A LITTLE PRACTICE GOES A LONG WAY
Writing
Turn your thoughts into clear, confident words. Original lessons, useful examples and feedback, from A1 to C1.
76 lessons · Learn at your own pace
Writing
A friendly introduction
Write 50–70 words introducing yourself to a new classmate. Include your name, where you live and two things you enjoy.
An invitation by email
Write 80–100 words inviting a friend to a weekend activity. Explain where and when to meet and what to bring.
A useful review
Write 120–150 words reviewing a café, course or place you know. Balance a positive point with a limitation and give a recommendation.
A reasoned opinion
Write 150–180 words on whether towns should create more pedestrian areas. State your view, explain two reasons and acknowledge a difficulty.
A formal proposal
Write 180–220 words proposing an improvement to a shared workplace or study space. Include a problem, a solution and a way to evaluate it.
A balanced critical essay
Write 220–260 words discussing whether numerical targets improve public services. Examine assumptions, consider a counterargument and qualify your conclusion.
Note
Description
My favourite place
Write 50–70 words about your favourite place near home. Say where it is, describe two things there and explain what you do there.
Writing about my family
50–80 words · Description. Write a short introduction to your family for a new classmate. Say who is in your family, describe two people and explain one thing you do together. You may invent a family.
Writing about my daily routine
50–80 words · Description. Write about a normal weekday for your class blog. Include your morning, your main daytime activity and your evening. Give at least two times.
My hobby
50–80 words · Description. Write about a hobby you enjoy. Say what you do, when and where you do it, and why you like it. Mention any equipment or materials you use.
Essay about “My Neighbourhood”
50–80 words · Description. Write a short description of your neighbourhood for a visitor. Name two local places, say where they are and explain what you like about the area.
A description of my house
50–80 words · Description. Describe your house or flat to a friend. Say where it is, name some rooms and describe your favourite room with two details. You can use an imaginary home.
Writing an essay about someone's job
70–110 words · Description. Describe the job of someone you know or an invented person. Explain their main duties, their working hours and one thing they like or find difficult about the job.
Describing your home
100–150 words · Description. Describe your home for a visiting friend. Explain the layout, describe a room you enjoy and say how the home suits your daily life. Include one thing you would change.
An email about a lost item
Write 80–100 words to a café about a bag you left there yesterday. Describe it, explain where you were sitting and ask how you can collect it.
Writing an email giving instructions
50–80 words · Email. A friend will feed your cat while you are away. Write an email explaining where the food is, when to feed the cat and what else to do. Use imaginary details.
Writing and responding to an informal email invitation
70–110 words · Email. Your friend writes: 'Would you like to come to my birthday picnic on Sunday at one? We are meeting at the lake gate. Can you bring something to eat? Tell me if you need directions.' Reply accepting the invitation, say what you will bring and ask one practical question.
How to write an email to book a hotel room
70–110 words · Email. Write to a hotel asking to reserve a double room for two adults from 12 to 15 July. Ask about breakfast and the total price. Explain that you expect to arrive at about nine in the evening.
A thank-you email
70–110 words · Email. A friend helped you prepare for a class presentation. Write an email thanking them. Mention two specific things they did, explain how the presentation went and suggest something you can do together.
Rescheduling an appointment
70–110 words · Email. You have arranged an English lesson with your tutor for Tuesday at four, but you must attend a school event. Write an email apologising, explain the problem briefly and offer two alternative times. This is an extra practice topic.
How to write an email to a friend giving news
100–150 words · Email. Write to a friend you have not seen recently. Tell them you have joined a new club, describe your first meeting and explain one plan you have with the group. Ask about your friend's news.
Email making plans for visit
100–150 words · Email. Your friend writes: 'I'm visiting your town next Saturday and arriving by train at ten. I'd like to see something outdoors, but I can't walk very far. Where shall we meet, and what should I bring?' Reply with a suitable plan and a bad-weather alternative.
