FCE email giving advice: should my friend take a gap year?
This page offers an original Part 2 informal email task about taking a gap year, a top answer (19/20) and a borderline answer (10/20), with feedback on every criterion. It is part of our B2 First Writing guide; the FCE email and letter guide has more phrases for giving advice.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
Robin asks for three things: what you did on your gap year, whether you'd recommend it, and any advice. The third point is the heart of the task.
- Opening: react to Robin's news.
- What you did: brief, with one or two highlights.
- Would you recommend it? A balanced answer: it depends.
- Advice: concrete steps Robin can take now.
- Closing: friendly and encouraging.
Useful advice language: My advice would be to…, If I were you, I'd…, Make sure you…, Don't just….
Top answer (19/20)
The task
This is part of an email you have received from your English-speaking friend, Robin.
"I've just finished school and I can't decide whether to start university straight away or take a gap year to work and travel. You took a year off, didn't you? What did you do, and would you recommend it? Any advice?"
Write your email in 140–190 words.
Top answer187 words · estimated 19/20
Hi Robin,
Great to hear from you, and congratulations on finishing school! I know exactly how you feel, because I was in the same position two years ago.
As you said, I did take a year off. I spent the first six months working in a café to save money, and then I went backpacking around South-East Asia with a friend. Honestly, it was the best decision I've ever made. I learnt to manage my own money, I became much more independent, and I came back with a far clearer idea of what I wanted to study.
That said, a gap year isn't right for everyone. If you're already sure about your course and you can't wait to start, there's no point delaying it. And don't just take a year off to sleep late, because you'll end up bored and broke!
My advice would be to make a rough plan first. Work out how much money you'd need, decide what you'd like to achieve, and check whether your university would let you defer your place.
Let me know what you decide, and good luck!
Take care, Alex
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- All three questions are fully answered: what the writer did, a balanced recommendation ('isn't right for everyone') and three practical pieces of advice.
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- Warm, natural and genuinely helpful. The humour ('bored and broke') and the honest 'That said…' make the advice believable, exactly as a friend would write.
- Organisation5/5
- Logical paragraphing that follows Robin's questions, with natural informal linking ('As you said', 'Honestly', 'That said', 'My advice would be').
- Language4/5
- A good range of informal and precise language ('defer your place', 'Work out', 'end up', 'there's no point delaying it'). Accurate throughout; complex structures are present but not frequent.
A balanced, friendly email full of specific, practical advice.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Borderline answer (10/20)
The task
This is part of an email you have received from your English-speaking friend, Robin.
"I've just finished school and I can't decide whether to start university straight away or take a gap year to work and travel. You took a year off, didn't you? What did you do, and would you recommend it? Any advice?"
Write your email in 140–190 words.
Borderline178 words · estimated 10/20
Hi Robin!
How are you? I am fine. Thanks for your email, it was great to hear from you.
Yes, I took a gap year after school, it was two years ago. I went to Australia with a working holiday visa and I worked in a farm picking fruits and after I worked in a hostel in Sydney, it was very hard work but I met people from all the world and I improved a lot my English. Also I travelled to many places, the beaches are amazing and I saw kangaroos and koalas.
The bad thing was that I spent all my money and when I came back I had to live with my parents again and my friends was already in the second year of university so I felt a little bit alone.
I think you should do what you want. It is your life and is your decision. If you want to travel, go!
Well I have to go now because I have class. Write me soon and tell me what you decide!
Hugs, Paula
Examiner-style comments
- Content3/5
- What the writer did is described in detail, and a disadvantage is mentioned, but there is no real recommendation and almost no advice: 'you should do what you want' does not help Robin decide.
- Communicative Achievement3/5
- The informal register is appropriate and friendly, and the reader would enjoy the story, but the main purpose of the email (giving advice) is not achieved.
- Organisation2/5
- The second paragraph is one very long sentence joined by 'and' and commas, which makes it hard to follow. The opening 'How are you? I am fine.' is formulaic.
- Language2/5
- Frequent errors: 'in a farm', 'picking fruits', 'from all the world', 'I improved a lot my English', 'my friends was', 'is your decision', 'Write me soon'. Vocabulary is adequate for the topic.
A friendly story, but Robin asked for advice and gets almost none.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- Give advice Robin can act on. "Work out how much money you'd need… check whether your university would let you defer your place."
- Show both sides. "That said, a gap year isn't right for everyone" makes your recommendation more trustworthy.
- Keep the story short. Two or three sentences about your year are enough; the task is mainly about advice.
- Break up long sentences. One idea per sentence is easier to read than a chain of "and… and…".
Check your own answer
Write your own email or letter 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
What phrases can I use to give advice in an informal email?
Try 'My advice would be to…', 'If I were you, I'd…', 'Why don't you…?', 'Make sure you…' and 'Don't forget to…'.
Is 'You should do what you want' good advice in the exam?
Not on its own. It sounds friendly but gives your reader nothing to act on. Add specific suggestions and reasons.
Can I write 'Write me soon'?
In British English, say 'Write to me soon' or, more naturally, 'Let me know what you decide'.
How long should my opening be in an informal email?
One or two sentences that react to your friend's news are enough. Avoid formulaic lines like 'How are you? I am fine.'