success or happiness? Notes Write about: 1 money 2 stress 3 ……….……….………. (your own idea)

Respuesta :

What’s more important, success or happiness?

People don’t always agree on what matters the most in life. Some believe success is the priority, others that happiness, rather than wealth and recognition, is the most important ingredient.

Money and recognition, which come as a result of success, make life easier and can help avoid suffering in some way. However, there is no guarantee that success will protect you from everything. Successful people suffer from jealousy, illnesses, drug addictions and other things just like everybody else.

Success also usually requires tremendous dedication and effort. It often comes with big responsibilities and that can have a very negative effect on people’s health and general well-being. Stress can actually kill people.

It all depends on the time you have available to spend with the people you love. What’s all the success in the world worth if you do not have time to spend with your friends and family? It seems like a superficial achievement.

To sum up, success is beautiful if you are able to satisfy the basic human needs of love and companionship as well. On its own it’s not worth anything. Happiness is a much more complete achievement.

Como viste en el ejemplo anterior, lo primero que nos darán será una pregunta o bien un enunciado con el asunto del que tratará el essay. Por ejemplo:

Should children do written homework after school or should afternoons be reserved for free-time activities?

Ya sabemos que vamos a tener que hablar de lo que deberían hacer los niños después del colegio.

Además, ellos en el examen nos van a dar dos puntos para tratar, más un tercero, que es el que nosotros tenemos que aportar.

• Physical Activities
• …….. (your own idea)

OJO en el tercer punto. “Your own idea” no significa que tengamos que dar nuestra opinión , sino que tenemos que aportar una tercera idea parecida a las que ellos nos han dado.

Empezar a escribir un essay es fácil si tenemos en la cabeza un guión. Necesitamos cinco párrafos, a los que vamos a añadirle el ejemplo propuesto:

• Introduction – Objective
• Idea 1 – Stress
• Idea 2 – Physical activities
• Id ea 3 – Creativity
• Conclusion – Personal opinion

En la conclusión vamos a dar nuestra solución a todos los problemas, así como una opinión .

Para escribir un buen essay la estructura es importante, pero también lo son los conectores , y hay que tener estos muy en cuenta a la hora de escribir este tipo de textos.

Ahora que ya dominas el essay de la parte 1 del Writing, practica con un simulacro de examen para la prueba de Writing B2 Cambridge . El siguiente paso es hacer un examen B2 de Cambridge completo.

El Writing FCE esta compuesto de 2 partes . En la primera parte siempre encontrarás un Essay (ensayo). Sin embargo, en la segunda parte podrás escoger entre un email informal, un article (artículo), review (reseñas) y reports (informes). Cada una de estas partes tiene una estructura diferente y es por eso que es importante conocerlas antes de rendir el examen.

Si quieres practicar para estas diferentes pruebas, no te preocupes, te guiamos y te damos ejercicios para cada una de estas partes. Descubre cómo escribir un article FCE , un report FCE , una review FCE , un email para el B2 de Cambridge y también cómo escribir una story para el FCE for Schools Writing .

Cuando nos enfrentemos al folio en blanco en el examen, lo primero que debemos tener en nuestra cabeza es la estructura de nuestro essay, y de esa manera las palabras fluirán por sí solas.

¿Necesitas practicar el FCE antes del examen? Entonces estás en el sitio correcto porque GlobalExam es un preparador de exámenes oficiales. Somos una plataforma donde podrás practicar con una infinidad de ejercicios, todas las partes del examen. ¿Y lo mejor? Las veces que quieras y desde donde quieras.

Además, la misma plataforma te ofrece un seguimiento de tu nivel y te da la oportunidad de ponerte a prueba en los simulacros exámenes oficiales. ¡Apúntate ya!

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English Writing Exercises for B2 – Essay: for and against

• English Writing Exercises for B2

Preparation

Writing Strategy

When you write an essay, you need to ensure that it has a clear structure.

