Module 8 · Writing Mastery & Reading Fluency · Lesson 30
Advanced Essay
FCE Writing Part 1 — the compulsory essay. Move beyond basic 'for and against' into high-band argument: specific examples, concession clauses, and a confident, balanced conclusion.
Get talking · Section 1
5 minRead aloud: 'Although some people argue X, I believe Y.' Why is this sentence stronger than just stating Y alone?
Compare: 'Technology has many benefits' vs 'Video calls let grandparents in another country see their grandchildren grow up.' Which convinces you more, and why?
In one sentence, state an opinion about homework, then add one specific example to support it.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minHigh-band essay: concession, specific examples, confident stance
A top-band essay doesn't just list points — it concedes the other side briefly, then argues back with specific, real examples, and closes with a confident stance.
Examples
→ Concession + counter: 'Although working from home can feel isolating, most employees report far higher job satisfaction overall.'
→ Vague → specific: 'Cities are polluted' → 'In many capital cities, traffic fumes have been linked directly to rising rates of childhood asthma.'
→ Confident close: NOT 'Both sides have advantages and disadvantages.' INSTEAD 'On balance, the benefits of remote work clearly outweigh the drawbacks for most employees.'
→ Linking concession clauses: 'While it is true that…', 'Despite the fact that…', 'Even though…, it is nevertheless the case that…'
→ Avoid stacking five generic points with no development — two or three DEVELOPED points beat five thin ones.
Question 1.What does 'concession' mean in essay writing?
Question 2.Which is a high-band specific example?
Question 3.Which conclusion is stronger?
Question 4.'Although some argue X, in fact Y' is an example of…
Question 5.Two or three developed points are generally better than…
Quick check 1.What's the risk of using only generic claims?
Quick check 2.Should the conclusion introduce a brand-new argument?
Quick check 3.A concession clause typically starts with…
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
to concede
to admit that an opposing point has some truth, before countering it.
"I concede that homework has some value, but too much can cause stress."
Concede one point about a topic you disagree with.
on balance
considering everything, when weighing up two sides.
"On balance, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."
Use 'on balance' to close an opinion about your daily routine.
to outweigh
to be greater or more important than something else.
"The benefits of exercise outweigh the inconvenience of finding time for it."
Write a sentence: '__ outweighs __.'
compelling
convincing, evoking strong interest or belief.
"She made a compelling case for a four-day working week."
Describe an argument you find 'compelling'.
to substantiate
to support a claim with evidence or facts.
"The report failed to substantiate its main claim with any data."
Say what you would use to 'substantiate' an opinion about your school.
counterargument
an argument opposed to your main position.
"A strong essay addresses the main counterargument before dismissing it."
Name one counterargument to 'social media is bad for teenagers'.
nevertheless
in spite of that; a formal contrast linker for concession.
"The cost is high; nevertheless, most families consider it worthwhile."
Use 'nevertheless' in a sentence about a decision you made.
arguably
it can be argued/reasonably claimed that.
"This is arguably the most important environmental issue of our time."
Use 'arguably' about something in the news.
to undermine
to weaken an argument or position.
"A single weak example can undermine an otherwise strong essay."
Say what could 'undermine' an argument about homework.
case in point
a specific example that illustrates a general claim.
"Many students struggle to focus online; remote learning during the pandemic is a case in point."
Give a 'case in point' for an opinion about technology.
Activate · use it within minutes
In 2 minutes, write ONE sentence that concedes an opposing view and counters it, about school uniforms.
Write your concede-and-counter sentence about school uniforms.
Tick each word as you use it
Take turns turning a vague claim into a specific example.
Vague: 'Social media has downsides.' Make it specific.
Vague: 'Cities have traffic problems.' Make it specific.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minContrastive stress on concession linkers
Say it aloud
- • Read aloud: 'Although some argue X, I believe Y' — stress Y heavily, X lightly.
- • Practise 'On BALANCE, the benefits clearly outWEIGH the drawbacks' with even, confident pacing.
- • Contrast weak reading (flat, no stress) vs strong reading (clear stress on the counter-argument).
- • Drill 'NEVertheless' as one strongly-stressed unit, always followed by a pause.
- • Read a full concession sentence three times, increasing confidence/pace each time.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minWhat separates a B2 essay from a B2+ / high-band essay
Read the passageTap to openTap to hide
Almost every candidate sitting the Cambridge B2 First exam can produce a grammatically accurate essay that states two sides of an issue. Far fewer can produce an essay that an examiner marks in the top band, because top-band essays require something beyond accuracy: a visible, controlled ARGUMENT.
