Writing a Personal Narrative (B1)
B1 ⏱ 5 minutes
Writing a Personal Narrative
The Four-Part Structure
| Part | What it does | Key Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | Sets the scene — who, when, where | Who was I? Where was I? What was life like? |
| Complication | The problem or turning point | What changed? What went wrong (or right)? |
| Resolution | What happened next | What did I do? How was it resolved? |
| Reflection | What it meant | What did I learn? How did it shape me? |
Key Linking Phrases
Complication: Then one day… / Everything changed when… / The turning point was…
Resolution: In the end… / Eventually… / After a while…
Reflection: Looking back… / What I didn’t realise then… / That experience taught me…
Model Paragraph (B1 Level)
[Orientation] I grew up in Chittagong, in the south of Bangladesh. Life was familiar — family, monsoons, the sea. [Complication] Then, at twenty, I moved to Sydney. I didn’t know anyone. My English was textbook-formal. I couldn’t understand Australian accents at all. [Resolution] Slowly, I found work in hospitality — first in cafés, then in restaurants, then in fine dining. The kitchen and bar became my classroom. [Reflection] Looking back, that discomfort taught me more about real English — and about myself — than any classroom ever had.
Practice Task — Plan Your Own Five-Moment Story
Use this template. You don’t need to write full sentences yet — notes are fine.
| Moment | What happened? | How did you feel? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Beginning | (Where did your story start?) | |
| 2. First change | (What shifted?) | |
| 3. Challenge | (A difficulty or turning point) | |
| 4. Resolution | (How things settled) | |
| 5. Now | (Where are you today?) |
Now write a short paragraph (80–120 words) using the four-part structure. Use at least two linking phrases from the list above.
Show Example Answer
Example (student narrative):
At the time, I was living in a small town in the south of France. I had never travelled alone. Then, one summer, I accepted a job in London. Everything felt too fast, too loud, too foreign. Eventually, I found a rhythm — the commute, the colleagues, the pub on Fridays. After two years, I came home. Looking back, that year made me braver. I stopped being afraid of the unfamiliar.
Structure used: Orientation (“At the time…”) → Complication (“Then…”, “Everything felt…”) → Resolution (“Eventually…”, “After two years…”) → Reflection (“Looking back…”)
Takeaway
Independent project. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
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