✍️ Cambridge B1 Writing: Email, Story, and Article

In the Cambridge B1 exam, students usually choose between writing:

1. An email
2. A story
3. An article

Each type has a different purpose, tone, and structure. Let’s break them down with clear advice.

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1️⃣ EMAIL

✉️ What is it?

An email is an informal or semi-formal message written to a friend, family member, or someone you know. The exam question usually gives you prompts or notes about what you need to write.

🧠 How is it different?

• Uses direct language and informal tone (“Hi”, “How are you?”, contractions like “I’m”, “We’ll”).
• Often includes questions and opinions.
• You must answer all the points in the prompt.

✅ Tips to write a good email:

• Start with a greeting: Hi Lucy, or Dear Mike,
• Use friendly language: “I hope you’re well!”, “Guess what?”
• Follow the notes: Write one paragraph for each bullet point.
• Finish nicely: “Write soon!” or “See you soon!”
• Sign your name: Love, Emma or Take care, Alex

📧 EMAIL – Writing to a friend about a school trip

Hi Jake,

How are you? I wanted to tell you about our school trip last Friday. We went to a science museum in Seville. It was amazing! We saw a robot that can talk and move—so cool!

After that, we had lunch in the park. I shared my sandwich with Tom because he forgot his food again! Then we played football until the teacher called us back.

Have you ever visited a science museum? I think you’d love it. Let me know what you’ve been up to lately.

Write soon!

Take care,
Lucas

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2️⃣ STORY

📖 What is it?

A story is a short narrative (a past event, real or imaginary). The question usually gives you the first sentence or the last sentence, and you must build the story around it.

🧠 How is it different?

• Written in the Past Simple, sometimes Past Continuous or Past Perfect.
• Has a beginning, middle, and end.
• It shows a problem and a solution or a surprising twist.

✅ Tips to write a good story:

• Use time expressions: One day, Suddenly, Later, In the end
• Use past tenses correctly: “She went”, “They were walking”, “He had forgotten”
• Add feelings: I felt nervous, She was excited
• Keep it simple but interesting
• Check that your story has a clear ending

📖 STORY – Starting line: “It was a dark and rainy night…”

It was a dark and rainy night when I heard a strange noise outside.
I was watching TV, but suddenly everything went quiet. I looked out the window, but I saw nothing. Then I opened the door—and there it was: a small puppy, wet and shaking.

I took it inside, dried it with a towel, and gave it some water. It wagged its tail and looked at me like we were already friends.

The next day, I put up signs. No one called, so I kept him. I called him Thunder—because of the storm.

It was the best surprise ever.

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3️⃣ ARTICLE

📰 What is it?

An article gives information, opinions, or advice about a topic. It is written for a school magazine or a website for young people.

🧠 How is it different?

• It speaks to the reader directly (you can say you, your friends, etc.)
• It often uses questions, examples, and opinions.
• The tone is friendly and lively—not too formal.

✅ Tips to write a good article:

• Start with a title: Why Sports Are Great or The Best Weekend Activities
• Begin with a question or a strong sentence: “Do you love music?” / “Everyone has a hobby.”
• Use paragraphs for each idea
• Give your opinion and ask the reader: “In my opinion…” / “What do you think?”
• End with a final question or a piece of advice: “Try it and see!” / “Would you like to try this?”

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🔁 Final Tricks for All Three

• ✅ Answer the question fully
• ✅ Plan before you write (3–4 ideas or paragraphs)
• ✅ Check your verbs and spelling
• ✅ Use connectors: because, but, so, then, after that, finally
• ✅ Keep it simple, clear, and well organised

📰 ARTICLE – Topic: “The best hobby for teenagers”

What’s the best hobby for teenagers?
In my opinion, it’s definitely playing a musical instrument. Why? Because music helps you relax, express your feelings, and even make new friends.

Learning guitar or piano isn’t always easy, but it’s fun. You can play your favourite songs and even write your own. Last year, I started guitar lessons and now I play in a school band!

Of course, not everyone loves music. Some people prefer sports or art, and that’s fine. But if you’ve never tried an instrument, give it a go. Who knows?

Maybe you’re a musician and you don’t even know it yet!