Writing Part 2: A STORY – B1 PRELIMINARY for Schools Writing
Writing Tests for B1
1 Read the exam task. Which is the best way to continue the story (1, 2 or 3)? Why?
• Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.
• Your story must begin with this sentence:
I opened the letter from my cousins in Brazil.
1 I have three cousins who live in Brazil, and I get on very well with them. They are all very keen on
football.
2 They said they were coming to visit me, and they were arriving on the 15th – today!
3 I think Brazil is a really interesting country, and I would love to go there one day. There are lots of
amazing wild animals there.
MODEL ANSWER
I opened the letter from my cousins in Brazil. They said they were coming to visit me, and they were
arriving on the 1 15th – today!
I was really excited. First, I cleaned everything in the flat 2. Then I went to the supermarket to buy food.
After that 3, I made a cake to make them feel welcome. By evening, I was completely exhausted 4. I
picked up the letter again to check the time of their flight, and that’s when I noticed the date. They were
arriving on July 15th, but today was June 15th!
We had a wonderful time together in July, and all laughed about the mistake I had made! 5
1
The first paragraph gives background to the story.
2
The second paragraph gives the main events of the story.
3
Time expressions make the order of events clear.
4
Adjectives and adverbs make the story more interesting.
5
The last paragraph ends the story.
KEY LANGUAGE AND IDEAS FOR STORIES
Use past simple verbs for the main events:
I went to a restaurant. I found a letter.
Use past continuous verbs for longer actions in the past:
I was waiting for the bus. The sun was shining.
Use past perfect verbs for background events:
Unfortunately, I had forgotten my purse.
Time expressions:
First then later the next day finally …
Adjectives to describe people:
friendly kind tall
Adjectives to describe places:
busy quiet modern
Adjectives to describe feelings:
excited angry … delighted
Adverbs to describe how someone does something:
quickly slowly carefully
Adverbs to comment on what happened:
luckily fortunately unfortunately
2 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the past simple, past
continuous or past perfect.
1 I packed my bags and then ………………… (call) a taxi to take me to the airport.
2 Sara ………………… (wait) for me when I got to the restaurant.
3 I could finally relax because I ………………… (pass) all my exams!
4 I found an old key while I ………………… (walk) along the beach.
5 James was late because he ………………… (forget) to set his alarm.
6 I opened the door and then quickly ………………… (close) it again.
3 Choose the correct time expressions in italics.
I was really scared when my car broke down near the forest. 1 Then / First, I tried starting the car, but that
didn’t work. 2 Finally / Then, I tried to call a friend, but I had no signal on my phone. 3 Next / After, I
decided to wait for another car so I could ask for help.
4
An hour later / Before an hour, I was still sitting there! Suddenly, I heard the sound of another car.
5
Finally / After, someone came to help me and I got home safely.
4 Complete the sentences with adjectives from the box.
curly disappointed entertaining
messy smart spicy
1 The room was …………………. and not very clean.
2 She was wearing a very nice, …………………. jacket and skirt.
3 He cooked some delicious, …………………. food for us.
4 The show was fun and very …………………. .
5 She introduced me to a tall young man with …………………. hair.
6 I was very …………………. when she didn’t call me.
5 Read the exam task. Before you write your story, complete the table with ideas.
• Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.
• Your story must begin with this sentence:
Last week, I went to the zoo.
Paragraph 1 (the background to the story)
Paragraph 2 (the main events)
Paragraph 3 (the ending)
Useful phrases I can use
6 Write your story, using your notes from Exercise 5. Write about 100 words.
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
………………………….……………………………………….……………
7 Check your story and make changes if necessary.
◻ Does your story have a clear beginning, middle and ending?
◻ Have you used verbs in the past simple, past continuous and past perfect?
◻ Have you used time expressions to order the events?
◻ Have you used adjectives and adverbs to make your story interesting?
◻ Have you written about 100 words?
