writing an article cambridge

• How to Write a Great Article in the Cambridge B2 First Exam

• Posted on 11/12/2019
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: B2 First , Cambridge Exams , Writing

Writing in your only language can be a challenge, but writing in another language can be a complete nightmare ! Where do you even begin?

If you are taking your Cambridge B2 First exam you’ll have to write two texts in an 80-minute period. In part 1 you must write an essay but in part 2 you will be able to choose between a number of options. This could be could be an email, a letter, a report, a review or an article.

Read more about the format of the Cambridge B2 First exam .

In this writing guide, we’ll focus on how to write an article for the Cambridge B2 First Writing paper – part 2. We’ll also share with you some tricks and tips for passing this part of the exam. You’ll learn how to plan your article, structure it, use rhetorical questions , exclamation marks – and lots more. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to write an amazing article in English!

What is an article and how do you write one for the B2 First?

You’ll find lots of examples of articles in magazines, newspapers and internet blogs. In these texts, writers share information, guides and opinions on specific topics. The idea is to write in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them interested until the very end.

In the Cambridge B2 First Writing Paper – part 2, you could be asked to write about a variety of topics. However, it’s often something you’ve recently learned to do or know a lot about. For example, the question might be about a concert you’ve been to recently, you favourite hobby or your hometown.

Here’s an example of a B2 First article question.

Now let’s look at how to get started!

How to write an article in three simple steps

You’ve got the question in front of you, so now it’s time to start writing your article, right?

Wrong! If you do that, you’ve missed an essential stage: planning.

You can compare writing an article to preparing your favourite meal. No good tortilla de patatas was ever made without carefully preparing the ingredients first. It’s exactly the same with your writing – only, you’ll need fewer onions. Time management is also important. You only have about 40 minutes total so you need to plan your time carefully.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Make a plan (10 minutes)

Think about the question.

Really focus on the question. Decide who your role model is. Is he or she a sporting hero you really admire? Or someone closer to home? It could be a family member that you look up to or a person in the community who’s done something amazing. Think about why they inspire you and make some notes on your ideas.

Think about the tone

Consider the best blogs you read on the internet. Are they relaxed and friendly? Or do they sound like boring school essays? The truth is most articles are quite conversational. They are somewhere between semi-formal and informal. They are often informative, whilst entertaining and engaging the reader. You can also try to add some humour in too!

Think about the structure

Structuring your article is key and there’s normally more than one way to do it. Decide which structure makes sense for the question. Try to keep it logical and include different ideas in different paragraphs.

Here’s an example structure:

• Paragraph 1 Introduction Start with a catchy opening line to hook the readers. Then introduce your role model.
• Paragraph 2 – Describe what makes them special Giving examples and developing your answer.
• Paragraph 3 – Why you chose them as your role model This should be like a conclusion and give the reader a lasting comment or a question to think about.

Note: For many articles four paragraphs will be more appropriate – it depends on the question you are given.

Linkers are a fantastic way to organise your ideas. Experiment with some of these in your next article:

For a start…

Not to mention…

On top of that…

*Remember, you don’t need headings or titles in the article it should read as one continuous piece of work.

Think about vocabulary

Brainstorming vocabulary is a great way to get your ideas flowing . What are some great words related to the topic? List some adjectives for being a good role model. Pick out some verbs related to motivation or any good nouns or collocations you think would work. Throw some phrasal verbs and idioms in there too!

Here’s an example for the question above:

Think about ways to personalise your writing

Articles tend to have a personal touch. You can be a lot more familiar with the reader addressing them personally with pronouns like ‘you’ and ‘I’. Give your own opinion and also use contractions. Here are some more ways to sound personal:

Have you ever wondered…?

I’m sure you can imagine…

Can you believe…?

I will never forget…

There’s nothing more amazing than…

If you ask me…

Step Two: Write it (25 minutes)

An interesting introduction is the key to a first-rate article. You want to capture your audience’s attention whilst making it clear what it’s going to be about. Start with an opening line that sets the tone of the topic. Try to catch the attention from the first word. Here’s an example:

Firefighters and superheroes are obvious role models. But sometimes the person that inspires us the most is so much closer to home. I have never had a favourite singer or sports star but my father has always been an important inspiration for me.

Next, think about the original question. What makes your role model special? Remember to keep it interesting and include some personal feelings. Use exclamation marks like this:

One of the things that makes my father so special is that he always does everything for his family, and he’s an excellent listener too. Whenever we have a problem he’s always there for us. Not to mention the fact that he’s also really fun-loving! If there’s a party, my dad is the first person on the dancefloor.

But only include one or two exclamation marks in the article or they’ll lose their impact.

Finally you want to tackle the last question. Why did you choose him as your role model? A great technique here would be to address your reader personally and even include a rhetorical question at the end. This gives them something to think about. A little bit like this:

I think my father is the best role model because he is the most hardworking person I know. He has a really difficult job as a doctor and is always saving lives. That’s so inspiring for me!

I really look up to him and he really pushes me to be the best I can be. Wouldn’t you want a role model like my dad?

Step Three: Check it (5 minutes)

Everything has come together and you’ve got your final article. Now you can sit back, relax and put your feet up until the examiner says stop. Wait, not quite!

You’re missing the last important step. Always check your writing. You’d hate for all your hard work to be wasted at the last moment. Here are some things to check for.

• You included everything in the question
• You’ve used a variety of sentence lengths
• The spelling is correct
• It’s personal and engaging
• You haven’t repeated the same vocabulary too often
• It’s not too formal

What are the examiners looking out for?

To get the very best results, you need to know what the examiners are looking out for when they are marking your writing.

These are the four most important things to consider:

Ask yourself these questions when checking your work and make any necessary changes before the time is up!

Any other advice for writing an article?

Read, read, read. Go online and search for blogs in English that interest you. If you love sports, look at the sports news. If you prefer fashion, find fashion articles. Whatever it is read real examples for real inspiration!

