Cambridge B2 First (FCE): How to Write an Email/Letter
Informal email Hi David, How have you been? It’s really been ages since I last heard from you. I’m really stoked that your friends want to come to my area to learn about its past and I hope I can give you a couple of tips. If your friends want to see interesting places and learn something about Barcelona, they should absolutely swing by La Sagrada Familia or Casa Batlló where they can get tons of info about one of Barcelona’s most famous people Antoni Gaudí and modernism. In terms of getting around I would recommend grabbing one of the tourist tickets for public transport because it doesn’t cost the world and you can simply jump on all the buses, trains and even the metro, or your friends could rent a bike as everything’s close by in the city. Well, that’s all for now. I hope your friends are going to have a blast and drop me a line if you need anything else, OK? Have a good one and catch up soon. Best wishes, Phill
Formal letter Dear Mrs Hopkins, I am writing in regards to your advertisement which I found in the London Globe and I would like to apply to join your party on your trip around the globe. The opportunity sounds very attractive to me and I would love to join your group so as to broaden my knowledge of different cultures, cuisines and peoples. So far, I have travelled in Europe, especially in Spain and the UK, where I met many interesting people with whom I developed friendships that I value enormously in my life. As to what I can bring to the table, I believe that my social and cooking skills as well as my language abilities – I speak English, Spanish and German fluently – could tremendously benefit the group. Thank you in advance for considering my application. I am available for an interview Monday to Friday from 8 to 11 o’clock in the morning and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Teacher Phill
Introduction
An email/a letter is written in response to the situation outlined in the question. Letters and emails in the B2 First Writing paper will require a response which is consistently appropriate in register and tone for the specified target reader. Candidates can expect to be asked to write letters or emails to, for example, an English-speaking friend or colleague, a potential employer, a college principal or a magazine editor.from: Cambridge English First Handbook for Teachers
So different and yet so similar
Alright, writing letters and emails is definitely a huge topic as there are some important differences between the two which you should absolutely know, and I thought about breaking this post up into two, but letters and emails in the FCE exam are also very similar so we’re going to make this happen in one article.
What a typical email/letter task looks like
As I said above, emails and letters in the FCE exam are similar yet different at the same time. We are going to have a look at certain things that apply to both types of task and an example task of either one to see what we need to do to get ready to write.
Do this for emails AND letters
Firstly, we want to see what to include in our email and, secondly, who we are writing to in order to choose the correct register. The best way to do this is to underline the key pieces of information. Because I’m a nice teacher I’ve already completed this step for you:
On top of that, when you write to a friend like David you have to write in an informal style. Generally speaking, this means that you should use contractions ( e.g. I’m, don’t), colloquial expressions (e.g. tons of, ‘What’s happening?’) as well as phrasal verbs and idioms (end up, ‘Guess what!’). Later in this article I will give you a list with very useful expressions specifically for writing emails and letters so keep reading until the end 🙂 .
How to organise your email/letter
We remember that there are three topic points in the task so we can already break up our letter into three paragraphs. On top of that, we have to add an opening and closing paragraph and formula simply because that’s what we do in emails and letters (I’m sure the same is done in your native language or country as well.), so we get to five paragraphs.
Don’t forget to plan your email/letter
The different parts of an email/letter, opening formula and paragraph.
Hi David, How have you been? It’s really been ages since I last heard from you. I’m really stoked that your friends want to come to my area to learn about its past and I hope I can give you a couple of tips.
Dear Mrs Hopkins, I am writing in regards to your advertisement which I found in the London Globe and I would like to apply to join your party on your trip around the globe.
Topic paragraphs
In general, we can give each topic point its own paragraph in which we do exactly what we are supposed to do. Of course, you can always change the order of the topic points or even combine two of them into a single paragraph, but you definitely can’t go wrong if you keep them separate.
