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FCE: First Certificate in English
Who is it for?
Cambridge English: First, also known as First Certificate in English (FCE), is an upper-intermediate level qualification. It proves you can use everyday written and spoken English for work or study purposes.
How much does it cost to take FCE?
Fees are set by test centres.
What is the test like?
The test has these sections:
Reading and use of english - 1 hour 30minutes
writing - 1 hour 30 minutes
Listening - 40 minutes
Speaking - an interview, 16 minutes
There are two versions of the FCE test:
FCE
FCE for Schools
Both versions have the same type of questions. The FCE for schools test has content of interest to school-age learners.
FCE scores
You will receive a separate score for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and use of English, giving you a clear understanding of your performance. These five scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam. You will also be given a grade and Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level.
When can I take the test?
Arrange with your closest test centre. The paper-based test can be taken 6 times a year. The computer-based test is available once a month.
Reading and use of English
Writing
Reading and use of English paper: 1 hour 30 minutes
Reading part 1: A text with some multiple-choice questions. you have to decide which is the correct answer.
Reading part 2: A text in which there are some gaps, each of which represents one missing word. You have to think of the correct word for each gap.
Reading part 3: A text containing eight gaps. Each gap represents a word. At the end of the line is a ‘prompt’ word which you have to change in some way to complete the sentence correctly.
Reading part 4: Each question consists of a sentence followed by a ‘key’ word and a second sentence with a gap in the middle. You have to use this key word to complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.
Reading part 5: A text with some multiple-choice questions.
Reading part 6: A single page of text with some numbered gaps which represent missing paragraphs. After the text there are some paragraphs which are not in the right order. You have to read the text and the paragraphs and decide which paragraph best fits each gap.
Reading part 7: A series of statements followed by a text divided into sections or several short texts. You have to match each statement to the section or text in which you can find the information.
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Writing paper: 1 hour 30 minutes
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Writing part 1 : You’re given an essay title and two ideas clearly linked to the title. You write an essay giving your opinions about the title, using the ideas given. You must also add a third, different idea of your own linked to the title. The title will be a subject of general interest – you won’t need any specialised knowledge.
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Writing part 2 : You write a text from a choice of text types – article, email/letter, report or review. To guide your writing, you’ll be given information about context, topic purpose and target reader.
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Time allowed: about 30 minutes
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Listening part 1: Eight short extracts from monologues or conversations between interacting speakers. There is one multiple-choice question for each extract.
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Listening part 2: A monologue lasting approximately 3 minutes. You have to complete the sentences on the question paper with the missing information which you hear on the recording.
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Listening part 3: A series of five themed monologues of approximately 30 seconds each. On the question paper, you have to select five correct options from a list of eight possible answers.
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Listening part 4: A conversation between two or more speakers of approximately 3–4 minutes. You have to answer some multiple-choice questions by choosing the correct answer.
Listening
Speaking
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Time allowed: 14 minutes
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Speaking part 1 (Interview): Conversation with the examiner. The examiner asks questions and you may have to give information about your interests, studies, career, etc.
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Speaking part 2 (long turn): The examiner gives you two photographs and asks you to talk about them. You have to speak for 1 minute without interruption and the interlocutor then asks the other candidate to comment on your photographs for about 30 seconds. The other candidate receives a different set of photographs and you have to listen and comment when they have finished speaking. The question you have to answer about your photographs is written at the top of the page to remind you what you should talk about.
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Speaking part 3 (collaborative task): Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner gives you some material and a task to do. You have to talk with the other candidate and make a decision.
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Speaking part 4 (Discussion): Further discussion with the other candidate, guided by questions from the examiner, about the topics or issues raised in the task in Part 3.
Practice Links
In this section you will find some links that it will of great help for each of the parts of the CAE and some others where you can practice all parts of the exam.