If you’re still not confident about writing in English, or you want some help preparing for the B2 First exam, take a look at our exam courses .

You can also check out our articles on how to write an Essay or a Review in the Cambridge B2 First.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Nightmare (n): : a bad dream.

Rhetorical question (n): a question that doesn’t need to be answered, for dramatic effect.

Time management (n): the way to use your time effectively.

Look up to somebody (pv) : to admire someone.

Humour (n): something amusing or funny.

To hook (v): to attract and captivate your attention.

To flow (v): to move steadily and constantly.

First-rate (adj): excellent, top quality, well made or done.

An exclamation mark (n): this punctuation symbol: !.

To tackle (v): dealing with a challenge or something difficult.

To put your feet up (exp): to rest and relax.

pv = phrasal verb

adj = adjective

exp = expression

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How to Write an Article for FCE Writing

Luis @ kse academy.

• noviembre 7, 2019

As we have seen in previous posts, the Writing B2 First (FCE) paper consists of two different parts. In the first one, you must write an essay. In the seccond, you must choose among different options. One of these options can be to  write an article . For this reason, in today’s post I’m going to show you exactly  how to write an article for FCE Writing  (Part 2). Besides, we will go over an  example of an article for FCE and a complete FCE Writing guide , where you can find more examples of  articles and other types of  FCE Writing  tasks.

Sample answer

Useful expressions to write an article for fce writing.

Este articulo también está disponible en castellano.

How to Write an Article for FCE Writing Part 2

An article is a very common type of text nowadays. We can find all kinds of articles in newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. For this reason, in order to know  how to write an article for FCE , we must bear in mind who will be reading our article. This, as we will see later on, we will find out from the instructions the FCE Writing paper provides us with. But before we move on to that, let’s take a look at the  characteristics of an article for FCE Writing Part 2:

• Purpose of an article:  The aim of an article is usually to talk about a topic that we like or that we are familiar with. Besides, one of the features that articles have as opposed to other FCE Writing tasks  is that  an article must entertain the reader and, almos always, recommend the thing we are talking about.
• Language:  In general, an article is more informal than an essay, although it will depend on where it is supposed to be published (an international magazine, a teenage magazine, a college magazine, an online blog, a newspaper, etc.). However, the most common case is that we must write a text in an informal or colloquial style . For this reason, our tone must be relaxed, making use of contractions, phrasal verbs and other colloquial expressions. Besides, it is recommended to use rhetorical questions and exclamation marks to engage the reader. You should also address the reader directly in the second person ( you ,  your ) and can make jokes if you think they are appropriate.
• Structure:  Articles must always have a title . If possible, this must be catchy and witty so as to engage the reader. Then, each paragraph must address a single idea, to which you must add the introdduction and the conclusion, where you are usually expected to make a recommendation. It is also a good idea to end your article with a rhetorical question, especially if it is going to be an online article where people could (in theory) leave a comment.
• Giving your opinion:  An article is almost exclusively about giving your opinion, so feel free to do so throught the whole piece of writing. As you are normally asked to write about something you like or enjoy, opinions are expected to be generally positive. Any article for FCE is usually a very personal piece of writing, so you can speak in the first person as much as you like. 😊
• Common topics:  You may be asked to write articles on a variety of topics: the Internet, health and fitness, music, plays, hobbies, etc.
• Number of words: you are expected to write your article in 140 – 190 words , no more or less than any other type of FCE Writing task.

FCE Writing Article Example

Now that we are familiar with the characteristics of an article , the best weay to know  how to write an article for FCE Writing is to take a look at an example of an article at First-B2 level . So let’s see an example of a task and a sample answer to that very same task.

Instructions of an Article for the FCE Writing Paper

It is extremely important to read the instructions carefully , as you are supposed to obtain all the information you need to write the article. In this case we can see the following:

• Where our article will be published:   a local magazine
• Topic:   their favourite things about the Internet
• Main ideas:   things you do with the internet, recommend a website

And that’s exactly how we will organise our article, knowing exactly what to talk about in each paragraph.

Now that we have an example of an article task for FCE , let’s take a look at a sample article which answers the task above. Pay attention to the language as well as to the structure marked in red.

If we take a close look at this sample article for FCE , we can see the following features:

• It is visually appealing : The structure is clear, leaving space between paragraphs and defining a clear introduction and conclusion.
• The introduction  presents the topic in a general way, but making clear what article is about: the Internet.
• The second paragraph  talks about why I like the Internet and one of the things that I like about it.
• The third paragraph  makes a recommendation of a website, explaining why I like it so much.
• The conclusion is a summary of sorts and asks the reader for some feedback on their own preferences regarding the use of the Internet.
• Phrasal verbs :  put you up, check out.
• Contractions:   Isn’t that fantastic?
• Colloquial phrases : one of the cool things, I totally recommend it, etc. 
• We address the reader directly :  What about you? 
• Exclamation marks :  … find the answer! 

In this example of article for FCE Writing we can appreciate many of the typical characteristics of this type of activity. However, bear in mind that I have tried to simulate a strong B2 level without necessarily reaching C1.

If you want to know how to write an article for FCE , it is very important to have a repository of useful expressions ready to use. So here are some which can come in handy:

• Have you ever…?
• Do you ever wonder…?
• What do you think about…?
• Are you a… like me?
• Are you one of those people who…?
• What would you say if I told you that…?
• In the rst place,
• To begin with,
• The coolest thing about 
• What attracts me most 
• One thing to consider is
• Another consideration is
• Also, 
• In addition,
• In addition to that,
• In conclusion,
• On the whole,
• To conclude,
• All in all, 
• … you will not regret it!

Frequently Asked Questions: What if I write more than 190 words?

As I already explained in previous posts, Cambridge Assessment English does not count how many words you’ve written in order to penalise you. But remember the following: if you have written a lot more words than necessary, you have probably included irrelevant information . In the same way,  if you write less than 140, you are probably lacking essential information . For this reason, I always recommend writing only 10 or 20 words over the limit. In this way, we make sure we don’t lose points for something so silly.

