FCE article example: my favourite place to relax
This page gives an original Part 2 article task about a favourite place to relax, a top answer (19/20) and a solid answer (13/20), with examiner-style comments. It is part of our B2 First Writing guide; read the FCE article guide for the full technique.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
An article must interest the reader, not just give information. Before you write, decide:
- Title: short and intriguing, not just the words of the task.
- Hook: a question or a surprising sentence in the first line.
- Three content points: what the place is like, why you love it, and whether you recommend it. All three are in the task, so all three need a paragraph.
- Ending: speak to the reader directly ("So next time…").
Use descriptive language (sights, sounds, feelings) and a friendly, slightly informal tone.
Top answer (19/20)
The task
You see this announcement on an English-language website for young people.
Articles wanted: My favourite place to relax Is there a place in your town or city where you go to switch off? Tell us what it is like, why you love it and whether you would recommend it to visitors.
The best articles will be published on our website. Write your article in 140–190 words.
Top answer188 words · estimated 19/20
A Garden in the Sky
Have you ever wished you could press a "pause" button on city life? I have found mine, and it is only ten minutes from my flat.
On top of the covered market in the town centre, there is a rooftop garden that most tourists never notice. You climb four flights of narrow stairs, push open a heavy door and suddenly the noise of the traffic disappears. Instead, you are surrounded by lemon trees, wooden benches and pots of herbs that local volunteers look after.
What makes it so special for me is the view. From up there, the whole city spreads out in front of you, and on clear evenings you can watch the sun sink behind the hills while the streets below turn gold. I usually bring a book, but I rarely read more than a page!
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, as long as you treat it with respect. It is a quiet place, not somewhere for loud music. So next time the city gets too much for you, look up. Your own little paradise might be closer than you think.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- All three parts of the task are covered: what the garden is like, why the writer loves it (the view and the calm) and a recommendation with a sensible condition ('as long as you treat it with respect').
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- Excellent article style. The title, the opening question and the direct address at the end ('look up') hold the reader's attention, and the light humour ('I rarely read more than a page!') suits a website for young people.
- Organisation5/5
- Each paragraph has a clear purpose and the text moves naturally from discovery to description to recommendation. The final line links back to the 'pause button' idea from the opening.
- Language4/5
- Vivid, accurate description ('the streets below turn gold', 'four flights of narrow stairs'). Structures are well controlled, though there is little use of more complex grammar, so Language is 4.
An engaging, well-crafted article that reads like a real piece on a youth website.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Solid answer (13/20)
The task
You see this announcement on an English-language website for young people.
Articles wanted: My favourite place to relax Is there a place in your town or city where you go to switch off? Tell us what it is like, why you love it and whether you would recommend it to visitors.
The best articles will be published on our website. Write your article in 140–190 words.
Solid pass180 words · estimated 13/20
My favourite place to relax
In this article I will write about my favourite place to relax in my town. It is the park near my house, which is called Central Park.
The park is very big and it has a lot of trees, a lake and many benches. At the weekend there are many families with children and people who are doing sport, like running or cycling.
I love this place because it is very quiet and green. When I am stressed because of the exams, I go there with my dog and I walk around the lake. After one hour I feel much more better. Sometimes I meet my friends there and we sit on the grass and talk about our things.
I would recommend this park to visitors because is free and it is beautiful, especially in spring when all the flowers are open. But I think it is better to go in the morning because in the afternoon there are too many people.
In conclusion, if you visit my town you must go to this park.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- Every content point is covered: a description of the park, reasons for loving it (quiet, green, a break from exam stress) and a recommendation with practical advice about the time of day.
- Communicative Achievement3/5
- The text reads more like an essay or a school composition than an article. The title copies the task, 'In this article I will write about…' and 'In conclusion' are flat, and there is little attempt to involve the reader.
- Organisation3/5
- Clear paragraphs that follow the task order. Linking within paragraphs is limited to 'and', 'also' and 'because', which makes the text repetitive.
- Language2/5
- Simple vocabulary ('very big', 'very quiet', 'beautiful') with some errors: 'much more better', 'because is free', 'talk about our things'. The meaning is always clear, but the range is narrow for B2.
Complete and clear, but it doesn't sound like an article and the language is limited.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- A creative title. "A Garden in the Sky" makes readers curious; "My favourite place to relax" just repeats the task.
- Start with a question to the reader. It immediately creates the friendly tone of an article.
- Describe with the senses. Noise disappearing, lemon trees, the sun sinking: the reader can picture the place.
- End by speaking to the reader. "So next time the city gets too much for you, look up" is much stronger than "In conclusion".
Check your own answer
Write your own article for this prompt before you look at the answers again. Then go through the B2 First writing checklist and paste your draft into the writing checker and word counter to make sure you are between 140 and 190 words. More marked answers are in our FCE writing examples.
Questions about this task
Does an FCE article need a title?
A title is not compulsory, but it is a quick way to show you understand the genre. Make it short and interesting rather than copying the task.
Can I use 'In conclusion' in an article?
It is not wrong, but it sounds like an essay. Articles usually end with a comment or question for the reader instead.
Should an article be formal or informal?
Most B2 First articles are for magazines or websites, so a friendly, semi-informal style works best. Avoid slang and text-message language.
Is it OK to describe an imaginary place?
Yes. Examiners mark your English, not whether the place is real. Choose a place that gives you plenty to describe.