The essay task at Cambridge B2 First level might be one of the first times learners encounter a truly formal writing task. At the previous level, B1 Preliminary, all the writing tasks are relatively casual and informal. This is where the B2 First Writing forces candidates to prove they really know how to organise and deliver a robust formal text. However, at the end of the day, the B2 First essay is a reasonably approachable task which can be tackled with a clear plan and plenty of practice. Here, we’ve got three questions on different B2 First essay topics that are all common at B2 level. If you’re not sure how to write a good essay, try our how to improve an essay post.
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B2 First essay topics
There are quite a range of possible topics at B2 First level. However, some of them lend themselves better to writing tasks than others. Remember, a writing task always needs to have elements that can be compared to each other, which can be either complementary or contrasting.
These are some of the B2 First essay topics you can practise:
- The environment
- Education and work
- Culture and customs
- Travel
- Leisure activities
- Health and fitness
- Technology
It’s a good idea to look at all of these topics in depth. Study vocabulary related to the topic and consider where you stand on different issues. In a class, you can do a vocabulary lesson followed by a class debate. Then follow up the debate with an essay question on the same topic as homework.
Common mistakes when writing an essay
At B2 level, exam candidates are often still crossing the boundary into being efficient users of English. While they may have a range of grammar and lexis to draw on, they may not always use it to good effect. As a teacher, you may encounter adult learners who haven’t written anything academic in decades. Likewise, you’ll find younger teens who haven’t yet had to produce a cohesive text in their academic careers.
In my experience, these are the biggest mistakes B2 level students make when writing an essay for the B2 First exam:
- Not including your own idea – One of the requirements of every First essay question is to include your own idea. It says it right there in the task. However, some people understand this to mean they have to include their opinion. While you should include your opinion, that’s not why it says “your own idea”. Every essay should include three content points. Two of those are provided in the question and one more must be provided by the writer.
- Paragraphs that are too long or too short – The word limit for the B2 First essay question is quite short (140-190 words). This means writers have to be quite concise and get to the point quickly. Give each paragraph a clear purpose and enough development to support your point. Avoid a long, rambling paragraph that leaves too little space for the rest of the essay.
- Over-personalisation – Your B2 First essay includes an element of opinion. In fact, the task explicitly asks you if you agree with a certain statement. However, that doesn’t mean you should fill the essay with 1st person pronouns and personal anecdotes. Support your point of view with relevant reasons and examples. You do not need specialist knowledge or researched evidence.
- Lack of conclusion – Sometimes people write an essay that perfectly evaluates 3 different content points and then finishes with a statement that says all points are equal. This is a mistake. The question asks you whether you agree with a statement. Your conclusion should clearly express where you stand on the issue. Don’t be wishy-washy!
- Trying too hard – The best B2 First essays are simple, to-the-point, well-structured and cohesive. Your essay isn’t going to change the world, so don’t go overboard. Once you’ve got a structure that works, rinse and repeat with different topics until you can consistently produce a well-polished text.
The materials
Here are three B2 First essay questions. They have been designed using typical B2 First essay topics for B2 level. Use them to practise and improve in preparation for the Cambridge B2 First exam.
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Preview
First Writing Plus
Work on B2 First essays with planning strategies, useful grammar and vocabulary, and sample answers, alongside the other Writing tasks in First Writing Plus.
Digital PDF: €9.95 · Also available in paperback
