Cambridge First Certificate (FCE) - Comparing Writing Tasks

Comparing different Cambridge First Certificate (FCE) Writing tasks
with FCE Writing tasks on accommodation and useful phrases for Speaking Part 2
Look at the one example of each of the different tasks in the FCE Writing exam which are
given below. Compare and contrast the different tasks and what your writing should be like
in each case, finding as many similarities and differences as you can.

1. In your English class you have been talking about housing. Now, your English teacher

has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes given, giving reasons for your point of view.
“Everyone in the world has a fundamental human right to a roof over their heads (= a
place to live.)” Do you agree?
Notes
Write about
1. Reasons why people might not have somewhere to live.
2. How easy or difficult it might be to provide a living space for everyone who can’t

provide one for themselves.

3. … (your own idea)

Write your essay. You must use grammatically correct sentences with accurate spelling
and punctuation in a style appropriate for the situation.

2. You see this announcement on an English-language website.

Articles wanted

What would be your perfect home?
Tell us about a dream place to live for you, and why you would choose that kind of place.
Write us an article answering these questions. The best articles will be posted on our
website.

Write your article.

3. You have received this email from your English speaking friend, Alex.

Thanks for all your great advice on visiting your country. I almost feel ready!

Could you also let me know something about places to stay? What different kinds of
short-term accommodation are there in your city? Which one do you think is best for me,
and what’s the best way to book it?

Thanks!
Best wishes
Alex

Write your email.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2016

4. You have seen this advertisement in your local English language newspaper.

Hosting overseas students

Do you want to practice your English at home? Would you like to help make foreign
guests welcome in your country?

We need host families for students who will attend our language school next summer. If
you are interested in hosting a foreign student for two to four weeks in August, write to
Mr Case, including:
-

why you are interested in hosting a foreign student

-

what will be available for them in your home

-

what things you could do together with the foreign guest

Write your letter of application.

5. You recently saw this notice on an English-language website.

Reviews wanted.

The best hotel I have ever stayed in!

Have you stayed somewhere nice that you think other readers would like too? Write us a
review of the hotel. You should include information on:


where it is



why you liked it



who you would recommend it to

The best reviews will be posted on the website next month.

Write your review.

6. Your college is thinking about opening a new student dorm (= student halls) especially

for exchange students who come there from abroad to study for one year. Your English
teacher has asked you to write a report giving your suggestions about:



how big the dorm should be.



what facilities it needs to have.



how much it should cost students.

Write your report.

Try to use as many different comparing and contrasting phrases as you can to find things
in common and contrasts between the tasks above and what you need to do to write those
genres. If you run out of ideas or your teacher tells you to, look at the next page for topics
you could speak about.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2016

Possible similarities and differences between FCE Writing tasksÂ
-

Expressions that you can almost always use when you write that kind of task

-

Final paragraph

-

Final sentence

-

First sentence

-

First paragraph

-

Formality

-

How easy or difficult they are

-

How similar your answer can be every time you try that kind of question

-

How different each answer needs to be every time you see that kind of task in theÂ
exam

-

How to show that you know high-level language/ How to show off your knowledge ofÂ
advanced language/ How to impress the examiner

-

Length

-

Organisation/Â Structure/Â Paragraphing

-

Planning process (brainstorming etc)

-

Things that you shouldn’t do

-

Titles and headings

-

What is difficult about writing answers to that kind of task

-

What is easy about writing an answer to that kind of task

-

What you have to do to achieve what the task asks you to do

-

What the reader should get from your writing by reading it/ The purpose of writing thatÂ
thing

Use the language on one of the lines below to compare at least two different kinds of FCEÂ
Writing tasks each time, e.g. a report and an essay. Some lines can refer to three or moreÂ
different kinds of task because of similarities between some or all of the tasks. EachÂ
sentence must have a different comparing/ contrasting phrase, in other words you can’tÂ
use “but” each time.Â

