Mentioning “cost” in an essay does not necessarily explain why cost matters. A reader needs to see how your point answers the question and supports your overall view.
The content chapter in The Cambridge B2 First Writing Workbook contrasts mentioning a required topic with developing it. The original exercise below focuses on that difference.
Give the idea a direction
“Public transport and cost” is a topic label. “Lower fares could make public transport more accessible to regular travellers” is a claim. It gives the paragraph something to explain.
Original paragraph development
Topic: Study materials and cost.
Claim: Shared materials could reduce the amount each learner needs to spend.
Explanation: Learners would not all need to buy separate copies of resources used only occasionally.
Example: A class could maintain a small lending collection of reference books.
Check that the example demonstrates the claim
A description of a beautiful library building does not necessarily explain reduced spending. The lending collection does because it illustrates shared access. Keep the connection visible instead of relying on a loosely related anecdote.
Develop this point
Starting sentence: “Clear instructions are important.”
Possible development: “Clear instructions help learners start a task independently. For example, an exercise that states the required answer length prevents students from guessing how much to write.”
The example explains the practical value of the claim. Other relevant explanations are possible.
Develop your own idea as carefully as the supplied ones
When a practice task asks for an additional idea, give it a distinct role. Renaming the same point does not create a new argument. Choose an angle that contributes to the question and can be explained within the available space.
Read each paragraph without its topic sentence. Can you still see what supports the main claim? If the remaining sentences merely repeat it, add the missing explanation. Avoid invented research findings: an honest illustrative example is enough for this practice method.
Explore Cambridge B2 First Writing — Course 8 to see the course outline, current availability and enrolment options. Use the worked exercise above to identify a skill you would like to practise next.
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Cambridge B2 First Writing — Course 8
Explore the complete course outline and related practice topics.
Source: Camebridge B2 writing.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.