WRITTEN TEXTS (B2)

TYPE OF TASK TO CONSIDER

Informal email / letter The register should be informal and friendly, so
use contractions and everyday vocabulary.
Emphasise expressions, idioms and rich
language, especially adjectives and nouns.
Interact naturally.

Internet post / blog post / forum post
The register should be informal and friendly, so
use contractions and everyday vocabulary.
Emphasise expressions, idioms and rich
language, especially adjectives and nouns. The
text could be more or less interactive depending
on the topic and the context.

Formal email / letter The register should be formal and polite, so

(Letter of complaint, cover letter, thank you letter,
letter of recommendation...)
DON’T use contractions or informal lexis. Show
some distance using certain grammar structures
such as impersonals, conditionals or passives. Be
careful with adjectives and, in general, with strong
vocabulary.

Opinion article The register could be formal or informal. It really

depends on the topic and the context in which you
are writing. There is no interaction, so don’t
include greetings or clear references. Include your
point of view but don’t be rude.

Informative article Similar to the opinion article. The difference is that

this text is supposed to be objective so don’t
include personal remarks, especially if the topic or
your opinion is controversial.

Essay The register is supposed to be formal and rather

correct. Show distance using grammar structures
such as impersonals or passives and include
specific and accurate vocabulary. Don’t include
contractions.

Short story This text is really open, although a formal style

never suits it. Try to use descriptive vocabulary,
mainly in the form of adjectives and adverbs.
Control verb tenses and check the inner logic of
the text.
Review The point of this text is to use the best vocabulary
you may have to analyse different aspects of a
film, concert, hotel, city… It’s essential to use
descriptive adjectives and to include specific
vocabulary to present the questions you are
considering.

WRITTEN TEXTS IN PREVIOUS YEARS (B2)

REFERENCE TASK TYPE TOPICS

September 2020 Task 1 - Option A Opinion article Lifestyle, technology
September 2020 Task 1 - Option B Essay Media, food, health
September 2020 Task 2 Thank you email Travelling

December 2020 Task 1 - Option A Internet post Travelling

December 2020 Task 1 - Option B Article Environment, transport
December 2020 Task 2 Letter of complaint Business, work

June 2021 Task 1 - Option A Internet post Lifestyle, hobbies

June 2021 Task 1 - Option B Essay Media, food, health
June 2021 Task 2 Letter of complaint Travelling

September 2021 Task 1 - Option A Opinion article Education, bullying

September 2021 Task 1 - Option B Essay Science, work
September 2021 Task 2 Letter of Business, work
recommendation

WRITTEN MEDIATION IN PREVIOUS YEARS (B2)

REFERENCE TASK TYPE TOPICS
September 2020 Written mediation Text message Internet, security
December 2020 Written mediation Blog post Health, habits
June 2021 Written mediation Informative article Health, lifestyle
September 2021 Written mediation Informative article Education, languages
 B2 TOPICS
TOPIC
1. Environment, nature
2. Technology, science
3. Health, medicine, food
4. Media, communication
5. Lifestyle, habits
6. Travelling, transport, tourism
7. Arts, music, cinema
8. Education, studies
9. Work, business
10. Crime, law, security
11. Stereotypes, racism, feminism...
TO CONSIDER
This type of topics can be used to include future
predictions, so it would be highly recommendable
to use a rich variety of future tenses as well as 1 st
or 2nd conditionals.
If the topic is controversial show some distance
by using impersonal sentences or passives.
This second group is more open, so you can also
add past tenses, 3rd conditionals or I wish / If only
when you have to reflect about the past.
With social topics you need to be polite and use
impersonals or passives.