For the Cambridge English: First for Schools Examination

CAMBRIDGE FCE
P R AC T I C E T E S TS

1
Writing Models
 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

ΟΝΕ
Writing • Part 1
1 
In your English class you have been talking about family. Now your English teacher has asked
you to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some parents decide to have a large family. Is this a good or bad thing
for the children?

Notes
Write about:

1 having support and company

2 having to share
3 .......................... (your own idea)

Some people believe that the ideal family has lots of children, whereas others think that it is better
to have a small family. There are arguments in favour and against having a number of siblings.

There are definitely advantages for children who have lots of brothers and sisters. Firstly, when they
are young they always have someone to play with, so they don’t get bored or feel lonely. In addition,
when they are older, they can talk to each other about their problems and rely on their brothers and
sisters to help them if they need it.

Nevertheless, having lots of siblings can also have disadvantages. One negative point is that it is
expensive to bring up lots of children, so the family may have financial difficulties that they wouldn’t
have if they had fewer children. This means that children are often expected to share their belongings
rather than having their own things. Another disadvantage is that it is difficult for parents with lots
of children to give each child lots of attention, so it is easy to feel left out or ignored.

In conclusion, although there can be disadvantages to having lots of brothers and sisters, I believe
that most children would love to be part of a big family.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
ΟΝΕ
Writing • Part 2
2 You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

MY FAVOURITE PLACE
Tell us all about your favourite place and say why
it is special to you.
We will publish the most interesting articles next month.

Write your article.

My favourite place

Do you have a favourite place where you can relax? A place where stress simply melts away and you
can be yourself? For me, that place is definitely my grandparents’ cottage. Located in the countryside,
it was built by my grandfather with love and care many years ago.

It is made of stone and wood and the rooms are beautifully decorated. The fireplace in the living
room creates a sense of warmth which invites the family to get together and create long-lasting
memories. My favourite room is the library. If your idea of the perfect afternoon is spending time
with books, then you would also fall in love with this room.

The house is surrounded by a large garden with different types of plants and trees. The flowers are
fragrant and they make the garden smell lovely all year round. Can gardening make us feel happy?
Absolutely! It makes me calm and it gives me the chance to spend quality time with my grandmother
while growing healthy vegetables. My grandparents’ home is the place where I escape from my daily
routine. I hope you have a place like that too!

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

ΟΝΕ
Writing • Part 2
3 You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine for young people.

Stories wanted
We are looking for stories for our magazine. Your story must begin with this sentence:
While Mark was walking home from a friend’s house, he suddenly got the feeling he was
being followed.
Your story must include:
• a chase
• a surprise

Write your story.

While Mark was walking home from a friend’s house, he suddenly got the feeling he was being
followed. He had decided to take a shortcut through the woods because he was already late for
dinner. He instantly regretted it. He was so frightened that he would have lost his way if it hadn’t
been for the bright moon in the night sky.

Mark could hear the sound of branches snapping and feet rustling through the fallen leaves on the
ground. He started to walk faster. His heart was racing and he was sweating. All of a sudden, he
sensed that someone was approaching him. He could see the faint glow of lights in the distance. He
began to run, hoping that he would be able to escape.

Moments later, he safely arrived on his street. He was relieved. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He slowly turned around, only to see his older brother. ‘Mark! Where have you been? I’ve been looking
for you everywhere!’ his brother said in an alarmed tone. ‘What a surprise!’ Mark thought to himself,
and he smiled as they strolled towards home together.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
ΟΝΕ
Writing • Part 2
4 You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend.

Can you help me with a presentation I have to give in class? I have to talk about school
life in other countries. Can you tell me about your school, what lessons you have, how
pupils dress and what activities are available?
Write soon,
Chris

Write your letter.

Dear Chris,

It was great to hear from you. I’ll do my best to answer your questions!

First of all, let me tell you about my school. It’s on two floors, and it’s really just a lot of classrooms.
The head teacher has an office, of course, and there’s a teacher’s room too. We don’t have a gym,
but that’s not unusual in my country. You see, the weather is usually good here, so we have our PE
lessons in the playground.