If your friends want to see interesting places and learn something about Barcelona, they should absolutely swing by La Sagrada Familia or Casa Batlló where they can get tons of info about one of Barcelona’s most famous people Antoni Gaudí and modernism. In terms of getting around I would recommend grabbing one of the tourist tickets for public transport because it doesn’t cost the world and you can simply jump on all the buses, trains and even the metro, or your friends could rent a bike as everything’s close by in the city.
The opportunity sounds very attractive to me and I would love to join your group so as to broaden my knowledge of different cultures, cuisines and peoples. So far, I have travelled in Europe, especially in Spain and the UK, where I met many interesting people with whom I developed friendships that I value enormously in my life. As to what I can bring to the table , I believe that my social and cooking skills as well as my language abilities – I speak English, Spanish and German fluently – could tremendously benefit the group.
Closing paragraph and formula
Well, that’s all for now . I hope your friends are going to have a blast and drop me a line if you need anything else, OK? Have a good one and catch up soon. Best wishes , Phill
Thank you in advance for considering my application . I am available for an interview Monday to Friday from 8 to 11 o’clock in the morning and I look forward to hearing from you soon . Yours sincerely , Teacher Phill
Useful language for emails/letters
| Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms XY, (if you know who you are writing to) Dear Sir/Madam, (if you don’t know who you are writing to) | Hi XY, Hello XY, Dear XY, | |
| I am writing to … I am writing in reference to … Thank you for you letter/email. | How are you? How’s it going? How are things? How have you been? Great to hear from you! It’s been ages! | |
| Thank you for considering my application. I am available for an interview … I can be contacted on [number] … I look forward to hearing from you soon / in the near future. | Well, I have to go now. That’s all for now. Anyway, I should get going. Drop me a line soon. Catch up soon. Take care. | |
| Yours sincerely, (if you know who you are writing to) Yours faithfully, (if you don’t know who you’re writing to) Kind regards, | Best wishes, Love, Lots of love, Talk to you soon, All the best, Take care, Warm regards, |
How you email/letter is marked
Now it’s time to practise, similar posts, cambridge b2 first (fce): how to calculate your score, cambridge b2 first (fce): how to write an essay, cambridge b2 first (fce): speaking part 2, cambridge b2 first (fce): speaking, cambridge b2 first (fce): reading & use of english, cambridge b2 first (fce): reading & use of english part 4.
B2 First Email/Letter Writing Guide
The Cambridge B2 First (FCE) email/letter isn’t as easy as you think! Follow these steps to learn how to write an email/letter for the B2 First exam.
Post Contents
What is the Cambridge B2 First Email/Letter?
- Part 2 of the writing test – choose between 3 options. Be careful! The email/letter isn’t on every Cambridge B2 exam. (The 4 options are report, review, email/letter, and article. The exam will only include three of the four options.)
- 140-190 word limit
- You have about 40 minutes to plan and write your email/letter
- You must reply to an email/letter you have received
- The topic requires general knowledge only
- The email is formal, neutral, or informal based on the reader and type of email/letter
What’s the difference between the letter and the email?
For the B2 First writing exam, the structure of the email and letter are going to be very similar . However, you need to be careful about which TYPE of email or letter you have to write.
For example, a letter of application is going to be more formal and polite because it is written for a manager. You might want to include some modal verbs to sound more polite. You’ll also want to use formal vocabulary for the greeting, closing, and signing-off.
In contrast, an email to a friend should sound friendly and can include contracted forms like “I’m” and “won’t.” You can use phrasal verbs to sound more natural. The greeting, closing, and signing-off should be informal .
The main idea is: WHO are you writing to and about WHAT?
Step One: Look at the Task (1 minute)
To start, read the task carefully. You will need to write a reply to the message.
Read the task question carefully and HIGHLIGHT:
- Who you are writing to
- What kind of email/letter is required
- Any questions you must answer or information you must give
Tip: If you don’t understand the message, DON’T PANIC. Try your best to write an email/letter. You will still get points for grammar, vocabulary, and structure.
Step Two: Write a plan (5 minutes)
A plan helps you organize your thoughts and helps you write a better B2 First email/letter
First, writing out a basic outline:
Signing-off
Next, write a few words for each section of the outline . DO NOT write whole sentences. This takes too much time. Try to focus on keywords and short phrases.