Paragraph 1: introduction (stating the issue)

Paragraph 2: arguments for the statement

Paragraph 3: arguments against the statement

Paragraph 4: summary, your own opinion

1. Read the Writing Strategy and the task below. What ideas do you expect to see in the essay?

‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’ Write an essay in which you offer arguments for and against discussing your personal problems with a friend.

your own answers

2. Look at the phrases below. Find five more phrases for introducing arguments in the essay.

Introducing one side of the argument

1 ………………………………………………………

It can be argued that …

2 ………………………………………………………

On the one hand, …

3 ………………………………………………………

Furthermore, / Moreover, …

Introducing the other side of the argument

On the other hand, …

4 ………………………………………………………

Having said that, … / That said, …

5 ………………………………………………………

6 ………………………………………………………

When people say that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved,’ they mean that it is good to talk about your issues with someone else. While this may be true, there can also be disadvantages to looking for help in this way.

The first advantage of talking to a friend about a personal problem is that you will gain sympathy and support from someone who cares about you. No one can deny that it is very helpful to have someone who listens to you and shows concern. Even if your friend can’t offer practical advice, it will still make you feel better. It is also true that talking through a problem can help you come to a solution yourself.

So are there any disadvantages in confiding in friends in this way? Although it is true that it is helpful to share your problems with a friend, we should also remember that it is not a good idea to talk about your personal problems to everybody, or it can easily become gossip. It is important to pick one good friend that you can trust to keep your problem to themselves. Moreover, not everybody is kind, so you can end up feeling worse, unless you choose your friend wisely.

To sum up, talking about your problems to a friend is a very beneficial thing to do, provided that you pick the right person. A good friend is one you can trust.

1    The first advantage …

2    No one can deny that …

3   It is also true that …

4    While this may be true …

5    Although it is true that …

6    …, we should also remember that …

3. Write the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first. Use the words in brackets.

1   I’ll do the dishes if you clean the kitchen. (provided that)

     …………………………………….

2   Despite the fact that he seems nice, I still don’t trust him. (even though)

3   Always try everything, despite the possibility it might not work out. (even if)

4   He’ll fix your bike if you lend it to him on Saturday. (on condition that)

5   If I study all week, I’ll pass the exam. (provided that)

1   I’ll do the dishes provided that you clean the kitchen.

2   Even though he seems nice, I still don’t trust him.

3   Always try everything, even if it might not work out.

4   He’ll fix your bike on condition that you lend it to him on Saturday.

5   Provided that I study all week, I’ll pass the exam.

Writing Guide

‘You should always paddle your own canoe.’ Write an essay in which you offer arguments for and against being totally independent, not asking for help and only relying on yourself.

4. Read the task and make notes.

Advantages ………………………………………..

Disadvantages ………………………………………….

5. Write your essay.

Extra exercises.

Always start by planning your arguments. Write down three or four ideas for and three or four against the topic. Choose the best two arguments for each side of the issue, and develop them by adding a comment or providing an example.

1. Read the Strategy and look at the arguments below against sharing a flat with a sibling. Develop the arguments. Use the questions to help you.

1    It may mean no privacy for both of you.

     Will you be able to keep your ‘private life’ away from your sibling? What might they report back to your parents?

2   It will lead to arguments over household chores.

     Why will it be difficult to share out the chores? How might this affect your relationship?

3   There may be pressure to hang out constantly.

      Why will it be difficult to have space for yourself?

      What might your sibling think if you refuse to go out with him/her one evening?

2. Read the task below and write your essay.

Some parents have access to their teenage children’s accounts on social media and control their online activities. Write an essay in which you discuss arguments for and against the attitude of these parents.

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• How To Write A Review: Cambridge B2 First

• Posted on 24/07/2019
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: B2 First , Cambridge Exams , FCE , First Certificate , Resources to learn English , Writing

Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 minute time limit. Part 1 is always an essay . Part 2 is where you can get a bit more creative. You might, for example, be asked to write a letter, a report or a review, all of which have their own style and set guidelines.

When writing a review it can be difficult to know where to start. But don’t be afraid! We are here to help you every step of the way.

Remember a review could be for a book, a film, a magazine, a restaurant or even a product .

Three steps to writing a great review

Let’s start with something simple. Imagine. You turn over the page to your writing part 2 and you see this question:

Question taken from Cambridge Assessment English website . (Feb 2018)

Step One: Make a plan

The first thing to do is to make a plan, just like we did in our B2 First essay guidelines .

Think of a book you read in which the main character behaved in a surprising way. This could be surprising in a good way, where the character does something amazing and helps somebody. Or maybe there’s a twist at the end and the character does something really shocking. Either way take some time to really think about your choice.