I’m in the third year of high school, and I have lots of subjects! The main ones are language and
literature, maths, physics, biology, chemistry, history, English, French (some schools do German
instead of French) and Ancient Greek. Apart from lessons, there aren’t really any other activities to do
at school, apart from celebrations for important national dates. Most kids do after-school activities
too, but not at school. For example, I’m in the local swimming team, and my best friend goes to
ballet lessons.

We don’t wear school uniforms at my school, so we can wear whatever we want. That’s OK, but
sometimes I wish we had school uniforms so I didn’t have to think about what to wear every day!

Let me know if you need more information, and good luck with your presentation!

Bye for now,

Andy

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

TWO
Writing • Part 1
1 
In your English class you have been talking about education. Now your English teacher has
asked you to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some teachers believe they have to be very strict with students, whereas
others think this approach is wrong. Which is better for the students?

Notes
Write about:

1 keeping control in class

2 causing students to feel afraid
3 ........................ (your own idea)

Students often complain that their teachers are too strict, but most of them will admit that this is not
true for all teachers. The question is, how strict is too strict?

On the one hand, teachers are responsible for the education of their students, so they must ensure
that learning can occur in their classrooms. In order for this to happen, students must behave in an
appropriate way, and as a result it is often necessary for teachers to demand that certain rules are
obeyed. Furthermore, students must respect the fact that they are in school to learn, not just to
spend time with their friends.

However, it is also true that students must feel safe and free to express themselves for learning to
occur. Consequently, teachers shouldn’t be so strict that students feel afraid, either of their teacher,
or of giving their opinions.

To sum up, I believe that although teachers sometimes have to be strict, it is their responsibility to
make learning a positive experience for students.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
TWO
Writing • Part 2
2 You recently saw this notice in an English-language magazine called ‘Film Choice’.

Send in your reviews!

Have you seen a great film recently? If so, could you write us a review of the film you
saw? Include information on the characters, story and the features that made the film
so good and say why you would recommend the film to other people.
We will publish the best reviews.

Write your review.

Top Gun: Maverick

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is an exciting action movie about a special group of US Navy pilots who have a
difficult mission to destroy a nuclear facility.

In this sequel to the highly successful 1986 film ‘Top Gun’, Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell is
responsible for training the group of Top Gun graduates for the mission. Maverick is determined to
do what it takes to ensure that the mission is a success. Tom Cruise plays the role of Maverick, and
he didn’t disappoint! All the other actors also performed very well, but in my opinion Tom Cruise was
the most impressive.

Although I’m sure that the main attraction of the film for many viewers is the thrilling action in the
air which keeps you on the edge of your seat, I also enjoyed seeing Maverick’s relationships with
some of the people from the first film, namely Iceman and Penny, as well as Rooster, the son of his
friend Goose who died in the first film. Although I had seen the first film, I don’t think that viewers
who haven’t seen it would find these parts of the film difficult to follow.

I would recommend ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ to anyone who likes action films, whether or not they are
Tom Cruise fans.

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

TWO
Writing • Part 2
3 You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine for young people.

Stories needed
We are looking for stories for our magazine for young people. Your story must
begin with this sentence.
Andrea thought she had arrived at the station in time to catch the last train home,
but it had already left.
Your story must include:
• a phone call
• a long wait

Write your story.

Andrea thought she had arrived at the station in time to catch the last train home, but it had already
left. It had been her first day at her new job and, even though she was a little tired, she was felt
happy and proud of herself. Nothing could possibly ruin her day, not even a missed train ride.

At first, she had been unsure about accepting the job offer. She knew it would take an hour to
travel to and from work by train, and she wasn’t happy about that. Only hours after her first day in
the office, however, she had a change of heart. Her colleagues were all friendly and helpful and her
manager had been supportive and welcoming.

