FCE PAPER 2 WRITINGGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Paper format The paper contains two parts.
Timing 1 hour 20 minutes.
No. of parts 2.
No. of questions Candidates are required to complete two tasks: a compulsory one in Part 1 and one from a choice of five in Part 2.
Task types From the following: an article, an email, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story. Each task has a given purpose and a target reader.
Answer format The questions are in a booklet with lined pages for the answers. The blank pages at the back of the booklet can be used for writing notes or finishing answers, if necessary.
Marks Each question on this paper carries equal marks.
STRUCTURE AND TASKS
Task type and focus QUESTION 1 Writing a letter or email. Focus on advising, apologising, comparing, describing, explaining, expressing opinions, justifying, persuading, recommending and suggesting.
Format Candidates are required to deal with input material of up to 160 words. This may include material taken from advertisements, extracts from letters, emails, schedules, etc.
No. of tasks and length One compulsory task. 120–150 words.
Task type and focus QUESTIONS 2–4 Writing one of the following: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story. QUESTION 5 (Question 5 has two options) Writing one of the following, based on one of two prescribed reading texts: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review. Varying focuses according to the task, including: advising, comparing, describing, explaining, expressing opinions, justifying, recommending.
Format A situationally based writing task specified in no more than 70 words.
No. of tasks and length One task to be selected from a choice of five. 120–180 words.
Adapted from the 'FCE Handbook', which is available to order from Cambridge ESOL.
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