10 Article Practice Questions with Answers | Cambridge B2 First
In Part 2 of the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing paper, you choose one task from a list, and the article is one of the options. You read a short announcement asking for articles on a topic, then write an engaging article of 140 to 190 words that answers the questions in the announcement. This post gives you 10 B2 First article practice questions with model answers. Each answer is written at B2 level and shows how to open with a hook, keep a friendly tone, and finish with a clear recommendation for the reader.
Article 1
You see this announcement in an English-language magazine.
Articles wanted: The best part of arriving early
Where do you enjoy arriving early? What do you notice or do before other people arrive, and why would you recommend not rushing?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
The Quiet Magic of Arriving Early
Have you ever walked into a place before everyone else and felt that it belonged just to you? For me, that is the best part of arriving early.
The place I love to reach first is my local swimming pool. When I get there twenty minutes before it opens to the public, the water is completely still and the air is calm. I use this time to stretch slowly, choose the best lane and simply enjoy the silence before the noise begins.
Arriving early also lets me notice small things that other people miss. I see the staff preparing the pool, the morning light on the water, and a few other early birds who smile as if we share a secret.
Most of all, I would recommend not rushing because it changes how you feel. Instead of arriving stressed and out of breath, you start calm and ready. So next time, try leaving home a little earlier. You might discover that the quiet minutes before everyone else are the best ones of all.
Article 2
You see this announcement in an English-language magazine.
Articles wanted: A good use for a narrow space
Think of a narrow or unused space in a home or public building. How could it be changed, what would be needed, and who would benefit?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
The Little Corner That Became a Reading Nook
Have you ever looked at a narrow, empty space in your home and thought it was completely useless? I did, until I turned the thin gap beside our stairs into a tiny reading corner.
The space was only one metre wide, so nothing big would fit. Instead, I added a narrow bookshelf against the wall, a soft cushion on the floor and a small lamp for the evenings. None of this cost very much, and the whole change took a single afternoon.
Now that forgotten corner is the most popular place in the house. My younger sister reads there after school, and even my parents borrow it when they want a quiet moment away from the television.
If you have a narrow space at home, do not ignore it. With a shelf, a light and a little imagination, an awkward gap can become somewhere people actually want to be. Small spaces often make the cosiest corners of all.
Article 3
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: A skill learned for fun that became useful
What skill did you learn simply because you enjoyed it? When did it become useful unexpectedly, and why might readers want to learn it too?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
How Juggling Saved a Boring Afternoon
Have you ever learned something just for fun, only to find it useful years later? That is exactly what happened to me with juggling.
I taught myself to juggle when I was twelve, simply because I thought it looked clever. For a long time it was nothing more than a party trick that made my friends laugh.
Then, last summer, I helped at a holiday club for young children. One rainy afternoon they were bored and restless, and nothing seemed to calm them. So I pulled three oranges from a bowl and started to juggle. Suddenly every child was watching, laughing and begging me to teach them.
I would recommend learning a small, playful skill like this to anyone. It costs nothing, it is fun to practise, and you never know when it might rescue a difficult moment. The most useless-looking talent can turn out to be surprisingly valuable.
Article 4
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: A recipe that is easier than it looks
What recipe once seemed difficult to you? What makes it simpler than people expect, and why should a beginner try it?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Fresh Bread Is Easier Than You Think
When I was younger, I believed that baking bread was only for experts. It seemed to need special skills, expensive tools and hours of hard work. In fact, it is far simpler than most people expect.
The recipe I love uses only flour, water, salt and yeast. You mix everything in one bowl, leave it overnight, and bake it the next day. There is no complicated kneading and no fancy equipment, just a little patience while the dough rests.
What makes it easy is time, not skill. The dough does most of the work by itself while you sleep, and even if the shape is not perfect, the taste is always wonderful.
I would encourage any beginner to try it. The smell of fresh bread filling the kitchen is a real reward, and once you succeed the first time, you will never feel nervous about baking again. Sometimes the recipes that look hardest are the friendliest of all.
Article 5
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: The best thing to do after rain
What activity do you enjoy just after the rain stops? Describe how the surroundings change, explain what to take, and say why this is the best time for the activity.
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Why I Love a Walk After the Rain
Is there anything fresher than the world just after the rain has stopped? For me, the best thing to do at that moment is to go for a walk.
As soon as the clouds break, everything looks different. The streets shine, the leaves drip quietly, and the air smells clean and green. Even a familiar park feels brand new, washed and bright under the returning sun.