She reached into her handbag for her phone. ‘Dad, I’ve just missed the last train,’ Andrea said in a
tired yet excited tone. She knew it would take at least an hour for her dad to pick her up, so she
decided to explore the surrounding area. A colourful sign with a teacup on it caught her eye. Andrea
opened the café door. The smell of freshly made coffee and the sight of delicious snacks on the
counter gave her the feeling that it would be a good end to her day after all.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
TWO
Writing • Part 2
4 
You have received an email from your English-speaking pen friend.

I have to do a group project about outdoor activities in other countries and I’d like you
to help me if you can. Can you tell me how young people spend their time outdoors
during the year? Where are these activities available and why are they so popular?
Reply soon,
Sam

Write an email.

Hi Sam,

It was good to get your email, and I think it’s great that you’re going to write about outdoor
activities in other countries for your project! I hope the information I give you will be useful.

As you know, it’s usually mild in Greece and it doesn’t rain very much, so we play lots of sports
outdoors, such as basketball, football and volleyball. There are also lots of outdoor swimming clubs
here, where lots of young people swim all year round.

Apart from those ordinary sports which can be played anywhere, there are also lots of other outdoor
activities which young people like doing, especially activities you can do at the beach or on the sea,
like beach volleyball, rackets, sailing, paddleboarding (also known as SUP) and windsurfing. We love
spending time at the beach!

Something that might surprise you is the fact that winter sports like skiing and snowboarding are
also popular with young people here, as there are some great ski centres in the mountains in Greece.

I hope you like the outdoor activities that I have chosen.

Good luck with your project!

George

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

THREE
Writing • Part 1
1 
In your English class, you have been talking about how life has changed for teenagers. Now your
English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Parents often say modern teenagers have an easier life than they had as
teenagers. Is this opinion correct or not?

Notes
Write about:

1 having better technology

2 having to learn more
3 .......................... (your own idea)

According to lots of parents, their lives as teenagers were much more difficult than the lives
teenagers have today. Today’s teenagers, naturally, disagree with them. There is no doubt that the
teens of today have things available to them that their parents didn’t have when they were young,
but I don’t believe that their lives are necessarily easier.

No one can deny that teens today have devices which enable them to be in constant communication
with their friends. Their parents, on the other hand, either had to physically meet their friends to talk
to them, or use the single phone in the house which was usually located in a room where everyone
could hear you. However, these same devices also mean that today’s teenagers are at risk of being
bullied online, which in some instances actually ruins teenagers’ lives.

Furthermore, young people today are under a lot of pressure to do well at school to get into
university, as getting a job straight after leaving school is much more difficult than it used to be.
They also have much less free time than their parents did, as they have more lessons after school, for
example to learn foreign languages.

To conclude, I personally feel that parents should acknowledge the fact that today’s teenagers face
difficulties which did not exist when they were teens.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
THREE
Writing • Part 2
2 You have seen the following notice in an international magazine called ‘Our World’.

How Green are You?

We would like you to write an article telling us
about all the things you and your family do or have
done that are eco-friendly. Include everything from
what you do on a daily basis to the features in your
house that make it more environmentally friendly.

Write your article.

How green are you?

How eco-friendly is your lifestyle? Is there anything else you can do to protect the environment?
These are some of the questions my family and I ask ourselves on a daily basis, and they have
drastically changed our habits and way of living over the past few years.

Most of our new habits are fairly simple, yet they can be beneficial over time. Firstly, we all make
sure we turn off the tap when we are brushing our teeth. We have also recently begun timing our
showers, which has been fun and practical. Finally, we have set up a recycling bin next to our general
waste bin so that we can all recycle as much as possible.

Our house has also become more environmentally friendly over time. Did you know that, compared
to non-renewable energy sources, solar power is much more sustainable? That is exactly why we
have recently installed solar panels on our roof. Using LED lighting can help make your home run
more economically. We have seen a big difference in our electricity bills since we switched to LED
light bulbs. You can also become more eco-friendly by following some of our ideas!

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

THREE
Writing • Part 2
3 
You recently saw this notice in an English-language magazine called ‘Live Music’.

