How the PET, FCE, CAE and CPE exams are assessed. FCE test: why it is needed and what awaits those taking the Cambridge exams for children

B2 First (FCE) (First Certificate in English) is a Cambridge exam of the third level of difficulty. Many universities recognize the FCE as evidence of intermediate level English language proficiency. The exam is designed for language course students who have completed the Pre-Advanced level.

To passB2 First (FCE), you can view the schedule and register for the appropriate date.

In 2015, the exam format was modified. The duration of the exam was reduced by combining two parts of the exam: reading + practical English.

The exam takes two days. On the first day, the reading and practical English, writing and listening sections are taken, and on the second - speaking.

Reading and Practical English(1 hour 15 minutes)

During this stage of the exam, the student must be able to read and understand texts taken from fiction and scientific literature, newspapers, and magazines. Also at this stage, understanding of the language system is tested by performing various vocabulary, syntactic and text tasks.

The first part consists of 7 parts and includes 52 questions:

• texts with gaps and answer options to fill them in (8 questions),
• texts with gaps without answer options (8 questions),
• word formation (8 questions),
• key transformations of words (6 questions),
• task to understand the content of the text, choice from several answer options (6 questions),
• task to understand the structure of the text, filling in the gaps in the text (6 questions),
• task on perception of certain information from the text, correlation with possible options (10 questions).

In parts 1, 2, 3 and 7, one point is given for each correct answer. In parts 4, 5 and 6, two points are given for each correct answer. The grade for this assignment counts for 40% of the overall exam grade.

Letter(1 hour 20 minutes)

The second part includes 2 written tasks of 140-190 words each:

• compulsory essay writing (agree or disagree with a statement, express an opinion, argue your point of view, compare and contrast ideas and points of view, come to a conclusion);
• choose one task out of three (types of written work: article, informal or official letter or email, report or review).

The task based on a previously read text will be abolished in 2015.

This stage is designed to test skills in performing various types of written work. The task is assessed depending on the quality of the work, the amount of vocabulary used, the organization of the material and the coherence of the text, spelling and punctuation, and content.

Listening(approximately 40 minutes)

The fourth part includes 30 questions and consists of 4 parts:

• several short monologues or dialogues (approximately 30 seconds each; choice of three answer options; 8 questions);
• monologue (3-4 minutes; note-taking, form filling and sentence completion; 10 questions);
• 5 short monologues (approximately 30 seconds each; matching with possible options; 5 questions);
• dialogue (3-4 minutes; choice of three possible answers; 7 questions).

The assignment requires one point for one correct answer. The grade for this assignment is worth 20% of the overall grade for the exam.

To perform this work, audio materials with various text samples are used.

This part of the exam is designed to assess the following skills: understanding the essence of the dialogue and text; ability to recognize details or specific information and understand the meaning of words from context.

Colloquial speech(14 minutes)

The fifth part consists of 4 parts:

• interview (2 minutes);
• card with an individual task (4 minutes);
• joint task (4 minutes);
• discussion (4 minutes).

The grade for this assignment is worth 20% of the overall grade for the exam.

This part of the exam is completed using additional material.

The test is designed to test candidates' ability to use spoken English in a variety of situations. Assessed: grammar, vocabulary, speech literacy, pronunciation, interactive communication. The test takes the form of a conversation between two examiners and two candidates.

In case there is an odd number of candidates, the last candidate joins the last pair.

Exam score

To successfully pass the FCE, the candidate must:

• understand the main idea of ​​the text describing practical and abstract subjects;
• take an active role in discussions on technical topics within one's own competence;
• speak freely with a native speaker without mutual effort;
• communicate easily on various topics;
• discuss international news;
• be able to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of a particular situation.

Three times a year, 1-2 weeks before the start of registration for B2 First (FCE), Language Link conducts trial exams in Moscow,

The article is devoted to how to pass exam FCE for the First Cambridge Certificate. Step-by-step instructions are given for the necessary preparatory actions and the structure of the exam is given.

FCE place in the top five international tests

Russian citizens who received an education in the USSR, answering questions about their level of English language proficiency in job application forms, chose from two options. Those who had difficulty remembering the English alphabet noted the option “I read and translate with a dictionary,” and those who understood the meaning of the Beatles songs noted the option “I speak fluently.” In both cases, no one checked their qualifications, the likelihood of a foreign business trip or working with documents in a foreign language tended to zero, and the young people did not even imagine that they could study in the UK or the USA.

