Cambridge B1 Preliminary Exam: Mastering Writing Part 2 Story - Mentes Altus Aprende Al Estilo Mentes Altus

B1 Preliminary Writing · Exam Instructions

0. Before You Start the Writing Paper 📝

Before we practise the story, let’s make sure we understand the official exam instructions. This is important because good exam technique starts before you write the first word.

⏱️ Time

You have 45 minutes for the whole Writing paper.

✍️ Questions

You must answer Part 1 and choose one question from Part 2.

📌 Part 1

Part 1 is compulsory. You must answer the email task.

📌 Part 2

In this sample paper, Part 2 gives you two options: an article or a story.

Official candidate instructions

Do not open the question paper until you are told to do so.
Write your name, centre number and candidate number on your answer sheet.
Read the instructions for each part carefully.
Answer the Part 1 question and one question from Part 2.
Write your answers on the answer sheet.
Write clearly in pen, not pencil.
You may make alterations, but make sure your work is easy to read.
You must complete the answer sheet within the time limit.
At the end of the test, hand in both the question paper and your answer sheet.

Paper-based and digital-based exams: In a paper-based exam, you write by hand on the answer sheet. In a digital-based exam, you type your answer. In both formats, the objective is the same: answer the task, organise your ideas clearly, use suitable English and finish on time.

Teacher tip: if you choose the story, make sure the examiner can read your handwriting clearly. A great story can lose impact if the answer is difficult to read.

Lesson Introduction

1. Welcome! Today We Are Going to Master Writing Part 2: Story 🌟

Hello, my lovely students! Today we are going to practise the second part of the Cambridge B1 Preliminary Writing paper. And this time, we are going to work on one of the most creative options: the story. 📖✨

Please do not worry. You do not need to be a famous writer to write a good B1 story. With a simple plan, clear past tenses and a logical sequence of events, you can create a strong answer. We are going to do it step by step, calmly and clearly. 😊

How is the Writing paper organised?

Part 1: Email

This part is compulsory. You read an email and some notes, then write a reply of about 100 words.

Part 2: Choice Task

In Part 2, you choose one task. In this official sample, you can choose between Question 2: an article and Question 3: a story.

In wider B1 preparation, it is useful to practise emails, articles and stories, because each format trains a different writing skill.

In this lesson, we are going to study stories. Stories are fantastic because they let you use imagination, action, feelings and past tenses. But remember: in the exam, creativity must be controlled. Your story needs structure. 🧠

What will we do today?

Understand the official Part 2 story task.
Learn what Cambridge expects from a B1 story.
Identify common mistakes Spanish-speaking students make.
Create a quick story plan in under 5 minutes.
Write a complete model answer step by step.
Highlight the most important structures in the story.
Practise useful grammar and vocabulary for stories and other B1 writing formats.

Writing Part 2 · Story Task

2. What Do You Have to Do in Part 2? 📖

In Part 2, you choose one question and write your answer in about 100 words. For this lesson, we are choosing Question 3: the story.

Official task

Part 2

Choose one of these questions.

Write your answer in about 100 words on the answer sheet.

Question 3

Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.

Your story must begin with this sentence.

As the plane flew lower, Lou saw the golden beaches of the island below.

Write your story.

What must your story include?

1. The exact first sentence

You must begin with the sentence given in the task. Do not change it.

2. A main character

In this task, the character is already introduced: Lou.

3. A clear sequence of events

Something must happen. Your story needs a beginning, middle and ending.

4. Past tenses

Stories are usually written in the past, so you need past simple, past continuous and useful time expressions.

Important: a story is not an essay and not an article. You do not need to give your opinion. You need to create a short narrative with events, feelings and a clear ending.

Assessment Criteria

3. What Does Cambridge Evaluate in a Story? 🎯

Cambridge evaluates your story using the same big areas as other Writing tasks. The examiner wants to see that your story communicates clearly and follows the task.

1. Content

Did you answer the task? Did you start with the exact sentence? Did you write a story connected to Lou, the plane and the island? If your story goes completely off topic, your Content mark can fall.

2. Communicative Achievement

Is your text appropriate as a story? A story should include events, atmosphere, feelings and a clear ending. It should not sound like an essay or a report.

3. Organisation

Are the events easy to follow? A good story usually has a beginning, a problem, an important moment and an ending.

4. Language

Do you use suitable B1 grammar and vocabulary? In a story, past tenses, time expressions, adjectives and action verbs are especially useful.

Teacher secret: a B1 story does not need to be long or complicated. It needs to be clear, logical and interesting. A simple story with good control is better than a confusing story with too many ideas.

