WRITING A STORY – B2 English Writing Test

1  Work in pairs. Discuss the questions.

1   Have you ever performed on a stage or watched someone perform on a stage?

2   What did you/the person do?

3   Was it successful?

4   How would you feel about singing or playing in a band on a stage? Why?

2  Read a story by Kate. Why was she on the stage? Was her performance successful? Why? / Why not?

1   Feeling extremely nervous, I walked up onto the large stage. I was taking part in a singing competition. I had never performed in public before, and I wasn’t sure I could do it!

2   As soon as the music began, I tried hard to think of the words to my song, but I couldn’t remember them. I felt terrified! Then all of a sudden, I looked down and saw my friend, Maya, in the audience. She was calmly moving her lips, saying the first words of my song. I opened my own mouth and began to sing.

3   Three minutes later, the song was finished and I quickly walked off the stage. I didn’t even notice if the audience were clapping or not because I just felt so relieved that it was all over.

4   Ten minutes later, while I was chatting to the other competitors, I suddenly heard someone call my name. I walked forward and the judges called me back onto the stage. I was expecting them to tell me what was wrong with my performance, but instead they said, ‘Congratulations!’ and gave me the prize. I had won the competition! I immediately looked down at Maya and said, ‘Thank you!’.

3  Look at Kate’s story again. Match the sentence halves.

4  Look at the Key Language box. Complete it with words from Kate’s story.

KEY LANGUAGE FOR A STORY

Verbs in the past simple, past continuous and past perfect

I walked up onto the stage. I 1……………………………… in a singing competition. I 2……………………………… in public before.

Time words and phrases to say when things happened

as soon as, all of a 3………………, immediately, suddenly, ten minutes 4………………, when, while, finally

Adjectives to describe people, places and feelings

nervous, large, terrified, relieved

Adverbs to describe how people do things

I tried 5……………… to think … She was 6……………… moving her lips. I quickly walked off the stage. I immediately looked down at Maya …

5  Complete part of a story with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Albert 1……………… (sit) quietly in his garden at home when he suddenly 2……………… (hear) a loud crash. He quickly 3……………… (stand up) and 4……………… (go) to look over the fence at the bottom of the garden. A boy 5……………… (lie) on the ground with his bike next to him. It was clear that he 6……………… (fall) off his bike. Albert was worried that the boy 7……………… (hurt) himself. ‘Are you OK?’ he 8……………… (ask). ‘Yes, I’m fi ne, thanks,’ the boy 9……………… (reply) while he 10……………… (get up) off the ground. ‘I’m Oscar, by the way. I’ve just moved in next door.’

6  Look at the verbs in the story in Exercise 5 again. Then complete the rules with the names of the tenses.

1   We use the ……………… for the main events in a story.

2   We use the ……………… to describe background situations or longer actions.

3   We use the ……………… to describe events or actions that happened earlier.

7  Choose the correct time words and phrases to complete the sentences.

1   I called Jack while / as soon as I got home.

2   When / Suddenly the police arrived, they searched the whole building.

3   We immediately / finally arrived home two hours later.

4   All of a sudden / When, it started to rain heavily.

5    I read the letter while / as soon as I was sitting on the bus.

6   Sam ran back to the hotel finally / immediately to get help.

8  Underline two of the adjectives in brackets which are possible to complete each sentence. Try to think of another possible adjective for each sentence.

1   Natalie was feeling ……………… as the train arrived at the station. (excited / interesting / noisy / nervous)

2   The man had a ……………… backpack on his back. (friendly / heavy / huge / fascinated)

3   Later that day, we all sat down for a ……………… lunch together. (fortunate / delicious / correct / tasty)

4   The boy looked up and gave me a ……………… wave. (friendly / boring / lucky / cheerful)

5   We walked out into a ……………… garden. (beautiful / happy / small / bored)

6   A ……………… tour guide met us at the airport. (necessary / clear / helpful / friendly)

9  Complete each sentence with the best adverb.

1   I carried the plate of food very ………………… so I didn’t spill any.

2    …………………, the boat was big enough for us all to get in.

3   The sky was blue and the sun was shining ………………… .

4   …………………, I never found the missing purse.

5   I could see that the thieves were still in the building, so I called the police ………………… .

6   A cyclist ………………… stopped to help me pick up my books.

10  Read the task. What two ideas must the story include?

We want your story!

We are looking for stories for our website. Your story must begin with this sentence:

Hana picked up her bag and got onto the bus.

Your story must include:

      • a phone call

      • an invitation

11  Work in pairs. Answer the questions to plan your story.

Plan your story

      Who was the woman? Where was she going?

      How was she feeling? Why?

      Who made a phone call? Did Hana phone someone, or did they phone her? Why?

      Did Hana invite someone, or did someone invite her? What was the event?

      Did the person accept the invitation? Why? / Why not?

      What happened in the end?

12  Write your story. Use your notes from Exercise 11.

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

………………………….……………………………………….……………

13  Work in pairs. Swap stories with your partner and read your partner’s story. Does it answer all the questions in Exercise 11? What adjectives and adverbs does it use?