B2 First Story Guide
Cambridge B2 First — Writing Part 2 · 140–190 Words
Master the B2 First story format — using a given opening sentence, weaving in required story elements, and writing with vivid language and narrative tension.
- Task requirements — opening sentence + two required elements
- Story structure — beginning, rising action, climax, resolution
- Required elements — how to weave them naturally into the narrative
- Past tenses — range and accuracy at B2 level
- Vivid language — atmosphere, tension, and detail
- Word count management — hitting 140–190 words precisely
Time management
Planning: 5 min · Writing: 30–35 min · Checking: 5 min · Total: ~40 minutes
Use ← → arrow keys or the buttons below to navigate
Understanding the Task
B2 First Writing Part 2 story tasks give you a specific opening sentence to use exactly as written, plus two required story elements that must both appear in your narrative.
Stories Wanted!
We are looking for short stories for our travel and adventure section. Your story must begin with this sentence:
The map showed a path through the forest, but nobody had warned us what we would find there.
Your story must include:
— an unexpected discovery
— a difficult decision
Write your story.
- The exact opening sentence — copy it word for word, no changes
- An unexpected discovery — something found or realised that surprises the characters
- A difficult decision — characters must choose between two paths, options, or courses of action
B1 stories are ~100 words with only a given opening. B2 First stories are 140–190 words, include two required elements, and expect a noticeably higher level of vocabulary, narrative technique, and grammatical range.
Story Structure at B2 First
A B2 First story has four clear stages. Plan all four before writing — especially where each required element will land.
Opening sentence
Copy exactly — this sets character, setting, and mood
Rising action
~50–70 words · build atmosphere and tension; introduce element 1
Climax
~40–55 words · element 2 forces a choice; peak of tension
Resolution
~25–35 words · outcome and emotional conclusion
Total: 140–190 words (opening sentence counted) · aim for 160–175
Element 1 (unexpected discovery) → place in the rising action
Element 2 (difficult decision) → place at or just before the climax
Before writing a word, decide: What is the discovery? What is the decision? What does the character choose? Work backwards from your ending — a story planned from the end is always better structured.
The Opening Sentence: Your Launchpad
The given sentence is not just a starting point — it is a launchpad that contains your setting, your character(s), and your narrative mood. Read it carefully before planning.
"The map showed a path through the forest, but nobody had warned us what we would find there."
Setting: A forest · Characters: "us" — at least two people · Mood: Foreboding, the unknown · Tense: Past — story is already "narrated"
What it promises: Something unexpected. Something possibly dangerous. Readers are immediately curious.
How to continue immediately after the given sentence
Establish who "we" are: "We had been walking for nearly two hours, my sister and I, when the trees began to thicken around us."
Build atmosphere immediately: "The light filtered strangely through the branches overhead, casting long shadows across the narrow track."
Move the action forward: "We followed the dotted line as it curved deeper into the trees, neither of us speaking much."
Do not change a single word of the given sentence. Do not add to it or split it. Write it as the first sentence of your story, then continue from there.
Element 1: The Unexpected Discovery
The discovery must feel genuinely surprising to the characters — not just described, but experienced. Show their reaction, not just what they found.
"Then Elena grabbed my arm. There, half-hidden beneath years of undergrowth, was a stone doorway — ancient, moss-covered, completely sealed. A rusted plaque read: DANGER. DO NOT ENTER. But that wasn't what stopped us. Through a crack in the door came a sound — rhythmic, unmistakably human — as if someone inside was still alive."
What makes a discovery feel unexpected
Contrast: ordinary surroundings → suddenly extraordinary object or place
Reaction: show the character's physical and emotional response — don't just describe the thing
Sensory detail: use more than sight — sound, touch, smell make discoveries vivid
Implication: the discovery should raise a question or create a new problem
Practice: Write your discovery paragraph (50–60 words)
Element 2: The Difficult Decision
The decision must feel genuinely difficult — both options should carry real consequences. Readers should feel the character's uncertainty.
"Elena turned to me. 'We have to open it.' I wasn't sure. The plaque said danger. The sound might mean help needed — or it might mean something far worse. After a long silence, I nodded. I pushed the door. It swung open without a sound."
What makes a decision feel difficult
Real stakes: both options have genuine consequences — not an obvious right answer
Internal conflict: show hesitation, weighing up, doubt — "I wasn't sure…", "Part of me wanted to…"
Time pressure: urgency makes decisions harder and more tense for readers
Character reveals: the decision shows who the character is — brave, cautious, impulsive
A decision that is obviously easy ("should I help someone or not?") is not a difficult decision. Make both options genuinely hard. The character should feel torn.
Practice: Write your decision + resolution (40–50 words)
The Resolution: Land the Story
Your resolution must give the story a satisfying sense of completion. It doesn't need to be happy — but it must feel earned, not abrupt.