An informal email – asking for and giving advice
140–190 words · Email. Your friend writes: 'I've joined a drama group, but I'm nervous about speaking in front of people. I thought about leaving. What would you do? Also, how do you manage your time when you have rehearsals and homework?' Give two practical suggestions, respond to the time question and ask for advice about your own related difficulty.
How to write an apology email – Saying sorry to your friend
140–190 words · Email. You promised to help a friend prepare a club event but forgot to arrive. Write an apology that takes responsibility, explains the situation briefly and offers a specific way to repair the problem.
Informal email responding to news
140–190 words · Email. Your friend writes: 'I've been accepted onto a design course in another town! I'm excited, but I'm worried about finding friends and somewhere to live. Can we meet before I leave next month?' Respond to both feelings, suggest one practical step and arrange a meeting.
Story
A weekend that changed
Write 80–100 words about a weekend when your plans changed. Explain your original plan, what happened and what you did instead. Say how you felt at the end.
A small act of kindness
Write 120–150 words about someone helping another person. Set the scene, explain the problem and describe the help. Finish by showing what changed as a result.
How to write a past story from a given sentence
100–150 words · Story. Begin your story with this exact sentence: 'When I opened the bag, I knew something was wrong.' Explain the problem, describe what happened next and give the story a clear ending.
Narrative writing step by step
140–190 words · Story. Write a story about someone who makes an unexpected discovery while helping another person. Establish the situation, build a problem or uncertainty, and resolve it. Use a detail from the opening again near the end.
Enquiry email
Formal letter
Review
A review for the right reader
Write 150–180 words reviewing a book, film or exhibition for a community website. Describe it without revealing everything, evaluate a strength and a weakness, and explain who would enjoy it most.
How to write a hotel review after a stay
100–150 words · Review. Write a review of an imaginary hotel where you spent two nights. Describe its location and a service you used, explain one strength and one weakness, and recommend it to a particular kind of traveller.
A product review
100–150 words · Review. Review an imaginary backpack you have used for a month. Explain why you bought it, describe a useful feature and a limitation, and say who should consider buying it.
A book review
140–190 words · Review. Review a real book you know or an invented novel. Give a brief spoiler-free outline, evaluate one strength and one limitation, and recommend it to an appropriate reader. The example uses an invented book.
A film review
170–230 words · Review. Write a review for a student website of a real or invented film. Give a spoiler-free premise, assess two aspects such as acting and pacing, and recommend it to a particular audience. The model reviews an invented film.
How to write a C1 Advanced review
220–260 words · Review. An arts website wants reviews of exhibitions that changed how visitors understood an ordinary subject. Review a real or invented exhibition, evaluate its methods and limitations, and recommend it to a particular audience. The example uses an invented exhibition.
Report
A report on a study space
Write 180–220 words for a college committee about a shared study room. Describe two current problems, compare possible improvements and recommend a priority. Explain how the college could evaluate the change. You may invent plausible observations for this practice task.
A report
170–230 words · Report. Write a report for a college manager on a fictional study room. Your observations: 24 seats; all occupied at lunchtime on three visits; six power sockets; frequent group conversations; students request both quiet study and collaboration space. Summarise the problems and make feasible recommendations without claiming your observations represent everyone.
How to write a C1 advanced report
220–260 words · Report. Report to a fictional college director on a peer-mentoring pilot. Supplied evidence: 40 students registered; 28 attended at least one meeting; 18 attended three or more; six interviewed participants valued practical advice but four of those six mentioned difficulty arranging meetings. No comparison group was used. Evaluate the pilot and recommend next steps without claiming proven academic improvement.
Opinion essay
Should classes start later?
Write 180–220 words discussing whether a college should start classes later in the morning. Develop your position with two reasons, consider an opposing view and suggest a practical condition or compromise. Use hypothetical examples rather than unsupported statistics.
How to write an opinion essay
70–110 words · Opinion essay. Write about this question: 'Should students have a quiet reading period every school day?' Give your opinion, support it with two simple reasons and finish with a conclusion.