Nowadays young people have different prospects, but studying abroad, applying for a job abroad, or taking the position of a secretary, assistant manager, assistant manager or employee in an international company is only possible if there is official confirmation of the level of language knowledge. To receive such confirmation or certificate, you must pass international examFCE, passing of which means that the examinee speaks English sufficiently to enter some British and many European educational institutions, to work with documents in English and to communicate with foreign citizens on general topics.

Exam FCE is the third of five in the system of testing people for whom English is not their native language, and reflects the average level of knowledge, although the literally name of the qualification “Upper intermediate” is translated as “Above average”. Verbal assessments always suffer from inaccuracies, so FCE often referred to as either a third level examination (or B2 on the European scale) or simply the "Cambridge First Certificate". Literally FCE is an abbreviation for « First Certificate in English" - that is, means the exam for obtaining the "First Certificate in English".

International examFCE developed and carried out by the department ESOL examination board at the University of Cambridge since 1939. During this time, changes were made to the tests six times, the last of which occurred in 2008.

Carefully! Further changes to the exam format are expected in 2015–2016, which will be announced on our website.

Seven steps to the coveted certificate

More than a quarter of a million people from around the world take it every year. In more than one hundred and thirty of them, including in Russia, the British Council has opened examination centers that conduct the exam. FCE tests knowledge of the English language in the British version. Certificates issued based on the results of the exam are perpetual, that is, they are issued for life.

For those who decide to confirm their qualifications, you need to follow a few simple steps:

1. Take a preliminary test and determine whether your language knowledge corresponds to your ability to apply for the exam exam FCE.
2. Read the exam rules.
3. Purchase or download study guides from the Internet.
4. Decide on the method of preparation - independently or with the help of teachers.
5. Prepare as needed.
6. Register and pay for the exam.
7. Test your knowledge on simulators to prepare for the exam.

Step 1: Testing Before the ExamFCE

There are two ways to check your level of knowledge in order to decide which exam to confirm your level of English proficiency.

• take a test in any course, even if you decide to study on your own;
• take a test, for example, on the website http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/.

Taking a simple online test allows you to determine which particular Cambridge exam the test taker’s level corresponds to. The test consists of 25 questions that can be answered as long as you like. At the end of the test, you can see the results and correct answers.

Attention! This test is not the same as exam FCE, is approximate and is not an official proof of qualifications.

Step 2: study the rules of the eventFCE

Read the rules international exams in English, official documentation and payment amount can be found on the official page of the British Examinations Council http://cambridgeesol.org/ or on a special page http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/ website dedicated to exam FCE. Here you can download FCE- documentation, find general and step-by-step descriptions and examples of exam papers.

Step 3: Purchase or DownloadFCE-textbooks

To ensure adequate preparation forFCE, Need tutorials. Where can I borrow or buy them? If the literature you need is not in the bookstore, you can download FCE- on the Internet or take them from a serious library, for example, from the British Council Library, an organization that brings English-language culture to the Russian masses. Its branches are in many cities, they always organize language libraries and open libraries, which necessarily have textbooks published by the University of Cambridge for FCE preparation and necessary audio materials. In Moscow, such a library is located on Nikoloyamskaya Street in building 1.

The most popular teaching aids are FCE- textbooks:

• New Progress to First Certificate. Leo Jones, Cambridge University Press;
• Focus on First Certificate. Sue O'Connell, Longman;
• First Certificate Avenues. David Foll and Anne Kelly, Cambridge University Press.

Steps 4–5: Exam PreparationFCE

Most of the applicants exam FCE prepare for it by attending preparatory courses that teach intermediate level English or have special groups to prepare for it FCE. But there are always brave souls who independently prepare for the test and successfully pass it.

Modern Internet technologies provide another way - preparation for the examFCE via Skype. As a matter of fact, the knowledge gained in a special school is enough to pass the exam, if you accurately understand the content of the tasks and practice well in solving similar problems.

Step 6: Register for the examFCE

If at the previous stage the method of group preparation was chosen, then questions may not arise with registration, since many courses that prepare for the exam FCE, are simultaneously certified centers for taking Cambridge exams. Such courses collect individual applications for registration or prepare group applications. There are about three thousand such centers around the world.

You can find your nearest exam center by visiting http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/find-an-exam-centre/ by completing a simple inquiry form indicating your country, city and exam type. By calling the numbers found, you can find out about the registration procedure, the date of the exam for which you are registering, and preparatory courses.

As a rule, you need to come to the center in person to register. Registration takes place several months before the exam, so candidates still have time to practice.

