In Part 1 of the B1 Preliminary Writing paper, you read an email and some notes, and write a reply of about 100 words that answers all the notes. On this page you can write your own email, check it with a self-assessment list, compare it with an annotated model answer, and practise the skills you need with short interactive exercises.
Your Task
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend, Alex. Read Alex’s email and the notes you have made.
Subject: Your visit in July
Hi!
I’m so happy you’re coming to stay with my family for a week in July!
What do you like doing in your free time? → Tell Alex
We could go to the beach or visit the castle. Which would you prefer? → Say which and why
Is there any food you don’t eat? → Explain
Let me know when your flight arrives. → Give details
Best wishes,
Alex
Write your email to Alex, using all the notes.
Write about 100 words.
Check your writing
Model answer (96 words)
Blue = free time Green = beach or castle, and why Yellow = food Pink = flight details
Why this answer works
| Area | What the model answer does |
|---|---|
| Content | It answers all four notes and adds useful details (a reason for choosing the beach, the nut allergy, the exact day and time). |
| Communicative Achievement | It is a friendly email to a friend: it thanks Alex, uses an informal tone and closes in a natural way. |
| Organisation | It follows the order of Alex’s questions and links ideas with so, because and but. |
| Language | It uses a range of everyday vocabulary and forms such as I’d prefer to…, I’m allergic to… and Could you…? correctly. |
A weaker answer (32 words)
- It is much shorter than 100 words.
- It answers three notes only very briefly, with no reasons or details (The beach is good does not say why).
- It does not answer the last note: there are no flight details.
- It will be very fun should be It will be great fun or It will be a lot of fun.
About Writing Part 1
- The B1 Preliminary Writing paper takes 45 minutes and has 2 parts. Part 1 is compulsory.
- You write an email of about 100 words, answering the email and notes provided.
- It is marked out of 20, with up to 5 marks each for Content (did you answer all the notes?), Communicative Achievement (is the style right for an email to a friend?), Organisation (is it well organised, with a variety of linking words?) and Language (do you use a range of vocabulary and grammar with good control?).
Sources: Cambridge English – B1 Preliminary exam format and Cambridge English – Assessing writing performance at level B1.
Tips
- Underline the notes before you start. Each note is a point you must answer.
- Answer the notes in the same order as the email, and give a reason or a detail for each one.
- Use a friendly tone: you are writing to a friend, not to a company.
- Keep to about 100 words. Writing much more takes time and can lead to more mistakes.
More B1 Preliminary practice: B1 Preliminary Writing Part 2 · B1 Preliminary Reading · B1 Preliminary Listening · B1 Preliminary (PET) overview