Before I set out, I always take a light waterproof jacket and a pair of strong shoes, because the paths are wet and puddles appear everywhere. A camera is useful too, because the light after rain is beautiful.
This is the best time for a walk because the streets are empty and peaceful. Most people stay indoors until they are certain the rain has gone, so the whole neighbourhood feels calm and private. Next time the rain stops, step outside quickly. You will have the fresh, shining world almost to yourself.
Article 6
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: What you can learn by standing still
Choose a place where people usually keep moving. What can someone learn by stopping there for a few minutes, and why should readers try it?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Stop for a Moment at the Station
We spend so much of our lives hurrying that we rarely stop to look. One place where I have learned to stand still is my local train station.
Normally, people rush through it without a glance, chasing trains and checking their phones. But when I stop and simply watch for a few minutes, I notice a whole world I usually miss. I see friends saying goodbye, a musician playing quietly in a corner, and strangers helping someone with a heavy bag.
Standing still teaches you how much kindness and emotion happen in ordinary places. It also reminds you that everyone around you has their own story and their own journey.
I would encourage readers to try this wherever life moves quickly, whether in a market, a park or a busy street. Just stop for five minutes and watch. You may be surprised by how much you can learn simply by staying in one place.
Article 7
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: One detail that makes a room welcoming
What small detail can make a room feel friendly? Where have you seen it used successfully, and how could readers use the same idea?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
The Small Detail That Warms a Room
Why do some rooms make you feel instantly at home, while others feel cold and empty? For me, the answer is often one simple detail: a warm, soft lamp.
A single lamp with a gentle yellow light can change the whole feeling of a room. Instead of the hard glare of a ceiling light, it creates soft shadows and quiet corners that make people want to sit down and stay.
I first noticed this in a small cafe near my house. The owner had placed little lamps on every table, and the whole place felt friendly and calm, even on a grey winter afternoon.
Readers can easily use the same idea at home. You do not need to spend a lot of money; one inexpensive lamp in the corner of a room is enough. Sometimes the smallest detail, not the biggest piece of furniture, is what truly makes a space welcoming.
Article 8
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: An evening view worth sharing
What view near you is best in the evening? Where and when should people see it, how does it change, and who would you like to share it with?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
The Evening View From the Old Bridge
Where do you go when you want to watch the day slowly end? My favourite place is the old stone bridge that crosses the river near my home.
The best time to see it is just before sunset, when the sky turns orange and pink above the water. When the light fades, the river seems to catch fire, and the lamps along the bank begin to glow one by one. Slowly, the busy daytime town becomes quiet and golden.
The view changes minute by minute, so it never looks the same twice. On some evenings the water is perfectly still, while on others a soft mist rises and covers the surface like a blanket.
I would love to share this view with my grandmother, who has not visited the town for years. I know she would enjoy the peace and the colours. If you ever pass an old bridge at sunset, stop and look. It is a moment worth sharing.
Article 9
You see this announcement in an English-language magazine.
Articles wanted: The one thing I pack first
What item do you always pack first? When has it been especially useful, and what advice would you give readers about choosing what to carry?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Never Travel Without a Notebook
When you prepare for a trip, what do you reach for first? Before clothes, before even my toothbrush, I always pack a small notebook.
It may sound old-fashioned in a world of phones, but a notebook never runs out of battery and never needs a signal. I use mine to write down directions, draw quick maps and note the names of places I want to remember.
It was especially useful last year, when my phone died in a foreign city. While everyone else was lost, I still had the address of our hotel written safely inside my little book.
My advice to readers is simple: choose one small item that works anywhere and never lets you down. It does not have to be expensive or clever. The best thing to carry is something reliable, light and always ready. For me, that will always be a humble notebook and a pen.
Article 10
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
Articles wanted: A sound that belongs to my area
What sound represents the place where you live? When can people hear it, and what does it tell visitors about your area?
Write your article in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
The Sound That Means Home to Me
If you closed your eyes in my town, one sound would tell you exactly where you were: the bells of the old market clock.
Every hour, the clock in the main square rings out across the streets. You can hear it from almost anywhere, above the traffic and the chatter of the market. In the early morning it feels gentle and calm, while at midday it competes cheerfully with the noise of the busy stalls.
For me, this sound means home. I grew up hearing it, and even now it makes me feel safe and settled the moment I return.
I think it also tells visitors something important about my area. It shows that we still value old traditions, and that the heart of our town is not a shopping centre but a public square where people meet. A single, familiar sound can say more about a place than any guidebook.