Step 7: Exam PreparationFCEon the simulator

Anyone who has taken a driver's license is familiar with the principle of preparing for exams using simulators. You can also take the FCE exam in emulation mode on your computer or simply download various versions of the tasks to solve on your own. You can download FCE examples (including audio recordings).

You can work out on the simulators by going to the page with the address http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/. The simulator allows you to complete all types of tasks in several versions online with the ability to compare your answers with the correct ones. Of course, there will be other audio recordings during the exam, but the simulator allows you to learn how to correctly and quickly understand the essence of each task and learn how to fill out exam forms, which is very important when time is limited.

Tasks for working with texts are very diverse and can be interpreted in different ways, which can lead to their misunderstanding. The simulator teaches the examinee to adequately understand the requirements of the system.

Exam structure

The FCE exam consists of five sections:

1. Reading (60 min);
2. Letter (80 minutes);
3. Use of English (45 minutes);
4. Listening comprehension (40 minutes);
5. Conversational speech (15 minutes).

The first 4 tests can be completed either on paper or on a computer. The paper-based exam is held in March, May, June, August and September, and the computer-based exam is held in February, April, July, August and November. Important! Not all centers support both test formats, so it is better to choose courses that offer admission examFCE in the selected format.

The reading skills test roughly consists of three parts:

• text with 8 test questions with 4 answer options for each;
• text with 7 missing parts that need to be inserted by selecting from the list on the right, leaving one extra;
• text with spaces to fill in one of the 15 eligible people listed in the right column.

Texts may be taken from newspapers, magazines, reports, fiction, correspondence or information materials.

The writing skills test consists of two parts:

• writing a letter or email;
• writing an essay, letter, report, review or story.

Attention! It is better to choose well-known topics, and when writing, strictly follow the instructions and use complex speech patterns.

The English Language Proficiency Test consists of four parts:

• multiple choice (insertion of missing words into the text, and the corresponding letter designations into the questionnaire);
• filling in 12 spaces in the text with the necessary words;
• word formation (replacing highlighted words with the desired word form);
• transformation of keywords (replacing some words with others or their combinations).

Carefully! You need to read the assignments carefully. For example, “verbal transformation” may be understood as the need to change existing words in a sentence, but in reality it involves adding new words to the sentence or replacing them. The test tests vocabulary and grammar knowledge.

Testing the ability to perceive information by ear is carried out in 4 stages:

• listening to 8 recordings and answering 1 question for each;
• listening to unfinished sentences and completing them;
• multiple choice of persons who pronounce it corresponding to the text;
• listening to a large fragment with a choice of answers to 7 questions.

Before listening to the texts, time is given to familiarize yourself with the questions.

Speaking skills are tested in an interview with the teacher and another candidate. The ability to speak on various topics is tested by assigning subjects various life situations. The assignment may be to deliver a monologue on a given topic.

Exam procedureFCE and evaluation of results

The exam takes two days. On the second day, speaking skills are tested. Each stage is assessed separately, after which the points are summed up. Based on the sum of points, a grade from A to E is determined, and, in extremely severe cases, a grade of U can be assigned. The maximum grade of A corresponds to an A and is assigned when the proportion of correct answers is equal to or exceeds 80%. This indicates that if you pass 4 tasks out of five perfectly, you can get the highest grade. An A grade allows admission to some European universities. A grade of C, corresponding to a C, is assigned if the percentage of correct answers is at least 65%. For grades D and E, no certificate is issued. The certificate arrives a few months after the exam, and its results can be found out in 6 weeks. The fee depends on the host center, but is approximately €160.

B2 First or FCE (name until 2018) is an international exam confirming your English language proficiency at the Upper-Intermediate level (above average). The B2 First Certificate of Examination (FCE) certifies that your English skills are sufficient to live or work in an English-speaking country, or to study in English.

General information about the international B2 First exam (FCE)

Level of English required to pass the exam: or B2.

What does the certificate provide?: The certificate confirms that you can use spoken and written English at an above-intermediate level at work, in school and in everyday life.

Scope of application of the certificate:

• Work abroad and in Russia. The list of foreign companies that accept the results of the international B2 First exam (FCE) is presented on the official website cambridgeenglish.org. As of 2016, B2 First (FCE) is accepted by over 20,000 organizations and educational institutions.
• Study abroad and in Russia. Many universities in our country accept a certificate instead of an entrance exam. The list of foreign universities accepting B2 First (FCE) can be found at the link above.
• Moving. The B2 First Certificate (FCE) demonstrates that your knowledge of English is sufficient to live in an English-speaking country: you can present it at the embassy when obtaining a visa or processing immigration documents.
• Motivation. The certificate will be an excellent motivator for further study of the English language.

