For the Cambridge: First For Schools [formerly FCE] writing exam, you might be asked to write a story in 140-190 words. Here’s an example below with some tips on what to consider when writing your cool story.

2015 Update

Cambridge have changed the format for the First Writing Exam. Cambridge First For Schools includes story writing, but Cambridge First (ie the general adult version) includes writing an essay, email/letter, a report or a review. Not a story. Check with your teacher or exam centre if you’re not sure which exam you’ll be taking. 

The question for a Cambridge First FCE story can be worded in a few different ways. For example, you may have to answer something like this:

Here is an example. Do you think it’s true..?

Although I wasn’t feeling well, somehow I managed to get onto the tram to work. Rather foolishly, I’d cooked some food the previous night with an old sauce which had gone off. Now I was paying the price. I’d seen there was a little mould on top of the carrots I was eating yet this Australian attitude came across me:

“She’ll be right.”

So I kept on eating. I should have known that something was up when I felt a little dizzy. On the tram I felt faint. Things got worse when the tram was re-routed about 5 minutes’ walk from the school. Damn.

As I was getting off, a girl came up to me.

“Do you remember me?”

I thought it was Pavla, a student of mine, joking about her absence the week before.

“Sorry, not feeling well. I may have to cancel today’s lesson.”

“But..you taught me 5 or so years ago. Don’t you remember?” Now I was delirious. But I did remember, slowly. It wasn’t Pavla.

Looking a little perplexed, Aneta pointed in the direction of the school. Then she smiled and walked away.

Words: 185 + 5 for the title “She smiled and walked away”