Writing an opinion essay – Tips, structure, examples, exercises
100–150 words · Opinion essay. Your class is discussing whether students should help choose the books they study. Write an opinion essay with two reasons and a brief response to a different view.
Giving your opinion
140–190 words · Opinion essay. A community website asks whether its town should hold one car-free Sunday each month. Write your opinion, develop two reasons and address a practical objection.
Opinion essay – agree or disagree with a statement
170–230 words · Opinion essay. Respond to the statement: 'Every university course should include a period of work experience.' Give a clear position, develop reasons and consider a limitation or counterargument.
Proposal
A proposal with trade-offs
Write 220–260 words to a library board proposing how to divide limited space between quiet study and community events. Evaluate competing needs, justify your preferred arrangement, acknowledge its costs and propose criteria for reviewing it.
How to write a proposal
220–260 words · Proposal. Write a proposal to a fictional community-centre committee for a six-week evening skills exchange. The centre has one spare room on Wednesdays and a small printing budget, but no funds for paid tutors. Explain the need, a workable plan, likely difficulties and how the pilot should be evaluated.
Critical essay
Profile
Invitation
Photo description
Describing a photograph
50–80 words · Photo description. Choose a photo of people outdoors, or use this practice scene: two friends are in a park; a woman in a red jacket is sitting on a bench and reading; a man is standing beside her with a bag; trees are behind them. Describe the people, actions and setting. The practice scene is a written substitute for a photo.
My favourite photograph
70–110 words · Photo description. Choose a favourite photo, or use this imagined scene: you and your brother made a cake at home last winter; in the picture, he is holding the cake while you are laughing; the kitchen table is covered in flour. Describe the picture, its background and why it matters to you.
Describing a photo
140–190 words · Photo description. Use your own photo of a public activity, or this described practice scene: three adults are repairing bicycles in a courtyard; tools lie on a table in the foreground; one person points at a wheel while another listens; an open workshop door is behind them. Describe the scene, make cautious inferences and explain its overall impression. The description is a substitute for an actual photo.
Plans
Narrative
Postcard
Application
How to write an application letter for a summer job
70–110 words · Application. A community café wants a summer assistant to serve drinks and help keep tables clean. No experience is required; applicants should be friendly and available on weekends. Write to the café manager, explain why you are interested and state your availability.
How to write an email cover letter
100–150 words · Application. A local library needs a weekend assistant to welcome visitors and help organise children's activities. Write an email applying for the role. Explain relevant experience, your interest and your availability. Use invented details for practice.
Writing an email cover letter
170–230 words · Application. A fictional environmental organisation seeks a part-time events assistant. Duties include coordinating volunteers, writing clear updates and tracking bookings. Write a cover email using two relevant examples, explain your interest and state your availability.
Biography
Article
How to write an article – B1 Preliminary (PET) Exam
90–120 words · Article. Write an original exam-style article for a student magazine answering: 'Where do you like spending time with friends, and what makes that place special?' Use a title and engage the reader. This is independent skills practice, not an official exam paper.
Writing an article for the First exam
140–190 words · Article. An English-language magazine asks: 'What skill would you like more people to learn, and how could they start?' Write an original exam-style article answering both questions. Use an engaging title and support your ideas. This is independent practice, not an official exam paper.
Balanced essay
How-to article
Formal email
Formal email or letter asking for information
170–230 words · Formal email. You are interested in a weekend photography course advertised without full details. Write to the organiser asking about class size, required equipment and accessibility for a participant who cannot use stairs. Explain what you hope to learn and request the information before booking.
How to write a formal email or letter for C1 Advanced
220–260 words · Formal email. You represent a student association considering a venue partnership. The venue offers a free room on weekday evenings but requires all events to finish by eight and gives no details about accessible entry or cancellations. Write to the manager expressing interest, explaining how the closing time affects your group and requesting clarification before committing.