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B1 Preliminary for Schools study materials
B1 Preliminary for Schools study resources

B1 Preliminary for Schools: Writing

B1 Preliminary for Schools · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Writing

B1 Preliminary for Schools Writing is Paper 2: 45 minutes and two tasks. Part 1 is compulsory: you reply to an email from a friend using four notes. Part 2 offers a choice: write an article or a story. Each answer should be about 100 words. The paper tests whether you can communicate a clear message, organize short texts and use B1 grammar and vocabulary accurately enough for the reader.

Core rules

  • Part 1: answer all four notes. Each note needs a clear response, usually one or two sentences. Use an informal email frame: greeting, opening line, body, closing, sign-off.
  • Part 2 article: present ideas about a topic for a reader. Use a clear beginning, middle and end; direct questions can address the reader.
  • Part 2 story: use the given opening sentence exactly, then continue in past tenses with a clear sequence of events.
  • Organize with paragraphs and simple linkers: 'First', 'However', 'After that', 'In the end'.
  • Keep to the word limit. A longer answer with more errors often scores lower than a controlled shorter one.

Worked example

Part 1 note set: 'where to meet / when / what to bring / what to do if it rains.' A weak answer writes only 'Let's meet at the cinema at 6.' A strong answer covers each note: 'Let's meet outside the cinema at 6. I'll bring the tickets. If it rains, we can wait inside the café.' The reasoning is simple: the examiner checks four separate content points, so each sentence must answer a different note. The email also needs a friendly opening ('Thanks for your email') and a closing ('See you soon').

Traps

The costliest mistake is ignoring one note, because the content mark drops even if the English is good. Do not copy the prompt as your answer. Do not use formal phrases such as 'I am writing to inform you' in a friend's email. In a story, do not change the given opening sentence or switch to present tense for no reason. In an article, avoid a list of unconnected sentences; show a clear line of thought. Check verbs, articles and plurals at the end, but do not rewrite the whole text.