B2 First (FCE) formats: traditional with written assignments and computer-based.

Traditional format - written assignments are completed on provided sheets with a pencil or pen. In this case, you can make the necessary notes directly in the text of the assignment. However, you will need to spend time transferring the answers to special forms.

Computer format - all written assignments are completed on a computer. You won’t be able to make notes, but you don’t need to waste time transferring answers to the form.

The oral part (Speaking) in any exam format is handed over to the examiner. In this case, Speaking is taken in pairs with another candidate, less often in threes. Usually this part of the exam is postponed to the next day after the remaining parts are completed.

Certificate validity period: unlimited.

Deadline for receiving results: from 2 to 8 weeks.

When you pass the exam, you receive a secret code. By registering at cambridgeenglish.org, you can check your exam results before receiving your certificate. So, if you take the computer version, the results are posted 2 weeks after the test, and with the traditional version - after about 4 weeks. You will receive your certificate approximately 6-8 weeks after passing the exam.

Scoring: A candidate who successfully passes the B2 First exam (FCE) receives two documents: the certificate itself in printed form and the Statement of Results in electronic form. The Statement of Results shows your score for each part of the exam, your overall score, and your level. You can see an example of such a document on this page.

Point	Grade	What will they give you?
180-190	A	certificate with grade A and level C1 (Advanced) + Statement of Results
173-179	B	certificate with grade B and level B2 (Upper-Intermediate) + Statement of Results
160-172	C	certificate with grade C and level B2 (Upper-Intermediate) + Statement of Results
140-159	Level B1	certificate with Level B1 and B1 (Intermediate) + Statement of Results
122-139	-	Statement of Results, but without a certificate
80-121	-	no documents are issued

As you can see from the table, if you score high, you will be given a certificate indicating the next (advanced) level of English proficiency. If you score less than 122 points, no documents will be issued.

You can also view the score scale for all Cambridge exams on the page.

Structure of the B2 First Exam (FCE) in 2017

In 2015, the Cambridge International Examination underwent changes. Firstly, it became shorter: instead of 4 hours B2 First (FCE) lasts 3.5 hours. Secondly, the Reading and Use of English parts have now been combined into one part, and the exam consists of only 4 parts. Thirdly, the written assignment “essay based on a book” (set text) has been cancelled.

Exam Composition:

Part of the exam	Duration	Number of parts	Number of tasks	Points
Reading and Use of English	1 hour 15 minutes	7 parts	52 questions	40% of the overall exam grade
Writing	1 hour 20 minutes	2 parts	2 works	20%
Listening	40 minutes	4 parts	30 questions	20%
Speaking	14 minutes	4 parts	4 tasks	20%

How to pass each part of the B2 First International Exam (FCE)

Reading and Use of English

Includes 7 parts:

1.Multiple-choice cloze: 8 tasks for 1 point.

You will need to fill in the gaps in the text by choosing one of the four words provided. A total of 8 words are missing.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 1

*This and all subsequent sample tasks are taken from the official Cambridge exams website.

2. Open close: 8 tasks for 1 point.

You need to fill in the gaps in the text again with words that fit the meaning. There are 8 words missing, but this time you are not given answer options.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 2

3. Word formation: 8 tasks for 1 point.

You need to fill in the gaps in the text, forming the necessary words from the proposed cognates.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 3

4. Key word transformations: 6 tasks for 2 points.

You are given a sentence and a specific word or phrase. You need to transform the sentence so that it includes this phrase.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 4

5.Multiple-choice: 6 tasks for 2 points.

You are given a text to read and several questions for it. You need to read the text and answer the questions by choosing one of the four proposed answer options.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 5

6. Gapped text: 6 tasks for 2 points.

You are given a text with several sentences missing. Below are these suggestions in no particular order. You need to place them in their proper places, with one of the sentences being superfluous.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 6

7.Multiple matching: 10 tasks for 1 point.

Example assignment:

Reading and Use of English, task 7

The total number of words in all texts of tasks in this part is 2,200 words. Texts are taken from newspapers, magazines, books, etc. So Reading and Use of English tests how confident you are with different types of texts, and also shows how well you know English grammar and vocabulary.

We have prepared for you a detailed article in which we examined techniques for successfully completing each type of task from the Reading part, and also provided 13 ideas on how to pass the exam with flying colors: “”.

