EFL Cambridge English: B2 First Writing Guide

Comprehensive guidance to prepare English as a Foreign Language students for the Cambridge English: B2 First writing exam.

This resource is outstanding; the extensive experience of the author emanates from every page.

P Naylor, Teacher and Peer Reviewer

Explanations of key concepts followed by relevant consolidation activities develop the core skills needed to:

To be used in classroom, for independent study and as exam practice.
  • understand language usage and structures
  • write expressively and analytically
  • consider the target reader
  • write relevant answers
  • approach different text types (article, report, review, letter and email)

Throughout, students practise exam-style questions while learning about the requirements of the exam.

PLUS! Three full practice papers, which reflect the Cambridge English: B2 First sample assessment materials and offer authentic exam practice. Model answers provide an ideal basis for self- and teacher assessment.

Answers to all activities are provided.

What do teachers say about this resource? (8488)

This resource is outstanding; the extensive experience of the author emanates from every page. There is nothing superfluous here; every word is valuable, every activity guides the student towards the highest success criteria of the Cambridge mark-scheme with clear instructions, explanations and warnings. This is an academic triumph.

P Naylor, Teacher and Peer Reviewer

This is a great resource for teachers who are looking at improving their knowledge of of how to prepare their students to write for the Cambridge Frist writing examination ,especially with assessment in mind.

I like the fact that the resource provides plenty of support for teachers who are looking to improve their students’ writing, especially in terms of structuring their essays by using a wide variety of set expressions . I like also the fact that it has a set of exercises to encourage students to use their higher level critical thinking.

I like the many tips and activities that aim to help students to use language structures, expressions and set phrases, such as the expressions of agreement on page 9 so that will help them to be successful in their writing exams.

I like particularly the exam-style questions such as the one on page 26 in which students have to write a formal letter as students are provided with a model answer, a sample letter .

I find very useful that the assessment criteria, such as the focus on Content, task Achievement, organization and language from page 4 onwards, for the Cambridge First Writing exam, as well as the descriptors of the Assessment Scales are studied in depth, so that students can focus and understand on how their essays will be marked.

J Ermina, EFL and MFL teacher & Peer Reviewer

The use of examples for candidates to interact with – error correction, identification of word forms and rules, writing concepts – are its key strengths and would give a lot of critical reading and consciousness-raising opportunities. Effort had clearly been made to exploit and explain a comprehensive list of top-tier skills needed to succeed. Acknowledging academic skills, for instance, key question words, is definitely a merit as it reinforces the need to check and consider before committing to any plan or composition.

S Hall, ESOL and EFL Lecturer and Peer Reviewer