The first ingredient is concession. Weak essays present only one side, ignoring the fact that essay prompts almost always ask candidates to consider more than one viewpoint. Strong essays briefly acknowledge the other side — 'although it is true that homework reinforces learning' — before pivoting with a counter-argument. This single move signals maturity of thought and directly满足 the Content criterion, which explicitly rewards addressing both the given points and a balanced perspective.
The second ingredient is specificity. A claim like 'technology has many benefits' could be written by anyone, about anything, with zero real thought. A claim like 'video calls now let grandparents in another country watch their grandchildren grow up in real time' shows the writer actually thought about the topic. Specific, imaginable examples are what separate essays that feel 'generic' from essays that feel genuinely argued.
The third ingredient is a confident conclusion. Many candidates, worried about seeming one-sided, end with 'both sides have advantages and disadvantages' — which is true of almost any topic and says nothing. A high-band conclusion takes a clear, JUSTIFIED position: 'on balance, the benefits of remote work outweigh the drawbacks for most employees' — a stance that follows logically from the points developed in the body paragraphs.
Putting these three ingredients together doesn't require more advanced grammar — it requires a shift in HABIT. Candidates who practise concession-plus-counter, generic-to-specific rewriting, and confident-conclusion drafting consistently move from a mid-range essay mark to a high-band one, often without learning a single new grammatical structure.
Question 1.According to the writer, what do top-band essays require beyond accuracy?
Question 2.What does concession signal to an examiner?
Question 3.What is wrong with 'technology has many benefits' as a claim?
Question 4.What is the problem with ending 'both sides have advantages and disadvantages'?
Question 5.According to the writer, moving to high-band mainly requires…
Q1.Concession means presenting only one side of an argument.
Q2.Specific, imaginable examples are stronger than generic claims.
Q3.A high-band conclusion should avoid taking a clear position.
Q4.Moving to a higher band mainly requires new grammar structures, according to the writer.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA student and teacher upgrade a weak essay paragraph together
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Drag the timeline to jump anywhere.
Show transcript
Sofia:I wrote: 'Homework has advantages and disadvantages.' Is that OK for the introduction?
Mr. Adeyemi:It's accurate, but it's very generic — it could be about anything. Can you make it more specific to homework?
Sofia:Maybe: 'While homework can reinforce classroom learning, excessive amounts have been linked to stress and reduced sleep in teenagers.'
Mr. Adeyemi:Much better — that's a concession plus a specific counter-point. Now, what's your first body paragraph about?
Sofia:I argue homework helps students remember material better.
Mr. Adeyemi:Good. Do you have a specific example, or is it still general?
Sofia:It's general right now — I just say 'students learn better with practice.'
Mr. Adeyemi:Try something concrete: 'Students who complete regular maths homework consistently outperform those who don't, according to several school studies.'
Sofia:That's much stronger. What about my conclusion? I wrote 'both sides have points, it depends on the person.'
Mr. Adeyemi:That's the weakest kind of conclusion — it commits to nothing. What's your actual opinion, based on what you argued?
Sofia:I think homework helps if it's not excessive.
Mr. Adeyemi:So write that directly: 'On balance, homework benefits students most when kept to a reasonable, focused amount.' That's confident AND balanced.
Sofia:I see — concede, be specific, then commit at the end. It's basically the same three moves everywhere.
Mr. Adeyemi:Exactly. Once you internalise those three moves, every essay topic becomes the same exercise.
Question 1.What's wrong with Sofia's original introduction?
Question 2.What does the teacher ask her to add to her first body paragraph?
Question 3.Why is 'both sides have points, it depends' a weak conclusion?
Question 4.What are the three moves the teacher summarises at the end?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minWriting Part 1 — the High-Band Essay
📝 Advanced Essay
Concede, be specific, commit — the three moves of a high-band essay.
- Concede the opposing view briefly, then counter it
- Replace generic claims with specific, imaginable examples
- Develop 2 points well rather than 4 points thinly
- Close with a confident, justified stance
Open the FCE Exam Practice block below for a full essay task.
Quick Tip
Before writing, jot down ONE specific example per body paragraph — a name, a place, a real-feeling situation.
Exam Hack
Memorise 3 concession openers ('Although…', 'While it is true that…', 'It cannot be denied that…') and use one in every essay.
Common Mistake
Don't end with 'both sides have points' — always commit to a position that follows from your argument.
Your task
Plan and write the essay in FCE Exam Practice using concession + specific example + confident conclusion.
Example
Point: 'Homework helps learning.' + concession: 'Although too much homework can cause stress,…' + specific example: '…students who complete regular practice consistently outperform those who don't, as several school studies show.' + confident close: 'On balance, homework benefits students most when kept to a reasonable amount.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.'___ it is true that X, in fact Y' is a concession structure.
