B2 WritingB2 Pre-advanced

A report – B2 English Writing

Exercise 3

Exercises:1 2 3

Fill in the gaps with the correct options in the box below.

EXAMPLE:

Report on the local sports centre

Introduction

This report 1 to describe the current state of the local sports centre, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and suggest possible improvements.

Providing access to a variety of facilities

One 2 of the sports centre is that it offers a wide range of facilities, 3 a swimming pool, basketball courts, and a small gym. These facilities are popular among both students and adults. 4, the staff are friendly and helpful, 5 creates a welcoming environment.

Addressing current problems

6, one drawback is that some of the equipment in the gym is old and occasionally unsafe. 7, several machines are rusty and have missing parts, which makes them difficult to use. The changing rooms are also in poor condition, and the showers are often cold.

Recommendations

It is 8 that the council invest in modern gym equipment and improve the condition of the changing facilities. These changes would encourage more people to use the centre and promote a healthier lifestyle in the community.

A report

What’s a report exactly?

A report is a common task at B2 level and one of the possible options in Part 2 of the Cambridge B2 First Writing paper. A report could be described as a formal essay, where you need to present information in a clear and organised way, often based on a specific situation or request.

You are usually asked to describe a situation, evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations. Reports are typically intended for a teacher, manager, or group leader, so the tone should be polite, formal, and objective.

Analysing a sample report task

Let’s take a look at an example of a report task from a Cambridge sample paper:

✍ A group of British teachers is going to visit your college for two days. The aim of their trip is to learn about how technology is used in education in your country.
You have been asked to write a report for the group leader. Your report should:
• include information about how technology is used to teach different subjects
• recommend which lessons the teachers should watch to see technology being used.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you understand what the task is asking and who you are writing to.

You are writing to the group leader (you need to use formal language).

You need to include two main areas:

Information about the use of technology across different subjects.
Recommendations about lessons that would be interesting or useful for the visitors.

Tip: Always read the task carefully and underline key points. You will lose marks if you leave out required content.

How to organise your report

Reports can almost always be organised in a similar way, because they often ask you to do the same thing: analyse a situation and make recommendations.

Here’s a simple structure you can follow:

‣ Title
Make it clear and formal (e.g. Report on the Use of Technology).

‣ Introduction
State the purpose of the report.

‣ Main sections
Use headings to organise the key points (e.g. Use of Technology in Subjects, Suggested Lessons).

‣ Conclusion or Recommendations
Summarise and make clear suggestions.

Tip: Use headings and formal language to make your report easy to follow.

Parts of a report

Title

Your report should have a clear, formal title that reflects the topic.

Example:

Report on the use of technology in education

Introduction

Start with a short paragraph that explains the purpose of the report. Use formal, objective language.

Example:

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to describe how technology is used in different subjects at our college and to recommend which lessons visiting teachers should observe during their visit.

Body paragraphs

The body of your report should be divided into clear sections, each with its own heading. This makes your writing easier to read and helps the examiner follow your ideas. Usually, the body of the report includes two paragraphs, each with its own heading.

Use headings based on the content.

Make sure your headings are consistent. Nouns or noun phrases are best. Don’t switch between noun and verb phrases. In the Cambridge sample task about technology in education, you might use a heading for each subject that you describe.

Science lessons
Language learning

Tips:

Write in a clear and formal style.
Give specific examples where possible, and explain the benefits of using each one.
Use linking words to organise ideas (e.g. In addition, Moreover, For example, However).

Example:

Science lessons

In science classes, students regularly use online simulators to explore various scientific concepts. This approach helps them understand complex topics in a more visual and interactive way. In addition, they use educational gaming apps to test their knowledge, along with digital tools to create projects and share their findings with the class.

Language learning

In language lessons, teachers often use educational apps to help students practise skills such as reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary. More recently, they have also started using AI tools to improve speaking abilities. These technologies allow learners to develop their language skills in an engaging and highly effective way.

➪ Use topic openers to introduce the subject of the paragraph clearly and formally.

➪ Use referencing phrases to make your writing more cohesive by referring back to ideas you’ve already mentioned. Avoid using just this or these on their own, as it may be unclear what you are referring to.

➪ Use transition words to guide the reader through your ideas and show how your points are connected.

Conclusion or recommendations

Most report tasks ask you to make suggestions or recommendations based on the information you’ve given. This final section is where you summarise your findings and give clear advice.

What should you include?

A brief summary of the main points.
One or more specific recommendations.

Example:

Recommendations

It is recommended that the visiting teachers observe a science lesson and a language lesson, as these best demonstrate the effective use of technology in our college. These sessions provide a clear example of how digital tools can enhance learning across different subjects.

➪ Use referencing phrases to make your writing more cohesive by referring back to ideas you’ve already mentioned.

➪ Use transition words to guide the reader through your ideas and show how your points are connected.

Useful language for report writing

Use formal and objective language throughout your report. Here are some useful phrases you can use, depending on the purpose of each section.

Introducing the report

The aim/purpose of this report is to…
This report aims to outline/describe…
This report has been written to…
This report outlines/describes…

Describing how something is used/functions

Students use this tool to/in order to…
This approach/method allows learners to…
This tool/resource is used for + noun
This tool/resource is used for + -ing verb (practising/improving…)

Describing advantages and disadvantages

One advantage of this method is that…
This approach is beneficial because…
However, one possible drawback is that…

Making recommendations

It is recommended that…
It would be advisable to…
The following suggestions could be considered:
In conclusion, it is suggested that…

Linking words and connectors

Use connectors to organise your ideas clearly and show the relationship between different points.

Adding information:

In addition
Moreover
What is more
Furthermore

Giving examples:

For example
One example of this is…
This can be seen in…
For instance
Such as

Contrasting ideas:

However
Although / Even though
On the other hand
In contrast

Explaining cause and effect:

As a result
Therefore
This means that…
For this reason,
Consequently

Organising points:

Firstly / Secondly / Finally
To begin with
The following…
Before that / After that / Later / Recently / etc.

Tip: Avoid using informal connectors like also or so. Instead, use formal alternatives such as in addition or therefore.

Ready to practice?

Put your knowledge to the test with interactive exercises (3 exercises available).