FCE

Exam Practice Online

The Writing Paper

What do you
remember about
the Writing
Paper?
 The Writing Paper
Part Number of Task Types Focus
questions

1
Writing an essay Focus on agreeing or disagreeing
(one compulsory with a statement giving
1 task) information, giving opinion, giving
reasons, comparing and
140-190 words contrasting ideas opinions, drawing
a conclusion

Writing

2
Writing one of the following: an
3 (choose one task
from a choice of
article, an informal email or letter, a
formal email or letter, a report, a
(choose review.
three)
only 1)
140-190 words
CONTENT COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE
ORGANISATION
ACHIEVEMENT
 Part 2
A letter or email
 A letter or email: General
Information
• This part tests your ability to write to an English-speaking friend or
colleague.

• Candidates are asked to respond to a situation described in the

question.

• In the answer (140-190 words), all the information must be included.

• Candidates have about 40 minutes to complete the task.

• Candidates must organise their text into paragraphs with a suitable

beginning and ending.

• Candidates use an appropriate style and tone depending on who the

reader is.
 A letter or email:
Analysing the task
1 2
You see the following advertisement in an
You have received an email from your English international magazine.
friend Regina. Read Regina’s email and then write
your email to her. WANTED
Want a summer job in a beautiful location? A
Hi! How’s it going? Guess what! As you know, I resort located in the Irish countryside has the
turned 18 last week and my parents gave me following vacancy: Receptionist. A good level of
some extra money as a present. Now I can’t English and another foreign language is
decide if I should buy a designer dress I really required/ experience of working with customers
like or some extra university textbooks. What would be useful.
do you think? Email your letter of application to
recep@dublin.com
Write your email (140-190 words)
Write your letter of application (140-190 words).
Do not include any postal addresses.

• Who are you writing to?

• What must you write about?
• What ideas would you include?
• What style would you use?
 A letter or email:
Analysing the task
Formal language Informal language

contractions long words single-word

(don’t) (frequently) verbs (postpone)

exclamation Active forms Full words

marks (!) (I took) (approximately)

Complete phrasal verbs less common

sentences (put off) words (sufficient)

common words Friendly Abbreviations

(enough) tone (approx.)

short words full forms no exclamation

(often) (do not) marks

Distant Passive forms Incomplete

tone (I was taken) sentences
 A letter or email:
1 Sample answers
You have received an email from your English friend Dear Regina,
Regina. Read Regina’s email and then write your I was glad to get your email yesterday and to hear that you had a
email to her. great birthday. You really deserve it! I’m sorry I haven’t written back
to you immediately, but I was exhausted.
Hi! How’s it going? Guess what! As you know, I
turned 18 last week and my parents gave me In your email you asked me to give you my opinion about what to
some extra money as a present. Now I can’t buy with the money you got. A designer dress sounds great. I know
decide if I should buy a designer dress I really like how much you love clothes and you can wear your new dress in our
or some extra university textbooks. What do you school reunion party.
think?
You also mentioned that you need some textbooks for your studies.
Write your email (140-190 words) I think that having more material to study is very important and that
would help you get better marks, which will make you feel proud of
yourself.

Personally, If I were you, I’d go for the textbooks. You can save up
Paragraph 1: and buy the dress later, but the textbooks will give you a clear
advantage in your studies.
Paragraph 2:
Thanks for asking for my opinion. Do write and tell me what you
Paragraph 3: decide.

All the best,

Paragraph 4: Marco

Paragraph 5:
 A letter or email:
Sample answers
2
You see the following advertisement in an international
Dear Sir/ Madam,
magazine.
I am writing to apply for the post of receptionist as advertised
WANTED in “Speak up” magazine on April 11.
Want a summer job in a beautiful location? A resort
located in the Irish countryside has the following I am 21 years old and I am finishing my Hotel & Management
vacancy: Receptionist. A good level of English and studies in a prestigious university this year. I have a very good
another foreign language is required/ experience of command of English as I reached Advanced level in a well-
working with customers would be useful. known language school and I also speak Portuguese, French
Email your letter of application to recep@dublin.com and a little German.

Write your letter of application (140-190 words). Do not I have experience working as a tour guide in Brazil and Mexico
include any postal addresses. and this is why I know how to deal with customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, I worked in a hotel as a receptionist for six
months last year and I would like to repeat the experience in
your resort.
Paragraph 1:
I hope this information will be sufficient for you to consider my
Paragraph 2: application. I am available for an interview at any time. If you
need further details, do not hesitate to contact me.
Paragraph 3:
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Paragraph 4: Peter Johnson

Paragraph 5:
 A letter or email:
Useful Language
Are these expressions from a letter to a friend (LF) or from a letters of
application (LA)?
• Many thanks for your email… • Sorry about…
• I have seen your advertisement… • In your email you…
• I’d like to know if… • You also said/ mentioned…
• My advice to you is to… • Personally…
• I am writing in connection with… • I am… years old and I…
• Do write and… • If I were you…
• Best wishes • I have a good command of…
• I am writing about • I think you should…
• I am writing to apply for… • All the best
• I have good knowledge of… • Yours sincerely / faithfully
 A letter or email - Tips
1. Read the instructions and the text that is included in the question (if there is
any)

2. Check who you have to write to, the reason why you are writing and the
points that need to be included. This will help you decide whether you have
to use formal or informal language.

