B1 English Writing Tasks — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You need to write an email to your landlord about a broken boiler. Which opening is most appropriate for a B1-level formal email?
- 'Hey mate, boiler's broken again lol'
- 'Dear Mr Thompson, I am writing to let you know that the boiler in my flat stopped working yesterday evening and there is currently no heating or hot water.' (Correct answer)
- 'To Whom It May Concern, I hereby formally notify you of a critical infrastructure failure pertaining to the central heating apparatus.'
- 'Fix the boiler please. It's freezing.'
Correct answer: 'Dear Mr Thompson, I am writing to let you know that the boiler in my flat stopped working yesterday evening and there is currently no heating or hot water.'
This opening uses an appropriate formal greeting (Dear Mr Thompson), clearly states the purpose (boiler stopped working), gives relevant details (when it happened and the impact), and maintains a polite, professional tone suitable for B1.
Question 2: In the B1 writing test, you are asked to write about the advantages of learning English. Which sentence contains a grammatical error?
- 'Learning English can help you find better job opportunities in the UK.'
- 'English is widely spoken around the world, which makes it useful for travelling.'
- 'If you speaks English well, you can communicate with more people in your community.' (Correct answer)
- 'Many employers in the UK require a good level of English from their staff.'
Correct answer: 'If you speaks English well, you can communicate with more people in your community.'
The correct form is 'If you speak English well' (not 'speaks'). After 'you,' the base form of the verb is used, not the third-person singular form.
Question 3: You need to fill in a form at your child's school. The form asks for 'Emergency Contact Details.' Which information would be most appropriate to provide?
- Your email address and social media profiles
- The name, relationship, and phone number of someone who can be reached if you are unavailable (Correct answer)
- Your child's favourite teacher's name
- Your home address and the date you moved in
Correct answer: The name, relationship, and phone number of someone who can be reached if you are unavailable
Emergency contact details should include a trusted person (name and relationship) with a working phone number who can be reached if the parent or guardian is unavailable during an emergency.
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct way to write a UK date in a formal letter?
- 03/20/2026
- 20 March 2026 (Correct answer)
- March 20th, 2026
- 2026-03-20
Correct answer: 20 March 2026
In British English formal writing, the standard date format is day-month-year: '20 March 2026'. The US format (month/day/year) and ISO format are not standard in UK formal letters.
Question 5: You are writing a letter to support your spouse's visa application. Which statement would be most helpful to include?
- 'My partner is a really nice person and everyone likes them.'
- 'My partner and I have been married since June 2023. We live together at 14 Elm Road, Bristol, and share household bills and responsibilities. I have enclosed copies of our joint bank statements and utility bills as evidence.' (Correct answer)
- 'Please give my partner a visa because they need one.'
- 'My partner's immigration status is a private matter and I do not wish to provide details.'
Correct answer: 'My partner and I have been married since June 2023. We live together at 14 Elm Road, Bristol, and share household bills and responsibilities. I have enclosed copies of our joint bank statements and utility bills as evidence.'
Visa support letters should include specific factual details: dates, addresses, evidence of shared living arrangements, and mention of supporting documents. This demonstrates a genuine relationship.
Question 6: In formal UK English writing, which sign-off is most appropriate when you know the recipient's name?
- 'Cheers, John'
- 'Yours sincerely, John Smith' (Correct answer)
- 'Yours faithfully, John Smith'
- 'Best, John'
Correct answer: 'Yours sincerely, John Smith'
In British formal writing convention, 'Yours sincerely' is used when you know the recipient's name (Dear Mr/Mrs...). 'Yours faithfully' is used when you don't know the name (Dear Sir/Madam).
B1 English Writing Tasks
You need to write an email to your landlord about a broken boiler.
Which opening is most appropriate for a B1-level formal email?