Writing

Includes 2 tasks:

1. Compulsory question: essay title and two ideas linked to the title. Essay of 140-190 words.

You are given an essay topic and two ideas on which to write an essay. In addition, you should add a third idea to your essay, different from the two mentioned, but also directly related to the given topic. This writing assignment does not require any special knowledge.

Example assignment:

Writing task 1

2. Situationally based writing task: article, email/letter, report or review. Written work of 140-190 words.

You are given the task to write text in a certain format and style. This could be an article, letter, email, report or review. To make it easier for you to complete the task, you are also told the context, purpose of the work and the target audience, that is, the potential reader of this work.

Example assignment:

Writing task 2

*Examples taken from First Expert: Teacher's Resource Book by Drew Hyde, Jan Bell, Roger Gower, Nick Kenny.

Thus, the Writing part tests your ability to write various types of texts, as well as your ability to persuade, argue, and express your opinion in writing.

In the article “” we talked about the rules for performing different types of written work, gave successful examples of each work and compiled 15 useful tips on how to pass this part of the exam with the highest score.

Listening

Includes the following parts:

1.Multiple choice: 8 tasks for 1 point.

You listen to a dialogue or monologue, and then answer questions about it: you need to choose the correct answer from the three offered.

Example assignment:

Listening task 1

2. Sentence completion: 10 tasks for 1 point.

You listen to a monologue that lasts approximately 3 minutes. While listening, you need to fill in the gaps presented in the task with the words you heard.

Example assignment:

Listening task 2

3.Multiple matching: 5 tasks for 1 point.

You listen to 5 monologues from different people for 30 seconds each. After this, you need to indicate 5 statements corresponding to each monologue, out of 8 possible answers.

Example assignment:

Listening task 3

4.Multiple choice: 7 tasks for 1 point. "

Would you like to learn more about the format of the international B2 First exam (FCE) and see sample tasks? On this page you can download free sample tasks for each part with answers. By the way, this is how you can test your knowledge and check whether you are ready to take the exam now and what skills you need to work hard on.

Where to take the exam: There are more than 2,800 centers around the world where you can take the B2 First (FCE) exam. To find the branch closest to you, go to the page. In the first drop-down list, select your country, in the second - the exam. You will be presented with a list of cities where there are centers for the exam you have chosen.

How to prepare for the exam: You can prepare on your own, in courses or personally with a teacher. We recommend studying for the B2 First (FCE) exam with a teacher for 3 reasons:

1. The teacher will introduce you to the exam format and explain how to successfully pass this or that part.
2. You can prepare for the Speaking part only with a partner, and the best interlocutor will be the teacher who will help you speak fluently and competently, and teach you how to correctly answer standard exam questions.
3. The teacher will detect your typical mistakes and help you get rid of them, and, if necessary, will intensively work on topics that are difficult for you.

If you want to quickly find a strong teacher, we suggest contacting us: you can work through standard exam tasks, deal with difficult topics and achieve your English language learning goals.

We wish you easy preparation and successful passing of the exam. Break a leg!

Can you, let alone your future employers, be satisfied with such a definition of language level as “I read and translate with a dictionary”, “I am fluent”, etc. The fact is that these concepts are very imprecise; moreover, each person puts his own understanding into them. I say - everyone, because there is no generally accepted level of language “I read and translate with a dictionary” or “I studied English at school” - this is self-deception.

There is an international gradation of language levels: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced. This system was proposed by the ALTE Association (The Association of Language Testers in Europe) and the Cambridge exams are actually based on it.

You've probably heard about international certificates. Each of them not only confirms your language level, but also gives you license. The most important thing, of course, is the right to work in foreign organizations, in certain positions (in accordance with the certificate). But, as they say, the main thing is to start.

When referring to the Cambridge ESOL exam group, they mean five tests: KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE. When they are on the same line, separated by commas, it is not easy to immediately assess the importance of each of them. Let's try to figure it out in more detail.

KET(Key English Test) is a test that confirms your basic knowledge of the English language. This is the Pre-Intermediate level. Of course, it is doubtful that you will spend the time and effort to rent it out for travel or to read and write in the language. However, this certificate will confirm your abilities in both. But most importantly, many foreign companies offer jobs to foreigners if they have this certificate. As a rule, this is a hotel or restaurant business. For more details, see the website: Cambridge ESOL. And about the most important thing: the KET exam consists of three parts. You must demonstrate your skills in reading and writing (time to complete the stage 1 hour 10 minutes), pass the listening test (30 minutes) and demonstrate your proficiency in speaking (8-10 minutes). The exam result is not just “pass”/“fail”. There is also a division here: Pass with merit (85-100%), Pass (70-84%), Level A2 (45-69%). If you scored less than 45%... However, you still have a chance! If during the exam you showed that you speak English at level A1, you will be given a certificate indicating this level.

