Tips on writing a report for the FCE (B2) exam.
This article offers valuable guidance on writing a report for the FCE (B2) exam. Firstly, you will learn about what a report is and how it is structured. Then you can see some examples and watch some useful videos explaining how to write a report.
There is also some advice on how you should approach this part of the writing test. This includes some time management tips as wall as advice on better planning and checking to get the top marks! What’s more, we’ve given you some information on how your writing will be assessed. It is really useful to know what the examiner is looking for!
Finally, you’ll find some useful language and expressions to include in your report as well as some links to extra B2 level writing practice and exercises.
Good luck!
What is a report?
The objective of a report is to provide the reader with appropriate information on a particular situation and sometimes enable them to come to a decision regarding a potential change or future action. It is usually written for a superior (e.g. a boss or college principal) or a peer group (e.g. club members or colleagues).
Reports contain some ‘factual’ information and make suggestions or recommendations. They normally relate to a past or current situation or issue. Some reports are informative for research and others identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Reports should be formal but the level of formality depends on the reader.
- You may need to describe a past experience or a present situation but you need to do this in a fairly neutral way describing facts not feelings.
- Give reasons for your views but remain impersonal.
- Language for a report – intensive adjectives, emphatic structures, reported structures, give reasons, contrasting language, sequencing and making recommendations
The Structure of a Report
- Clearly organised with a title, headings and sub-headings.
- You can use bullet points and numbering.
- State the aim of the report in the introduction and a bit of background information.
- The conclusion should offer a final recommendation.
The FCE Report
Here are a couple of example report writing tasks for the FCE Exam.
Example Task 1
A group of British teachers is going to visit your college for two days. The aim of their trip is to learn about how technology is used in education in your country. You have been asked to write a report for the group leader.
Your report should include information about how technology is used to teach different subjects and recommend which lessons the teachers should watch to see technology being used.
Example Task 2
Your teacher wants to recommend a television programme for students who are learning your language.
Write a report on a television programme which you know well, saying why you think it would be helpful and interesting for foreign learners.
You’ll need to write 140 and 190 words.
You have about 40 minutes to plan, write and check your essay.
How should you approach the task?
Students have a tendency just to sit down and start writing. This is a big mistake! It is better to use your time wisely and think about the question, your ideas and the language you want to include before you dive in.
Planning – 10 minutes
Writing – 20-25 minutes
Checking – 10 minutes
- Brainstorm relevant vocabulary
- What advanced sentences and structures can you include.
- List the main idea and extended point
- Think about linking structures and organisation of your ideas
- Does your plan answer the question fully
- Think about the structure of the composition type and the tone/formality required.
- Cross check to your plan regularly.
- Make sure your sentences aren’t too long. Counting the number of sentences in each paragraph is a quick way of checking.
Introduction – 2/3 sentences
Main paragraphs – 3/4 sentences
Conclusion – 2/3 sentences - Reread each paragraph when you have finished to check for repeated vocabulary, simple errors or spelling.
It is a good idea to go over your previous compositions and look at your teachers comments. Make yourself a personalized list of 5 errors you commonly make and look for these.
Typical errors include – mixing tenses, spelling, punctuation, plural & uncountable nouns, omitted or duplicated subjects, articles.
Check that you haven’t repeated any words.
Look out for simple words. Can you think of more advanced or specific vocabulary to use?
How is your report assessed?
The examiner will look at four criteria to evaluate your work:
This focuses on how well you have completed the task and if you have answered the question appropriately.
They consider how appropriate the writing is for the task and whether you have used formal or informal style for the essay.
- Is the style suitably neutral, non-personal or formal?
- Are the point justified with a clear reason or explanation?
They look at the way you put together the piece of writing, your flow and the development of your ideas and if it it clearly structured.
- Is the report organised into clear paragraphs with headings and sub-headings?
- Is the order logical?
- Is the punctuation correct?
- Have you used linking structures correctly?
This evaluates the vocabulary and grammar you have used. This includes demonstrating the range of language that you know, as well as how accurate it is.
- Did you use a good range of vocabulary related to the topic?
- Is there any repetition?
- Have you used the grammatical structures and language accurately?
- Have you tried to include some more complex language?
To fully understand how FCE writing is evaluated click this link
Useful language and phrases for an essay
The Introduction:
State the purpose of the report
- The main aim/objective/purpose of this report is to …
Give some background information
- To gather appropriate data for this report, I conducted several interviews with…
- To prepare for this report, I visited three of the most popular…
- To fully understand the situation, the issue was discussed with…
The Main Paragraphs:
Report your results
- According to …
- All those who were interviewed believe that
- Many students/members are concerned that…
- It is widely thought that…
- It was commented upon by a number of people we talked to that…
- A major cause of dissatisfaction was…
Present a list
- The arguments against … are the following:
- Points mentioned in favour of/against … were:
- Some of the key opinions / problems mentioned were:
The Final Paragraph:
Summarize the main points
- Taking all the factors mentioned into account…
- To sum up
- From the research carried out, we can conclude that…
Making recommendations
- I would therefore recommend ….
- Clearly, more could be done to ….
- I would make the following recommendations
- It would be wise to consider….
- A combination of ….. and ….. would drastically improve…