First Certificate in English
What is FCE?
FCE (First Certificate in English) is a Cambridge ESOL exam at the Upper-Intermediate level according to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF).
Who is FCE for?
This exam is for candidates who have reached the Upper-Intermediate level and plan on using English for study or work.
Recognition:
FCE is recognised in Russia and around the world. Successful candidates will have the ability to deal with routine letters and telephone enquiries, and to cope with some non-academic training courses and simple textbooks and articles. FCE is also useful if you are working towards higher level exams, such as CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English).
Format:
FCE consists of five sections
Section 1 Reading: (1 hour) – 30 questions - newspaper and magazine articles, reports, fiction, advertisements, letters, messages and informational material
Section 2 Writing: (1 hour 20 minutes) – 2 written parts. Part 1: one compulsory question Part 2: one question from a choice of five: article, email, essay, letter, report, review and story
Section 3 Use of English: (45 minutes) – 42 questions - different types of tasks which test grammar and vocabulary.
Section 4 Listening: (40 minutes) – 30 questions
Section 5 Speaking: (14 minutes) candidates have to talk: a) with the examiner; b) with the other candidate; c) on their own
Profiles will show candidates' performance in each paper against the following scale: Exceptional – Good – Borderline – Weak. Once awarded, Cambridge ESOL FCE certificates are valid for life.