3. Decide how many paragraphs you will need.

4. Make a plan and put your ideas under short paragraph headings.

5. Include expressions from the “Useful Expressions” slide.

6. Write your text using a wide range of vocabulary and grammar.

7. Check your completed text to see if you have made any mistakes and if you
have at least 140 words.
Part 2
A report
 A report: General Information

• This task tests your ability to give factual information and

make recommendations or suggestions.

• You will find a description of the situation in the text. You have
to write a report of between 140-190 words.

• The report may be written for a teacher or school director, or

classmates members of the same club, etc.

• Organise your text and write full sentences with a good range
of language with accurate spelling.
 A report: Analysing the task

Your school director has asked

you to write a report on the
library because it is not very
popular among students. You
should briefly describe what is • Who are you writing to?
wrong with the library and • What must you write about?
suggest how to make it more • What ideas would you include?
appealing to students. • What style would you use?

Write your report (140-190

words)
 A report: A sample answer

In conclusion, I strongly recommend that the school invests in new books. I believe a
survey should be carried out to know what titles are the ones students would like to have.
I also suggest that computers or tablets should be bought in order to provide students
with modern tools to investigate about the topics they want to know more about.

It was also said that the library does not have computers or tablets. Most students expect
that a library should have this equipment in order to explore topics of interest on the
Internet.

The aim of this report is analyse the current situation of our school library and to suggest
ways in which we can encourage more students to visit it.

Some students were interviewed and asked why they do not visit the library quite often.
It is felt that it does not offer new titles to read. Furthermore, the information that the
books contain is not updated.
 A report: A sample answer
_________________________
The aim of this report is analyse the current situation of our
school library and to suggest ways in which we can encourage
more students to visit it.

_________________________
Some students were interviewed and asked why they do not Current situation
visit the library quite often. It is felt that it does not offer new
titles to read. Furthermore, the information that the books Conclusion and recommendation
contain is not updated.
Introduction
_________________________
It was also said that the library does not have computers or Equipment
tablets. Most students expect that a library should have this
equipment in order to explore topics of interest on the
Internet.

_________________________
In conclusion, I strongly recommend that the school invests in
new books. I believe a survey should be carried out to know
what titles are the ones students would like to have.
I also suggest that computers or tablets should be bought in
order to provide students with modern tools to investigate
about the topics they want to know more about.
 A report: Useful Language

Introduction
Giving recommendations and suggestions
• This report looks _______
• I __________ suggest…
• The aim ______ this report is to…
• I __________ recommend…
• The purpose _______ this report is to…
• I believe we __________...
• This report is intented ______ show that…

Description and findings

• It is said _________ be… Conclusion
• It ________ appear that… • _________ conclusion,…
• It ________ been suggested that… • To sum _________,…
• It ________ felt that… • _________ conclude,…
• There would seem _________ be…
 A report - Tips
1. Read the instructions in order to check you know enough facts about the
topics to write a report on it. If you don’t, it might be better to choose
another option.

2. Decide who will read the report and what points you need to include.

3. Think about any knowledge and/ or personal experience you could mention.

4. Remember to use headings for each paragraph.

5. Always spend a few minutes preparing a plan based on all parts of the task.
You should include recommendations.

6. Try to use expressions from the “Useful Language” slide.

 Writing Tasks
1 2

You have received letter from your Canadian friend, Sam. Read this
part of the letter and then write your letter to Sam.
I’ve just finished school for the summer holidays. I want to do
some sport to get really fit and to meet some new people. Can you Your teacher has asked you to write
suggest some sports that I can do with other people and tell me about the day trip which your class
how good the sports are for getting healthier? made to one of the main attractions in
your area. What you write will be
Write your email (140-190 words) included in the college newspaper and
should recommend suggestions for the
next class trip.
You have seen this advertisement and you want to apply.
Write your report (140-190 words)
SENDFORD COLLEGE
Do you want to learn how to organise events professionally?
We have courses on how to organise parties, sports events, music
and entertainment events, holidays and tours.
Write to Sandra Wright, Course Manager, saying which course you
want to attend and why and whether you have any experience of
organising and event.

Write your email (140-190 words)