Reviews wanted
Have you seen a new group play live recently? If so, could you write us a review of
the concert you saw? Include information on the group, the songs, the audience
and atmosphere at the concert and say whether you would recommend a concert
given by the group to other readers.

Write your review.

Rap Kids concert

If you love rap music, make sure you see Rap Kids if you have the opportunity. They’re a new teen rap
group who write all their own songs, and they’re brilliant!

I hadn’t heard any of their music before I went to their concert at a local stadium near my home, but
all my friends were going so I got a ticket too. I’m very glad that I did! When we arrived, the stadium
was full of teenagers, and the atmosphere was electric as everyone waited for the concert to start.
Then the lights went down and Rap Kids came onto the stage, and the audience went wild!

The three main members of the group did all the singing, but the dancers were also amazing. What
I liked most about the concert, though, was the lyrics to the songs. Two hours passed without my
realising it, and I could have listened to them for another two hours!

Since the concert, I’ve listened to a lot of their music, and the more I get to know Rap Kids, the
more I like them. Teenagers who like rap music will really enjoy their music, and I would definitely
recommend seeing them in concert if you have the chance!

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
THREE
Writing • Part 2
4 
You recently celebrated your birthday and had a great time. Your English-speaking friend has written to
you asking how you spent your day. Write a letter in reply to your friend’s letter describing what you did
on that special day.

Write your letter.

Hi Jane!

Thanks very much for your letter, and your kind wishes for my birthday.

I had a wonderful birthday this year! It was on a Saturday, which was great as I didn’t have to go to
school. I opened my presents from my parents and my brother at breakfast, which I do every year.
Then my mum and I went into town to meet up with my cousin, my aunt and my grandma. We did
some shopping, and then we went for lunch at a nice café. After that I went home so I could get
ready to go to the cinema with my friends!

We went to see the latest James Bond film at the local cinema. There were ten of us, so my dad said
it was too much for him to pay for everyone’s tickets. It didn’t matter though, as my friends were
happy to pay for their own tickets. After the film, we went to a pizza restaurant near the cinema.
Dad had given me some money for that, so I paid the bill. My friends were delighted, and we had
lots of fun. Luckily, my parents know the restaurant owners, so they didn’t mind us making so much
noise!

Well, that’s all for now. Write soon!

Lots of love,
Sophia

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

FOUR
Writing • Part 1
1 In your English class, you have been talking about people who have to move because of their
job. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some parents have to move to get a better job. Is this a good or a bad thing
for the children?

Notes
Write about:

1 leaving friends behind

2 seeing new places
3 .......................... (your own idea)

Nowadays, more and more parents are choosing to take jobs in other towns or cities, but how does
moving away from their home town affect their children?

There is no doubt that it is difficult for children who are forced to move because of their parents’
jobs. Firstly, they will have to make new friends, which can be hard for some children. They will also
miss their old friends, and possibly family members too, although they can keep in touch with them
all by phone and email. Finally, they will have to go to a new school, which can also be a stressful
experience.

Nevertheless, there are advantages to moving to a different town or city. For example, children will
have the opportunity to live somewhere new, and experience new things. Another point to consider
is that if the parents have better jobs, they will also have more money, so the whole family will be
able to enjoy a better standard of living.

All things considered, I feel that moving to a new place may be difficult for some children, but in my
opinion it also offers them exciting opportunities.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
FOUR
Writing • Part 2
2 You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

A GREAT DAY
Tell us about a great day in your life. Say how you spent it,
who you spent it with and what made it so special.

We will publish the best articles in the next issue.

Write your article.

A great day

They say that the most memorable moments in your life are the ones you never planned. That is
exactly what happened to my family and I one day last summer. My father had decided to accept a
new job, which meant we had to move to a new city. Have you ever felt like everything in your life is
falling apart? Well, that’s exactly how I felt that Sunday morning as I travelled with my parents to our
new home.

We had been driving for a few hours, so we decided to stop somewhere to stretch our legs and have
a snack. As we were looking for a café or a restaurant, we saw a funfair! I begged my parents to stop
and, luckily, they agreed. As we entered the funfair, I was amazed by the number of rides available.