FCE Writing with Examples (pdf)

If you’re still looking for more examples of writing, check out  KSE Academy’s official FCE Writing Guide . In this guide you have the following:

• How to write an essay  and 3 examples
• How to write an article  and 3 examples
• How to write a review  and 3 examples
• How to write a report and 3 examples
• How to write an email or letter  and 3 examples
• Over 300 useful expressions for FCE Writing tasks

Would you like to see a sample first? Here you are !

Did you like this post? Please  share it with other students and English teachers . Subscribe to our newsletter and don’t forget to follow us on  Facebook   Twitter ,  Pinterest ,  Instagram ,&  YouTube . 🙂

16 comentarios en “How to Write an Article for FCE Writing”

Hi Luis, I’m teaching First students in Italy and still learning the writing requirements myself, and just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge and tips – very helpful! 🙂

Hi Ingrid! Thank you very much for your kind words! I’m glad my site can be of help. Take care and good luck with your FCE students!

Hi Luis, I’m preparing a handout for my students about writing an article and I found your web really helpful. Thanks a lot!

Hi, Ángeles! Thank you very much for your comment. I’m glad to be of some help! 🙂

THANK YOU LUIS, GREAT PIECE OF WORK!

Thank you very much for your comment, Alexis! Take care! 🙂

Thank u luis you’ve been rilly helpful

Thank you, Molly! Take care!

Thank you so much, Luis! I am going to take the FCE Exam in July and hopefully I will pass it due to your sample answers and instructions!!!

Hi Iris! Thank you very much for your comment! Take care!

Hey Luis, thank you so much! this is gold and it explains very well how they should do it!

Hi Roxy! Thank you for your feedback. Take care!

thank you so much Jurate

Extremely useful in my FCE preparation course for Peruvian teens!! Thank you!

Dear Luis, just wanted to thank you for these amazing tips, which are very useful. You should definetly work for Cambridge! Best wishes!

Thank you! 🙂

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How to Write an Article for the Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET)

An article is an informal/ neutral piece of writing that is written for a specific audience. The purpose of an article is to share an opinion , or knowledge on a particular topic , or offer suggestions and pieces of advice to the readers. Newspapers, magazines, and journals usually publish articles. For that reason, articles have to be easy to read.

Parts of an Article

• Title : It should be short and informative. Try to choose an interesting title, so the reader wants to read your article to learn more about the topic.
• Author’s name : A line having the name of the person who wrote the article (optional)
• Introductory paragraph: Here you introduce the topic. The introduction should be short, catching, and interesting.
• Descriptive paragraph: Here you give examples and reasons.
• Additional information: only if needed.
• Conclusion : This is the ending paragraph of the article that should be a summary of your article.

Steps to write an article

1 Think of the topic that you are going to write about carefully.

2 Identify the target audience . Who are going to read your article: students, young people, adults, elderly people, or professionals?

3 Find the objective of writing the article. Do you want to give advice? Are you going to give some useful tips? Do you want to teach your readers how to do something?

4 Identify the details that are more significant and think of some examples .

5 Organize your ideas and arrange the information and the facts in a coherent and logical way.

Now that you know the parts of an article and the steps to follow, let’s see an article sample for the B1 Cambridge writing test .

You see this announcement in your English school magazine.

Useful language for writing an article

For the introductory paragraph:

• Have you ever thought about …?
• What would you do if …?
• Do you like + verb+ing …?
• How important is it for you to …?
• What would life be like if …?

Giving your opinion:

• In my opinion, …
• From my point of view, …
• As far as I’m concerned, …
• I guess that …
• I’m under the impression that …
• I have no doubt that …
• I have the feeling that…

Giving advice:

• Don’t forget to …
• Remember to…
• Make sure you…
• You should + base form
• You should have + past participle
• Never + base form
• What about if …?
• Let’s consider…
• Why don’t you …?

Adding more details and examples:

• In addition, …
• Above all, …
• On top of that, …
• Moreover, …
• Another advantage/ disadvantage of …
• … in case
• … so (that)
• … because it might + base form
• The evidence shows (that) …
• The facts suggest (that) …

Writing Practice 1

You are going to write an opinion article for a school magazine about the best places to visit in your city.

Plan the content

1 Think of at least 2 interesting/ touristic places

2 Think of an interesting introductory paragraph

3 Write your introduction

4 Write your descriptive paragraphs. Write one paragraph per place

5 Write your conclusion

6 Type your answer in the box below, and I’ll give you personalized feedback.

• Did you write a clear introduction that introduces the purpose of the opinion article?
• Does the introduction include a sentence with your opinion on the best places to visit?
• Have you included separate paragraphs for each recommended place?
• Did you provide detailed descriptions of each place, highlighting their attractions and unique features?
• Have you supported your opinion with specific examples or personal experiences for each place?
• Does the conclusion summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs?
• Does it restate your opinion on the best places to visit in the city?
• Does it provide a strong closing statement or call to action?

Writing Practice 2

You are going to write an article for a school magazine. Choose one of the titles below>

How to stay safe if you are hiking in the mountains.

• How to stay safe on a day at the beach.
• How to stay safe online.

1 Think of at least 3 useful tips

4 Write your descriptive paragraphs. Write one paragraph per tip.

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14 thoughts on “ How to Write an Article for the Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) ”

Do you like hiking in the mountains? Hiking is an exciting and healthy activity. I guess staying safe when you are hiking in the mountains is very important for us. Below there are some useful tips about how to stay safe if you are hiking in the mountains.

In my opinion, the most important thing is wearing a pair of comfortable sneakers. If you do so, your hiking wiil be enjoyable. If not, your hiking will be a terrible activity. Other important things are wearing a cap to prevent sunburns and putting sunscreen on your face and arms.

