Log in
B1 PRELIMINARY · WRITING · EXAMPLE

B1 Preliminary email example, marked

The same email written twice: first an answer that would get about 10 out of 20 (just below a pass), then the same answer improved to about 18 out of 20. Every problem and every improvement is marked and explained, criterion by criterion.

The task

Read this email from your English-speaking friend Alex and the notes you have made.

Hi! My family and I are visiting your country next month, and I’d love to meet you. Are you free on Saturday 14th? What could we do together? And what’s the weather like at this time of year – what clothes should I bring?

See you soon! Alex

Write your email to Alex using all the notes.

Your notes

  • Are you free on Saturday 14th? → Yes!
  • What could we do together? → Suggest…
  • What clothes should I bring? → Explain

Write your email in 90–120 words.

Answer 1

about 10 / 20

Dear Alex,

Thank you for you email.1 I am very happy that you come to my country. Yes, I am free the saturday 14th2.

We can go to the city centre, there is a lot of shops3 and a big park. The park is near my house and I think you will like it. My mother can drive us to the centre in her car. Also we can eat pizza.

The weather is good.4

I wait your answer.5

Bye,

Marco

80 words

What goes wrong

  1. “your email”, not “you email”.
  2. “on Saturday 14th” – “on” for days, and days start with a capital letter.
  3. Two sentences joined with a comma, and “there are a lot of shops”.
  4. Too short: Alex asked what clothes to bring, and the email doesn’t say.
  5. “I’m waiting for your answer” – or, more naturally, “Write back soon!”.

The marks

Content3 / 5

Two notes are answered, but not the question about clothes.

Communicative achievement3 / 5

Friendly, but quite abrupt, and “I wait your answer” sounds strange to a friend.

Organisation2 / 5

Very short paragraphs, with ideas joined by commas or “Also”.

Language2 / 5

Several errors (you email, the saturday, there is a lot of shops, I wait your answer).

Answer 2: the same ideas, improved

about 18 / 20

Hi Alex,

Great to hear from you!1 Yes, I’m free on Saturday 14th2, and I can’t wait to see you.

Why don’t we spend the day in the city centre?3 We could look around the shops in the morning and then have a picnic in the big park. There’s also a great pizza place near the river.

The weather is usually warm and sunny at this time of year, so bring a T-shirt and some shorts.4 But it can get cold in the evenings, so don’t forget a jacket!5

Write back soon and tell me what you think.6

Marco

99 words

What makes it better

  1. A friendly opening that suits an email to a friend.
  2. Answers the first note clearly.
  3. A suggestion with “Why don’t we…?” – exactly what the note asks for.
  4. Says what the weather is like and answers the question about clothes.
  5. “But” and “so” link the ideas naturally.
  6. A natural, informal ending.

The marks

Content5 / 5

All three notes are answered, with useful details.

Communicative achievement5 / 5

Friendly and natural from beginning to end – right for an email to a friend.

Organisation4 / 5

One paragraph for each note, linked with so, but and then.

Language4 / 5

Good everyday phrases (I can’t wait, why don’t we, don’t forget) with no errors.

What made the difference

  • Content: The third note now has an answer: what clothes to bring.
  • Communicative achievement: A friendly opening and ending: “Great to hear from you!”, “Write back soon”.
  • Organisation: One paragraph per note, and full stops instead of commas between sentences.
  • Language: The errors are gone, and there are natural phrases for suggestions: Why don’t we…?, We could…
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

In Part 1, tick each note when you have answered it. All three need an answer – a missing one is the easiest way to lose marks.

Now write your own

Practise with real exam tasks and model answers, and get AI feedback on your email: an estimated mark for each criterion, your mistakes corrected and tips to improve.

Write an email →

More examples

The marks are Levoop’s estimate using the four criteria Cambridge uses for Writing (0–5 each). Only Cambridge English can give an official mark. The texts were written for Levoop.

Practice → Check → Learn → Repeat ↻