In addition, you can prepare a list of linking words and related vocabulary . Getting these words written down before you start helps you remember to use them.
Example B2 First email/letter Outline
- Greeting – Hello David,
- Opening – Nice to hear from you
- Body – Places to visit/history: boating on the lakes, capitol building, brewery
Best way to travel: bike
- Closing – Invite David’s friends for dinner
- Signing-off – Cheers,
Tip: Time yourself – see how long it takes for you to write a plan. Try to reduce that amount of time as much as possible.
Step 3: Write your email/letter (32 minutes)
On the official test, you must write with a pen . No erasable pens or pencils are allowed. I suggest writing your plan and email/letter with a pen every time you practice.
Let’s take a look at each part of the B2 email/letter.
The greeting is addressed to the person you are writing to . Write to the person in the task. Do not invent a name.
Informal greeting – Hello/Hi (person’s first name),
Neutral greeting – Dear (person’s name),
Formal greeting – Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms (person’s last name), Dear Sir/Madam,
TIP: Mr is for a man, Mrs is for a married woman, and Ms is for a woman who isn’t married or it isn’t clear.
The opening of the B2 email/letter is 1-2 sentences . You can thank the person for their email/letter, ask a question and/or write a sentence about WHY you are writing to them.
Example opening for an informal email
Thanks for your email! I hope that you and your family are doing well. I am happy to recommend some places for your friends to visit.
Example opening for a formal letter of application
I am writing to apply for the position of lifeguard that I saw posted in the swim center last week.
Body of the B2 First email/letter
The body is where you will answer questions and give necessary information to the reader . Try to write 2-3 paragraphs , changing the paragraph each time you have a new topic.
Use linking words to connect sentences and paragraphs.
The closing is a sentence or two to finish off the letter.
Example closing for an informal email
Let me know if you think of any other questions. Let’s meet up soon!
Example closing for a formal letter of application
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon about the position.
Write a signing-off and comma . Then, sign your name below .
Informal – Love, See ya, Cheers, Take care,
Neutral – Regards, Warm regards,
Formal – Sincerely, Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully,
Step Four: Review your writing (2 minutes)
Take two minutes after writing to check for spelling and grammatical errors . Also, make sure that you’ve answered all the questions / given all the necessary information .
How can I get a higher mark on the B2 First email/letter?
Now that you know how to write an email/letter for the Cambridge B2 First exam, let’s look at how to get the best mark possible.
Increase your mark on your B2 First email/letter
- Include 5-8 linking words – these words introduce paragraphs and connect ideas
- Use a variety of grammatical structures – you should have both simple and complex forms. Try to use perfect and future forms, conditionals, comparatives, relative clauses and passive
- Make the essay interesting to read – the examiners read hundreds of essays so make yours easy to read and engaging
- Use the correct amount of words (140-190) – it’s ok to be a few words over the limit, but not too many
Final Advice
The best way to improve your writing skills … is to write ! Try to write a few pieces of writing each week and ask your teacher for feedback. I have had students who entered my class with very poor writing skills and with practice, they were able to pass the exam after only 10 weeks!
If you want feedback on your writing from me, you can schedule a 30 or 60-minute private lesson via Zoom . Email me at [email protected] to schedule a lesson. I love helping students improve their writing!
If you want more practice for the B2 First, try these lessons:
B2 First Essay Writing Guide
B2 First Key Word Transformations Practice
10 (FCE) B2 First Writing Exam Tips
B2 First Speaking Exam Part 1 Tips
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How to Write an Informal Email for FCE Writing
Luis @ kse academy.
- noviembre 8, 2019
As we have already mentioned several times, the Writing B2 First (FCE) paper consists of 2 parts. In the first one, you have to write an essay. In the second part, you must choose between different types of writings, among which you migh want to choose to write an email . For this reason, in this post I am going to teach you how to write an informal email for FCE Writing part 2. Also, we will see a good example of an informal email for FCE and you can check out a full FCE Writing Guide where you can find more examples of emails , letters and other types of writings.