Second, you should take a suitable bag that contains water, emergency medicine, a tissue or a towel, energy food, an outside coat, and other needed items. On top of that is water.

Lastly, I want to remind you to take an insect repellent liquid spray. Moreover, you’d better get a trekking pole to help you walk and protect your knees.

If you prepare well, you will have a lot of fun.

Let’s go hiking in the mountains!

Like Liked by 1 person

Excellent Beryl!! Great tips!!! 🌟🌟🌟 Please compare your first draft with the final version.

Teacher, thanks very much for your checking. I revised the problematic part. There were a total of 8 mistakes in my first draft.

[…] using a formal tone. As with other pieces of formal writing (for example, essays, formal emails, articles, etc.), there is a special format used to write reports in […]

The best places to visit in our city Do you like visiting different cities? What would you do if you go to my city? There are many exciting places in my city. For example, there are museums, wetland parks, malls, zoos,etc. Where would you like to go? Today I recommend two beautiful places to you.

The first place is a wetland park and its name is Baigui lake park. It is located in the southwest of my city. The government spent much money building it ten years ago.There are many plants,animals,birds and fishes.You can camp in a forest in the park and have a barbecue.On top of that, you can see egrets by boat on the lake. The next place that I want to recommend to you is a mall. This mall is located in the east of our city and its name is wanda plaza.There are many shops in this plaza and their prices are fair.Therefore, t here are so many people shopping here that the road before the plaza is often jammed with traffic. However, it is still a good place to go but remember not to go there on weekends. Finally,these two places are the best in their respective fields.In my case,one of them is the best outdoor activities place and the other is the best shopping mall. Moreover, make sure you have read the map of both places before you go. If you follow these advice,you will have a lot of fun with your visit.

Well done!!! Don’t forget to write your conclusion 😀

How to stay safe online

Do you like surfing the Internet? With the development of the times, many people use the internet to work or study. What would you do if you are online? I have the feeling that it is important to keep safe while you are using the internet. Below there is some useful information about how to stay safe if you are online.

First,I guess that there were lots of network attacks in recent years. So the important thing before you use the internet is to install antivirus software on your computer or phone.Antivirus software can intercept most network attacks. If you don’t do this, the viruses might attack your account and the trojans can steal your password. Never be unprotected while using the internet.

Second,you should not visit some illegal websites. For example, there are gambling websites, usury websites, and pornographic websites. These websites might download or install viruses or trojans on your device. Afterward, these viruses or trojans will attack your device.

Finally, anyways, good surfing habits will help you to stay safe online. On top of that, you should often check your device and keep your device in good condition.

Great Job Shuabing. Don’t forget to write your conclusion 😀

The best places to visit in my city

What is the most important thing of park for you? It would be different if you have girlfriend/boyfriend, kids or not. I have been living in Toronto since last April with my two children, so I will introduce our favorite parks for kids from my point of view.

First place is the Grange Park. It locates nearby our home and int middle of the downtown area. It has a lot of play equipment for toddlers and more older kids. They can also use splash pads in summer. Because it has a lot of nature, you can watch many squirrels and birds. It is a big park, so we can have a lunch on the park benches. In my opinion, a lot of families could enjoy this park.

Second place is the Round House Park. It is located nearby our home, too. It is in the Railway Museum, and we can see many steam locomotives in this park. It has two play equipment that look like the steam locomotive. Because boys usually like vehicles like my son, I have no doubt that most boys would like this park.

I guess that some of the important things of park for kids are accessibility, comfortability and good park equipment. How to make your children enjoy parks on weekends is imporant. But don’t forget these tips. Let’s enjoy our weekends in the great parks with our kids!

How to make the amazing coffee

Susan is an Italian pretty lady. She lived in the beautiful city of New York. She always makes a great coffee in her house and enjoy the coffee time. One day, she called me and invited me to drink coffee. She told me this coffee is different from others. When I went to her house and sat in the yard. Susan made the coffee in the kitchen, set the table and we also had wine. We drank apricot wine and a mint wine. One cup of coffee then apricot wine and finally mint wine. I try to drink a one cup of coffee, is a little too sweet. She told me this cup of coffee is a little Italian liqueur so will sweet. And then I drank another cup of coffee. It was a magical feeling! It was a cool feeling! I love it! Actually I didn’t want to leave before I had to work, I think you can try to this wonderful coffee! Is amazing!

Good effort!

The best places to visit in our city

Do you enjoy traveling to different cities？If so, my city will impress you because of its beautiful buildings . For example the Palace Museum, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the Old Summer Palace, the Niu Street,the Temple of Heaven etc. It will take you at least one day to visit each place . If you want to vist all of them on the same day, it will be a test of both time and strength, won’t it ? But, or those who come here for the first time, I suggest you two places: the Palace Museum and the Great Wall.

The first place is the Palace Museum. It is the largest and well preserved ancient wooden structure buliding in the world. It covers an area of 72000 square meters. There are over seventy palaces and over nine thousand rooms. Doesn’t it sound worth it visiting?

The second place I recommend to you is the Great Wall. In fact, it’s called the Badaling Great Wall, which is a part of the Great Wall. This bulding has a history of over 500 years. Its total length is 7600 meters. The wall is 6-9 meters high and about 5 meters wide. It is said that it can make five houses walk side by side. By the way,the highest point of the wall exceeds 1000 meters. I think it is cool enough to take photos.

Finally, these two places are the best for those who come here for the first time.If you follow these advice, my city will leave a deep impression on you.

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Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE): How to Write an Article

• Mandatory task : no
• Word count : 280-320
• Main characteristics : descriptive, narrating, engaging, interesting
• Register : depends on the task
• Structure : Title, introduction, main paragraphs, final paragraph

Introduction

An article is written on a particular theme in a style which makes it suitable for publication in an English-language newspaper, magazine or newsletter. The question identifies the topic for the article, and the type of publication mentioned gives the candidate guidance as to the appropriate register to be used – for example, how academic or lively the article should be. The purpose of an article is to convey information; it may contain some description and/or narrative, and candidates should bear in mind the need to engage the interest of their readers. Source: Cambridge English Assessment: C2 Proficiency Handbook for teachers

Articles are a possible type of text in Part 2 of the writing paper in Cambridge C2 Proficiency. Unlike essays , articles are not mandatory and can be chosen from a selection of tasks, such as reports , formal/informal letters or reviews .

