Part one of the B2 First writing exam you need to write an essay and for part one of the C1
Advanced writing exam you also need to write an essay. Do you know the differences between a C1
Advanced essay and a B2 First essay? I don't think you do. And that's a terrible thing.
My name is Toby, this is SMASH English and here is everything you need to
know about the important differences between a C1 Advanced and a B2 First
essay.
The B2 First writing exam is one hour and 20 minutes long and this means that you have
40 minutes to write your essay. The C1 Advanced writing exam is
one hour and 30 minutes long and this means that you have
45 minutes to write your essay. Wow! Five minutes extra time! That is brilliant! So why do you need
those extra five minutes? For part one of the B2 First writing exam (the essay) you should write
between 140 and 190 words. For part 1 of the C1 Advanced writing exam (the essay) you should write
between 220 and 260 words. Ah! That extra five minutes gives you enough time to write at least
30 more words! But what about the questions? Are there any differences between a B2 First
essay question and a C1 Advanced essay question? Let's look at an example B2 First essay question.
In your English class you have been talking about different ways to keep up to date with the news.
Now your english teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write an essay using all the notes and give
reasons for your point of view. What is the best way for people to stay up to date with the news?
One: internet. Two: TV. Three: Your own idea. Write your essay. Hopefully you have watched
all of my videos about writing an essay for the B2 First Cambridge exam. Even if you are not
preparing for the B2 First Cambridge exam because trust me those videos are really entertaining
yeah. But basically to summarize in a really simplistic way a B2 First essay should be
five paragraphs long. You need an introduction, then you need an individual paragraph for each
individual prompt. So here that would be uh paragraph two: internet, paragraph three:
tv, paragraph four: your own idea for example, and paragraph five: conclusion. There is a way
to order your prompts but let's not talk about that here it's not relevant i'm just giving you
an example okay? Yes! This means that you have five paragraphs to write and 140 to 190 words
to write them with and trust me that is not a lot of words. In short, a B2 First essay
should be something like two sentences for your introduction, three sentences for each prompt
and then two sentences for your conclusion. That's like 13 sentences. That's not a lot of sentences
and this is why B2 First essay writing in my opinion and with my advice is really really
easy because anyone can think of three sentences to write about using the internet to look up news!
That's really simple! You do not need a lot of specific vocabulary to do that, do you? No! No
you don't! But what about C1 advanced? Well here is a sample question about the same topic...
Your class has watched a panel discussion about what the best source of news is.
You have made the notes below. Sources of news: TV, internet, newspapers. Some opinions expressed
in the discussion: "it takes years of experience to be a successful TV journalist. They know what
they're doing". "Anyone can post anything on the internet so how can you trust it?".
"Newspapers are out of date and always one day behind.".
write an essay discussing two of the areas in your notes. you should explain what the
best news source is giving reasons in support of your answer. you may if you wish make use of the
opinions expressed in the discussion but you should use your own words as far as possible.
so what are the key differences here? well the question itself is the same:
which is the best source of news? However we can only talk about two prompts not three and secondly
we cannot invent our own prompt. Oh. But wait a minute! Maybe right now you are thinking "Oh yes
Toby this is great! I have no imagination! In the B2 First exam I found it really difficult
to think of my own prompt and now I don't have to! Yes! I win! You lose!" And I guess in a way
that's correct but there is a problem! Think about it! Instead of writing 190 words to talk about
three prompts you've got to write at least 220 words to talk about two prompts. This means
you will need to demonstrate more specialized vocabulary related to each prompt. You will need
to provide more detailed ideas, explanations and examples. This is harder not easier. You will also
notice that you have three comments or opinions expressed by some panelists and you don't have to
use them when you write your essay but you can if you want. They're just ideas. If you're in
the exam thinking "oh my gosh I have no ideas" well don't worry because here are three ideas.
One idea related to each prompt that you can use. But remember you could only ever use two of them
because in the C1 Advanced exam you should only reference two of the prompts not three of them!
Okay? Yes! Oh yeah and if you do decide to use these ideas then make sure you put them into
your own words. Don't just copy what is written on the examination paper because that's not going
to give you any marks. That will give you zero marks! Because that's just copying and what's
the point in copying? There is none. Trust me. But did you know that copying is not always bad?
No! In fact sometimes copying is great and if you could copy anyone you should copy Alvaro or Zuzia
or Moon or Tereza! Do you know why? Because they donated to the channel and made my heart feel a
little bit warm and fuzzy like I was being hugged by a giant kitten! And I love big kittens wow!
But seriously, you guys are great! I really love you! And if you think that my channel
is helping you with your English then please do consider donating yourself.
Thank you. Bye! So what about the structure for a C1 essay? Well the essay is functionally exactly
the same as the B2 First essay. I need to argue for something and against something else. This
question is asking me to talk about what is the best source of news and I can choose two prompts.
So let's say I decided to talk about the internet and newspapers. Now, I believe that internet
is a better source of news than newspapers so in this essay I need to compare and contrast internet
and newspapers and then come to the conclusion that the internet is better than newspapers for
learning about the news of course with reasons and explanations and examples so as I have said before
a B2 First essay should be introduction, prompt, prompt, conclusion. A C1 Advanced essay should be
different instead I want you to do introduction, discuss prompt one, discuss prompt two and then
compare and contrast the prompts and finally finish with your conclusion. So to summarize: what
are the differences between a B2 First essay and a C1 Advanced essay? Well number one: you have five
minutes longer to write it. Number two: instead of writing 140 to 190 words you need to write between
220 and 260 words. Number three: you need to talk about two prompts and not three. Number four:
you have some sample ideas from a panel and Number five: you should change the essay structure from
the basic structure I gave you for your B2 First essay and this should allow you to talk in greater
detail about two prompts whilst at the same time comparing and contrasting them. But don't worry
because I will tell you exactly how to do that in another video yes? Yes! Great! And with that we
are finished! Now you know everything you need to know about the differences between a B2 First and
a C1 Advanced essay. If you liked the video don't forget to SMASH that like button, subscribe if you
haven't already, leave a comment down below! My name is Toby and this was SMASH English.