Examiner Secrets

4. Problems and Common Mistakes 🚫

Stories can be fun, but students often lose marks because they forget the basic exam rules. Let’s look at the most dangerous mistakes.

Time management ⏱️

You have 45 minutes for the whole Writing paper. Since you must answer Part 1 and one task from Part 2, try to spend around 20–22 minutes on Part 2, including planning and checking. Do not spend too long inventing a complicated plot.

Things that lower your mark

Memorised phrases

Phrases like “Since the beginning of humanity...” do not help if they do not fit the story. Use natural narrative language instead.

Repetition

Do not repeat “then, then, then” in every sentence. Use suddenly, after that, a few minutes later, finally.

Bad organisation

If events happen in a confusing order, the reader gets lost. Plan the beginning, problem and ending before you write.

Wrong style

A story should sound like a narrative. Do not write it like an essay: “In my opinion, islands are important.” That is not a story.

Common mistakes Spanish-speaking students make

Incorrect	Correct	Why?
❌ People is	✅ People are	“People” is plural.
❌ I am agree	✅ I agree	“Agree” is a verb, not an adjective.
❌ It depends of the situation	✅ It depends on the situation	The correct preposition is “on”.
❌ Lou was seeing the beach and was happy	✅ Lou saw the beach and felt happy	Use past simple for completed actions in a story.
❌ She had fear	✅ She was afraid	In English, we usually say “be afraid”.
❌ In that moment	✅ At that moment	The correct expression is “at that moment”.
❌ She arrived to the island	✅ She arrived on the island / She arrived at the airport	Use the correct preposition depending on the place.
❌ She was very nervous because the travel	✅ She was very nervous because of the journey	Use “because of” before a noun phrase.

Teacher tip: for stories, always check your verbs. Most of your story will probably be in the past, so past simple and past continuous are your best friends. 🧡

Examiner Secrets

5. Tips for Success and Strategies 🌟

Before you write your story, you must plan. A story without a plan often becomes too long, too confusing or impossible to finish in time.

The 5-Minute Lightning Plan ⚡

Task type: Story.
First sentence: Copy it exactly.
Main character: Lou.
Setting: A plane, an island and golden beaches.
Problem: Lou loses something important or discovers something unexpected.
Ending: The problem is solved or Lou learns something.
Tenses: Mainly past simple and past continuous.

Example Lightning Plan for the Story

Story part	My idea	Useful language
Opening	Use the exact sentence. Lou arrives at the island.	As the plane flew lower...
Setting	Lou is excited but nervous.	She felt nervous but excited.
Problem	Lou cannot find her backpack.	Suddenly, she realised...
Action	A boy helps her look for it.	A few minutes later...
Ending	They find it and become friends.	In the end...

What raises your mark?

Good paragraphing

Use 3 or 4 short paragraphs: beginning, problem, action and ending.

Variety of grammar

Use past simple, past continuous, time clauses and short direct speech.

Topic relevance

Keep the story connected to Lou, the plane, the island and the opening sentence.

Appropriate register

A story can be descriptive and emotional. It should not sound like a formal report.

Cohesion

Use sequencing words: at first, suddenly, while, after that, finally, in the end.

Teacher tip: do not invent ten characters and five problems. In B1, a simple story with one clear problem and one clear ending is much safer.

Model Answer

6. Solving Step by Step – MODEL ANSWER ✅

Now we are going to solve the story task step by step. Remember: Cambridge wants a story that is easy to follow, connected to the first sentence and written with suitable past tenses.

Step 1: Copy the first sentence exactly

Your story must begin with:

As the plane flew lower, Lou saw the golden beaches of the island below.

Do not change the names, the tense or the order. This sentence is your starting point.

Step 2: Choose a simple plot

For this model answer, we are going to use this plan:

Lou arrives on the island.
She is excited because it is her first trip alone.
She loses her backpack.
A local boy helps her.
They find the backpack and become friends.

Step 3: Story structure

Story part	What it should do	Approximate length
Opening	Use the exact first sentence and introduce the situation.	20–25 words
Paragraph 1	Describe Lou and the setting.	20–30 words
Paragraph 2	Introduce the problem and action.	30–40 words
Ending	Solve the problem and finish clearly.	15–25 words

MODEL ANSWER

Required opening Setting Feeling Problem Action Ending

As the plane flew lower, Lou saw the golden beaches of the island below. She felt nervous but excited because it was her first trip without her parents.