Sample answer
Useful expressions for an informal email for fce writing.
Este artículo también está disponible en castellano.
An email is an example of an interactive writing , which means that we are writing to someone rather than just for someone to read. For this reason, emails and letters are a very particular type of writing for FCE in comparison with essays , articles , reviews or reports . So let’s take a look at the main characteristics of emails:
- Purpose of an informal email: The purpose of an informal email will depend on each task. Some tasks ask you to provide your friend with some important information, while others might ask you to ask for some advice. It is common for a friend or relative to ask you something about the place where you live, while saying that they will be visiting soon.
- Language: Given that we are writing to a friend or close relative , our language will be relaxed and friendly. We could call it informal language if you want. So we will be making use of contracted forms, common phrasal verbs, colloquial expressions and even flexible punctuation (E.g.: using em dashes «–»)
- Structure: One of the cool things about emails is that they always follow the same structure . In general terms, we always need an opening and a closing formula ; an introductory and closing paragragh ; and the body , which will consist of as many paragraphs as ideas you are asked to discuss.
- Common topics: Many informal emails to friends and relatives deal with giving advice on a certain subject, such as visiting your hometown , keeping fit , advice on which cities to visit in your country, organising a party for a mutual friend, etc. Sometimes, these topics may appear in combination.
- Number of words: like all FCE Writing tasks, informal emails should be written in 140 – 190 words .
FCE Writing Informal Email Example
Now that we are familiar with the characteristics of an informal email for First (FCE) Writing , let’s take a look at an example of an informal email at B2 level , both at the task and at a sample answer.
Instructions of an informal email
It is extremely important to pay careful attention to these instructions , because it is here where we have to find out what to talk about in our email. For example, in this case we have the following:
- The addressee: an English friend of yours
- The context: is visiting your city next summer
- The main ideas/paragraphs: tell him about the places he should visit / and the clothes / invite him to stay with you
And that’s how you know what you have to write about.
Now that we have a sample task , let’s take a look at a sample FCE answer to the task above. Pay attention not only to the language, but also to the clear structure marked in red.
If we take a quick look at the email above, we can see the following features:
- The email layout is extremely clear . This is easily achieved by using opening and closing formulas and paragraphs, a signature, and allowing some space between all the semi-independent paragraphs.
- The opening and closing formulas are used to say «hi» and «goodbye» in a polite way.
- The introductory paragraph is typically used to react to news ( It’s great to hear from you… / I’m so excited about.. .) and to introduce the topic of our email.
- The main body deals with each of the sub tasks, which in this case are: what to visit, what to wear and invite him.
- In the closing paragraph we start saying goodbye and we can ask for a reply to our email.
- Contractions : It’s great, I’m, you’ll have, etc.
- Common phrasal verbs : put you up, check out.
- Colloquial language : How are you doing?, you should totally, you can’t miss, drop me a line, etc .
- Writing as we think : Oh, By the way, Anyway,
- Flexible punctuation : …viewpoint – you’ll have the best…
This is a good example of an informal email for FCE Writing . By the way, you must bear in mind that it has been written to simulate a strong B2 level, without necessarily reaching C1.
So if you want to learn how to write an informal email for FCE , you need to have a set of expressions ready to use. Some of these useful expressions are the following:
- Dear Sarah,
- Hello Sara,
- How’s it going?
- How are you doing?
- How are things?
- How are things going?
- It’s great to hear from you!
- Long time, no see!
- Sorry I haven’t written for ages, but
- I’m really sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you.
- I’m glad to hear that
- I’m so happy that
- Great news about your
- I’m very happy to hear about
- It’s so great that
- I’m so sorry to hear about
- Sorry to read about
- I can’t tell you how sad I am that
- I’m extremely sorry to hear about
- It’s just awful to hear that
- Oh, by the way,
- Hey, did you hear about…?
- One more thing,
- By the way, tell me about
- Well, I gotta go now.
