B1 Preliminary Writing: both tasks explained (2026)

By Claire Farrell

Head of Academic Content at Preptiviti

The B1 Preliminary Writing paper has two tasks of about 100 words each: an email in Part 1 and, in Part 2, an article or a story. This guide explains what each task asks for, how examiners mark them and what a top answer looks like, with three model answers annotated by a Cambridge examiner.

What’s in the B1 Preliminary Writing paper?

The Cambridge B1 Preliminary Writing paper lasts 45 minutes and has two parts. Part 1 is an email of about 100 words in reply to a short message. In Part 2 you choose between an article and a story, also about 100 words. According to the Cambridge English handbook for the exam, each task is marked out of 20, so the paper is worth 40 marks.

Both tasks are assessed in four areas: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language. Each area gets a score from 0 to 5. Writing is one of the four papers of the B1 Preliminary, together with Reading, Listening and Speaking, and in 2026 the format is the same whether you take the exam on paper or on a computer.

You should aim to communicate clearly, answer every part of the question and show that you can use English at B1 level. Let’s look at each part in more detail.

Part 1: the email

Part 1 is a compulsory email of about 100 words. You read a short email from a friend or teacher with four notes written next to it, and you reply. To score well, answer all four notes clearly and use the right tone for the person you’re writing to: informal for a friend, a little more careful for a teacher.

How to plan your email

You have about 20 minutes for this task. Here’s a suggested plan:

• Read the question carefully (2-3 minutes). Identify who you’re writing to, why you’re writing and what the four notes ask for.
• Brainstorm your ideas (2-3 minutes). Write down a few words or phrases for each note. You don’t need complete sentences yet.
• Write your email (10-12 minutes). Organise your ideas into clear paragraphs. You can answer more than one note in a paragraph if the ideas are connected. Start with a greeting, finish with a closing and use a register that suits the person.
• Check your work (2-3 minutes). Check verb tenses, spelling, punctuation, capital letters and question forms. Above all, make sure you’ve answered all four notes.

Sample email task

This is what Part 1 looks like in the exam. The notes in handwriting are the four things your reply has to do.

Sample answer

This is a top-scoring answer. Notice how it uses clear paragraphs, answers every note and uses good B1-level vocabulary and grammar.

Email checklist

Before moving on to Part 2, ask yourself these questions.

• Have I used an appropriate greeting, such as Hi James or Hello Anna?
• Have I answered all four content points?
• Have I organised my ideas into clear paragraphs?
• Have I used linking words such as but, because, although, so and if where appropriate?
• Have I used a range of vocabulary rather than repeating the same words?
• Have I used grammar accurately, including appropriate verb tenses, modals and conditional sentences where they fit?
• Have I maintained the correct register (informal) throughout?
• Have I included a suitable closing, such as See you soon or Talk to you later?
• Is my email approximately 100 words long?
• Have I checked my spelling, punctuation and question forms?

Remember that you don’t need to use every grammar structure on this list. Your priority is to answer the question clearly and accurately.

Part 2: article or story

In Part 2 you choose one task: an article or a story. Both should be about 100 words and you have about 25 minutes. Choose the one that suits your strengths: the article if you like giving opinions and describing your own experiences, the story if you prefer inventing characters and events.

The story

In the story task you’re given the first sentence. You must copy that sentence exactly as it appears and make it the first sentence of your story.

A story should entertain the reader. It needs a clear sequence of events, and the ending should make sense with what has happened. You don’t need a complicated plot: with only about 100 words, a simple story is often the best choice.

Planning your story

Before you start writing, think about three stages:

This simple plan gives you a clear direction without wasting time.

Sample answer

Notice how this answer uses the exact opening sentence and a good mix of past tenses: past simple, past continuous and past perfect.

Story checklist

Before you finish your story, ask yourself these questions.

• Have I used the opening sentence exactly as it was given, making it the first sentence of my story?
• Does my story have a clear beginning, middle and end?
• Have I organised the events logically, using paragraphs where appropriate?
• Have I used time markers and conjunctions to connect events? For example: suddenly, two weeks later, while, as soon as, before, after, although and in the end.
• Have I used direct speech or reported speech where it helps develop the story?
• Have I used a suitable range of verb tenses, such as the past simple and past continuous, and the past perfect where necessary?
• Have I used a variety of vocabulary?
• Have I included some appropriate B1-level grammar, such as comparisons, conditionals, modals, gerunds and infinitives?
• Have I maintained a consistent and appropriate style throughout the story?
• Is my story approximately 100 words long?
• Have I checked my spelling, punctuation and grammar?

Following this checklist will help you develop a clear, engaging story while demonstrating your English skills.

The article

An article is usually written for a website, a magazine or a similar publication. Depending on the question, its purpose is to inform, entertain or persuade the reader.

You’re given a topic and some questions to answer. Your job is to answer all of them and make the article interesting to read. Many students find it easier than a story, because you can write about your own opinions and experiences.

Planning your article

Imagine your favourite book is The Hunger Games:

Organise your answer into two or three short paragraphs. A title helps introduce the topic, and an engaging opening encourages the reader to continue.

Sample answer

Notice how this answer has a catchy title, a question to hook the reader and a clear answer to all three questions in the task.

Article checklist

Before you finish your article, ask yourself these questions.

• Have I included a title?
• Have I answered every question in the task?
• Have I made my article interesting for its intended readers?
• Have I organised my ideas into clear paragraphs?
• Have I used a range of linking words and expressions?
• Have I used varied vocabulary without repeating the same words unnecessarily?
• Have I demonstrated a range of grammar accurately?
• Have I maintained an appropriate register?
• Is my article approximately 100 words long?
• Have I checked my spelling, punctuation and verb tenses?

A rhetorical question such as Have you ever read a book that you simply couldn’t put down? can be an effective opening, but it isn’t compulsory. You could also begin with a strong opinion, a surprising fact or a direct statement about the topic.

The story and article checklists are also in the free PDF, ready to print.

How B1 Preliminary Writing is marked

Cambridge marks both writing tasks with the same four criteria: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language. Each criterion gets a score from 0 to 5, so each task is worth up to 20 marks. The examiner scores each criterion separately, so a strong answer to the question can still lose marks for language errors.

Errors are a normal part of learning a language. What matters is how well you communicate your meaning and how well you control the language you use.

If you want to widen your range of linkers, our guide to linking words in English has examples by level.

Annotated sample answers

Here are the three model answers again, with notes from a Cambridge examiner. Each one scores 5 out of 5 in every criterion. The notes on the right show what each part of the answer does, and the table below each answer explains the mark.

The email: 20/20

The story: 20/20

The article: 20/20

Claire Farrell

Head of Academic Content at Preptiviti · Cambridge English Examiner (Speaking & Writing)

Cambridge English Examiner — Speaking · Cambridge English Examiner — Writing · MSc in TESOL (Assessment and Evaluation)

An official Cambridge English Speaking and Writing Examiner and Exam Supervisor, with 15 years of experience in language teaching and assessment. As Head of Academic Content at Preptiviti, she leads content development and oversees the quality of its exam preparation resources.

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