Cambridge Part 2 Choice Tasks: B2 First to C2 Proficiency Format, Strategy and Practice

Where It Appears

Exam	Paper and part	Questions	Marks	Counts towards
B2 First	Writing, Part 2	Q2	20	Writing
C1 Advanced	Writing, Part 2	Q2	20	Writing
C2 Proficiency	Writing, Part 2	Q2	20	Writing

What You See

Exam	Genres that can appear	Words
B2 First	Article, email or letter, report, review	140-190
B2 First for Schools	Article, email, review, story	140-190
C1 Advanced	Email or letter, proposal, report, review	220-260
C2 Proficiency	Article, letter, report, review	280-320

Genre	Written for	Conventions
Article	Readers of a magazine or website	Title, engaging opening, direct address, opinion, lively but controlled style
Email / letter	A named or implied person	Register set by the reader; purpose stated early; appropriate opening and close
Report	A manager, committee or teacher	Title and headings, factual tone, findings then recommendations
Review	Readers deciding whether to try something	Description, evaluation, a clear recommendation
Proposal	A person or body who will act on it	Headings, a plan with reasons, persuasive but formal, future-focused

Worked Example

A complete part 2 choice tasks task at B2 First level. Work it with the answers closed, then open the key.

B2 First — Article, email or report

B2 FirstWriting, Part 2

Write an answer to one of the questions 2–4 in this part. Write your answer in 140–190 words in an appropriate style.

Question 2

You see this announcement in an English-language magazine.

ARTICLES WANTED: A PLACE TO SWITCH OFF

Where do you go in your town or city when you want to relax? What makes this place special, and why might other people enjoy it too?

Write us an article answering these questions. The best articles will appear in next month’s issue.

Write your article.

Write 140–190 words.

Question 3

You have received this email from your English-speaking friend, Jamie.

‘Guess what? I’ve been offered a summer job in a hotel in your country for two months! I’m really excited, but I don’t speak the language. What do you think will be the biggest challenges for me? And what should I do in my free time while I’m there?’

Write your email.

Write 140–190 words.

Question 4

The manager of the sports centre where you are a member wants to attract more people aged 16–25. You have been asked to write a report for the manager. Your report should explain why young people do not use the centre much at the moment and recommend changes that would make it more popular with this age group.

Write your report.

Write 140–190 words.

Model answers

Model answer — Question 2 (article) (190 words, 20/20 marks)

My secret garden in the middle of town Where do you go when your head is full and your phone won’t stop buzzing? For me, the answer is a small walled garden behind the old library in my town, and surprisingly few people know it exists. From the street, you’d never guess it was there. You walk through a narrow gate, and suddenly the noise of the traffic disappears. There are a few wooden benches, a stone fountain that has been dripping for a century and more roses than I can count. In early summer, the smell is incredible. What makes it special, though, isn’t just how pretty it is. It’s the fact that nobody expects anything from you there. You can read, eat a sandwich or simply sit and watch the sparrows arguing over crumbs, and after twenty minutes you feel like a different person. I think anyone with a busy life would love it, whether they’re a student with a packed timetable or a parent who needs five minutes of peace. Just do me one favour: if you go, keep your voice down. Let’s keep it our secret!

Subscale	Band
Content	5 / 5
Communicative Achievement	5 / 5
Organisation	5 / 5
Language	5 / 5

Content: all three questions are answered in full: where the place is, what makes it special and who else would enjoy it. Communicative Achievement: the eye-catching title, the direct question to the reader and the humorous ending hold the reader’s attention, which is exactly what a magazine article needs. Organisation: the paragraphs move logically from introduction to description, then reasons, then recommendation, with smooth links such as ‘From the street’ and ‘What makes it special, though’. Language: vivid, precise vocabulary (‘walled garden’, ‘dripping’, ‘arguing over crumbs’) and a range of structures, including cleft sentences and ‘whether … or …’, are used with very good control.

Model answer — Question 3 (email) (187 words, 20/20 marks)

Hi Jamie, That’s fantastic news – congratulations! Two months will fly by, and I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time. You asked about the challenges. I think the language will be the hardest part at first, especially if you have to deal with guests who don’t speak English. It would be a good idea to learn a few basic phrases before you come, such as greetings and numbers. People here really appreciate it when visitors make an effort, even if they get things wrong. The other thing to be ready for is the heat. July and August can be exhausting, so make sure you drink plenty of water, particularly on long shifts. As for your free time, you’ll be spoilt for choice! If the hotel is near the coast, you could take a boat trip to one of the islands – it isn’t expensive and the views are unforgettable. I’d also recommend the local markets on Saturday mornings, where you can try all kinds of food. Let me know which town you’ll be in. If it’s not too far, I’ll come and show you around! All the best, Marta

Subscale	Band
Content	5 / 5
Communicative Achievement	5 / 5
Organisation	5 / 5
Language	5 / 5

Content: both of Jamie’s questions are answered with relevant, practical detail. Communicative Achievement: the friendly, informal register is consistent throughout (‘fly by’, ‘spoilt for choice’), and the advice is presented in a supportive way that suits a friend. Organisation: each paragraph deals with one of Jamie’s questions, introduced clearly with ‘You asked about …’ and ‘As for …’, and the email opens and closes appropriately. Language: a good range of functional language for advising and recommending (‘It would be a good idea to …’, ‘make sure you …’, ‘I’d also recommend …’) is used accurately, along with conditionals and natural collocations.

Model answer — Question 4 (report) (185 words, 19/20 marks)

Attracting younger members to the sports centre Introduction The aim of this report is to explain why the centre is not popular with people aged 16–25 and to suggest some changes. The information comes from conversations with twenty people in this age group, including several who are not members. The current situation Most of the people I spoke to said that the membership fee is too high for students or people in their first job. Several also complained that the gym closes at 8 p.m., which is exactly when they finish work or college. In addition, the classes on offer, such as aqua aerobics, are mainly aimed at older members. Recommendations Firstly, I would recommend introducing a cheaper membership for under-25s, perhaps limited to quieter times of day. Secondly, the gym should stay open until 10 p.m. on weekdays. Finally, the centre could offer a few classes that appeal to young people, for example indoor climbing or boxing fitness, and advertise them online. Conclusion If these changes were made, I believe the centre would attract many more young members and feel livelier as a result.

Subscale	Band
Content	5 / 5
Communicative Achievement	5 / 5
Organisation	5 / 5
Language	4 / 5

Content: the report explains three clear reasons for the problem and makes a matching recommendation for each, so the manager is fully informed. Communicative Achievement: the neutral, factual tone and the reference to where the information came from are appropriate for a report to a manager. Organisation: clear headings, a stated aim and the sequence ‘Firstly … Secondly … Finally’ make the report very easy to follow. Language: vocabulary is precise and appropriate (‘membership fee’, ‘appeal to’, ‘quieter times of day’) and the grammar is accurate, including a second conditional in the conclusion; the range is good, though slightly less ambitious than it could be.

The same task type at other levels: C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency.

Strategy

Pick two genres before the exam and practise them until the layout is automatic.
Read all three tasks, then choose the one whose every content point you can cover, not the one on your favourite topic.
Identify the reader and the purpose and keep them in mind for every sentence.
Headings for reports and proposals; none for articles and letters.

Common Mistakes

A report that reads like an essay, or a review with no recommendation.
Missing one of the two or three content points in the task.
The wrong register for the named reader.
Choosing a genre never practised because the topic looked easy.

How to Practise

More practice at every level is on the Cambridge Writing samples page. The whole section in context is on the Cambridge Writing page, and how it is marked is on the scoring page.