- Anyway, I should get going.
- I’ve got to leave you now.
- I’d better get going.
- Well, it’s time to go
- Make sure you write soon
- Don’t forget to drop me a line soon.
- Look after yourself.
- Take care of yourself.
- All my love,
- Lots of love,
- All the best,
- Best wishes,
- Best,
- Kind regards,
Common question: What happens if I write more than 190 or less than 140 words?
As I’ve explained in the past, Cambridge English examiners don’t waste time counting the words of you informal email to penalise you based on that fact. But think about this: if you’ve written many more than necessary, you are probably including irrelevant information , right? Now that’s a reason for losing points. In the same way, if you write under 140 words you are probably missing essential information .Therefore, I always recommend writing up to 10 or 20 words over the limit. In this way, you won’t lose any points for including irrelevant information.
FCE Writing Guide with examples (pdf)
Although there are more posts coming up about how to write other types of FCE Writing , if you don’t want to wait any more, simply get the official KSE Academy FCE Writing Guide . In this guide you will learn:
- How to write an essay and 3 examples.
- How to write an article and 3 examples.
- How to write a review and 3 examples.
- How to write a report and 3 examples.
- How to write an email or letter and 3 examples.
- Over 300 useful expressions for every FCE Writing .
Would you like to see a sample of this guide? Here it is!
Did you find this useful? Why not share it with other teachers and students of English? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and to follow us on Facebook Twitter , Pinterest, Instagram, Google+ y YouTube. 🙂
6 comentarios en “How to Write an Informal Email for FCE Writing”
fenomeno te amo me salvaste la vida
That was so helpful! Can’t thank you enough!
Thank you, Mel. 🙂
Thank you so much for your great help!
Thank you for your comment, Gaby. Take care!
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Invitation Letter Guide for U.S. Visa (B1/B2) Applications
For many individuals planning a visit to the United States on a B1/B2 Visa, presenting a well-crafted invitation letter can significantly strengthen their application. While not mandatory, an invitation letter from a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) can positively impact the visa process, especially when it highlights strong ties to the applicant’s home country. Here, we explain what makes an effective invitation letter for a U.S. visitor visa.
Keys to a B Visa Invitation Letter
An effective invitation letter should communicate:
- Host’s Details: Include the host’s name, status in the U.S. (citizen or LPR), contact information, and address.
- Visitor’s Information: Please provide your full name, date of birth, passport number, and contact information.
- Relationship: Clarify the nature of your relationship with the host.
- Visit Details: State the purpose, exact duration, and itinerary of your visit, including accommodation arrangements.
- Financial Responsibility: It should be explicitly mentioned if the host bears any costs.
Structure of the B Visa Letter
The letter should originate from the host and detail their relationship with the visitor. It should be dated, contain both parties’ full information, and specify the hosting arrangements and travel dates. Crucially, it should emphasize the temporary nature of the stay in the U.S.
Sample B Visa Invitation Letter
Below is a template of how such a letter might be structured:
[Host’s Full Legal Name]
[Host’s Full U.S. Address]
Dear [Visitor’s Full Legal Name],
I, [Host’s Name], am delighted to invite you to the United States to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary in Buffalo, NY, on February 21, 2050. You will be accommodated at my Buffalo, NY, residence from February 21 to February 28. Our plans include visiting Niagara Falls, Letchworth State Park, and Fort Niagara. I will cover the costs of your round-trip airfare, food, and medical insurance during your stay. Your presence would mean a lot to us.
[Host’s Signature]
[Host’s Contact Information]
Supporting Documentation for a B Visa
Accompany this letter with relevant documents such as event invitations, proof of roundtrip airfare, host’s identification or passport, accommodation proof, and a detailed travel itinerary.
Insights for B Visa Applicants
For B Visa applicants, remember:
- Dependent Visas: Spouses and children must apply separately for a B-2 visa.
- Employment Restrictions: B-1/B-2 visa holders are prohibited from working in the U.S.
- Visa Validity: A valid U.S. visa in an expired passport remains active; do not remove it from the expired passport.