Question 2.A specific example is stronger than a ___ claim.
Question 3.'On ___, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks' is a confident conclusion opener.
Question 4.The word ___ means to weaken an argument.
Question 5.Two or three ___ points beat five thin ones.
Question 6.'Nevertheless' is used to introduce a ___.
Q1.One word meaning 'to admit an opposing point has some truth':
Q2.Two-word phrase meaning 'considering everything' used before a conclusion:
Q3.One word meaning 'to be greater/more important than something else':
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write an essay (140–190 words): 'Should schools ban mobile phones?' Use one concession, at least one specific example, and a confident conclusion.
Show model answer
Mobile phones in schools remain a contentious issue. While it is true that phones can be a serious distraction — students often check messages instead of listening in class — banning them completely may not be the best solution. First, phones have genuine educational uses. For instance, many teachers now use quiz apps and shared documents that require every student to have a device. A blanket ban would remove these tools along with the distractions. Second, a more targeted approach — phones away during lessons but allowed at break — addresses the distraction problem without losing the educational benefits. Several schools that have trialled this exact policy report both improved focus and continued use of educational apps. On balance, a full ban seems an overreaction to a problem that a clear, limited policy can solve just as effectively.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
Roleplay
1:1 online task. Teacher gives an essay topic. Student must speak, out loud, a concession sentence, then a specific example, then a confident conclusion — in that order, for the same topic.
Useful phrases
- • Although some argue that…, in fact…
- • A case in point is…
- • For instance, in many schools/cities…
- • On balance, I believe that…
- • The evidence suggests that…
Teacher notes
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Two drills to build the three-move essay habit. Both work 1:1 online. ~14 min total
FCE Exam Practice · Section 11
20–30 minReal FCE tasks
Cambridge B2 First · Writing · Part 1 · Essay. Full task, model answer at high band, success criteria and examiner commentary.
Exam task
Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view. 'Is it better to have a job you enjoy than one that pays well?'
- job satisfaction
- salary
- your own idea
Planning template
- Introduction: concession — 'While salary matters, in fact…' + your position
- Body 1: job satisfaction, with a specific example
- Body 2: salary, with a specific example, countered
- Body 3 (own idea): e.g. work-life balance / long-term career growth
- Conclusion: confident, justified position
Success criteria (Cambridge band descriptors)
- Content: Both given points addressed plus a relevant third idea.
- Communicative achievement: Register formal/neutral throughout; argument clearly signposted.
- Organisation: Clear paragraphing; concession used; conclusion follows from the body.
- Language: Range of concession/contrast structures used accurately (although, nevertheless, on balance).
0 words · saved automatically
Show upper-band model answer
While it is true that a high salary provides security, in my view job satisfaction matters more in the long run. Firstly, people who enjoy their work tend to be more motivated and, ironically, often perform well enough to be promoted and paid more anyway. A friend of mine moved from a well-paid but unfulfilling banking job to teaching, and despite the pay cut, describes herself as far happier. Of course, salary cannot be ignored entirely — nobody can pay rent with job satisfaction alone. Nevertheless, many well-paid jobs come with long hours and high stress that damage health and relationships over time. A further consideration is long-term career growth: enjoyable work often leads to genuine skill development, which opens more opportunities later, whereas a purely well-paid but unfulfilling job can leave people feeling stuck. On balance, while salary should never be irrelevant, I believe job satisfaction should be the deciding factor whenever the two cannot both be maximised.
Examiner commentary
Top-band because: opens with an explicit concession ('While it is true that…') before stating a position; uses a specific, real-feeling example (the friend who changed careers); introduces a genuine third idea (long-term career growth); closes with a confident, justified stance that follows from all three body points.
Homework · Section 12
Take-homeTake it home
Full essay with three moves
Write a 140–190 word essay on: 'Is social media good for teenagers?' using concession, specific example, confident conclusion.
Concession phrase bank
Memorise 8 concession/counter phrases.
Drill until automatic.
- although
- while it is true that
- it cannot be denied that
- nevertheless
- on balance
- arguably
- a case in point is
- for instance
Spot the moves
Find any opinion article online and identify one concession, one specific example, and the writer's final position.
Questions
- Where does the writer concede a point?
- What specific example do they use?
- What is their final, confident position?
Recap · Section 13
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- High-band essays add three moves to basic accuracy: concession, specific examples, confident conclusion.
- Concession briefly acknowledges the opposing view before countering it ('Although…, in fact…').
- Specific, imaginable examples beat generic claims every time.
- The conclusion should commit to a clear position that follows logically from the body paragraphs.
- Two or three developed points beat five thin, undeveloped ones.