ONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENT

Introduction to the FCE 5

Unit 1 ENTERTAINMENT
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 6
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 8
Writing Informal Letter 9

Unit 2 WORK
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 12
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 14
Writing Formal Letter 15

Unit 3 EDUCATION
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 18
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 20
Writing Article 21

ES
Unit 4 TECHNOLOGY
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 24
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 26
Writing Essay 27

Unit 5 FASHION

G
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 30
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 32
Writing Review 33

Unit 6 TRAVEL / TOURISM

Speaking Part 3 / Part 4
PA 36
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 38
Writing Informal Transactional Letter 39

Unit 7 MEDIA
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 42
E

Listening Part 1 / Part 2 44

Writing Formal Transactional Letter
ter 45
PL

Unit 8 FOOD
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 48
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 50
Writing Report 51

Unit 9 ADVERTISING
RTISING
M

Speaking Part 1 / Part

rt 2 54
Listening Part
art 1 / Part
Pa 2 56
Writing Formal
rmal Transactional
Transact E-mail 57
SA

Unit 10 MONE
MONEY
Speaking Part 3 / PPart 4 60
Listening Part
art 3 / Part 4 62
Writing Story
Sto (Ending your story with the words given) 63

Unit 11 THE NATURAL WORLD

Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 66
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 68
Writing Essay 69

Unit 12 LEISURE
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 72
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 74
Writing Report 75

2
TS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CON
Unit 13 THE ARTS
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 78
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 80
Writing Article 81

Unit 14 LIFESTYLES
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 84
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 86
Writing Informal Transactional Letter 87

Unit 15 SPORT
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 90
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 92
Writing Formal Transactional Letter 93

ES
Unit 16 NATURAL DISASTERS
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 96
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 98
Writing Story (Beginning your story with the words given) 99

Unit 17 TRANSPORT

G
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 102
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 104
Writing Report 105

Unit 18 FAME
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4
PA 108
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 110
Writing Article 111

Unit 19 CRIME
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 114
E

Listening Part 1 / Part 2 116

Writing Story (Beginning or Ending
g your story with th
the words given) 117
PL

Unit 20 THE ENVIRONMENT

NMENT
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 120
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 122
Writing Essay 123

Unit 21 HEALTH
TH
M

Speaking Part 1 / Part

rt 2 126
Listening Part
art 1 / Part 2 128
Writing Informal
formal Letter 129
SA

Unit 22 SPACE
Speaking Part 3 / P
Part 4 132
Listening Part
art 3 / Part 4 134
Writing Review
Re 135

Unit 23 RELATIONSHIPS
Speaking Part 1 / Part 2 138
Listening Part 1 / Part 2 140
Writing Informal Transactional E-mail 141

Unit 24 HISTORY
Speaking Part 3 / Part 4 144
Listening Part 3 / Part 4 146
Writing Informal Transactional Letter 147

Glossary 150
Writing Task Sheets 165

3
4
SA
M
PL
E
PA
G
ES
 Introduction to the FCE
SPEAKING
TIME DESCRIPTION MARKS
14 minutes PART 1 (3 minutes)
A conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate (spoken questions).
Candidates
PART 2 (1 minute for each candidate) are
An individual ‘long turn’ for the first candidate with a brief response from the assessed
second candidate and the other way round. In turn, the candidates are given a pair
on their
of photographs to talk about.
performance
PART 3 (3 minutes) th
throughout
A two-way conversation between the candidates. The candidates are given n spoken
the

ES
instructions with written and visual stimuli, which are used in a decision-making
aking task.
task
Speaking
S
PART 4 (4 minutes) test.
A discussion on topics related to the collaborative task (spoken questions).