Crafting an invitation letter with these elements can significantly enhance the credibility of your B1/B2 Visa application and facilitate your travel plans to the United States.
Schedule a Consultation with an Immigration Lawyer
- USDOS: Visitor Visas
We Can Help!
You may have questions regarding U.S. immigration laws and visas. We invite you to contact our team at Richards and Jurusik for detailed guidance and assistance. We aim to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to make your immigration process smoother and less stressful. The immigration lawyers at Richards and Jurusik have decades of experience helping people to work and live in the United States. Read some of our hundreds of 5-star client reviews ! Contact us today to assess your legal situation.
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- How to write a B2 First informal email/letter
- Posted on 07/04/2021
- Categories: Blog
- Tags: B2 First , Cambridge Exams , FCE , First Certificate , Resources to learn English , Writing
You’re probably very familiar with sending emails (and sometimes letters) in your first language. But how about in English? Writing in another language is not always so simple. If you want to pass your B2 First Certificate exam (FCE), this is an essential skill to have.
In the B2 First exam you must produce two pieces of writing in 1 hour and twenty minutes. One of the pieces will be an essay (part 1). And the other, students get to choose from a list of three options (part 2). These could be a report , a review , an article , or perhaps an email/letter.
Today we’re going to look at how to write an informal email/letter. Cambridge may also offer you a formal email/letter. But we’ll save that for another time!
Three steps to write an excellent informal email/letter
First thing’s first. What’s the difference between writing an email and writing a letter? Although there are some slight differences, essentially the tone, structure and language stay the same.
These days, an informal email question is much more likely to crop up in the B2 First exam than a letter. So let’s see what that question might look like:
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend David.
Write your email . (You should write between 140 and 190 words)
Question taken from Cambridge Assessment English sample paper 1 for B2 First
Step One: Make a plan
Once you’ve turned over the B2 First Writing paper, and read the email question, ask yourself these questions first. Addressing them will help you spark some initial ideas.
- Who are you writing to? Is it a friend, a family member or a classmate?
- What is the purpose? Maybe they’re asking for suggestions, advice or a favour
- What is the topic or theme? A holiday, party, cinema trip or city recommendation?
Next, it’s important to consider the content of your informal email/letter. Make sure you spend the first fifteen minutes of your time thinking about these things and make some notes:
The tone depends on who you’re writing to and the purpose. In this case of David, we know he’s an English-speaking friend. So you want to keep the tone relaxed, chatty and informal.
Brainstorm some good, B2 level, topic-based vocabulary related to holidays, your town, history and travel, e.g. cable car, football stadium, monuments, sightseeing, views .
Think about any engaging, descriptive adjectives that could make your informal email or letter more interesting, e.g. unmissable, bustling, the oldest, the best, the most spectacular, the fastest, the cheapest .
Phrasal verbs e.g. get away, set off, get back and colloquial expressions e.g. Guess what! will also help your B2 First informal email or letter sound natural and fluent. And if you can use some idioms, then you’ve really hit the jackpot!
Good grammar is key when doing your B2 First writing exam. And there are a few grammar tricks to writing an informal email in English. Contractions are common for example. We’re much more likely to say I’m than I am or We’d than we would .
You could also try using the second conditional to give advice such as If I were you … This is sure to score you top marks in your Writing paper.
Punctuation
In a B2 First informal email/letter you can also be a bit more experimental with punctuation. Try using exclamation marks, dashes (-) or ellipsis (…). If you’re making a list for friends, why not use bullet points?
The best thing about writing informal emails and letters is that the layout more or less stays the same every time. Your work should be clearly organised into paragraphs. And emails in particular work well with short simple sentences. An ideal structure for any email or letter is Opening, Main body and Closing , which we’ll look at in more detail now.
Step Two: Write it
Now you’ve made your plan, you should be ready and raring to go! Here’s how to put it all together and write the perfect B2 First informal email/letter.