Articles are for the creative among you

Writing an article is a great opportunity to be creative and show off your language skills because there are many great structures that you can include. Compared to an essay or report, articles are not as strict in terms of their structure and you can mold the text as you see fit. Obviously, there are certain things that you shouldn’t do, but in general, you can have some fun with your article.

Here, I’m going to show you what I think always works so you don’t have to worry about every single detail. If that sounds good to you, let’s get started.

What a typical article task looks like

In Cambridge C2 Proficiency, article tasks are typically very specific regarding the topic and the more detailed information you need to give in your text.

When you look at a task like this you should always ask yourself what the topic of your article is, what specific information you have to include and who is going to read the text so you know the appropriate style of language to use.

In this case, the topic is about alternatives to taking a plane or, to be more precise, a long-distance train or bus journey you have made. You have to talk about the advantages of such a journey and if the slower pace could be more satisfying.

Last but not least, we are writing for an international travel magazine so the register can be neutral to informal, which means that contractions like don’t or can’t are perfectly acceptable as well as some phrasal verbs here and there. However, I would try not to include any colloquial expressions because, after all, the readers are not familiar to us.

How to organise your article

This is where opinions might differ and I don’t want you to think that there is only one possible paragraph structure. At this level, you should be able to decide for yourself what works best for each individual task, but I have found over the years that the following option works most of the time:

Title & introduction

• Main paragraph 1
• Main paragraph 2

Final paragraph

This works for most tasks as there are usually two or three topic points you need to talk about in detail so two or three main paragraphs are a pretty safe bet.

Always plan your article

I always annoy my students with this, but making a plan before you start writing your article is an invaluable tool that saves you time and nerves once you get to the last ten or fifteen minutes of the exam. While the candidates without a plan panic and struggle to put together a coherent and cohesive piece of writing, the ones who did prepare a plan just go on writing without hesitation because they know what they want to do next.

You can simply use the paragraph structure you decided on and jot down some notes about the things you want to include in the article. Looking at our example task again, I’ve come up with the following:

• Title & introduction : The most pleasant way of long-haul travel; air travel now unpleasant (security, waiting, service); alternatives like train and bus faster, less waiting
• Main paragraph 1 : describe the journey (train from Cologne to Ulm): different waypoints, rivers, scenic route
• Main paragraph 2 : Why did I enjoy it? calm, quiet, landscape, in the end not much slower than going to the airport, no waiting or security, etc.
• Final paragraph : train can be very satisfying; reminder to slow down

A mere four minutes later I am ready to write an amazing article and the best thing is that I will always know what to write at any point of the process.

We have a good structure and a bunch of ideas so now we are finally ready to put pen to paper (or in this case, fingers to keyboard) and get started.

The different parts of an article

In the previous section, I showed you a good structure and created a plan that’s easy to follow so we can now create the actual article step by step.

An article needs to be interesting from the beginning . Imagine reading an article in a magazine or on a website and it doesn’t engage you right from the start. What do you do? Exactly, you skip it and start looking for something more interesting.

The question is, of course, how to make it more appealing for the reader? Luckily, there are several language tools at your disposal which can make the reader want to keep going until the very last word of your article.

For example, asking the reader a question can pique their interest, especially in your introduction. It gives them a reason to continue reading because they want to find out what the answer to the question is or if the writer feels the same way.

Another great idea is to hint at something that you are going to talk about in the article without giving away all the information. Again, the reader will want to find out more and stays engaged.

Last but not least, we can always use good language, such as engaging adjectives and adverbs or punctuation like exclamation marks , in order to make the article more lively and interesting.

Let’s have a look at an example introduction for the task from earlier about a long-distance journey by bus or train:

The best journey of my life Back in the 20th century, flying was a luxury mostly out of reach for the average Joe while nowadays it is quite possibly the cheapest and most common form of long-haul travel. However, with all the security measures and long waiting times at the airport it begs the question if buses or trains aren’t as convenient if not even more pleasant an option as planes. My journey along the river Rhine would definitely suggest that the answer is yes.

As you can see, the article has a title to begin with just as every article should. I then decided to start by establishing some kind of context . Here, I compare what air travel was like 25 or 30 years ago (“Back in the 20th century, …”) to today to then contrast it with buses and trains (“However, …”). I ask a question (“… it begs the question …”) and hint at my own experience (“My journey …”). The reader now wants to find out why it was so enjoyable for me and with that I’ve accomplished the first part of my mission – engaging the reader from the beginning.

Main paragraphs

Once the reader has been caught in the spiderweb of our intriguing introduction, we move on to the main part of the article. This is where we want to focus on the different topic points in the task – in our example the advantages of taking a bus or train as well as answering the question if travelling more slowly is more satisfying.

One stylistic feature that works very well in articles is telling a personal anecdote , which can be true or invented. The more important aspect is that, once again, it maintains a high level of attention and engagement and gives us the opportunity to include great language as well.

When I was at university I used to take the train for the 5-hour ride to visit my parents in the south of Germany. Once I was forced to take the slightly longer route along the river Rhine and I can’t even tell you how happy I am that I did it! Not only did the journey itself go really smoothly, but I also got to fully take in the stunningly beautiful scenery along the way with the river meandering past all these small towns famous for their wine and their architecture. It was a truly scenic route that kept my eyes glued to the window, something rather unusual when flying. Apart from the breathtaking views, I have to say that I’d never arrived at a destination more relaxed than when I’d set off. Without the typical airport security checks and periods of simply sitting around and waiting I found myself actually enjoying the experience and in the end, I think I wouldn’t even have been able to reach my destination faster by plane either.