LISTENING

G
N
NUMBER
TIME DESCRIPTION MARKS
OF ITEMS
40 minutes
approximately
PART 1 (multiple choice)
PA
A series of short unrelated extracts, of approximately
oximately 30 se
seconds
8 1 mark for
each correct
each, from monologues or exchanges between interacting
terac speakers. answer
There is one multiple-choice question per text, eaceach with three
options.
PART 2 (sentence completion) 10 1 mark for
E

A monologue or text involving interacting s speakers and lasting each correct

approximately 3 minutes. Candidates are rrequired to complete the answer
sentences with information
ation heard on the recording.
PL

PART 3 (multiple matching) 1 mark for

5
Five short related
d monologues of app
approximately 30 seconds each. The each correct
multiple-matchingng questions
questio require selection of the correct option answer
from a list of six.
M

PART 4 (multiple
multiple choice) 1 mark for
7
A monologue or textext involving interacting speakers and lasting each correct
approximately
oximately 3 minutes.
m There are seven multiple-choice questions, answer
SA

each with three options.

WRITING
G
NUMBER
TIME DESCRIPTION MARKS
OF ITEMS
1 hour and 20 PART 1 Question 1 (compulsory) 1 compulsory
minutes Writing a letter or e-mail. Candidates are required to deal with input
task
material of up to 160 words. This may include material taken from
120-150 words Each
advertisements, extracts from letters, e-mails, schedules, etc.
question
PART 2 Questions 2-4 1 task to be on this
Writing one of the following on a situationally-based writing task paper
selected from
specified in no more than 70 words: an article, an essay, a letter, a
a choice carries
report, a review, a story.
OR of five equal
Question 5 120-180 words marks
Writing one of the following, based on one of two prescribed
reading texts: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review.
5
 Unit 1 Entertainment

SPEAKING
Speaking Preparation for Part 1 & Part 2
Part 1 Personal Information
Answer the questions.
1 How many people are there in your family? 4 Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
2 Which subject do you enjoy most at school? Why? 5 What country would you most like to visit? Why?
3 Do you enjoy learning English? Why? 6 How often do you eat out? Why?

Part 2 Compare
1 Look at the pictures and answer the questions.

ES
a Talk about what you can see in each picture.
b What would you expect to do at each of these places?
c Which would you recommend for ten / eleven-year-old children? Why?

G
HELPLINE
● The girl in the firstt picture seems ● learn about how things work
le
to be ... ● try out different things
●

●
PA
I think she could
The people
are ...
ould be in a ...
le in the second picture

Theyy are probably

robably ...
robab
pictu
●

●
go on rides
In my opinion, ...
The best place for ... would be ...
If you want the children to ...

● fairground
um
ve muse
● interacti
E

2 Look at these tickets and answer the questions.

HELPLINE
SA

a Which of these would you most

m like to go to? Why? ● I would prefer to go to ... I’m a big fan of ..., so I’d probably ...
●

b Why wouldn’t
ouldn’t you like to go to the others? ● interested in (not) keen on too costly
● ●

c Imagine
e you have to give these tickets to different family ● I find the ... quite ..., so ... would be ideal for ...
members. Who wo would you give each one to and why? ● is suitable for appeals to my age group
●

3 The text below will help you with ideas for the FCE Speaking Part 2.

When it comes to what to do in our spare time, we all have very different ideas. For some, the word entertainment
brings to mind images of fun and excitement, whereas for others, it means something of a calmer nature.
A trip to the local funfair can be seen as a great day out, but there again, so can a visit to a museum, especially one
that involves interaction and participation on the part of the visitor.
Music is an extremely popular form of entertainment. Live concerts appeal to many people as do musicals and dance
shows. However, a person’s age plays an important role in their choice of musical entertainment. A local jazz club may
be ideal for a group of forty-year-olds, but anyone under the age of twenty would probably be bored to tears.

6
 FCE SPEAKING Part 1 (Candidates A and B)
Answer the following questions:
● On what occasions do you and your whole family get together? ● Do you enjoy going out to eat? Why?
● Is there a hobby you would like to take up but for some reason you can’t? ● Would you like to study / work in
● What would you like to change about your school? another country? Why?

