Best books for B2 First (FCE)
For most B2 First candidates the best pair is B2 First 6, four real past papers from Cambridge, and B2 First Trainer 3, six practice tests that teach you each part first. Add Complete First if you are not at B2 yet and want a full course, or English Grammar in Use if grammar is costing you marks in Use of English.
The 4 picks compared
| Book | What it covers | Who it suits | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2 First 6 (Student's Book with Answers) ↗ | 4 complete B2 First papers from Cambridge, with answers. Audio and extras in the Digital Pack. | The last weeks before the exam, when you know the parts and want real papers to time yourself on. | 1st edition, Cambridge, June 2026, 176 pages |
| B2 First Trainer 3 (with Answers) ↗ | 6 full practice tests. Tests 1 and 2 walk you through each paper step by step; keys explain the answers and give model answers. | First-time candidates who want to learn how each part works before doing full tests. | 1st edition, Cambridge, January 2025, 272 pages |
| Complete First (3rd Edition, Student's Book with Answers) ↗ | A full B2 course: topic units with grammar, vocabulary and skills, and exam training throughout. Audio and eBook in the Digital Pack. | Learners still working up to B2, with a few months to go, alone or in a class. | 3rd edition, Cambridge, April 2021, 254 pages |
| English Grammar in Use (5th Edition, with Answers) ↗ | Intermediate (B1 to B2) grammar in short units, each with an explanation and exercises. Answers included. | Anyone losing marks on grammar in Use of English, especially Parts 2 and 4. | 5th edition, Cambridge, January 2019, 390 pages |
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to amazon.com. All four books are from Cambridge, and every edition here is for the exam in its current format.
If you only buy one
- If you have not seen the exam before: B2 First Trainer 3
- If you know the format and your exam is close: B2 First 6
- If you are not at B2 yet: Complete First
B2 First 6 or B2 First Trainer 3?
B2 First 6 is four real papers from Cambridge with answers, and almost no teaching. Trainer 3 has six tests in the same format, and the first two stop at each part to show you how to tackle it. Most people do best with Trainer first, to learn the parts, then the real papers for timed runs near the exam.
How to use them with our free B2 First practice
We have 70 B2 First practice tests, one exam part at a time, and 2 full mock tests. You can finish 3 tests free, no account needed.
- Take one free test on each Reading and Use of English part here first. The two or three parts where you drop the most marks are where to start in the books.
- Learn those parts from Trainer 3's two guided tests, or the matching units of Complete First, then drill them here one part at a time.
- Look up any grammar point that keeps costing you marks in Parts 2 and 4 in English Grammar in Use.
- Keep the real papers in B2 First 6 for timed runs in the last weeks: 75 minutes for Reading and Use of English, 80 for Writing.
- Between book papers, take a full mock here: Reading and Use of English and Writing, timed, with one score at the end.
Reading and Use of English parts to start with:
- Reading and Use of English Part 1: Multiple-choice cloze (9 tests)
- Reading and Use of English Part 2: Open cloze (8 tests)
- Reading and Use of English Part 3: Word formation (8 tests)
- Reading and Use of English Part 4: Key word transformations (7 tests)
- Reading and Use of English Part 5: Multiple-choice reading (8 tests)
- Reading and Use of English Part 6: Gapped text (5 tests)
- Reading and Use of English Part 7: Multiple matching (5 tests)
When the free tests run out
- Pro unlocks every practice test and the full B2 First mocks, with AI feedback on your writing. Cancel any time.
- Credits are a one-time payment. One credit unlocks one practice test or one AI writing grade, and credits do not expire.
- EPE Cambridge Use of English B2 Pack is a one-time download for B2 First Use of English: a handbook PDF, printable drills, a study planner and an Anki deck. See what is inside
What these books leave out
None of these books can mark your own writing or hear you speak. The keys show model answers, so you see what a good essay looks like, but not what yours would score. Our AI writing feedback marks a B2 First essay, article, email, report or review on the four Cambridge criteria (Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation, Language). It is a practice score, not an official one. For Speaking you still need a partner or a teacher.