Which one did we go on first? Well, the dodgems, of course! Our next stop was the roller coaster,
which was decorated with funny pictures and flashing lights. Our visit ended with some delicious
popcorn and candyfloss. I will never forget that day. It was the beginning of our wonderful new life
in a new city.

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

FOUR
Writing • Part 2
3 You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine.

Stories needed
We need stories for our magazine. Your story must begin with this sentence:
The moment Brian closed the front door, he realised he’d left his keys and money
inside the house.
Your story must include:
• a ladder
• the police

Write your story.

The moment Brian closed the front door, he realised he’d left his keys and money inside the house.
Trembling, he quickly searched for his phone in his pockets, but he couldn’t find it. How could he
have been so foolish? He was about to miss his favourite band’s concert and he had no way to call
for help!

Suddenly, he remembered that his father had left their ladder in the back garden the previous
evening. He could use it to reach the attic window, which had luckily been left open. Brian rushed
to the back garden, lifted the ladder and carried it to the front door. As he was carefully climbing up
the ladder, he heard a siren. A minute later, a police car stopped in front of his home, and a well-built
police officer with fair hair got out.

‘What are you doing up there?’ the police officer asked Brian in a questioning manner. ‘I’m trying to
break into my own home,’ Brian replied, laughing. His new neighbours, worried that a thief might
be trying to break in, had decided to call the police. Just then, Brian’s father’s car appeared in the
driveway. Brian smiled. He knew he would be able to go to the concert after all.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
FOUR
Writing • Part 2
4 You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend.

Can you help me with a group project I have to do? I have to write about
famous people in history from other countries. I have chosen your country.
Can you tell me about two or three of the most famous people, why they
became so famous and how they are remembered in your country today.
Please write soon, Jennifer

Write your letter.

Dear Jennifer,

It was wonderful to hear from you! I’m glad that you have chosen to write about famous Greek
people for your project, and I hope you’ll find the information below useful.

First of all, I think you should definitely write about Alexander the Great. I think he’s probably the
most famous Greek ever! He became king at the age of 20, and although he died when he was only
32, he is remembered today as being one of the best military leaders of all time. He never lost a
battle!

The second person I think you should write about was also a king in ancient times, and you have
probably heard of him thanks to a famous film called ‘300’. Leonidas, who was the king of Sparta, is
famous for the battle of Thermopylae, where he and his 300 Spartan soldiers died protecting Greece
from the Persians. Today, there is a statue of Leonidas at the site of the battle.

I hope you like the famous Greeks that I have chosen. Let me know if you need more help with your
project.

All the best,

Poppy

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Paper 2 Writing

FIVE
Writing • Part 1
1 
In your English class, you have been discussing examinations. Now your teacher has asked you
to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some people believe that examination results are the best way of
measuring a student’s ability. Do you think examination results always
show how well a student understands a subject?

Notes
Write about:

1 good students getting good marks

2 luck affecting examination results
3 .......................... (your own idea)

Exams are used in schools across the world to measure students’ knowledge. Good exam results are
extremely important for students who want to go to college or university when they leave school,
and they also show everyone how good a school is. The question is, do students’ exam results always
reflect their understanding of a subject?

Generally speaking, students who do well in a subject in class usually do well in their exams in that
subject, so for them it is a good way to measure their understanding. Moreover, the national exams
which take place in the final year of school are very fair because they give students the opportunity
to have their work marked by someone who is not their teacher.

However, everyone who has ever sat an exam knows that there are some unlucky occasions when you
can’t remember the necessary information at that exact moment, or you don’t read a question carefully.
As a result, you don’t do as well as expected. Another point to consider is nerves. Some people are so
nervous during an exam that they can’t perform to the best of their ability. Consequently, their results
don’t reflect their understanding of the subject.

All in all, despite the fact that exams are fair to some extent, I don’t believe that they always show a
student’s knowledge of a subject.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
FIVE
Writing • Part 2
You recently saw this notice in an English-language magazine called Television Global.
2 

Reviews wanted
Have you seen a good documentary recently? If so, could you write a review for
Television Global? Include information on the subject, why it was interesting, what
you learned and say why you would recommend the documentary to other people.
The best reviews will be published soon.