FCE SPEAKING Part 2 (Candidates A and B)

Candidate A
Here are your photographs. They show places you can go to for a day out.
end too
I’d like you to compare the photographs, and say what you’d expect to do in Don’t sp t
ing abou
in
each of these places. long tallkk
e
ure
r .
one piccttu
What would you expect to do in each of these places?

a ...
c e is o bviously
la
l
e firrst p tures, it looks

G
● Th
t h e pic
● Fr
om ...
ere are that you
as if th a g in e
PA ● I s
hould im
can ... a ...
ec o nd place is tures
● Th
es in the p
ic
T h e children
●
ld
are ... ou wou
h is m u seum, y
● In
t
to ...
be able

■ theme park
■ have a lot of fun
■ a day to remember
■ go on a ride
Candidate B – Which place would you prefer tto go to? Why? ■ play and learn at the same time
P

Candidate B
M

Here are your photographs. s. They show di

different performances. e is ...
I’d like you to compare
e the photographs
photographs, and say what you think people would he firs t pictur usic
n in t the m
enjoy about these events.
nts ● Th
e woma is from ... so
h e
● I t
hink s .
e ..
would b ume is ...
SA

What woul
would people enjoy about these events? o s t g ...
● H
er c
m s to be doin le would
● S
he see gs peop
e of the thin ...
● O
n is ure
bout th nd pict
enjoy a le in the seco
● Th
e peop g to a ... ...
lon ing at a
may be ld be per form hey’re
● Th
ey cou that t
in s tru ments gest ...
● Th
e ug
would s joy ...
playing eople would en
● I t
hink p

■ traditional dance / costume

■ dancing barefoot
■ (on) stage
■ jazz band / music
■ see live in concert
■ in traditional dress
Candidate A – Do you like music? ■ formal / informal event

7
 LISTENING
FCE LISTENING Part 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best answer (A, B or C).
1 You hear a conversation at a funfair. 5 You hear a retired actor talking about his career.
What ride are they going to go on now? How does he feel about it?
A the big wheel A satisfied
B the roller coaster 1 B proud 5
C the dodgems C disappointed
2 You hear two people talking about a woman called Zoe. 6 You hear a mother telling her son off.
What does the woman dislike about her? What has he done?
A Zoe gets her into trouble with her boss. A He has been cheeky.
B Zoe has a short temper. 2 B He has been playing in the forest.
for 6
C Zoe has been gossiping about her. C He has got dirty.

ES
3 You hear a woman asking for something. 7 You hear a discussion on the radio about education.
What kind of shop is she in? What is the man upset
et about?
A a butcher’s A He doesn’t trust the governm
government.
B a baker’s 3 B He doesn’tn’t want to change.
change 7
C a greengrocer’s C He’s tired
ed of changing.

G
4 You hear a report on the radio about a forest fire. ar an answerphone message.
8 You hear
What have not been damaged yet? What kind of agent is Alice?
A
A farms A a theatrical agent
ag
B animal habitats
C houses
4 PA B an estate
esta agent
C a travel
trave agent
8

Listening Preparation
Prepa for Part 2
Do you admire either of these performers? Why?
hy?
E

● How popular are they in your country?

PL

● If you saw a famous singer in the street,

eet, how do you thin
think you would react?
● Do you think singers work hard or have many da
days off?
● Does the media give too much
uch attention
tention to sing
sin
singers’ private lives? Why?
M
SA

FCE LISTENING
NING Part 2
You will hear
ar a female rock star being interviewed by a journalist for a magazine article.
For questions
ns 9-18, comple
complete the sentences.
There’s been a change in both the band’s music and its 9
Their music has become less aggressive and 10
In the past, she wouldn’t have talked to 11
Now she thinks fans are entitled to know 12
She and her husband split up because they didn’t 13
The band is going to make their third album in 14
After the recording, she’s plans to have 15
She doesn’t intend to tell anyone the 16
She’s been offered the opportunity to star in 17
The band’s music is listened to by many people 18

8
 WRITING
Writing Preparation
LETTER [Informal]

Discussion
▲ Do you enjoy birthday parties? Why? Have you been to one recently?

▲ What usually happens at a wedding in your country?

▲ What other occasions do people usually celebrate?

Look at the exam task below and the sample answer.

A close relative of yours, who recently got engaged, had an engagement party last weekend. Write a letter to yyour cousin,
who lives abroad and was not able to attend, describing the party and mentioning some of the people
eople who were tthere.