In my example paragraphs, I start by telling the story of a journey I experienced during my time at university. I use this anecdote to answer all the questions of the task and I’m able to include a lot of good language like interesting adjectives and adverbs as well as some good grammatical structures.

I also make sure that all my ideas are connected well using different cohesive devices (once; not only, but also; apart from; in the end; either).

The last part of your article should bring everything together and serve as a send-off for the reader . Use it to summarise what you say and take the opportunity to address the reader directly one last time.

For me, going on this journey was a truly gratifying experience and I hope this anecdote will serve as a reminder for you to slow things down from time to time and to enjoy the process of travelling instead of being too focussed on just reaching your destination. I promise life isn’t too short.

Here, I try to use the story I tell as a lesson for myself and the reader. I summarise the journey (“a truly gratifying experience”) and say that it is sometimes better to enjoy travelling itself more than only arriving at your destination. The reader can walk away from the article with something to think about and perhaps they will book a train or bus instead of a flight the next time they want to go on holiday.

Final thoughts

Articles in Cambridge C2 Proficiency are an opportunity for you to show how well you can logically structure a piece of writing while engaging the reader consistently. I think it is a great way to balance out an essay in the exam so you have one formal and one more informal text in your portfolio.

Now, of course, it is time to put in the work and get better at it. I can help you with my writing feedback or private preparation classes that put you on the right track to success in the exam if you are interested in working with me. Until then, all the best.

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

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How to write an article? | C2 Proficient (CPE)

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice tests online.

An article is written on a particular theme in a style that makes it suitable for publication in an English-language newspaper , magazine or newsletter . Always read the instructions for the task carefully to be clear about whom you are writing for.

• It is written for a wide spectrum of audience, therefore it is important to attract and hold the attention of the readers
• It may contain funny stories, reported speech, and descriptions
• It may be formal or informal , depending on the target group; ( but the article must have a less formal style than a report or essay)
• It should express opinions and thoughts, as well as facts

C2 Proficient (CPE) Article: Structure

Practice, write & improve, c2 proficient (cpe) article: writing guide, before you begin, keep in mind….

• Who is the target group? Having a good grasp on who will be reading your article can help you orient the information and the tone so that it’s as useful as possible.
• What is the purpose of the article? To advise, suggest, inform, compare, contrast describe, etc.?
• What advanced grammar or phrases you intend to use? Inversion, III conditional or maybe some forms of passive voice? Think about what idioms or phrases you plan to use in the article as it is easy to forget and it is valuable for the article.
• Organise your ideas carefully in paragraphs Each paragraph should provide a clear topic sentence.

1. The Title

The title is essential and should be a concise summary of the information presented in the article. Shortly speaking, the main idea of the article should be concluded in the title.

For example, if you are writing a description of a place, using adjectives can enhance the attractiveness of the place, before the reader begins reading the article, e.g.

Title: “The Tranquility and Peace of an Island that Time Forgot” .

If the task involves proposing a solution to a problem or your opinion , and so on, you can address your audience directly, e.g.

Title: “What You Need to Do to Be Successful” Title: “ Is Learning English Really Necessary Today?” .

The title should not be too long and ideally reflect the style of the article – both formal or informal.

2. The Introduction

The introduction should coincide with the title of the article and also include brief development of the main idea.

As well as the title, it must engage the reader . Perhaps it is worth asking a question in the introduction to which the reader will find the answer at the end of the article?

Title: Long-distance Travel

Introduction: The Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, used to say that he travelled ‘not to go anywhere but to go.’ In other words, he loved travelling for its own sake. Would you agree that the journey there can be the most exciting and rewarding part of any holiday?

3. The main body

To ensure unity in a paragraph, it is necessary to group sentences around the main idea. This means that it is necessary to begin by finding a theme or topic sentence which sums up the main idea of the whole paragraph. The best position for this sentence is normally at the beginning of the paragraph to help the reader to quickly comprehend the topic of the whole paragraph and minimise the likelihood of losing the theme altogether.

Example topic sentences:

Paragraph 1: Some years ago I studied Russian at university and used to travel frequently to Russia. [topic sentence] … you develop this point further … I usually went by train, by far the cheapest way to get there then. This involved a three-day train journey across the Channel and then over the…

Paragraph 2: I loved the sense of gradually making my way into a different world. [topic sentence] … you develop this point further … Towns and villages became less frequent and fields turned into forests as we chugged eastwards. The children who waved at the train as it passed began to have high Slav cheekbones. 

Get Your (CPE) Article Checked!

Conclusion – summarise the topic.

Effective conclusions take the article beyond summary and demonstrate a further appreciation of the article’s argument and its significance: why it works, why it is meaningful , and why it is valuable.

The purpose of the conclusion:

• To connect the article’s findings to a larger context
• To suggest the implications of your findings or the importance of the topic.
• To revisit your main idea or research question with new insight.

  Article Topic –  travel Conclusion:  These days it’s cheaper to hop on a plane than a train and you can now get to Russia in three hours instead of three days. Lunch in London and dinner in Moscow has become possible thanks to the jet engine. In many ways the journey could be seen as easier now…. [connect the article’s idea to a larger context of global transportation]

See full article…

Full article.

Long-distance Travel

The Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, used to say that he travelled ‘not to go anywhere but to go.’ In other words, he loved travelling for its own sake. Although I enjoy being at a new destination, I agree that the journey there can be the most exciting and rewarding part of any holiday.

Some years ago I studied Russian at university and used to travel frequently to Russia. I usually went by train, by far the cheapest way to get there then. This involved a three-day train journey across the Channel and then over the North European Plain through Belgium, Germany, Poland and Byelorus to Moscow. The train from Ostend was a Russian one and once on board you felt as if you were already in Russia, especially as you poured yourself a glass of tea from the samovar at the end of each carriage and made yourself comfortable for the two nights you’d spend in your sleeping compartment.