Write your review.

Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet

I don’t spend a lot of my free time watching documentaries, but my one exception is anything
involving Sir David Attenborough. As a result, it was inevitable that I would watch ‘Breaking
Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet’.

Although Attenborough’s documentaries are usually well-known for his insight into the lives of
animals around the world, ‘Breaking Boundaries’ is different. In this documentary film, which is a
little under two hours’ long, Attenborough has teamed up with Swedish scientist Johan Rockstrom to
examine the damage we are doing to our planet, and the likely outcomes this could have.

Unlike lots of other documentaries, ‘Breaking Boundaries’ is not just about climate change, or the
damage being done to animal habitats. This film tells the story how of humans are pushing Earth
beyond the boundaries that have kept the planet stable for 10,000 years. It explains what are known
as the nine planetary boundaries which, if crossed, will threaten life on Earth as we know it. This
concept was completely new to me, and it was fascinating, not to mention terrifying, to learn about
what could happen if these limits are exceeded.

I think this is one of the most important documentaries ever, and everyone should watch it!

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Paper 2 Writing

FIVE
Writing • Part 2
3 You have seen this announcement in an English-language science magazine.

Changes
Tell us how you think daily life will be different in fifty years from now. Include
changes you think will occur at school, at home and in leisure activities.
Some of the articles will be published next month.

Write your article.

Changes

It’s fun to dream about what our life will be like 50 years from now. What will houses be like? How
will we learn? Will we still be able to visit amusement parks and theatres for our entertainment?

I predict that technology will play a big part in the changes that we will see in our lives in the future.
Fifty years from now, technology will have taken over in the classroom. Teachers will have been
replaced by robots and classes will only be conducted online. Technology will also be responsible for
changes in our homes, as we will be able to control everything in them at the touch of a button.

In terms of free-time activities, traditional gyms, theatres and cinemas will be a thing of the past.
People will only attend workout classes online, and a large number of video-streaming services will
be available for people to choose from. No one knows what the future holds, but big changes are
coming our way.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
FIVE
Writing • Part 2
4 You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend.

I’ve been invited to go on holiday by my two best friends. Kaylie is going on

a skiing holiday with her parents and Jackie’s family are going to sunny
Madagascar for their winter holiday. I want to go with one of them, but I’m
afraid the other won’t be happy with my choice. Please can you help me?
Best wishes, Anna

Write your letter.

Dear Anna,

It was great to get your letter. You’re so lucky – I wish someone would invite me to go on holiday
with them! I know it’s difficult for you to decide which holiday to go on, and I can’t tell you which
one to choose, but I have some advice for you.

I think your choice should depend on a few things. First of all, which holiday do you think you would
enjoy most? For example, do you enjoy skiing, or would you prefer to go somewhere hot? Also,
would you ever get another chance to go to Madagascar?

Another thing you should consider is who you would have more fun with. You say that Kaylie and
Jackie are your two best friends, but which one do you prefer spending time with? Also, what about
their families? Do you know them? Do you like them? Finally, perhaps you should think about who
would be more upset if you didn’t go with them – Kaylie or Jackie?

I know I’ve given you a lot to think about, but I hope I’ve helped you. Why don’t you write to me
again when you know which holiday you’re going to choose?

Bye for now!

Pat

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Paper 2 Writing

SIX
Writing • Part 1
1 
In your English class, you have been talking about how effective punishment is for children. Now
your English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Some parents believe that their children should be punished whenever

they break the rules. Do you think that punishment is a good or a bad
thing for children?

Notes
Write about:

1 makes children responsible

2 causes arguments
3 .......................... (your own idea)

Everyone has rules in their lives which they must follow, and young people are no different. Most
children know that rule breaking has consequences, but is punishing them the best answer?