ES
Sample answer

Dear Anna,
Thanks for your last le
tter. I’m glad
a you’ve settled in th
you know, Bella got en ere. As
gaged to Th T om as re ce
to let you knnooww all about th nt ly, so I’m writing
t eir engagement part
It’s a shame you couldn y.
’t come as you really
enjoyed it. Instteeaadd of would have
o having the party at
hire a boat! On board,d home, they decided to
there was a delicious
all, a disco had been se buffet and, best of
t up on the deck. Luck
evening, and we danc ily, it was a warm
ed the night away as
sloow
wly along the river. the boat travelled
Guesss who turned up
! Uncle Vince! He cam
Canada with his new e all the way from
wife, Sally. She is love
shhoulder-length light br ly and friendly, with
own hair and a perman
face. I really like her. ent smile on her
She’s a great laugh. P
you remember how m ete was there too. Do
uch you liked him whe
He’s changed a lot sin n we were younger?
ce then though. In fact
him as he’s got a mou , I hardly recognised
stache now!
Well, that’s all for now
.
Write back soon with
all your news.
Love from,
Penny

What is an informal letter?

◆ An informal letter is a letter written to a friend or relative.

◆ In an informal letter you should use:
– contracted forms (don’t, I’m, haven’t, etc.)
– phrasal verbs (turn up, put off, break in, etc.)
– colloquial language (we danced the night away, she’s a great laugh, etc.)

9
 WRITING SKILLS
1a Here are different ways of opening and closing a letter. 3 The extracts below come from informal letters describing
Tick (✓) those which are suitable for informal letters. celebrations. Read them and choose the best answer for each
gap. Both possibilities are grammatically correct but one is
OPENING
more suitable for an informal letter.
1 Dear Sir / Madam,
2 Dear Mary, 1
Just before the wedding ceremony [1] ........., we all
3 Dear Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms Brown, sat down and the organist played the wedding
march. Then Becky walked down the aisle [2] ..........
CLOSING She looked lovely, as you’ll see in the wedding photos
I’ll be [3] ......... soon.
a Yours faithfully,
b Yours sincerely, 1 a commenced b bega
began
eg
c Love from, 2 a escorted by her father
ather
the b on her dad’s
d arm

ES
3 a sending you b forwar
forwarding to you
forwa

b Match the other two beginnings and endings. They are

both used for formal letters. 2

G
Grandad’s colleagues decided d to throw a party
1 ......... 3 .........
[1]] ......... his retirem
retirement. It was held at his favourite
taurant. We [[2] ........., then some of his colleagues
restaurant.
made spe speeches. They all had lots of good things to say
c Here are some other ways of ending an informal letter.
about him,him of course, and I [3] ......... that he was
● Your friend, ● Best wishes, quite moved by their kind words.
● Lots of love, ● Take care,
● All the best, ● Yours, 1 a for b to mark the occasion of
2 a dined very well b had a lovely meal
E

3 a noticed b observed
PL

2 Here are some expressions that can be used in the

3
introduction or the conclusion of an informal
nformal let
letter. The party went on until dawn and I didn’t
nclusion)
usion) next to eac
Write I (Introduction) or C (Conclusion) each one. [1] ......... until seven in the morning! I [2] ......... it
was the best birthday party I’ve ever had. Did I
1 Thanks for your last
st letter.
M

.........
[3] ......... you that I’d [4] ......... Max?
2 It was great to hear from you. .........
3 Well, that’s all for
or now. ......... 1 a get to bed b retire for the night
SA

2 a firmly believe b think

4 Give myy best wishes to your family. ......... 3 a tell b inform
5 I wass pleased to get yyour letter last week. ......... 4 a extended an invitation to b invited
6 I’m looking
ng
g forward to hearing from you. .........
7 Sorry it’s taken
ken me so long to write back,
but I’ve been really busy. .........
8 I hope to hear from you soon. .........
9 Write back soon. .........
10 It was so lovely to hear all your news. .........

10
LANGUAGE AWARENESS
1 Fill in the correct words / phrases to complete the letter extract.
As you know, Anyway, By the way, Guess what, Well

[1] .................... ! Joey and Clare got engaged last week! I’m sure you’re surprised as
they’ve only known each other for a few months. [2] .................... , let me tell you about
the engagement party they threw. [3] .................... , Joey’s dad has a restaurant, so they
held the party there. There was loads to eat and drink, and afterwards there was a disco.
[4] .................... , did I tell you I’ve been out with Julie a few times? [5] .................... , I have
and I took her along to the engagement party with me.

