B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter: Writing Topics

B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter Topic 1

You have received this email from an English-speaking boy called Simon.

Hello,

I would like to get to know someone from your country and a friend has told me that you
would like to practise your English. Perhaps we could email each other: Could you tell me
a bit about yourself and your family? Could you suggest how we might meet sometime in the
future?

Thanks, Simon

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Hi Simon,

Thank you for your email! I'd love to get to know you and practice my English.

My name is Ngan, and I'm from Viet Nam. I'm 22 years old and currently studying at Open
Univesity. I live with my parents and my younger sister. My father works as a worker, and my
mother is a housewife. My younger sister is still in school.

I think it would be wonderful if we could start by emailing each other regularly. This way, we
can share more about our daily lives, interests, and cultures. In the future, we could even
arrange a video call to practice speaking and to get to know each other better in real time.

As for meeting up in the future, I think it would be great if we could plan a trip. Perhaps you
could visit my country, and I could show you around. We have some beautiful places here, like
HCMC, which I'm sure you would enjoy. Alternatively, we could plan to meet in a different
country that we both would like to visit.

Looking forward to hearing more about you and your family!

Best regards,
Thuy Ngan.

B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter Topic 2

You have received this email from your English-speaking friend. Jean.

I hear you organised a surprise birthday party for your mother: I’d love to hear about it.
What kind of party did you organise? Who did you invite? How did it go?
 Do tell me.
Love, Jean

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.”

Hi Jean,

Great to hear from you! Yes, I organized a surprise birthday party for my mother, and it was
such a memorable event.

I planned a cozy garden party at our house. We decorated the garden with fairy lights, colorful
balloons, and her favorite flowers. I wanted it to be intimate yet festive, so I invited close
family members and a few of my mom's closest friends. In total, there were about 20 guests.

We started the evening with some of her favorite music playing softly in the background.
Everyone arrived early to hide and surprise her when she walked into the garden. The look on
her face was priceless! For food, we had a mix of homemade dishes and a few treats from her
favorite bakery. My sister and I baked a chocolate cake, which turned out delicious.

The party went really well; there was lots of laughter, storytelling, and even some dancing. My
mom was thrilled and said it was one of the best birthdays she's ever had.

How have you been? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!

Love,
[Your Name]

B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter Topic 3

You recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this email from a
parent of one of the students who went.

I understand you were one of the organisers of our son’s ski trip. I have to say my husband
and I were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. My son has informed us that the ski
slopes were poor, the lessons were fewer than promised and the accommodation was
inadequate.

Can you please give us a satisfactory explanation?

 Yours
sincerely, Nora
White

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Subject: Re: Concerns Regarding the Recent Ski Trip

Dear Mrs. White,

Thank you for reaching out and expressing your concerns about the recent ski trip. I’m sorry to
hear that your son’s experience did not meet your expectations.

Regarding the ski slopes, the resort experienced an unexpected weather change which affected
the quality of the slopes. The resort management did their best to maintain them, but I
understand it was not ideal.

As for the lessons, we faced a shortage of instructors due to unforeseen situation . We tried to
provide additional practice sessions, but I understand it didn’t fully compensate for the
promised lessons.

Regarding the accommodation, we chose a highly-rated facility, but it seems it didn’t meet the
expected standards this time. We will address this with the resort to ensure improvements.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. We are taking these issues seriously and
will make necessary adjustments to prevent them in future trips.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Contact Information]

B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter Topic 4

You see this advertisement in a student newspaper.

Lifeguard assistants wanted

We are looking for someone in August to assist our lifeguards, provide supervision during
beach activities and observe swimmers.

Write to the Lifeguard Manager, saying what your experience and qualifications are and
stating the reasons why you are suitable for the job.

Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Subject: Application for Lifeguard Assistant Position

Dear Lifeguard Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Lifeguard Assistant position advertised in the student
newspaper. I believe my experience and qualifications make me a strong candidate for this role.

I have been a swimming instructor for the past two years, where I have gained extensive
experience in supervising swimmers and ensuring their safety. Additionally, I hold a CPR and
First Aid certification, which equips me with the necessary skills to handle emergency
situations effectively.

Last summer, I volunteered as an assistant lifeguard at my local community pool. In this role, I
assisted the head lifeguard in monitoring swimmers, organizing beach activities, and ensuring
that all safety protocols were followed. This experience has provided me with a solid
understanding of the responsibilities and challenges of lifeguard supervision.

I am a strong swimmer, attentive, and highly responsible. My passion for water safety and my
ability to stay calm under pressure make me well-suited for this position. I am confident that
my skills and dedication will contribute positively to your team.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my
application further.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]