Some parents think that punishing their children for breaking rules will make them behave better,
therefore making them better people. I don’t believe that this is true, for two reasons. Firstly,
children, especially teenagers, often argue with their parents about rules and punishments, so their
behaviour will be worse, not better. Secondly, children will obey rules for fear of punishment, not
because they realise that following them is the responsible thing to do.

In my opinion, children need to understand why each rule shouldn’t be broken. For example, it may
be impolite, or it may be dangerous for other people. Having said that, I personally feel that children
who break rules again and again should be punished, especially if they put people in danger or treat
people badly.

As far as I’m concerned, it is far more important that children understand the reasons behind the
rules, rather than being punished for breaking them.

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
SIX
Writing • Part 2
2 
You see this notice in an international youth magazine.

Reviews wanted!
We are asking for reviews of summer camps our readers have been to. Your review should
include information about the location of the camp, the facilities and activities at the camp as
well as the staff. Would you recommend this camp to other people your age?

Write your review.

Sports Camp Village

Last summer, I spent two weeks at Sports Camp Village, and I wish I’d spent the whole summer
there! Approximately one hour from Athens, this camp is for children aged twelve to eighteen.

As its name suggests, this camp is suitable for children who like sports, and it has great facilities.
Besides the more ordinary sports like football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, cycling and swimming, it
also provides lessons in archery, fencing, martial arts and horse riding. There’s even a mini golf course,
a climbing wall, and a skate park! Apart from sports, there are also lots of other activities at the camp
such as music, art and drama.

Camp facilities include bungalow-style accommodation with their own bathrooms, two huge dining
rooms, a doctor’s surgery, a library and an open-air theatre. The team leaders are great fun, and all
the sports are taught by qualified instructors or coaches.

Although Sports Camp Village is the perfect camp for young people who like sports, I’m sure that any
young person would have an amazing time at this camp. I’m definitely going back next summer!

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 TEST
Paper 2 Writing

SIX
Writing • Part 2
3 You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

A GREAT PARTY
Tell us about a great party you went to and say why it was so good.
We will publish the best articles next month.

Write your article.

A great party

I have attended many special celebrations in my life, but the one I will never forget is my sister’s 16th
birthday party. It took place at our home, and it will always be one of my fondest memories.

In my country, a young person’s ‘sweet sixteen’ party is one of the most important milestones in their
life, as it symbolises the beginning of the transition to adulthood. We chose a disco theme, and all of
our friends and relatives were dressed up in disco outfits. Disco balls and bright colourful lights were
used to decorate the party space, along with balloons. Everyone gave my sister amazing birthday
presents, but the best one was definitely from my parents. They bought my sister her own karaoke
machine, complete with microphone!

The best thing of the night was the karaoke competition. We sang everything from hits of the past
to today’s most popular songs. Who won? Well, me of course! My sister’s sweet sixteen disco party
was an incredible experience!

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 Paper 2 Writing
TEST
SIX
Writing • Part 2
4 You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine for young people.

Stories needed
We are looking for stories in our magazine. Your story must begin with this sentence:
By the time Robert realised he was lost, it had got dark and he had almost run out of petrol.
Your story must include:
• a dead mobile phone battery
• an old house

Write your story.

By the time Robert realised he was lost, it had got dark and he had almost run out of petrol. He had
hit the road early that afternoon because he hadn’t wanted to be late. They had been planning the
family reunion at his grandparents’ home in the countryside for months, and he wasn’t planning on
missing it.

He hadn’t visited his grandparents for a long time and he was not familiar with the route, so he was
using a GPS navigation app on his mobile phone. Suddenly the screen went black. ‘Oh, no! I’ve run
out of battery,’ he thought to himself. When he realised that he had left his phone charger at home,
he felt desperate. How would he get help?

He got out of his car and started searching the area. After a while, he came across an old house. It
looked abandoned, but Robert knocked on the door anyway. After what seemed like a very long
time to Robert, an old man appeared. Robert didn’t recognise him at first, but his sparkling blue eyes
reminded him of someone he had known long ago. It was Mr Green, his grandfather’s best friend!
Robert smiled to himself, thinking how lucky he was.

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