When she arrived at the small airport, the sun was shining and people were smiling. Lou picked up her suitcase, but then she realised her backpack was missing.

Suddenly, a boy called Marco came to help her. They ran back to the plane together and asked a flight attendant. A few minutes later, she found the backpack under a seat.

Lou thanked Marco, and they spent the afternoon exploring the beach together. In the end, her holiday began with a problem but also with a new friend.

Why is this a good story?

The first sentence is copied exactly from the task.
“She felt nervous but excited” gives the character emotion.
“When she arrived...” introduces the setting and moves the story forward.
“She realised her backpack was missing” creates a clear problem.
“Suddenly...” creates movement and action.
“A few minutes later...” helps organise the sequence of events.
The ending solves the problem and finishes with a positive final idea.

Teacher tip: when you practise at home, highlight your own story like this. Check that you have: opening + setting + feeling + problem + action + ending. If all of them are there, your story is much safer. ✅

Writing Strategy

7. General Tips for the Writing Section 🧠

These tips will help you not only with stories, but also with emails and articles. Writing improves when you train with a system.

Understand the format of the exam

Know how many tasks you need to answer and what each text type requires. A story is different from an email or an article.

Practice regularly

Practise short stories often. Focus on clear events, past tenses and endings.

Familiarise yourself with exam conditions

Use a timer. Practise writing a complete story in about 20 minutes.

Clarity in writing

A simple, clear story is better than a complicated story that nobody understands.

Understand assessment criteria

Remember: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language. All four areas matter.

Try using advanced language

Use stronger verbs and adjectives when possible, but only if you are sure they are correct. Accuracy comes first.

My advice: do not memorise full stories. Learn flexible story tools: settings, emotions, problems, actions, time expressions and final sentences.

Grammar and Vocabulary

8. Essential Grammar and Vocabulary for B1 Stories 📚

To write a good story, you need grammar for past actions, background descriptions, feelings, time expressions and clear endings.

Useful phrases for stories

Phrase	Use	Example
At first...	Start a sequence	At first, Lou felt nervous.
Suddenly...	Introduce surprise	Suddenly, she heard a strange noise.
A few minutes later...	Move time forward	A few minutes later, Marco arrived.
While...	Describe simultaneous actions	While she was waiting, she saw her bag.
When...	Connect events	When she arrived, the sun was shining.
After that...	Continue the sequence	After that, they ran to the plane.
At that moment...	Show an important instant	At that moment, Lou understood everything.
Luckily...	Introduce a positive result	Luckily, someone found her backpack.
Unfortunately...	Introduce a problem	Unfortunately, the airport was closing.
She realised that...	Show discovery	She realised that her backpack was missing.
She felt...	Describe emotion	She felt relieved.
They decided to...	Show action	They decided to look for help.
In the end...	Finish the story	In the end, Lou made a new friend.
From that day on...	Final reflection	From that day on, Lou loved travelling.
It was a day she would never forget.	Memorable ending	It was a day she would never forget.

Useful phrases for essays

Phrase	Use	Example
In my opinion...	Give your view	In my opinion, travelling is educational.
Firstly...	Introduce first reason	Firstly, it helps us learn about other cultures.
Secondly...	Add another point	Secondly, it makes us more independent.
However...	Contrast	However, travelling can be expensive.
As a result...	Consequence	As a result, people become more confident.
To conclude...	Final sentence	To conclude, travelling is a valuable experience.

Useful phrases for emails

Phrase	Use	Example
Thanks for your email.	Opening	Thanks for your email. It was great to hear from you.
I’m writing to...	Explain purpose	I’m writing to ask about the trip.
Let me know...	Ask for information	Let me know what time I should arrive.
By the way...	Add a point	By the way, should I bring anything?
See you soon.	Informal ending	See you soon, Alex.

Useful phrases for reviews

Phrase	Use	Example
I would highly recommend...	Strong recommendation	I would highly recommend this film.
One drawback is...	Mention a negative point	One drawback is that it is quite long.
The best thing about it is...	Highlight strength	The best thing about it is the acting.
It is suitable for...	Explain audience	It is suitable for teenagers.
Overall,...	Final opinion	Overall, it is a fantastic film.

Stretch Vocabulary

9. B2 and C1 Language to Upgrade Your Story 🚀

This language is not compulsory for B1, but it can help you sound more precise and natural. Use it only when you understand it and can use it correctly.

