Reading and use of English FCE

In this section of the exam you will be tested on your reading, vocabulary and grammar. We will help you by practising each part of this section and giving you time-management techniques to improve your performance in the exam. We will focus on your weakest areas of expertise to help you overcome your greatest challenges. The course will be designed around your particular needs.

• Length: 75 mins
• Structure: 7 parts

Part 1 – Multiple-choice cloze

Part 2 – Open cloze text with gaps

Part 3 – Multiple choice root word formation

Part 4 – Key word transformation

Part 5 – Text with 6 multiple-choice questions

Part 6 – Text with 6 sentences missing

Part 7 – Match 10 statements to relevant information

FCE Writing

You are expected to write two texts. The first text will always be an essay and the second text can be an article, informal email or letter, a formal email or letter, a report, or a review.

You won’t know what will come up in your test, so we will help you prepare for all possible styles of writing. We will explain our FCE writing techniques!

• Length: 80 minutes
• Structure: 2 Parts
• Word count per task: 140-190 words

Part 1 – Essay

Part 2 – Optional (article, informal email or letter, a formal email or letter, a report, or a review)

FCE Speaking

You will take the speaking exam with another student and you are expected to interact with each other. You will have two examiners in your exam room who will be the interlocutor and the assessor. The interlocutor will ask you questions and the assessor will take notes on your performance.

We will not only conduct informal speaking sessions, but we will also conduct mock speaking tests with real exam questions. We will tell you what you need to improve and share your final mark with you, so that you have an idea of how much improvement you require before the exam.

• Length: 15 minutes approximately
• Structure: 3 parts

Part 1 –  Talking about yourself (2 mins)

The interlocutor will ask you questions about yourself. This section is an ice-breaker to warm you up for the speaking section of the exam.

Which questions should you expect?

• Your hobbies
• Your work or education
• Things you like and things you don’t like
• Friends and family
• Holidays
• Sports
• Future plans

Part 2 – Long Turn (1 min + 30 seconds each)

In part 2 of the speaking exam you and your partner will be shown 2 colour photos. You will be expected to talk about the 2 photos on your own for 1 minute. When you are finished, the interlocutor will ask your partner a follow-up question about your photos. Your partner needs to speak for 30 seconds.

The examiner will then show your partner 2 photos that he will have to discuss for 1min and when he is done he will then ask you a follow-up question. You will be expected to answer the question in 30 seconds.

Part 3 – Spider-Web (2 minutes +1 minute)

FCE spider web

The interlocutor will give you a spider-web with 5 topics and a related question. You will have 15 seconds to look at it. You are then expected to discuss the answer to the questions with your partner for 2 minutes.

When the 2 minutes are up the interlocutor will ask you another question that you are expected to discuss for 1minute.

FCE listening

You are expected to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials. You will listen to a monologue or text that consist of the following:  radio broadcasts and features, news, public announcements, answer phone messages, stories and anecdotes, lectures and talks, as well as interacting speakers in the context of discussions, conversations, interviews, and radio plays.

• Length: 40 minutes
• Structure: 4 parts/ 30 questions

Part 1 – Multiple-Choice

Part 2 – Sentence completion

Part 3 – Multiple-choice activity (match opinions to speakers)

Part 4 – Interview or conversation followed by 7 multiple-choice questions