It is quite logical to ask the question, if KET essentially does not give much, why take it? The fact is that along with the coveted certificate, you will gain invaluable experience in passing international exams. This is your first step. And, if you prepare properly, your first victory. You are following a difficult path to mastering English. Today, knowledge of this language will not surprise anyone; there are many competitors. And therefore it is especially important to recognize your knowledge and abilities. International recognition...

PET(Preliminary English Test) is your next step. This is a difficult exam, but it is possible to pass it. You will have to prove that you know English at least at the Intermediate level. What does this actually mean? You are required to demonstrate that you can use a foreign language in your daily life. Your vocabulary should be enough to be up to par in typical language situations that arise every day at work or in an educational institution, on vacation or in a store. You must be understood, regardless of whether you are communicating with a person face to face or talking on the phone. This level requires you to have good communication skills and a fairly large vocabulary. It is necessary to organically use language constructs that are not easy to learn, but must be able to apply. Therefore, when preparing for more complex Cambridge tests, a communicative technique is so necessary.

The stages of passing the test are the same (but the difficulty is different): reading and writing (1 hour 30 minutes), listening (30 minutes), speaking (10-12 minutes). The gradation of results seems to be the same: Pass with merit (85-100%), Pass (70-84%), Level A2 (45-69%), but this time, if you showed a language level below A2, you did not pass test.

The Cambridge ESOL website lists institutions and organizations where the PET certificate is considered a good indicator of your English. You might be hoping for a job at, say, Samsung or Buckingham Foods Ltd. Everything depends on you.

FCE(First Certificate in English). They say there are little lies, there are big lies, and then there are statistics. Technical data often doesn't tell the whole story, but in some cases numbers can speak louder than words.

So, according to statistics, this is the most popular international exam. It is taken in a hundred countries around the world, by people of different nationalities, but the vast majority are Europeans and citizens of South American countries. 88% of certificate candidates completed preparatory courses. And most people who are willing to take this test do it for a job. The exam system is more complex compared to the two previously presented exams. The candidate must complete five stages: first - reading (1 hour), second - writing (1 hour 20 minutes), third - using English (45 minutes), fourth - listening (approximately 40 minutes), and fifth - speaking ( 14 minutes). Candidates who successfully pass the test are given grades: A (80-100%), B (75-79%), C (60-74%). The test is considered failed if your score is less than 60%.

The FCE is a difficult test, but when you pass it, you will gain a significant advantage over those who don't. The opportunity to work in such representative offices as: Yukos Services (UK) Ltd and BMW confirms this. When it comes to CAE(Certificate in Advanced English), people understand that this is a test for those who have a high level of language proficiency. At this level, a person must not only write and communicate competently, but must understand the interaction of language and culture, be imbued with the development of traditions and trends, and understand national characteristics. Here it is appropriate to talk about the style of communication that a candidate for the exam should be able to choose depending on the proposed situation. He is also obliged to remember the difference between British and American English and under no circumstances, even if he is provoked to do so, switch to the latter. But the most important thing is that the use of language should be harmonious and flexible, and speech should be an act of creativity.

But, having received a certificate, you can count on the fact that many universities in England will not refuse to enroll you among their employees...

The testing steps remain the same, but... You get the idea. First: reading (1 hour 15 minutes). Second: written speech (1 hour 30 minutes). Third: Use of English (1 hour). Fourth: listening (40 minutes). Fifth: conversation (about 15 minutes). Your grade is divided into: A (80-100%), B (75-79%), C (60-74%). Less... And you won’t need the assessment anyway.

Are you ready to continue learning and not stop there? CPE(Certificate of Proficiency in English) is a test that will confirm that you have stepped to a high level. This exam assumes that you speak English at a native level. It is often said that you begin to know a language when you begin to think in it. There is a joke about this that you can study a language for years and be inferior in knowledge to an English janitor. In every joke, as you know, there is only a part of the joke. After all, language is not only grammatical structures and rules, it is the cultural heritage of the people. Sometimes it only seems to us that we think in English. In fact, we think in Russian, we simply put our thoughts into English words. So, this is far from enough to pass this test. This certificate confirms that you speak English as well as educated native English speakers. But after passing this exam, all doors are open to you. This test is recognized by all UK universities and employers in all industries without exception. The whole world.