I loved the sense of gradually making my way into a different world. Towns and villages became less frequent and fields turned into forests as we chugged eastwards. The children who waved at the train as it passed began to have high Slav cheekbones. Travelling slowly gives you time to savour the gradual changes, to think about where you’re going or where you’ve just been, to adapt to a new way of being. This opportunity to reflect is immensely enriching.

These days it’s cheaper to hop on a plane than a train and you can now get to Russia in three hours instead of three days. Lunch in London and dinner in Moscow has become possible thanks to the jet engine. In many ways the journey could be seen as easier now. But in my opinion, travelling by rail is still much more satisfying, providing a real sense of distance – both geographical and social – between different countries.

Let’s sum it up…

C2 proficient (cpe) article: sample answers, cpe article example answer 1, article subject:.

An international travel magazine is running a series of articles on alternatives to travelling by plane. The magazine has invited readers to send in articles briefly describing a memorable long-distance train or bus journey they have made. The article should explain the advantages of travelling a long distance by train or bus and consider whether in general travelling to your destination more slowly may result in a more satisfying travel experience.

Student’s CPE Article Answer:

With the rapid pace in which technology has been developing over the last decades, air travel has become more and more affordable to the hoi polloi. This is particularly true since the spread of the ‘no-frills’ airlines which have taken over Europe by storm. Air travel offers relatively cheap and fast journey to its passengers, which explains its recent rise. But are these journeys pleasant ones? Recent opinion polls show they are not. People are unhappy about the weight and size limits on luggage, numerous changes, stress related to queues to check-in, security and then to the gate . … The largest ache for air passengers, however, seems to be the lack of human interaction amid the ‘de-humanising feel’ of the airports.

I recently had an opportunity – and a pleasure – to travel by train to a family wedding in Germany. Despite the fact the journey took 6 hours longer than it would by plane, it was a truly enjoyable experience. The rail track passed through beautiful, green mountain valleys, offering amazing views of numerous castles perched on the mountain sides and the views of medieval towns. I have also met a few very nice local people who entertained me during the journey with interesting and funny stories of their family weddings.

Thanks to excellent views and the people I travelled with, the journey felt unbelievably short. There are many advantages of travelling long distances by train, most of which overweight the largest disadvantage to some – namely the length of the journey. First of all – one is able to meet interesting people and engage in long conversations – a train journey seems to be a more welcoming environment for social interaction than a quick flight is. Secondly, whilst passing through the towns and villages rather than flying over them one is able to better experience the culture. There are also practical advantages – like the lack of strict luggage restrictions, less queues and the ability to open the window to get some fresh air. There are also less problems with the leg space and a possibility to stretch them by strolling to the restaurant carriage or up and down the train. (This paragraph could have been divided into two for greater clarity)

To conclude, train travel could lead to a better travel experience comparing to the aircraft, under the condition that the passenger is open to experiencing the journey and is able to sacrifice a bit more time travelling.

CPE Article Example Answer 2

C2 proficient (cpe) article: writing topics, cpe example article topic 1.

A local magazine has asked readers to send in articles on their preferences in public transport. Say which methods you prefer, explain your reasons and assess whether or not your preferences are similar to those of the majority of people where you live. If there are problems with some forms of transport say what they are and what might be done about these problems.

Write your article .

CPE Example Article Topic 2

You are a member of a group which is seeking to improve the quality of life for elderly people In your neighbourhood. Write an article for the local newspaper explaining the aims of your group, how people can join it, and what they can do to help.

CPE Example Article Topic 3

You use an online resource for your studies. You would like people to take advantage of such resources, so you decide to write an article in the college newspaper. Write your article describing the resource, explaining why and how it is useful, and mentioning who in particular could benefit from using it.

C2 Proficient (CPE) Article: Writing Checklist

After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.

How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:

• Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
• Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
• Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?
• Have I included references or examples where necessary to support any ideas or information?

Communicative Achievement

• Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
• Have I used a suitable mix of fact and opinion according to the requirements of the task and my communicative purpose(s)?
• Have I used a suitable style and register for the task and genre?
• Have I followed writing conventions which are particularly relevant to the task and genre?

Organisation

• Have I organised my ideas clearly and coherently, using the most appropriate and effective structure for the task?
• Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
• Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words and other cohesive devices?)
• Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
• Have I used a wide range of vocabulary, appropriate to the topic and genre?
• Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
• Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures appropriately?
• Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
• Is my use of grammar accurate?
• Is my spelling accurate?

More than Practice Tests

C2 proficient (cpe) article: marking criteria, c2 proficient (cpe) article: useful phrases & expressions.

We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is  taking a shortcut,  if you learn several expressions for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized text.

Agreeing partially

This is partly true… To (an) (certain) / (some) extent… In some cases … Up to a point … While it can not be denied that … While it is true that…

Qualifying Statements

There is a tendency to… A large number of the times… Usually, they are inclined to… Generally speaking… Sometimes/Usually/Often/Generally…  Things appear to be… In a large number of cases… In some instances…

Summary / Repetition / Exemplification

In brief… On the whole… Overall… In short… In other words… To be sure… For instance… In fact… In any event…

Therefore… With this object in view/mind… To this end… For this purpose….

Place and Location

Beyond… Nearby… On the opposite side… Adjacent to… Over head… To/on the right… In the centre… Over to the left/right…. In the same area…. In the neighbouring town….

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Exams: Article writing: CAE and CPE

By Jain Cook

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A comprehensive set of notes and exercises for students on how to write articles for advanced exams (CAE and CPE).

Exams: Article writing: CAE and CPE: Lesson plan

• British English
• Cambridge: C1 Advanced (CAE)
• Cambridge: C2 Proficiency (CPE)
• Lesson Plan / Teacher's Notes
• Up to 60 mins
• Upper-Intermediate

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What does it mean to be a scholar in an age of AI?

The article at a glance.

