FCE Valentijn van Dijk
Everything you need to know
General Information
• The FCE is The First Certificate in English and is one of the most important exams from The
University of Cambridge.
• By passing the FCE exam, you have a B2 level of English
• A pass is an “A”, “B” or “C”. A fail is a “D” or “F”.
The Different Parts
• Reading & Use of English —> 75 minutes, 40% of mark
• Writing —> 80 minutes, 20% of mark
• Listening —> 40 minutes, 20% of mark
• Speaking —> 14 minutes, 20% of mark
Reading & Use of English
Reading & Use of English - General Information & Tips
• You will get 52 questions.
• Texts may be from newspapers and magazines, journals, books (fiction and non fiction),
promotional and informational material.
• You will get both multiple-choice and written questions.
• You will (probably) need to fill in your written questions in capitals.
• Remember, you will have 75 minutes and it will count for 40% of your final mark.
• The Reading & Use of English exam consists of 7 parts.
• Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze) is a text with multiple-choice questions. In the text are gaps,
choose from A, B, C or D, they all have their own word. Choose the answer that fits the gap
best. There are 8 questions. It tests your vocabulary (idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs, fixed
phrases, shades of meaning, etc.). Tip: Read the title and text first, then answer the
questions.
• Part 2 (Open cloze) is a text in which there are gaps. Each gap represents a missing word. You
have to think of the correct word for each gap. There are 8 questions. It tests your grammar and
vocabulary. Tip: Read the title and text first, then answer the questions.
• Part 3 (Word formation) is a text containing gaps. Each gap represents a word. At the end of the
line is a word which you have to change in some way to complete the sentence correctly. There
Everything you need to know
General Information
• The FCE is The First Certificate in English and is one of the most important exams from The
University of Cambridge.
• By passing the FCE exam, you have a B2 level of English
• A pass is an “A”, “B” or “C”. A fail is a “D” or “F”.
The Different Parts
• Reading & Use of English —> 75 minutes, 40% of mark
• Writing —> 80 minutes, 20% of mark
• Listening —> 40 minutes, 20% of mark
• Speaking —> 14 minutes, 20% of mark
Reading & Use of English
Reading & Use of English - General Information & Tips
• You will get 52 questions.
• Texts may be from newspapers and magazines, journals, books (fiction and non fiction),
promotional and informational material.
• You will get both multiple-choice and written questions.
• You will (probably) need to fill in your written questions in capitals.
• Remember, you will have 75 minutes and it will count for 40% of your final mark.
• The Reading & Use of English exam consists of 7 parts.
• Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze) is a text with multiple-choice questions. In the text are gaps,
choose from A, B, C or D, they all have their own word. Choose the answer that fits the gap
best. There are 8 questions. It tests your vocabulary (idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs, fixed
phrases, shades of meaning, etc.). Tip: Read the title and text first, then answer the
questions.
• Part 2 (Open cloze) is a text in which there are gaps. Each gap represents a missing word. You
have to think of the correct word for each gap. There are 8 questions. It tests your grammar and
vocabulary. Tip: Read the title and text first, then answer the questions.
• Part 3 (Word formation) is a text containing gaps. Each gap represents a word. At the end of the
line is a word which you have to change in some way to complete the sentence correctly. There