E.g. I’m going to choose The Great Gatsby, because I had to read the book 3 times when I was at school and I’ve seen the film so I feel like I know it really well .

The structure

Next, think of the structure. Consider all the parts of the question and use that to help organise your review. Make notes about the following:

• An interesting title
• A catchy introduction
• A summary of the plot
• A surprising moment
• Your recommendation

Remember you’re going to want to separate these with clear paragraphs that are going to help the examiner read to the end without getting a headache.

You also need to consider the tone and how the review should sound to the reader. Remember this is for a magazine. Think about all the magazines you like to read. You want to sound chatty and grab the reader’s attention, but not bore them to sleep. Think semi-formal but friendly!

Useful Vocabulary

Now brainstorm some useful vocabulary for your chosen book, including lots of adjectives. Avoid using boring adjectives like good or bad . It’s much more exciting to say ‘amazing’ and ‘disappointing’ or ‘ terrific ’ and ‘terrible’ .

Here’s some more useful vocabulary to get you started:

superficial / deceptive / fascinating / unbelievable / rich / lonely / kind / reserved/ to be set in / to be written by / prosperity / characters / jazz age / protagonist / atmosphere / author / chapter / ending / fictional towns / prohibition / novel / on the outskirts / sad story.

Your next step is to think of some linking phrases. These are going to help tie together your thoughts and bring your review to life!

• Overall if you like…
• I was pleasantly surprised by…
• In fact…
• What I disliked the most was…
• The book contains…
• As well as…
• This well-written book…
• Unbelievably…

Step Two: Write it

Once you have a solid plan, writing your review should be easy!

First start with an interesting title. E.g. The Unexpected Anti-Hero. It relates to both the book that’s being reviewed and the question. It’s also short and snappy .

Next write an engaging introduction. Maybe start with a rhetorical question, for example:

Are you a fan of the Jazz Age? Then this is the book for you!

Or a general statement about the book that will hook the reader:

The Great Gatsby is a classic, with many twists and turns.

You could also give some background information. Here we use the past simple:

The Great Gatsby was written by F.S.Fitzgerald and is set in prosperous Long Island in 1922.

The second paragraph should summarise the plot (note – we usually describe a story in present tense ):

Gatsby is a mysterious character, he has big extravagant parties, and we never know if we can trust him.

The third paragraph is where we introduce the surprising moment and reveal what the main character did and why it was surprising:

• The most shocking part is when…
• I couldn’t believe it when…
• It was so surprising when…

In the fourth paragraph, give a recommendation! Here the examiner wants to hear your overall opinion. It can be something simple:

• I strongly recommend..

Or something more inventive:

• I wouldn’t read the novel again because…
• Everyone should read this immediately!

But don’t forget to say why!

Step Three: Check it

Now you have your winning book review it’s time to check for all those little (and big) mistakes.

Make sure you check:

• You’ve answered all parts of the question.
• It is easy to read.
• Your spelling is correct.
• You’ve used the 3rd person(s).
• You have used punctuation.
• There’s a variety of nouns and adjectives.
• Pick a book you know quite well! Whether it’s Harry Potter or The Hunger Games , make sure you have lots to say about it!
• Don’t be afraid to give both negative and positive opinions!
• Experiment with using first person and try addressing the reader with ‘you’.
• Read lots of real authentic reviews online, anything from holidays to music concerts, exhibitions to video games!
• Remember to put some of your own personality into your review. Have some fun with it and good luck!

Follow the links for some excellent phrases and vocabulary for other types of reviews.

Restaurant Reviews

Film Reviews

TV / Theatre Reviews

Exhibition & Concert Reviews

Here are some more sample questions for you to practice on your own:

Choose one and post your reviews in the comments section.

Glossary for Language Learners

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

Twist (n): : a sudden change in a story that you do not expect..

Chatty (adj): having a friendly style.

Avoid doing something (v): to intentionally not do something.

Terrific (adj): excellent.

Snappy (adj): concise.

Hook (v): to catch.

adj = adjective

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8 Hidden Benefits of Being Bilingual

• By: oxfordadmin
• Posted on 17/07/2019

4 Past Tenses and When to Use Them

• Posted on 31/07/2019

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

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

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

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10 False Friends in English an

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

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

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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

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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

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