Enjoy English!

If you can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level and want to use it for work or study purposes, this is the ideal exam for you.

FCE is at Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This framework describes six levels of language ability from A1 to C2. At B2 level, typical users are expected to:

• understand the main ideas of complex pieces of writing
• keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, expressing opinions and presenting arguments
• produce clear, detailed writing, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view.

So, your preparation for FCE will provide you with these practical language skills.

FCE has five papers:

Reading: 1 hour
You will need to be able to understand information in fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing: 1 hour 20 minutes
You will have to show you can produce two different pieces of writing such as a short story, a letter, an article, a report, a review or an essay.

Use of English: 45 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening: 40 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including news programmes, speeches, stories and anecdotes and public announcements.

Speaking: 14 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.

Further Help:

Exam Overview
Online Dictionary (Wordreference) 
Irregular Verbs
Verb Tenses
Phrasal Verbs
Idioms

Online Exam Samples:

Sample Paper 1 – Reading
Sample Paper 2 – Writing
Sample Paper 3 – Use Of English
Sample Paper 3 – Use Of English 2
Sample Paper 3 – Use Of English 3
Sample Paper 3 – Use Of English 4
Practice Paper 3
Overall Practice
Sample Paper 4 – Listening
Sample Paper 5 – Speaking

Further Information:

Cambridge ESOL Examinations

Related Posts:

• January 7, 2010 -- The electronic European Language Portfolio (eELP)
• October 18, 2009 -- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)- Level equivalence table