Academic publishing has long been based on the premise of elite scarcity. With generative AI promising to lower barriers for producing exceptional articles, Professor Matthew Grimes asks how this will change the scholarly profession.

Category: AI and technology Insight

The academic profession, including in business schools, is like an exclusive members club. Faculty members seek tenure, promotions and greater prestige among peers based on a well-understood set of elite rules. A scholar whose article is published in the most prestigious journal, with the highest standards for acceptance and rejection, will achieve rewards in a way publication in a less-lauded journal may not. 

But this long-established code of the academic professor is based on a pivotal understanding: scarcity. The underlying premise is that there is a very limited number of truly exceptional journal articles competing for the career-advancing spots in the very best journals.  

AI can speed up article creation and more

So what happens when generative artificial intelligence (AI) upends this understanding by allowing the creation – all within ethical academic bounds and peer-acknowledged excellence – of far more than a limited number of exceptional articles, perhaps even a virtually limitless supply of them? 

That’s the focus of an editorial, ‘From scarcity to abundance’, in the Academy of Management Journal (AMJ) – one of the most elite journals in the field of business management, co-authored by Matthew Grimes, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Futures at Cambridge Judge Business School. 

Elite academic articles often take many years to reach publication stage, but the authors say “generative AI tools now increasingly offer capabilities aimed to increase those efficiencies and the pace at which those efficiencies are realised by scholars” – a very polite way of saying that AI may seriously disrupt the entire supply chain for academic articles, which currently assumes a molasses-like speed. 

Then there’s another key question: can AI surface interesting research questions as well as the minds of human scholars? “The extent to which generative AI will augment or replace academics in the creative tasks associated with scholarship is a matter of debate (indeed, the authors of this editorial have internally expressed such debate), yet the potential should be taken seriously,” the editorial says. 

What does it now mean to be a scholar or academic journal? 

“We pose 2 questions, given the potential promise of generative AI to increase both the quantity and quality of scholarship,” says the editorial:

• What does it mean to be a scholar when the know-what’and know-how barriers to becoming one are minimised (anyone who wants to can participate in scholarship)?
• practical importance
• theoretical intrigue
• methodological rigor?

The editorial makes clear that the journal’s editors don’t have all the answers at this still-young point in the evolution of generative AI, but makes equally clear that these difficult questions need urgently to be asked. 

Asking awkward questions and prompting deep thinking of academics 

“The future of academic publishing in the age of AI poses very awkward questions for academics to be asking about ourselves, our colleagues and our profession,” says editorial co-author Professor Grimes. “We are all academics trained and working in an era where the scarcity of truly first-class research was the guiding principle, but we are looking at a rapidly advancing new era of generative AI in which the scarcity of knowledge production can no longer be assumed. 

“The editorial doesn’t attempt to curb the use of generative AI in producing scholarship: there are clearly some hazards such as well-documented ‘AI hallucinations’ (relevant but false information) and ‘deep research fakes’ (data manipulation to deceive the academic community), but there is also truly great research potential in AI in areas ranging from the creation of academic articles, to bridging the gap between academic theory and practice, to the ability to improve the peer-review system of evaluating the merits of academic literature. 

“Our purpose in writing this editorial is to prompt some deep thinking and soul searching amongst ourselves and our peers about what we want our profession to look like given the rapid advances in AI,” says Matthew. 

The authors say they don’t seek to codify the academic profession’s response to AI, but rather to examine different uncertainties that will affect scholarship. “We are merely at the beginning of a conversation we expect to be having for many years to come,” they say. 

Our purpose in writing this editorial is to prompt some deep thinking and soul searching amongst ourselves and our peers about what we want our profession to look like given the rapid advances in AI.

AI in academic journals: good faith should not be assumed 

The editorial also looks at how journals currently deal with generative AI, noting that the Academy of Management will soon publish guidelines on AI use for its suite of journals and conference submissions. 

“At the moment, however, many existing journal policies surrounding generative AI appear to be operating on the assumption that authors, reviewers, and editors will act in good faith,” the authors say. Given the risks such as “hallucinations” coupled with rapid advances in AI, “we believe such an assumption is inadequate” and that governance rules are needed such as specialised review protocols for papers that employ generative AI. 

The editorial then returns to what generative AI means for the academic profession. 

At the moment, however, many existing journal policies surrounding generative AI appear to be operating on the assumption that authors, reviewers, and editors will act in good faith … we believe such an assumption is inadequate.

Generative AI challenges the distinctive value of management scholarship 

“Our investigation of the implications of generative AI for management scholarship and for our profession is not meant as a call to arms to defend the profession and its current boundaries,” the editorial concludes. 

“Instead, in the short-term, we view this as a call to prepare ourselves, as well as our current and future PhD students, with the appropriate knowledge not only to use but, more critically, to evaluate algorithmic knowledge production.” 

“In the long term, we view this editorial as a call to rethink the distinctive value of our profession in a world of abundant management scholarship. In other words, we suspect that a plausible generative AI-led shift from scarce academic knowledge production to abundant academic knowledge production will inevitably increase the urgency around answering a fundamental question: To what problems in society is management scholarship the (unique) solution?” 

The editorial is co-authored by Professor Matthew Grimes of Cambridge Judge Business School, an editor of the AMJ, along with four of the journal’s other editors: Georg von Krogh of ETH Zurich, Stefan Feuerriegel LMU Munich, Floor Rink of the University of Groningen, and Marc Gruber of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. 

In the long term, we view this editorial as a call to rethink the distinctive value of our profession in a world of abundant management scholarship.

Featured faculty

Matthew grimes.

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Futures

View Matthew's profile

Featured research

Grimes, M., von Krogh, G., Feuerriegel, S., Rink, F. and Gruber, M. (2023)  “From scarcity to abundance: scholars and scholarship in an age of generative artificial intelligence.”   Academy of Management Journal , 66(6): 1617-1624 (DOI: 10.5465/amj.2023.4006)

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