Cambridge English: First

( FCE)
Difficulty level: B2 /Upper
Intermediate
The First Certificate in
English is the most important
of the Cambridge exams.
What is the Cambridge
First test like?
The test has four sections:
▪ Reading & Use of English -75 minutes
▪ Writing - 2 essays, 80 minutes
▪ Listening - 40 minutes
▪ Speaking - interview, normally with
another candidate, 14 minutes
▪ Paper-based or computer-based exams
You can do the FCE exam on a computer
or on paper.
▪ Score
A, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)
FCE A grade pass is accepted for entry
to some universities
▪ Level
B2 / Upper intermediate
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Cambridge
English: First
(FCE) Reading
& Use of
English

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What is the Cambridge First
Reading & Use of English test
like?
The test has seven sections and takes 75 minutes:
▪ Part 1 - multiple choice cloze, test 2
▪ Part 2 - open cloze, text with gaps, test 2
▪ Part 3 - word formation, test 2
▪ Part 4 - key word transformations, test 2
▪ Part 5 - text with 6 multiple choice questions, test 2
▪ Part 6 - text with 6 sentences missing, test 2
▪ Part 7 - multiple matching, 10 questions, test 2
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scoring
▪ Parts 1–3 – each correct answer receives 1 mark;
▪ Part 4 – each correct answer receives up to 2 marks.
▪ Parts 5–6, each correct answer receives 2 marks
▪ Part 7, each correct answer receives 1 mark.

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 answer
This paper tests your knowledge of reading, vocabulary and grammar.
1.Read as much as possible, and use a dictionary to help you learn new words

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2. Use a grammar book to help you understand sentence structure
3. Read the instructions carefully before you start each section
4. Correct spelling is necessary. Get into the habit of checking the spelling of
words
5. Read widely. The texts used in the Cambridge First can be: newspaper and

mark.
magazine articles, reports, fiction, advertisements, correspondence,
informational material (brochures, guides, etc.)
6. Read the instructions carefully before you start
7. Read all the text before you answer any questions

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Cambridge
English: First
( FCE) Writing

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What is the First (FCE)
Writing test like?
The test has two sections and takes about 80 minutes:
▪ Part 1 -write an essay based on prompts
▪ Part 2 - write one from a choice of 4 questions: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a
story

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scoring
▪ Each part has the same number of marks

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▪ answer
How to prepare for the First (FCE) Writing test
1. Choose a question that you are interested in. You will

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write better if you know the subject.
2. Read the instructions carefully before you start.
3.Make notes. You must include all the points in the
instructions

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4.Make a plan before you start writing. Decide what
information to put in each paragraph
5.Think about who you are writing to and use an
appropriate style of language
6.Try to use a range of complex language

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Cambridge
English: First
( FCE) Listening

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What is the FCE Listening test
like?
The test has four sections and takes about 40 minutes:
▪ Part 1 - listen to 8 recordings, each with one question
▪ Part 2 - listen and complete gapped sentences
▪ Part 3 - multiple matching, 5 speakers
▪ Part 4 - a longer recording, with 7 multiple choice questions

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scoring
▪ Each part has the same number of marks

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▪ answer
How to prepare for the FCE Listening test
1.Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will

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do. Listen to the radio, English language TV, podcasts...
2. You will hear the audio twice
3. Read the instructions carefully before you start
4. You have time to read the questions before you hear the

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audio

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Cambridge
English: First
( FCE) Speaking

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What is the FCE Speaking test
like?
The Cambridge First speaking test takes 14 minutes. You do the test with another candidate.
Candidates are expected to be able to respond to questions and to interact in conversational
English.
▪ Part 1 A conversation between the examiner and each candidate (spoken questions).
▪ Part 2 An individual ‘long turn’ for each candidate, with a brief response from the second
candidate (you are given a pair of photographs to talk about).
▪ Part 3 A two-way conversation between the candidates where you have to decide something.
▪ Part 4 A discussion on topics related to Part 3 (spoken questions).

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scoring
▪ One examiner will ask you questions, the other one will mark
how well you speak. You are marked on your fluency,
pronunciation, and range and appropriateness of language. The
peaking test counts for 20% of the entire exam.
▪ Is marked on a scale of 1-5, where 3 or over is a pass. Getting a 4
or a 5 and being "perfect" isn't necessary to show you can speak
at the minimum level to pass the paper.

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▪ answer
How to do well on the day of your speaking exam
1. In any speaking exam, your main enemy is not your grammar or
vocabulary problems. It's not even your fluency or

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pronunciation. All these things are important and the examiner
is marking you on them but, the biggest problem you face is
overcoming nerves.
2.It's easy to say "relax" but, for Cambridge exams in particular,

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what many students don't realise is that the speaking exam is
actually one of the easiest to pass. For a start, the speaking
exam is shorter than any of the other papers (between 8 and 19
minutes).

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Thanks!

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