How Cambridge Evaluates B2 First Writing: Official Rubric

Each category is scored from 0 to 5, giving a maximum of 20 points per task. You need approximately 24 out of 40 points (160 Cambridge Scale) to pass.

Key Takeaways

• Four Equal Criteria: Your grade is split evenly across Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation, and Language (25% each).
• 0 to 5 Band Scale: Examiners do not give general impressions; they strictly apply band descriptors from 0 to 5 for each category.
• Two Tasks, Equal Weight: Part 1 (Essay) and Part 2 (Article, Email/Letter, Report, Review) are each worth 20 points.
• Target Word Count: 140–190 words per task. Stick to this to avoid irrelevant details or grammatical slips.

The 4 Official Cambridge B2 Assessment Criteria

Every text you write in the exam is assessed independently across the following four subscales.

1. Content: Answering the Task

Content is all about task completion. If the prompt asks for two specific points and one of your own, you must include all three.

• Missing a prompt point immediately drops your Content score to a maximum of Band 2 (a failing grade for this section).
• Do not include irrelevant information just to hit the word count; it confuses the reader.

2. Communicative Achievement: Tone and Register

This metric evaluates if your text sounds like the genre it is supposed to be.

• An essay or a report must use formal register, passive voice, and objective language.
• An article or an informal email should use direct engagement, phrasal verbs, and a conversational tone. Mixing formal and informal language will cost you points.

3. Organisation: Structure and Paragraphing

Examiners look at the logical flow of your ideas. A standard B2 text requires a clear introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• A single massive block of text will severely penalize your score.
• You must use cohesive devices beyond "and" or "but". Use words like Furthermore, Consequently, Nevertheless, and clear pronoun referencing (This issue, These factors).

4. Language: Vocabulary and Grammar Range

Language measures your lexical precision and grammatical complexity.

• To score a Band 3 or higher, you must attempt complex structures: relative clauses, conditionals, and passive forms.
• Avoid basic vocabulary like good, bad, or nice. Replace them with precise collocations like considerable advantage, detrimental effect, or pleasant atmosphere.

The Real Cost of Delayed Writing Feedback

Preparing for the Cambridge B2 First writing paper is incredibly frustrating if you rely on outdated methods. You spend 45 minutes writing an essay, hand it to your academy teacher, and wait up to a week just to get it back covered in red ink.

Worse still, traditional corrections rarely tell you why you failed. Was it your tone? Did you misuse a connector? Without knowing your exact score across the 4 Cambridge subscales, you are practicing blindly. Paying expensive monthly academy fees to practice with PDF mock exams and slow feedback is the fastest way to lose points on exam day.

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How Your Final Writing Score is Calculated

Both parts of the Writing exam carry equal weight. Here is how your raw score translates to the Cambridge scale:

1. Part 1 (Compulsory Essay): 20 maximum raw points.
2. Part 2 (Choice task): 20 maximum raw points.
3. Total: 40 raw points.

This raw score is mathematically converted to the Cambridge English Scale (160–190 for B2 First):

• 180–190 (Grade A): Exceptional performance, demonstrating early C1 ability.
• 173–179 (Grade B): Strong B2 performance.
• 160–172 (Grade C): The required pass mark for the CEFR B2 level.
• Below 160: Fails to meet the B2 standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does writing under 140 words automatically fail my essay?

No. Cambridge does not automatically fail essays under the word count limit. However, short answers almost always leave out critical prompt points, resulting in a lower score in the Content category.

What is the difference between Band 3 and Band 5 in Language?

Band 3 represents satisfactory B2 performance, with adequate vocabulary and some complex sentences despite occasional errors. Band 5 shows wide lexical flexibility, ambitious grammar (such as inversions), and very few non-impeding errors.

Are examiners strict about American vs. British English?

Cambridge accepts both British and American spelling, provided you are consistent. Switching between colour and color within the same text shows a lack of control and will reduce your Language score.

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