FCE report example: tourist attractions for visiting students
This page gives an original Part 2 report task recommending places for a group of visiting students, a top answer (18/20) and a borderline answer (10/20), each with comments on the four criteria. It is part of our B2 First Writing guide; read the FCE report guide for more.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
The organiser wants three things: places to visit, things to do, and advice on getting around. Many candidates forget the transport point because they are busy describing sights.
- Introduction: purpose of the report.
- Places to visit: two places, with a reason why young visitors will enjoy them.
- Things to do: activities, ideally different from sightseeing.
- Getting around: practical transport advice.
- Short conclusion.
Write for the organiser, not for the students directly. Use recommending language: I would recommend…, should be the first stop, is likely to appeal to….
Top answer (18/20)
The task
A group of English-speaking students is coming to spend a weekend in your town. The organiser has asked you to write a report recommending places to visit and things to do, and giving advice on how to get around.
Write your report in 140–190 words.
Top answer187 words · estimated 18/20
A weekend visit for exchange students
Introduction The purpose of this report is to suggest how a group of visiting students could make the most of a weekend in our town, and to give practical advice on transport.
Places to visit The historic quarter should be the first stop. Its narrow streets, medieval walls and cathedral can easily be explored in a morning, and a guided walking tour is available in English. For a contrast, I would recommend the modern art museum by the river, which is free on Saturdays and has an excellent rooftop café.
Things to do Young visitors are likely to enjoy the Saturday food market, where they can try local specialities cheaply. On Sunday, if the weather is good, renting bikes and cycling along the coastal path would be a memorable experience.
Getting around The town centre is compact, so most places can be reached on foot. For longer journeys, the tram is quick and reliable, and a weekend travel card offers the best value.
Conclusion With this plan, the group should experience both the history and the lively atmosphere of our town.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- All three parts of the task are covered: two places to visit with reasons, two activities and clear transport advice, including the best-value ticket.
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- The writer keeps the needs of visiting students in mind throughout (an English tour, free entry, cheap food), which makes the recommendations genuinely useful for the organiser.
- Organisation4/5
- Headings match the task and the content is well distributed. The conclusion is a little brief and generic, which keeps Organisation at 4.
- Language4/5
- Good range of recommending language ('should be the first stop', 'are likely to enjoy', 'offers the best value') and accurate passives ('can easily be explored', 'can be reached'). Slightly predictable in places.
A practical, reader-focused report that answers every part of the task.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Borderline answer (10/20)
The task
A group of English-speaking students is coming to spend a weekend in your town. The organiser has asked you to write a report recommending places to visit and things to do, and giving advice on how to get around.
Write your report in 140–190 words.
Borderline181 words · estimated 10/20
Report for the students
Introduction In this report I am going to write about the places that the students can visit in my town at the weekend.
Places to visit My town has a lot of interesting places. There is a very old castle on the hill, it is very beautiful and you can see all the town. Also there is a museum of history, it is very interesting. There is also a big park with a lake where you can rent a boat, it is very nice.
Activities The students can go shopping in the main street, there are a lot of shops and they are not expensive. At night they can go to the old town, there are many bars and discos and the young people go there. Also they can eat typical food, for example the fish is very good in my town.
Conclusion In conclusion I think that the students will love my town because there are a lot of things to do and it is very beautiful. I am sure they will have a great weekend.
Examiner-style comments
- Content3/5
- Places to visit and things to do are covered, but there is no advice at all on how to get around, so one of the three required points is missing.
- Communicative Achievement2/5
- The report format is attempted, but the reader gets mostly general praise ('very beautiful', 'very nice') rather than practical recommendations, and 'Report for the students' confuses the reader with the organiser.
- Organisation3/5
- Headings are used and the sections are logical. Within sections, ideas are added with 'Also' and 'There is also' rather than organised.
- Language2/5
- Repeated comma splices ('There is a very old castle on the hill, it is very beautiful…') and heavy repetition of 'very' and 'a lot of'. Few errors block meaning, but the range is narrow.
Clear layout, but one task point is missing and the language is too repetitive for B2.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- Cover every point in the task. Give transport its own heading so it cannot be forgotten.
- Give a reason for each recommendation. "Free on Saturdays", "a guided tour in English": details that matter to visiting students.
- Replace "very + adjective". Use precise words instead: compact, memorable, lively, reliable.
- Use passives to sound like a report. "Most places can be reached on foot."
Check your own answer
Write your own report 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 happens if I forget one point in a B2 First report?
Your Content mark drops, because the target reader is not fully informed. Underline each point in the task and give each one a heading or paragraph.
Can I describe an imaginary town in my report?
Yes. You can invent places as long as your recommendations are believable and answer the task.
How do I avoid repeating 'very' in my writing?
Use stronger adjectives (stunning, packed, affordable) or add a reason instead of an intensifier: 'worth visiting because…'.
Does a report need a conclusion?
A short conclusion or final recommendation is useful, but don't repeat everything. One sentence that sums up the plan is enough.