B2 writing activities: essays, articles, reports and reviews
Writers at this level can write clear, detailed essays, articles and reports that argue a point and weigh both sides.
Formal letters
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Applying for a Summer Job at a Language Camp
Write a formal letter applying for a job as an activity leader at an international summer camp.
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Complaint to a Hotel After a Disappointing Stay
Write a formal complaint to a hotel manager about the difference between the website and reality, and ask for compensation.
Descriptions
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Describe and Explain: Chaos at the Station
Describe the busy station platform in the picture, use the information on the departure board, and speculate about how the people are feeling and what they might do next.
Stories
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The Message in the Bottle
Write a story that ends with a given sentence, using a range of past tenses and vivid description.
Essays
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Should Public Transport Be Free?
Write a for-and-against essay on free public transport, using two given notes and an idea of your own, and reach a clear conclusion.
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B2 First Part 1: Essay on Learning a Skill Online
Write a B2 First Part 1 essay using two given notes and your own idea, within 140–190 words.
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Fast Fashion: Read the Article, Then Write an Essay
Read a short article about the true cost of cheap clothes, answer comprehension questions, then write an essay using ideas from the text.
Reviews
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Review a Book or Series That Surprised You
Write a review of a book or TV series that was better or worse than you expected, for an online magazine.
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B2 First Part 2: Review of a Local Event
Write a B2 First Part 2 review of an event in your area for an English-language website.
Articles
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Article: How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
Write a lively magazine article about screen time, using your own experience and speaking directly to readers.
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B2 First Part 2: Article About a Day Without Your Phone
Write a lively magazine article about spending a day without a smartphone, engaging the reader and giving an opinion.
Reports
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Report on Sports Facilities at Your School
Write a report for the head teacher on the school's sports facilities: what works, what doesn't and what should change.
Proposals
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Proposal: Making Our School Greener
Write a proposal to the school council suggesting three realistic ways to make the school more environmentally friendly.
IELTS Task 1
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IELTS Task 1 Line Graph: Time Spent Online by Age
Describe a line graph showing how many hours a day four age groups spent online between 2010 and 2025. Practise overviews and trend language.
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IELTS Task 1 Line Graph: Cycling in Three Cities
Describe how daily bicycle journeys changed in three cities over 24 years, including two cities overtaking a third.
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IELTS Task 1 Bar Chart: Household Spending
Describe a bar chart comparing average weekly household spending in five categories in 2015 and 2025.
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IELTS Task 1 Bar Chart: Recycling Rates in Four Countries
Compare household recycling rates in four countries in three different years, grouping the countries by how fast they improved.
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IELTS Task 1 Process: How Recycled Paper Is Made
Describe the stages in the process of turning waste paper into new paper, using the passive and sequencing language.
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IELTS Task 1 Table: Cinema Tickets in Four Countries
Compare the number of cinema tickets sold in four countries in 2014 and 2024, identifying the biggest changes and the overall pattern.
IELTS GT letters
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IELTS General Training Letter: Problem With Your Flat
Write a semi-formal letter to your landlord about a problem in your flat that hasn't been fixed. Cover all three bullet points.
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IELTS General Training Letter: Complaint About Road Works
Write a formal letter to the local council about noisy road works near your home, explaining the effect and asking for action.
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IELTS General Training Letter: Thanking a Host Family
Write an informal thank-you letter to a family you stayed with abroad, mentioning highlights and inviting them to visit you.
IELTS Task 2
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IELTS Task 2 Problem and Solution: Traffic Congestion
Explain the causes of traffic congestion in cities and propose practical solutions in a well-organised essay.
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IELTS Task 2 Opinion: Should All Children Learn to Cook?
Agree or disagree that every schoolchild should be taught to cook, with a clear position and developed examples.
TOEFL Build a Sentence
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TOEFL Build a Sentence: Questions and Replies (Set 2)
Ten harder word-order items: indirect questions, passives, conditionals and relative clauses in everyday academic replies.
TOEFL Write an Email
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TOEFL Write an Email: Asking a Professor for an Extension
Write a polite email to a professor in seven minutes, covering three required points, as in the 2026 TOEFL Write an Email task.
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TOEFL Write an Email: Problem With a Group Project
Email a classmate tactfully about a problem in your group project and propose a solution, in seven minutes.
TOEFL Academic Discussion
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TOEFL Academic Discussion: Should Internships Be Required?
Read a professor's question and two student posts, then add your own contribution with a clear opinion and support.
About writing at B2
At B2, writers argue a point, weigh both sides and adapt their style to the reader. Accuracy matters, but range matters too: varied linking, a wider vocabulary and structures like the passive and conditionals.
Focus at this level: essay structure, register, passive and impersonal forms, a wider range of linking words, paraphrasing.
Questions people ask
What is the B2 First writing format?
Two tasks of 140–190 words in 80 minutes: a compulsory essay, then a choice of article, email/letter, report or review.
How can I move from B1 to B2 in writing?
Develop each point with an explanation and an example, vary your linking words, and pay attention to register.
Should B2 essays include my opinion?
Yes, usually. Make your position clear in the conclusion, and in opinion essays also in the introduction.