10 Email 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 an email or letter is one of the options. You read a short situation, then write an email of 140 to 190 words that covers every point in the task. This post gives you 10 B2 First email practice questions with model answers. Each answer is written at B2 level and shows how to start with a clear greeting, cover the points politely, and finish with a matching sign-off.
Email 1
You have received a reserved ticket for an event, but the wrong name is printed on it. Write an email to the organiser explaining the mistake, giving the relevant booking details, and asking for the ticket to be corrected and confirmed.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about a ticket I reserved for the concert on 14 June. There is a mistake with the name printed on it.
I booked one ticket last week. My booking reference is GT4821, and I booked it in my own name, Anna Ruiz. But when the ticket arrived by email, the name on it was Anna Diaz. All the other details, such as the date, seat and price, are correct.
I am worried that this mistake could cause a problem at the entrance, because the staff might check the name against my ID card. Please could you change the ticket so that it shows my correct name, Anna Ruiz?
Could you also send me a new ticket by email and confirm that you have corrected it? I want to be sure that everything is right before the event.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Anna Ruiz
Email 2
You have booked a guided walk, but the confirmation email and attached map show different meeting entrances. Write an email to the organiser giving your booking details, explaining the conflicting information, and asking where and when your group should meet.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about a guided walk I have booked, because there is a problem with the meeting information.
I booked places for a group of four people for the walk on Saturday 20 July. My booking reference is WK7745. The confirmation email tells us to meet at the North Gate at 10 a.m. But the map attached to the same email shows a different starting point, at the South Gate.
The two entrances are quite far apart, so I am worried that my group could wait in the wrong place and miss the start of the walk.
Please could you tell me clearly where we should meet, and confirm the exact time? If the map is correct, I would also like to know whether the walk still begins at 10 a.m.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Marco Ferrari
Email 3
You placed an order online but now need it sent to a different address. Write an email to the shop giving the order details, explaining why the address must change, providing the new address, and asking for confirmation.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about an order I placed on your website last week, because I need to change the delivery address.
My order number is BR20913, and it contains a pair of running shoes and two pairs of socks. At the moment the order is set to be delivered to my home.
I have to change the address because I am going to be away for work when the parcel arrives, and there will be nobody at home to receive it. Please could you send the order to my office instead? The new address is 15 Green Lane, Riverside, RS4 2PL.
Could you also confirm that you have changed the address and tell me the new delivery date? I want to be sure that the parcel is not sent to my home by mistake.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Elena Petrova
Email 4
You reported a library book missing, but you have now found it. Write an email to the library explaining where the book was, saying when and how you can return it, and asking whether the replacement charge can be cancelled.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about a library book that I reported as missing last week. I am pleased to say that I have now found it.
The book is "The Blue Garden" by Rosa Field, and my library card number is 4471. I reported it lost because I could not find it anywhere at home. In the end, it had fallen behind a shelf in my bedroom, so it was simply hidden rather than lost.
The book is in perfect condition. I can return it to the main desk this Friday afternoon, or earlier if that is more helpful for you.
Because the book is safe and undamaged, please could you cancel the replacement charge that was added to my account? I would be happy to pay any small late fee instead.
Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Tomas Novak
Email 5
You are storing several boxes, and one label has fallen off. You think the box belongs to an English-speaking friend. Write an email describing the box, explaining why you think it is theirs, asking them to identify it, and arranging collection.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Ben,
I hope you are well. I am writing because I think one of the boxes I am storing in my garage might belong to you.
While I was tidying the garage, I noticed that the label had fallen off one of the boxes. It is a medium-sized cardboard box, sealed with brown tape, and it has a small blue sticker on one corner. I am fairly sure it is yours, because it looks exactly like the boxes you left with me before your trip.
Could you look at the photo I have attached and tell me whether it really is yours? If it is, I would like to give it back to you soon, because I need a little more space in the garage.
Would next weekend suit you for collecting it? I am free on both Saturday and Sunday, so just let me know what works best.
