FCE article about a volunteering experience: two marked answers
This page includes an original Part 2 article task about volunteering, a top answer (19/20) and a borderline answer (10/20), each with examiner-style feedback. Use it alongside our B2 First Writing guide and the FCE article guide.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
The task has three questions: what you did, what you learnt, and why other young people should try it. Many candidates spend too long on the first and forget the third.
- Paragraph 1: a hook (a funny or surprising first reaction).
- Paragraph 2: what you did, briefly and vividly.
- Paragraph 3: what you learnt, with concrete examples.
- Paragraph 4: advice to the reader.
Remember it is an article, not a letter: no "Dear readers" and no "Best regards".
Top answer (19/20)
The task
You see this announcement in an international student magazine.
Can helping others help you too? Write an article about a time you did voluntary work. What did you do, what did you learn, and why should other young people try volunteering?
We will publish the most interesting articles. Write your article in 140–190 words.
Top answer187 words · estimated 19/20
Why I Gave Up My Saturdays and Don't Regret It
When a friend asked me to help at the local animal shelter, my first thought was: "But Saturday is my only lie-in!" Eight months later, it has become the best part of my week.
The work itself is far from glamorous. I clean out kennels, fill water bowls and take nervous dogs for long walks in the woods behind the shelter. It is tiring, sometimes smelly, and occasionally heartbreaking when an old dog is still waiting for a family after months.
So what have I got out of it? Patience, mainly. Frightened animals cannot be rushed, and I have learnt to stay calm and wait for them to trust me. I have also become more confident speaking to strangers, because I often show visitors around and explain how adoption works.
If you are wondering whether to volunteer, my advice is simple: choose something you genuinely care about, and start small. Even two hours a month makes a difference. You might just discover, as I did, that helping others is one of the best ways to help yourself.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- All three questions are answered in full: the tasks at the shelter, two clear things the writer learnt (patience and confidence) and practical advice for other young people.
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- The humorous opening ('my only lie-in!'), honest details ('sometimes smelly') and direct advice to the reader make this a genuinely engaging magazine article. The last sentence answers the magazine's question neatly.
- Organisation5/5
- Very well organised, with one function per paragraph and smooth transitions such as 'So what have I got out of it?'. The ending links back to the theme in the title.
- Language4/5
- A good range of natural vocabulary ('far from glamorous', 'cannot be rushed', 'start small') and accurate grammar, including the present perfect for an ongoing experience. Few complex structures, so a strong 4.
A lively, honest article that answers every question and speaks directly to its readers.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Borderline answer (10/20)
The task
You see this announcement in an international student magazine.
Can helping others help you too? Write an article about a time you did voluntary work. What did you do, what did you learn, and why should other young people try volunteering?
We will publish the most interesting articles. Write your article in 140–190 words.
Borderline189 words · estimated 10/20
Dear readers,
I would like to tell you about my experience as volunteer. Last summer I worked like volunteer in a summer camp for children with disabilities in my region. It was during three weeks.
My work was to help the monitors with the activities, for example swimming, games and excursions. Also I helped the children to eat and to get dressed in the morning. The first days was very difficult for me because I didn't have experience and I was afraid to do something wrong. But the other volunteers was very friendly and they explained me everything.
I learnt a lot of things. I learnt to be more patient and to work in a team. Also I learnt that the children with disabilities are very funny and they can do many things that I didn't imagine.
I think all young people should do volunteering because it is a good experience and it is good for the CV. Also you can meet new people.
To finish, I want to say that this was the best summer of my life and I will repeat next year.
Thank you for reading.
Examiner-style comments
- Content4/5
- The three questions are all answered: the camp activities, what the writer learnt (patience, teamwork) and reasons for others to volunteer. The final reasons are thin ('good for the CV', 'meet new people') but relevant.
- Communicative Achievement2/5
- The text is framed as a letter ('Dear readers', 'Thank you for reading'), which is not right for a magazine article. There is no title and no attempt to interest the reader, so the target reader is only partly informed.
- Organisation2/5
- Paragraphs follow the task order, but linking is repetitive ('Also' four times, 'I learnt' three times) and the paragraph about advice is very short.
- Language2/5
- Errors are frequent: 'as volunteer', 'worked like volunteer', 'during three weeks', 'The first days was', 'explained me everything', 'I will repeat'. Vocabulary is simple, although 'monitors' and 'get dressed' are used well.
Relevant content, but written as a letter with frequent errors, so it doesn't achieve the article's purpose.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- Show a change. "My first thought was… Eight months later…" gives the article a story shape without becoming a narrative.
- Name what you learnt and prove it. "Patience, mainly. Frightened animals cannot be rushed…" is specific and believable.
- Give real advice. "Choose something you genuinely care about, and start small" is more useful than "it is a good experience".
- Drop letter conventions. Articles have a title, not "Dear readers".
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
Can I write 'Dear readers' at the start of an article?
It is best not to. It makes the text look like a letter. Use a title and an engaging first sentence instead.
Do I need real volunteering experience to answer this?
No. You can invent an experience, as long as it sounds believable and answers every question in the task.
How personal should a B2 First article be?
Personal details make an article engaging, but every detail should support the content points. Avoid long stories with no link to the task.
How do I make the ending of an article strong?
Return to the idea in your title or opening and speak to the reader with advice, a question or a memorable final line.