FCE report example: leisure activities for young people in your town
This page has an original Part 2 report task for a town council about leisure activities for young people, a top answer (19/20) and a solid answer (15/20), marked on the four criteria. Use it with the B2 First Writing guide and the FCE report guide.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
The council asks for popular activities, what is missing, and suggestions for improvement. Turn those three points into your headings, plus a short introduction.
- Introduction: who asked for the report, what it covers, where the information comes from.
- Popular activities: describe, don't just list.
- What is missing: explain who is affected and why.
- Suggestions: realistic options, perhaps including a cheaper alternative.
The reader is a council, so use formal, impersonal language and make your suggestions polite (The council should consider…).
Top answer (19/20)
The task
The local council wants to know what young people in your town do in their free time and whether there are enough facilities for them. Write a report for the council describing popular activities, explaining what is missing and suggesting improvements.
Write your report in 140–190 words.
Top answer183 words · estimated 19/20
Leisure facilities for young people
Introduction This report, requested by the town council, looks at how young people spend their free time locally, identifies gaps in what is available and makes recommendations. The information comes from conversations with members of two youth groups and a sports club.
Popular activities Football and basketball remain very popular, and the outdoor courts in the park are busy most evenings. Many teenagers also meet at the shopping centre, mainly because it is warm, free and open late.
What is missing There is a clear lack of indoor spaces where young people can simply spend time together without having to buy anything. In addition, those interested in music, art or gaming have almost nowhere to go, as the former youth centre closed several years ago.
Suggestions The council should consider reopening a youth centre with rooms for music practice and a café area. If this is not affordable, the library could stay open later on two evenings a week and host clubs. Finally, adding lights to the outdoor courts would allow them to be used safely in winter.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- Every part of the task is answered with specific, relevant information. The point that teenagers go to the shopping centre because it is 'warm, free and open late' cleverly links the current situation to what is missing.
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- Formal and objective, with polite, realistic suggestions for a council, including a cheaper alternative ('If this is not affordable…'). The reader could act on this report immediately.
- Organisation5/5
- Headings match the task and each section builds on the previous one. Linking is effective ('In addition', 'as', 'Finally').
- Language4/5
- Precise, report-appropriate vocabulary ('identifies gaps', 'a clear lack of', 'host clubs') and accurate passive and conditional forms. Range is good rather than outstanding.
A focused, realistic report that gives the council clear reasons and practical options.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Solid answer (15/20)
The task
The local council wants to know what young people in your town do in their free time and whether there are enough facilities for them. Write a report for the council describing popular activities, explaining what is missing and suggesting improvements.
Write your report in 140–190 words.
Solid pass187 words · estimated 15/20
Report about free time activities for young people
Introduction The aim of this report is to describe what young people do in their free time in our town and to suggest some improvements.
Popular activities Most of the young people I asked practise sports, especially football, swimming and skateboarding. There is a skate park near the river which is very popular in the afternoons. Other teenagers prefer to go to the cinema or to the shopping centre with their friends, but these activities are quite expensive.
Problems The main problem is that there are not enough places for young people who don't like sport. For example, there is no place where you can play music or do theatre. Moreover, the swimming pool closes at 7 pm, which is too early for students who finish school late.
Recommendations I would recommend to open a youth centre with different activities like music, drama and photography. It would also be a good idea to extend the opening hours of the swimming pool. If the council follows these suggestions, young people will have more options and they will not get bored.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- All three points are covered with relevant examples: popular sports, the lack of places for non-sporty teenagers, early closing times, and clear suggestions.
- Communicative Achievement4/5
- The report format and neutral tone are appropriate for a council, and the suggestions are sensible. A few phrases ('they will not get bored') sound slightly informal for this reader.
- Organisation4/5
- Clear headings and logical sections. 'For example', 'Moreover' and 'It would also be a good idea' link ideas adequately, though the introduction does not say where the information comes from.
- Language2/5
- Errors such as 'I would recommend to open' (opening), 'do theatre' and repetition of 'young people' and 'activities'. Vocabulary is generally appropriate but not very precise, with no complex structures attempted.
A clear, relevant report with good layout, held back by simple language and a few errors.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- Explain the cause, not just the fact. Teenagers go to the shopping centre "because it is warm, free and open late": that reason leads directly to the recommendation.
- Offer a cheaper alternative. Councils have limited money, so "If this is not affordable…" shows awareness of the reader.
- Say who gave you the information. It makes your report sound researched.
- Learn the pattern "recommend + -ing". "I would recommend opening a youth centre."
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
Who is the target reader of a B2 First report?
Usually someone with authority, such as a principal, manager or council. Write formally and give them information they can use to make a decision.
Is 'I would recommend to open' correct?
No. Use 'I would recommend opening…' or 'I would recommend that the council opens…'.
How many recommendations should a report include?
Two or three well-explained recommendations are ideal within 140–190 words.
Can I use 'I' in a report?
Yes, a little, for example 'I would suggest…'. But most of the report should be impersonal and factual.