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2016

Statements about different genres in FCE Writing

the reader should be convinced by your arguments and change their mind if they had aÂ
different opinion/  the reader should just be interested in what you write about and want toÂ
read to the end

the reader should understand why you made the recommendations that you made andÂ
accept them/ the reader should know whether they would like the thing that you areÂ
describing or not

needs an interesting title/ can have quite a boring title

has section headings/ has paragraphs starting with expressions showing the topic likeÂ
“Turning to…” and “As for…”

you can impress the examiner with your knowledge of informal English such as idioms/Â
you can impress the examiner with your knowledge of formal fixed phrases that are always
used in that kind of writing

the first sentence should get the reader’s attention and make them interested in readingÂ
more

if you include data, you will need to make up the figures and how you found them out/  ifÂ
you include data, it should be something that you could realistically know

it’s very important to stay on topic and answer the questions in the task

different levels of formality can be okay as long as you are consistent

planning the organisation of the writing is very quick and easy

can start with a single sentence and then move onto a new paragraphÂ

a memorable last line is nice

needs strong, colourful language like “wonderful”, “awful” and “definitely”/ should haveÂ
quite reasonable, academic-sounding language like “considerable” and “probably”

Compare your ideas with those on the next page. Other contrasts might be possible, soÂ
please check with your teacher if you have included other contrasting language and/ orÂ
statements about different FCE Writing tasks.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2016

Suggested answers
In an essay the reader should be convinced by your arguments and change their mind if
they had a different opinion. In contrast, with an article the reader should just be interested
in what you write about and want to read to the end.

In an essay the reader should understand why you made the recommendations that you
made and accept them but with a review the reader should know whether they would like
the thing that you are describing or not.

An article needs an interesting title whereas a report can have quite a boring title.

The most obvious difference between a report and an essay is that a report has section
headings but an essay has paragraphs starting with expressions showing the topic like
“Turning to…” and “As for…”

The most important difference between an email and a letter is that in an email you can
impress the examiner with your knowledge of informal English such as idioms whereas in
a letter you can impress the examiner with your knowledge of formal fixed phrases that are
always used in that kind of writing.

In both an article and a review the first sentence should get the reader’s attention and
make them interested in reading more.

One small but important contrast between a report and an article is that if you include data
in a report, you will need to make up the figures and how you found them out but if you do
so in an essay, it should be something that you could realistically know.

It’s very important to stay on topic and answer the questions in the task in a report, letter,
email, essay, review and article.

In an article different levels of formality can be okay as long as you are consistent, and the
same thing is true for a review.

Planning the organisation of the writing is very quick and easy for an email, a letter, a
review, and a report as well.

An email can start with a single sentence and then move onto a new paragraph, and so
can a letter.

A memorable last line is nice in an article, and in a review too.

The biggest difference between a review and an essay is that a review needs strong,
colourful language like “wonderful”, “awful” and “definitely” but an essay should have quite
reasonable, academic-sounding language like “considerable” and “probably”.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2016

Comparing and contrasting language presentation
Fill the gaps below with one word. Use a different word in each gap (even if using the
same word again might be possible).
With an essay the reader should be convinced by your arguments and change their mind if
they had a different opinion. In _________________________________, with an article
the reader should just be interested in what you write about and want to read to the end.

With an essay the reader should understand why you made the recommendations that you
made and accept them _______________________________________ with a review the
reader should know whether they would like the thing that you are recommending or not.

An article needs an interesting title ______________ a report can have quite a boring title.

The __________________________________________ obvious difference between a
report and an essay is that a report has section headings but an essay has paragraphs
starting with expressions showing the change in topic like “Turning to…” and “As for…”

The most important difference _______________________________________________
an email and a letter is that in an email you can impress the examiner with your knowledge
of informal English such as idioms whereas in a letter you can impress the examiner with
your knowledge of formal fixed phrases that are always used in that kind of writing.

In ________________________________________________ an article and a review the
first sentence should get the reader’s attention and make them interested in reading more.

One __________________ but important contrast between a report and an article is that if
you include data in a report, you will need to make up the figures and how you found them
out but if you do so in an essay, it should be something that you could realistically know.

It’s very important to stay on topic just answer the questions in the task in a report, letter,
email, essay, review ________________________________________________ article.

In an article different levels of formality can be okay as long as you are consistent, and
_______________________________________________ same thing is true for a review.

Planning the organisation of the writing is very quick and easy for an email, a letter, a
review, and a report ___________________________________________________ well.

An email can start with a single sentence and then a new paragraph, and then move onto
a new paragraph and ___________________________________________ can a letter.

A memorable last line in nice in an article, and in a review _________________________.

The biggest ___________________between a review and an essay is that a review needs
strong, colourful language like “wonderful”, “awful” and “definitely” but an essay should
have quite reasonable, academic-sounding language like “considerable” and “probably”.
Check your answers with the previous page. Other answers may be possible.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2016