There are a few different ways to start an informal email/letter in English:
- Hello David,
- Dear David,
Hi is much more common in an informal email. Whereas Dear is more appropriate in an informal letter. After you’ve written the person’s name, always remember to write a comma then start a new line.
Introductory sentence
The opening is normally followed by an introductory sentence. This sets the tone of the email, shows your interest in the reader or refers back to a previous correspondence.
- How have you been?
- How are things?
- Thanks so much for your last email/letter.
- Sorry I haven’t been in touch for such a long time.
This is where you introduce the topic of your B2 First email/letter. Remember to look back at the question and answer any questions from the sender. In the case of David, he’s writing to ask for recommendations for his friends. So you want to include lots of language for making suggestions. Here are some phrases you could use:
- It’s great to hear that…
- You must tell them to visit…
- Why don’t they visit…?
- They should definitely go to…
- I’d really recommend (+ verb ing or subject + base infinitive)
Connecting ideas
To keep your informal email flowing and natural sounding, use some informal connectors to link your ideas. Here are some examples:
- Well,… (to introduce a new topic)
- Anyway,…(to go back to a previous topic)
- Oh, by the way…(to add additional information)
- As for…
Final paragraph
The closing paragraph of your B2 First informal email/letter should be one or two sentences before you sign off and say goodbye. It could be to make an excuse to finish the letter/email, or leave the reader with some kind of action they need to take.
- I hope they have a nice time on their trip!
- Let me know if they need any more information.
- I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
- Have a good one, and let’s catch up soon.
This is where you end your informal email/letter and write your name. Remember, never end with the word Bye . Instead use one of the informal and neutral phrases below. And don’t forget to write your name underneath.
- See you soon!
- All the best,
- Lots of love,
Step Three: Check it
Always take five minutes to check your informal email/letter at the end. Ask yourself these questions:
- Have I answered all parts of the email question?
- Is the tone friendly and informal?
- Do I use enough topic based vocabulary?
- Is my spelling, grammar and punctuation correct?
- Does it look like a letter/email?
- Have I opened and signed off appropriately?
If you’d like more help in preparing for your B2 First Writing exam, why not sign up to one of our B2 First Cambridge preparation courses ? We’ll give you all the training you need, plus free mock exams to get you ready for the big day.
Glossary for Language Learners
Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.
Crop up (pv): to appear unexpectedly.
Spark (v): to cause an idea or an event.
Hit the jackpot (exp): to have great or unexpected success.
Layout (n): the way in which text or images are arranged on a page.
Ready and raring (exp): really ready and enthusiastic for something.
Flow (v): to move smoothly and continuously.
Sign off (pv): to end a letter or an email with your name.
exp = expression
pv = phrasal verb
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How can I teach my kids English at home? Here are some fun ways
- Posted on 29/03/2021
7 Of The Best Apps For Learning English Vocabulary
- By: oxfordadmin
- Posted on 21/04/2021
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Don't forget to finish your B2 First formal email/letter with a friendly, but courteous closing phrase. Here are some examples: Yours sincerely, (if you know the name of the recipient) Yours faithfully, (if you don't know the name of the recipient) Thank you for your consideration, (for a letter of application)
FCE Email Example: Touring holiday. FCE Email Example: Swimming team. FCE Letter Example: School uniforms. FCE Letter Example: Letter of application. FCE Email Example: Money! An email/a letter is written in response to the situation outlined in the question. Letters and emails in the B2 First Writing paper will require a response which is ...
An email/a letter is written in response to the situation outlined in the question. Letters and emails in the B2 First Writing paper will require a response which is consistently appropriate in register and tone for the specified target reader. Candidates can expect to be asked to write letters or emails to, for example, an English-speaking ...
The following is a list of letter salutation examples that are appropriate for letters of application. Dear Hiring Manager. Dear Search Committee. To whom it may concern. Dear Human Resources Manager. Dear Sir or Madam. 2. The Introductory Paragraph. Begin by stating the job for which you are applying.
Phrases to end a letter of application. I am available for interview and employment at any time. If you need any more details, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to (having the chance to meet you in person and to) hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely/ Yours faithfully/ Sincerely yours/ Best regards.
