The Cambridge First Certificate Examination in English has five papers:- Reading; Speaking; Writing; Listening and Use of English. Each paper is worth twenty per cent of the total result. This means that if you get a bad mark in one paper, it is still possible to pass the exam by getting an above average mark in another paper. The pass grades are ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’. The fail grades are ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘U’. ‘U’ stands for ‘unclassified’, and it either means that your English is very bad, or you overslept, stayed in bed and forgot to take the exam.

The reading paper has four parts, and there is a text to read in each part with questions which are related to the text. All together there are thirty five questions, and the type of texts could be chosen from a variety of sources. They could be from newspapers, magazines, holiday brochures, advertisements, advertising leaflets, letters, text extracts from books (fiction or non-fiction). So it’s a good idea to read anything and everything you can in English before the exam. You have one hour and fifteen minutes in the exam to answer all of the questions. The types of questions can be grouped into three main categories :-

1. Multiple Matching.

Matching headings, sub-headings, titles etc. to their appropriate paragraphs in a text, or matching people or places to specific sentences.

2. Multiple Choice

Choosing the correct answer from a selection of answers or finishing sentences from a choice of sentences.

3. Gapped Text

Deciding where sentences or paragraphs belong in a text. The sentences, or paragraphs, have been removed, and you have to put them back again in the correct place.

You must answer two questions in this paper. You have one hour and thirty minutes, and you are asked to write between 120 and 180 words for each question.

The paper is divided into two parts, and you must answer the question in part one. It is always a transactional letter, although sometimes it is formal and sometimes informal. In part one you are given information and prompts in the question, so you basically have to expand the information in the form of a letter in order to answer the question.

In part two you have a choice. There are four questions and you have to answer one. The choices are :-

Everybody’s favourite! There are five different parts in this paper, and 65 questions altogether. You have one hour and fifteen minutes to answer all the questions. Here are the five different parts:-

There are four parts to the listening exam, and thirty questions in all. You hear the listening texts twice and the exam lasts for about forty minutes. Expect to hear some different accents (Irish, Australian, American, London, Scottish, Welsh etc.), and different texts (phone calls, lectures, radio programmes, quizzes, interviews, plays etc.). As with reading, it is a good idea to expose your ears to as much English as possible, and as much variety as possible, before the exam.

Part One

There are eight short extracts in the first part, and they are not connected. You have to answer a multiple choice question about each one. You may be asked about how the speakers are related, how the speaker is feeling (angry, upset, exited etc.), the general subject of the text or the purpose of the conversation.

Part Two

Here you have to take notes and fill in missing information while you are listening to a monologue or conversation which lasts for about three minutes. Remember, you hear every text twice.

Part Three

You hear different people speaking about a related topic, and you have to match the speakers to written information on your question sheet. The different people speak for about thirty seconds each.

Part Four

This is a fairly long monologue or conversation which lasts about three minutes. You have to select answers to questions related to the text. The questions may be true or false, yes or no, multiple choice etc.

The speaking test has four parts and should last for about fifteen minutes. There are usually two exam candidates and two examiners. One examiner asks the questions and explains the tasks, the other sits in a corner and listens to your English.

Part One

Introductions

This lasts for four minutes, and the examiner will ask questions about where you are from, if you work or study, your family, hobbies and interests, future plans, likes and dislikes etc. This part of the test is supposed to help you to relax and stop being nervous.

Part Two

Describing photographs

Four minutes again, but this time you speak for a minute about two photographs. You compare and contrast the photographs, give your opinion and try to relate the photographs to your own experience. Your partner then comments on your photographs, and /or what you have said, for about twenty seconds. Then your partner speaks for a minute about two different photographs, and you comment after for about twenty seconds.

Part Three

This part lasts for about three minutes, and you should only speak to your partner. The examiner will tell you what to do, and you may have to discuss a photograph, talk about a map, solve a problem, put things in order, choose the best, worst, most popular etc.

Part Four

This section continues the theme or topic from part three, and it is really a chat between you, your partner and the examiner. The examiner will ask you some questions related to part three and develop and widen the conversation. This part lasts for four minutes.