B2 vocabulary for stories

Word	Meaning	Example
Nervous	Worried or anxious	Lou felt nervous before landing.
Relieved	Happy because a problem ended	She felt relieved when she found her bag.
Exhausted	Very tired	They were exhausted after running.
Unexpected	Surprising	It was an unexpected adventure.
Crowded	Full of people	The airport was crowded.
Peaceful	Calm	The beach was peaceful.
Brave	Not afraid	Lou was brave and asked for help.
Confused	Not able to understand	She felt confused when her backpack disappeared.

C1 adjectives

Breathtaking	Extremely beautiful	The view from the plane was breathtaking.
Remarkable	Very impressive	It was a remarkable journey.
Memorable	Easy to remember	It was a memorable day.
Overwhelming	Very intense	The airport felt overwhelming.
Mysterious	Difficult to explain	She noticed a mysterious message in her bag.
Unforgettable	Impossible to forget	It was an unforgettable holiday.

C1 phrasal verbs

Set off	Start a journey	Lou set off early in the morning.
Come across	Find by chance	She came across a small map.
Turn out	Have a final result	The problem turned out to be easy to solve.
Run into	Meet unexpectedly	Lou ran into a friendly boy at the airport.
Look for	Try to find	They looked for the backpack together.
Find out	Discover	Lou found out that Marco lived near the beach.

C1 collocations and linking words

Expression	Type	Example
A breathtaking view	Collocation	Lou saw a breathtaking view from the plane.
A sudden decision	Collocation	She made a sudden decision to ask for help.
A memorable experience	Collocation	It became a memorable experience.
Despite this	Linking phrase	Despite this, Lou stayed calm.
Nevertheless	Contrast	She was worried. Nevertheless, she continued searching.
Meanwhile	Time connector	Meanwhile, Marco checked the plane.
Eventually	Final result	Eventually, they found the backpack.
In the distance	Descriptive phrase	In the distance, she saw the golden beaches.

Extra Writing Formats

10. Email Formulas and Formal Titles 📩

Today’s task is a story, but B1 students also need to recognise email formulas. This table helps you choose the right opening and closing depending on the reader.

Email greetings and endings

Situation	Greeting	Ending	Example
Close friend	Hi Sandy,	See you soon,	Hi Sandy, Thanks for your email...
Friend	Hello Tom,	Best wishes,	Hello Tom, It was great to hear from you.
Teacher	Dear Mr Brown,	Kind regards,	Dear Mr Brown, I am writing to ask...
Unknown person	Dear Sir or Madam,	Yours faithfully,	Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to enquire...
Known professional	Dear Ms Taylor,	Yours sincerely,	Dear Ms Taylor, Thank you for your message.

When to use Mr, Ms, Miss and Mrs

Title	Use	Example
Mr	For a man	Dear Mr Smith,
Ms	For a woman when marital status is unknown or irrelevant	Dear Ms Johnson,
Miss	For an unmarried woman, less common in professional contexts	Dear Miss Taylor,
Mrs	For a married woman, only if you know she uses it	Dear Mrs Brown,
Dr	For someone with a doctoral or medical title	Dear Dr Wilson,

Report / Proposal phrases — useful for C1 preparation

Phrase	Use	Example
The aim of this report is...	Introduce purpose	The aim of this report is to analyse student habits.
It is recommended that...	Give recommendation	It is recommended that students practise weekly.
One possible solution would be...	Suggest solution	One possible solution would be to create a writing club.
According to the survey...	Refer to data	According to the survey, students prefer short stories.
In conclusion...	Finish formally	In conclusion, the proposal is realistic.

Conclusion

11. Final Advice: Never Leave It Blank 🌈

My dear students, please remember this: never leave a Writing answer blank. Even if you feel nervous, write something clear and connected to the task.

How much is this part worth?

In this Writing paper, each question carries equal marks. Since you answer two questions in total — Part 1 and one question from Part 2 — your Part 2 answer is worth 50% of the Writing paper.

That means this story is a big opportunity. If you plan it, organise it and write a clear sequence of events, you can collect valuable marks.

Final teacher tips 💛

Choose the Part 2 option that gives you more ideas.
Do not start writing without a quick plan.
For a story, copy the first sentence exactly.
Use past tenses carefully.
Create one clear problem, not five confusing problems.
Use time expressions to organise events.
Finish with a clear ending.
Check spelling, grammar and missing information at the end.

Remember this ❤️

You do not need perfect English to write a good B1 story. You need a clear beginning, a simple problem, logical events and a final sentence. Every story you practise makes you faster, calmer and more confident.

Source

This activity is based on the official Cambridge B1 Preliminary Sample Paper 2 (2022) – Writing: Part 2.

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