2 Choose the correct word. 4 Complete the sentences with

h the words in the boxes,
making any necessary changes.

ES
1 I got / took your letter yesterday.
2 I had bought a new suit to put on / wear to the wedding. a make a toast, throw
hrow a party, danc
dance the night away
3 My parents had hired / rented a DJ for the night. 1 The music usic was really good goo and the guests
4 This year, I’ve decided to have / make a party on the beach. .................................
............................
........................ .

G
5 They played all my favourite / best songs. 2 Guess
ss what! I’m ........................... next week!

6 You’ll never guess who turned out / up! 3 I .......

..................
......................... to Jane and Martin and said
that I hope
hoped they’d be very happy together.
7 My parents recently celebrated their eighteenth marriage
/ wedding anniversary.
8 My friends had done / made all the arrangements.
PA b llive
liv
ive music, surprise party, dance floor

1 The
Th music was so good that the .....................
was soon crowded.
2 As it was a special occasion, we hired a band.
3 Tick (✓) the correct sentence. After all, ....................... is better than
listening to CDs.
E

1 Harry has just got engaged to Gail.

3 I thought they’d forgotten my birthday, but
Harry has just got engaged with Gail.
il.
they’d actually arranged a ..................... for me!
PL

2 Everyone had a good time.

Everyone passed well. 5 Phrasal verbs are often used in informal letters.
3 She was wearing some neww trousers. Replace the underlined word(s) with the correct form
She was wearing a new
ew trousers. of the appropriate phrasal verb.
M

4 We had a great fun. show up, dress up (as), turn down

We had great fun.
un.
1 It was midnight and Steven still hadn’t appeared.
5 The guests
ts enjoyed very mu
much at the barbecue.
SA

...............................
uests
ests enjoyed tthem
The guests themselves very much at
2 I asked fifty people to come and none of them
the barbecue.
arbecue.
rbecue.
refused the invitation. ...............................
6 As you know,
now,
ow, it wa
was my birthday last week. 3 As it was a fancy dress party, I put on the type
As you know,
w, I had my birthday last week. of clothes worn by a gypsy. ...............................

FCE WRITING Part 2

LETTER [Informal] TIP
It was your birthday last week and your friends arranged a party for you. Write a letter to your Do not waste time
penfriend describing the party and mentioning some of the presents you got. writing addresses
Write your letter in 120-180 words in an appropriate style. for letters as they
are not required.
Use the WRITING TASK SHEETS at the back of the book for help and guidance.

11
 Speaking, Listening & Writing Skills for the Cambridge FCE
examination has been designed to thoroughly prepare students
for Paper 2, Paper 4 and Paper 5 of the examination. The book
familiarises students with the different task types and covers all the
topics that may occur in the examination.

Speaking, Listening & Writing Skills includes:

ñ stimulating material which has been carefully selected to
cover a wide variety of contemporary issues.
ñ exercises and activities to show students ways of improving ng
their performance in the areas of speaking, listeningg and
writing by helping them to develop specific skills for
or each of
o
these sections of the exam.
ñ exercises to expand and enrich students’ ts’ vocabulary,
providing them with a wealth of topic-related
ed lexical items.
it
ñ a variety of oral activities designed to o equip students
student with
the skills needed to express their ir thoughts accurately
accu and
effectively.
ñ pre-listening tasks which both oth encourage
encour students to
formulate ideas and prepare
p them
m for
fo the material they are
to listen to.
ñ a wide variety of listening
liist
stenin
in texts
exxt covering all the task and text
types encountered
untered in the examination.
ex
ñ writing guidelines for eeach task type in the examination,
showing
wing students how ho to organise and present their ideas
in a logical and concise way.

Speaking,
aking, Listening
Listen and Writing Skills for the Cambridge FCE
will provide students with extensive practice in the format of the
examination,
examinatio developing and enhancing their speaking, listening and
writing
writi skills to the level required for success in the Cambridge
FCE
FC examination.

Components: Student’s Book ● Teacher’s Book ● CDs

ISBN 13: 978-960-409-441-7