Testing, according to good tradition, takes place in five stages. If you have successfully completed all the previous steps, you are already used to it. This time you will be given 1 hour 30 minutes for reading, 2 hours for writing, 1 hour 30 minutes for English, 40 minutes for listening, and you will demonstrate your knowledge of speaking in approximately 19 minutes.

And... there is one more step left... We must cross the threshold of 60%...

Since 2015, we have to use a special scale that was invented for Cambridge English. They even renamed the exams themselves for teenagers and adults. Now there are two names for each:

• KET/ Cambridge English: Key (for Schools), level A2
• / Cambridge English: Preliminary (for Schools), level B1
• / Cambridge English: First (for Schools), level B2
• / Cambridge English: Advanced, level C1
• CPE / Cambridge English: Proficiency, level C2.

Since I am not preparing for KET, I will not write about it in detail. My area of ​​responsibility is PET, FCE and CAE. And CPE will be my next and last step in official English levels. That's why I'm taking over the grading of the last four exams. Information on transferring points is based on a document from cambridgeenglish.org. You will find it if you make a search request in English Converting practice tests scores to Cambridge English Scale Scores. If you don't find it, write to me and I'll send it to you.

Overall FCE, CAE and CPE score

The scores for each exam were divided into grades and placed on the Cambridge English scale. This information is approximate and does not guarantee the same result on the exam itself. But you can find out what to work on next after completing the Cambridge English Practice Tests.

Correlation between CEFR levels, points and exam grades. This scale is available on almost every page of the Cambridge English website.

There are four parts to PET - Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. For each, the candidate receives points that must be added and divided by four. With FCE, CAE and CPE the story is similar, only the results of five parts are added up (Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking) and divided by five. Then the total score and grade from the table are obtained.

When the result is less than the points for Grade C, a certificate for a lower level is issued. These points are marked in a more transparent color on the table. A grade is equivalent to a higher level. For example, you received Grade A in FCE, level B2. This means that the next level will be written on the certificate - C1.

In addition to general data, information for each part is recorded in the certificate. To know approximately the result, you need to show genius in working with your brain, pen and calculator.

Don’t be afraid that you “failed” one or two parts and received a few points less than the passing grade. Main - get the total amount minimum 140 in PET, 160 in FCE, 180 in CAE and 200 in CPE.

Speaking and Writing in PET, FCE, CAE and CPE

Speaking and writing are assessed by certified examiners using quite complex criteria. I am related to oral examination. Therefore, from personal experience I can say that it is difficult to measure such skills on your own. But basic information has never hurt anyone. You can roughly understand the state of speaking and writing based on the format.

In the post I mention counting meters but don't explain them. You can read about them and the format of the assignments in the Handbook for Teachers. There is such a book for every exam on the Cambridge English website.

Results for each part of PET

This is a giveaway concerns the PET format until 2020. Next there will be a slightly different scale, which I will not present here. My Preliminary program is closed.

For Reading Need parts 1-5 in Reading and Writing. For each correct answer 1 point is given. The maximum for reading is 35.

Writing. Tasks 6–8 in Reading and Writing. Task 6 - 1 point. Tasks 7 and 8 are assessed by examiners according to the criteria. The maximum per letter is 25 points.

Listening. 1 point for the correct answer. Total - 25.

IN Speaking two examiners give different marks. Interlocutor gives 0-5 points for Global Achievement. It's needed multiply by 2.

• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Discourse Management
• Pronunciation
• Interactive Communication.

The maximum for speaking is 30 points.

The scores are called Practice Test Scores. You can see them in the table approximate relationship with the final result for each part of the Cambridge English Scale Score and CEFR levels. To pass the test, you need a total score of 140 from the sum of the scores of all four parts.

PET/ PET for Schools (Preliminary English Test)
160–170 Pass with Distinction (something like “excellent”, maximum score)
153–159 Pass with Merit (as in "good")
140–152 Pass (“passed”).

The points in the table are the minimum for Pass and Pass with Distinction. To roughly calculate the points for Pass with Merit, subtract 1-2 points from the numbers on the top line.

Results for each part of FCE

Tasks Reading should be taken from Reading and Use of English:

• Parts 1 and 7 - 1 point for correct answer
• Parts 5 and 6 - 2 points
• The maximum number is 42 points.