Organise all the essential information in a clear and logical way. Use linking structures to make your letter flow. 4. The last paragraph. Say how you expect the other person to respond to your letter if this is appropriate. 5. Closing and signing off. Finish your letter with an appropriate comment.
It is an example of what can be used in real life covering letters. Paragraph 2. In this paragraph you should present any qualifications and experience that are relevant to the job. Don't include anything that is not. Paragraph 3. Here you can add the special skills you have that are relevant to this job. Paragraph 4.
For part 2 of the FCE (B2 First) Writing exam you might choose to write a Letter of Application. A B2 First (FCE) formal letter of application always follows...
For the B2 First writing exam, the structure of the email and letter are going to be very similar. However, you need to be careful about which TYPE of email or letter you have to write. For example, a letter of application is going to be more formal and polite because it is written for a manager.
TIP. Before the exam, practise the recommended word limit in the time allowed. DO NOT waste time counting words in the exam. Step 4. Check. and check again. Stop writing and check your work: It is essential to check, check to maximise your grade in language. Exam Writing Guide B2 Section 1. Writing Exam Structure.
Level B2 - Job Application/Cover Letter Writing Tips: 1. Make sure you understand the task and the genre of writing (e.g. essay, email, etc.). In the sample task below, you're writing a job application letter of 200 words. The application should be formal and give reasons for why you qualify for the job. 2.
Level B2 - Formal Email/Letter Writing Tips: 1. Make sure you understand the task and the genre of writing (e.g. essay, email, etc.). In the sample task below, you're writing a formal email of 200 words. The email should be formal and informative. 2. If you go over 200 words, make sure it's only 10% over the required amount (220 words max).
B2 First (FCE) Informal Letter & Email: Writing Guide. 1. Salutation. Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing. In emails, you can also start with Hi (and the person's name). Dear Ben, or Hi Ben, (Don't forget to use only the first name of the person you are writing to and not Dear Mr John, which is ...
As we have already mentioned several times, the Writing B2 First (FCE) paper consists of 2 parts. In the first one, you have to write an essay. In the second part, you must choose between different types of writings, among which you migh want to choose to write an email.For this reason, in this post I am going to teach you how to write an informal email for FCE Writing part 2.
For many individuals planning a visit to the United States on a B1/B2 Visa, presenting a well-crafted invitation letter can significantly strengthen their application. While not mandatory, an invitation letter from a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) can positively impact the visa process, especially when it highlights strong ties to the applicant's home country. Here, we explain ...
Use the same font you chose for your resume. Left-align all content. Keep your application letter length to only one page. Just like with your resume margins, set them to 1-inch on your job application letter as well. Leave ample white space by using double-spacing between paragraphs and setting line spacing to 1.15.
Opening. There are a few different ways to start an informal email/letter in English: Hi David, Hello David, Dear David, Hi is much more common in an informal email. Whereas Dear is more appropriate in an informal letter. After you've written the person's name, always remember to write a comma then start a new line.
Hello, let me share a new writing piece from the series of similar exam-format handouts. Let us look at the principles of writing a letter of application for b2 first. Perhaps, a less pleasant task to do for students, but, nevertheless, it is sometimes offered among other writing assignments. I hope my bombarding you with all the recent writing stuff is not that annoying. Hopefully, printables ...
Follow these steps to compose a compelling application letter: 1. Research the company and job opening. Thoroughly research the company you're applying to and the specifications of the open position. The more you know about the job, the better you can customize your application letter. Look for details like:
Article navigation: B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter: Writing Topics B2 First (FCE) Email/Letter: Writing Topics (PDF) A Email/Letter is usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website.The main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday, a product, a website etc.) and to give the reader a ...
No hard numbers. "I worked in a team and provided customer service to elderly residents". 5. Choose engaging words for your application letter. Your letter of application's length should be 250 to 400 words or 3 to 4 paragraphs — long enough to get your point across but short enough that the reader won't lose interest.