Revelation: we learn what the discovery actually was — "Inside was a child, no more than eight, who had been lost in the forest for three days."
Emotional reflection: character looks back — "We never spoke much about what we found that day. But neither of us ever took a map at face value again."
Twist: something unexpected in the final lines — use sparingly
Circular ending: return to an image or idea from the opening — gives structure and resonance
"And then I woke up and it was all a dream" — this invalidates everything that came before and loses Content marks. "We decided to leave and went home" — too abrupt, no emotional resolution. Both are the most common ending failures at B2 level.
Complete Model Story
The map showed a path through the forest, but nobody had warned us what we would find there.
— an unexpected discovery · — a difficult decision
The map showed a path through the forest, but nobody had warned us what we would find there.
Rising action — building atmosphere (55 words)We had been walking for nearly two hours, my sister and I, when the trees began to thicken around us. The light filtered strangely through the branches, casting long shadows across the narrow track. Then Elena grabbed my arm. There, half-hidden beneath years of undergrowth, was a stone doorway — ancient, moss-covered, and completely sealed.
Discovery + decision (72 words)A rusted plaque read: DANGER. DO NOT ENTER. But that wasn't what stopped us. Through a crack in the door came a sound — rhythmic, unmistakably human. Elena turned to me. "We have to open it." I hesitated. The plaque said danger. But the sound could mean someone needed help. After a long silence, I nodded. We pushed together. The door swung open without resistance.
Resolution (28 words)Inside was a child, no older than eight, curled against the far wall and shaking. She had been missing for three days. The map had led us exactly where we needed to go.
Exact opening sentence · atmosphere built immediately through sensory detail · unexpected discovery creates genuine surprise · difficult decision shown through internal conflict ("the plaque said danger, but…") · resolution reveals the full picture and gives emotional satisfaction · 168 words ✓ · strong past tense range throughout
Past Tenses at B2 Level
B2 First stories must show accurate range across the three narrative tenses. Examiners look for variety — not just past simple throughout.
Elena grabbed my arm. I hesitated. The door swung open. She had been missing for three days.
Past continuous — atmosphere and backgroundThe light was filtering through the branches. We were walking in silence. Someone was breathing inside.
Past perfect — events before the story momentWe had been walking for two hours. She had been missing for three days. Nobody had warned us.
Using all three together — the gold standard
"The door swung open (past simple). Elena, who had been hesitating (past perfect continuous) for a full minute, stepped inside. Someone was still moving (past continuous) in the shadows."
B1 range — avoid ✗
"We walked into the forest. We found a door. It was strange. We opened it. There was a child inside."
Only past simple · no atmosphere · no rangeB2 range — aim for ✓
"We had been walking for hours when Elena stopped suddenly. The trees were closing in around us, and ahead, half-hidden by the undergrowth, stood a stone door that clearly hadn't been opened in decades."
All three tenses · atmosphere · complex structureVivid Language: Atmosphere & Tension
At B2 level, examiners expect vivid language that creates atmosphere — not just recounting events, but making readers feel they are there.
Building atmosphere — before the discovery
Light: "The light filtered strangely through the branches" · "Shadows fell at odd angles across the path"
Sound: "The forest was silent in a way that felt deliberate" · "Something moved in the undergrowth to our left"
Sensation: "The air grew noticeably colder as we descended" · "My boots sank slightly with each step"
Building tension — at the decision point
Short sentences: "I listened. Nothing. Then the sound again." — brevity creates pace
Hesitation: "For a long moment, neither of us moved." · "I looked at Elena. She looked at me."
Physical reaction: "My heart was beating faster than it should have been." · "My hands weren't entirely steady."
Flat narration ✗
"We saw a door. It was old. We were scared. We decided to open it."
No atmosphere · no tension · no engagementVivid narration ✓
"Elena grabbed my arm without warning. There it was — half-buried, ancient, sealed. A sound came from inside. Low. Rhythmic. Human."
Physical reaction · specific detail · short sentences build tensionPlanning Your Story — 5 Minutes Well Spent
A story written without a plan usually runs out of space before the required elements are included. Five minutes of planning prevents this.