Tasks for Use of English also taken from Reading and Use of English:

• Parts 2 and 3 - 1 point
• Part 4 - 1-2 points
• Maximum - 28 points.

Each parameter in Writing can receive 5 points each: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organization, Language.
Two parts - 20 points each. The maximum is 40.

IN Listening 30 questions - 1 point for each correct answer.

On Speaking there are five criteria. multiplied by 4.

The form filler (Assessor) works with four parameters and gives 0-5 points for each:

• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Discourse Management
• Pronunciation
• Interactive Communication.

multiplied by 2.

Example:
Global Achievement 3×4 =12
Grammar and Vocabulary 4×2=8
Discourse Management 5×2=10
Pronunciation 3×2=6
Total: 12+8+10+6+8=34.

Maximum 60 points for speaking.

The received Practice Test Scores are converted into exemplary Cambridge English Scale Score and correlated with CEFR levels. If you score 160 points out of the total points of the five parts, then you have passed the exam.

FCE/ FCE for Schools (First Certificate in English)
180–190 Grade A (as “excellent”)
173–179 Grade B (as in "good")
160–172 Grade C (“passed”).

Results for each part of CAE

Reading calculated based on the results of tasks 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 from Reading and Use of English:

• Parts 1 and 8 - 1 point
• Parts 5, 6 and 7 - 2 points
• Maximum - 50.

Use of English consists of tasks 2, 3 and 4 from Reading and Use of English:

• Parts 2 and 3 - 1 point
• Part 4 - 1-2 points
• Maximum - 28 points.

IN Writing You can get a maximum of 40 points, 20 points for each task.

U Listening 30 questions - 1 point for each correct answer

On Speaking there are five criteria. The person talking to candidates (Interlocutor) gives 0-5 points for Global Achievement, which multiplied by 5.

The form filler (Assessor) works with five parameters and gives 0-5 points for each:

• Grammatical Resource
• Vocabulary Resource
• Discourse Management
• Pronunciation
• Interactive Communication.

Scores for each of these items multiplied by 2.

Example:
Global Achievement 4×5 =20
Grammatical Resource 4×2=8
Vocabulary Resource 4×2=8
Discourse Management 5×2=10
Pronunciation 4×2=8
Interaction communication 4×2=8
Total: 20+8+8+8+10+8+8=62.

The maximum is 75 points.

Practice Test Scores are converted to exemplary Cambridge English Scale Score and correlated with CEFR levels. The total score from the sum of the scores of all sections is distributed according to the grades.

CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
200–210 Grade A
193–199 Grade B
180–192 Grade C.

The points in the table are the minimum for Pass and Pass A. To roughly calculate the points for Pass B, subtract 1-3 points from the numbers on the top line for Reading, 1-2 for the rest.

Results for each part of the CPE

IN Reading Need tasks 1, 5, 6 and 7 from Reading and Use of English:

• Parts 1 and 7 - 1 point
• Parts 5 and 6 - 2 points
• Maximum - 44 points.

Use of English includes parts 2, 3 and 4 from Reading and Use of English:

• Tasks 2 and 3 - 1 point
• Task 4 - 1-2 points
• Maximum - 28.

IN Writing A maximum of 40 points is scored, 20 points for each task. The format and criteria are detailed in the Handbooks for Teachers for Proficiency.

Maximum 30 points Listening, 1 point for each correct answer

On Speaking 5 parameters work. Interlocutor gives 0-5 points for Global Achievement, which multiplied by 5.

The form filler (Assessor) works with five criteria and gives 0-5 points for each:

• Grammatical Resource
• Vocabulary Resource
• Discourse Management
• Pronunciation
• Interactive Communication.

Ratings for each of these points must be multiply by 2.

Example:
Global Achievement 4×5 =20
Grammatical Resource 4×2=8
Vocabulary Resource 4×2=8
Discourse Management 5×2=10
Pronunciation 4×2=8
Interaction communication 4×2=8
Total: 20+8+8+8+10+8+8=62.

The maximum number of points for speaking is 75.

The calculated Practice Test Scores are converted into exemplary Cambridge English Scale Score and correlated with CEFR levels. This is how the total score is distributed across the grades.

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
220–230 Grade A
213–219 Grade B
200–212 Grade C.

The points in the table are the minimum for Pass and Pass A. To roughly calculate the points for Pass B, subtract 1-3 points from the numbers on the top line for Reading, 1-2 for the rest.

Post from me - Ekaterina Zubkova. The signs are mine and from the Cambridge English website.