Best wishes,
Marta
Email 6
You have won a prize in a local competition but cannot collect it on the date offered. Write an email to the organiser explaining why you cannot attend, asking whether an English-speaking friend may collect the prize for you, and checking what identification your friend should bring.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about the prize I have won in the recent local photography competition. Thank you very much; I was delighted to hear the news.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to collect the prize on the date you offered, which is Saturday 12 October. On that day I have to travel to another city for a family wedding, so I cannot come to the ceremony in person.
Please could you tell me whether a friend may collect the prize for me instead? My friend, James Clark, speaks English well and would be happy to come on my behalf.
I would also like to check what identification he should bring. Should he bring his own ID, a letter from me, or the email that confirmed my prize?
Thank you for your understanding. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Sofia Marino
Email 7
You sent photographs to an English-speaking friend, but your friend cannot open the files. Write an email explaining what may have caused the problem, saying how you will send simpler copies, and asking your friend to confirm that the new files work.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Lucy,
I am so sorry that you could not open the photographs I sent you yesterday. I was really looking forward to sharing them with you.
I think I know what went wrong. I saved the pictures in a special format from my new camera, and this format does not always work on other computers. That is probably why the files would not open for you.
To fix the problem, I am going to send the photos again as ordinary JPG files. This is the most common type of picture, so they should open easily on your laptop and your phone. I will send them in two smaller emails, because there are quite a lot of them.
Could you let me know as soon as they arrive whether the new files work? If there is still a problem, I will try another way, because I really want you to see these pictures.
Best wishes,
Nina
Email 8
A teacher who has helped your class is leaving, and your English-speaking friend has offered to help choose a gift. Write an email explaining the occasion, comparing two gift ideas, and suggesting when and where you could choose the gift together.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sam,
Thank you so much for offering to help me choose a gift. I really appreciate it, and I think you will have some good ideas.
You already know that our teacher, Mr Harris, is leaving our school at the end of the month. He has helped our class for three years, so we would like to give him something special to say thank you.
I have thought of two ideas so far. The first is a nice fountain pen, which he could use every day and keep for a long time. The second is a large book about mountains, because he loves walking and climbing at the weekend. I cannot decide which one he would prefer.
Could we meet and choose the gift together? I am free after school on Thursday, and the bookshop in the town centre has both kinds of present. Let me know if that suits you.
Best wishes,
Ali
Email 9
You agreed to give a short demonstration at a club event, but it is missing from the latest programme. Write an email to the organiser giving the demonstration details, asking whether it is still scheduled, and checking the time and equipment arrangements.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about the short demonstration that I agreed to give at the club event next month. I have noticed that it is missing from the latest programme, so I would like to check the arrangements.
The event is on Saturday 9 November, and my demonstration is a fifteen-minute talk about simple bread making. I agreed the details with your assistant, Mr Reed, about three weeks ago.
Because my demonstration does not appear in the new programme, I am not sure whether it is still going to happen. Please could you confirm that it is still scheduled, and tell me the exact time I should arrive?
I would also like to check the equipment. Will there be a table and a power socket available, or should I bring everything myself? This will help me prepare properly.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Petra Kowalski
Email 10
You are going to attend a practical course and would prefer to use your own equipment. Write an email to the organiser describing the equipment, explaining why you want to bring it, and asking about storage and setup arrangements.
Write your email in 140 to 190 words.
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about the practical photography course that starts next month. I would like to ask whether I may bring and use my own equipment during the lessons.
I have my own camera and a small tripod that I know very well. The camera is a normal digital model, and the tripod is light and folds up small, so it does not take much space. I would prefer to use them because I am comfortable with the controls and can work more quickly.
Please could you tell me whether students are allowed to bring their own equipment? If so, I would also like to know about storage. Is there a safe place where I could leave my camera between lessons, or should I take it home each day?
Finally, will there be enough time to set up my tripod before each class begins? Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Diego Sanchez