Opening sentence: The map showed a path… (given)
Who is "us"? Me and my sister Elena
Setting details: Dense forest, strange light, silence
Discovery (element 1): Stone door, sealed, plaque says DANGER, sound from inside
Decision (element 2): Open it (dangerous) or leave (someone might need help)
They choose: Open it
Resolution: Child inside, lost for 3 days — map led them there
- Decide both required elements before writing — know exactly where each appears
- Plan your ending first — the resolution shapes the entire story
- Keep the plot simple — one main event is enough in 140–190 words
- Cross your plan out after — it will not be marked
Practice Questions
Choose one and write a complete story (140–190 words, ~40 minutes)
Q1 — Forest: Begin with "The map showed a path through the forest, but nobody had warned us what we would find there." Include: an unexpected discovery · a difficult decision
Q2 — City: Begin with "The letter arrived on a Tuesday morning, and by lunchtime everything had changed." Include: an unexpected meeting · a moment of doubt
Q3 — Sea: Begin with "She had always been afraid of the water, which made what happened next all the more extraordinary." Include: an act of courage · an unexpected consequence
Q4 — Night: Begin with "Nobody else was awake when I heard the noise outside." Include: a mysterious discovery · a choice between safety and helping someone
Write your complete story here
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Changing the opening sentence
Do not change a single word. Do not add to it or shorten it. Write it exactly as given — even if the grammar feels unusual to you.
Missing a required element
If the task says "your story must include an unexpected discovery and a difficult decision," both must appear clearly in the story. Forgetting one drops your Content mark significantly. Tick them off during planning.
A decision that isn't difficult
"Should I help someone who is hurt?" is not a difficult decision — it's obvious. A difficult decision has real costs on both sides. The character should genuinely struggle to choose.
Weak or absent resolution
"And then we went home" is not a resolution. "It was all a dream" loses Content marks. End with something that feels earned — a revelation, a reflection, or an image that resonates.
Only past simple throughout
A story written entirely in "walked / saw / found / said" shows limited range and will not achieve the Language marks available at B2. Use all three narrative tenses.
Over-complicated plot
Too many characters, locations, or events in 140–190 words creates confusion and leaves no room for atmosphere or resolution. One main event, developed well, is always better than several events rushed.
How Your Story is Marked
B2 First Writing is marked on four equal criteria, each worth 5 points.
Content
- Opening sentence used exactly
- Both required elements present and developed
- Story is complete — beginning, middle, ending
- Narrative is engaging and coherent
Communicative Achievement
- Appropriate narrative register throughout
- Atmosphere and tension created effectively
- Readers feel engaged by the story
- Characters and events feel vivid and real
Organisation
- Clear story arc: rising action, climax, resolution
- Both elements placed at effective points
- Smooth narrative flow and transitions
- Satisfying conclusion — not abrupt
Language
- Range of past tenses (simple, continuous, perfect)
- Vivid vocabulary and descriptive language
- Varied sentence structures
- Accurate grammar and spelling
Missing a required element (Content) · flat narration with no atmosphere (Communicative Achievement) · abrupt or "dream" ending (Organisation) · only past simple used throughout (Language)
Quick Reference Guide
Given sentence: Copy exactly — count it in your total
Rising action (50–70 words): Build atmosphere · introduce element 1 (discovery)
Climax (40–55 words): Element 2 (decision) · show conflict and choice
Resolution (25–35 words): Outcome + emotional conclusion
Total: 140–190 words · aim for 160–175
Essential language for B2 stories
Atmosphere: filtered strangely / fell at odd angles / felt deliberately quiet / grew noticeably colder
Discovery: half-hidden beneath… / barely visible through… / there it was — / something stopped us both
Decision: For a long moment… / Part of me wanted to… / I wasn't sure whether to… / After a long silence…
Resolution: What we found inside was… / It turned out that… / Neither of us ever forgot…
Must-do checklist
- Opening sentence copied exactly — not one word changed
- Both required elements present and clearly developed
- All three past tenses used (simple, continuous, perfect)
- Atmosphere created through vivid description
- Decision feels genuinely difficult — real conflict
- Resolution feels earned — not abrupt, not a dream
- 140–190 words — aim for 160–175
Self-Assessment Checklist
Content
- I used the exact opening sentence without any changes
- Element 1 (discovery) is present and clearly unexpected
- Element 2 (decision) is present and clearly difficult
- My story has a complete beginning, middle, and ending
Communicative achievement
- My story creates atmosphere — readers feel the setting
- The discovery feels genuinely surprising
- The decision feels genuinely hard — real conflict shown
- My ending feels satisfying — not abrupt or predictable
Organisation
- My story builds in a logical narrative arc
- Both required elements are placed at effective points
- Transitions between sections feel smooth
- My resolution gives a clear sense of completion
Language
- My word count is between 140–190 (ideally 160–175)
- I used past simple, past continuous, AND past perfect
- I used vivid descriptive vocabulary — not just "nice/good"
- My sentence structures are varied
- My spelling and punctuation are accurate
Final Tips for Success
Week 1–2: Practice atmosphere paragraphs and past tense range (10 min daily)
Week 3–4: Write complete stories without a time limit — focus on both elements and resolution
Week 5–6: Timed practice — 40 minutes per story, then self-assess against the four criteria
Week 7–8: Exam conditions — 40 minutes, no dictionary, strict word count
Good luck with your Cambridge B2 First exam.