Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions about Cambridge Exams
1) What are the Cambridge General English Exams?
3) When do the exams take place?
4) How do I enrol for the exams?
5) Where can I do a preparation course for a Cambridge exam?
1)
What are the Cambridge General English Exams?
These are designed to help
you measure your progress in English. They can be used to prove your level of
English for college or university, or to demonstrate your ability to an employer.
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2) Where are they recognised?
The
General English exams (FCE, CAE and CPE) are widely respected across the world.
You can search the Cambridge ESOL recognition database to show the latest schools,
universities and employers that recognise the Cambridge exams:
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/search.php
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3) When do the exams take place?
The
FCE and CAE exams take place three times a year: in March, June and December.
CPE takes place twice: in June and December. See the FAQs for your particular
exam for dates this year.
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4)
How do I enrol for the exams?
If you're studying in a school then speak
to your teacher first. In order to take FCE, CAE or CPE exam you will need to
enrol at one of the 2,000 examination centres that Cambridge ESOL has throughout
the world. Clicking the link below will let you search the Cambridge ESOL web
site to find your nearest exam centre?
http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/index.do
You
must approach your local centre and not the examination board itself.
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5) Where can I do a preparation
course for a Cambridge exam?
If you're thinking of studying in the UK
the EnglishUK website (www.englishuk.com)
has details of hundreds of schools and colleges and additional advice for anyone
planning to study in th UK.
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6)
How much do they cost?
If depends on the country in which you take the
exam. Contact the Local Secretary at the centre concerned for information on fees.
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7) When do I get my results?
Results
are sent out to centres about 6 weeks after the exam has taken place. Centres
then forward the results to you. Candidates can also register for the online results
service here:
http://www.candidates.cambridgeesol.org/cs/Results_Online
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FCE Questions
1) I've decided to take FCE. How do I enrol for the exam?
2) When are the next FCE exams?
3) How many components are there?
4) How much is each paper worth?
6) How many marks do I need to pass, and do I need to pass each paper in order to pass the exam?
7) What percentage do I need to get an A, B, C grade, etc?
8) Will I get a certificate if I pass?
9) Will I find out how I performed in each paper?
11) I've heard the FCE exam has been updated.
12) What are the FCE set texts?
13) What's the best way of preparing for the exam?
1) I've decided to
take FCE. How do I enrol for the exam?
In order to take the exam you
will need to enrol at one of the 2,000 examination centres that Cambridge ESOL
has throughout the world. (Clicking will let you search
the Cambridge ESOL web site to find your nearest one.) You must approach your
local centre and not the examination board itself.
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Top]
2) When are the next FCE exams?
Reading
(Paper 1)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates Saturday 13 June 2009 or
Tuesday 16 June 2009
Dates Thursday 27 August 2009 (UK and Ireland only)
Dates
Tuesday 08 December 2009 or Saturday 12th December 2009
Writing (Paper
2)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates Saturday 13 June 2009 or Tuesday
16 June 2009
Dates Thursday 27 August 2009 (UK and Ireland only)
Dates Tuesday
08 December 2009 or Saturday 12th December 2009
Use of English (Paper
3)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates Saturday 13 June 2009 or Tuesday
16 June 2009
Dates Thursday 27 August 2009 (UK and Ireland only)
Dates Tuesday
08 December 2009 or Saturday 12th December 2009
Papers 4 and 5 are held by
separate arrangement, within specified periods - contact your centre for more
details.
Listening (Paper 4)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates
Saturday 13 June 2009 or Tuesday 16 June 2009
Dates Thursday 27 August 2009
(UK and Ireland only)
Dates Tuesday 08 December 2009 or Saturday 12th December
2009
Speaking (Paper 5)
Dates Friday 06 March – Sunday 29
March 2009
Dates Monday 25 May – Sunday 28 June 2009
Dates Friday 21
August – Friday 28 August (UK and Ireland only)
Dates Friday 20 Nov –
Sunday 20 Dec 2009
Note that different timetable arrangements will
apply for FCE candidates at centres in Greece.
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3)
How many components are there?
There are five separate papers: Reading,
Writing,
Use of English (grammar and vocabulary), Listening
and Speaking.
Click on each one to get a summary of what you have to do in each paper.
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to Top]
4) How much is each paper worth?
Each
paper carries 20% of the total mark.
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5)
How is the exam graded?
You will achieve either a pass grade (Grade
A, B or C) or a fail grade (Grade D or E).
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6)
How many marks do I need to pass, and do I need to pass each paper in order to
pass the exam?
Each paper is worth a maximum of 40 marks. The total
number of marks available is therefore 200 and you will need to achieve around
60% overall in order to pass. (Individual papers are not marked on a pass/fail
basis.)
[Back to Top]
7)
What percentage do I need to get an A, B, C grade, etc?
The approximate
percentages you need to achieve each grade are as follows, but note that there
will be some slight variations between exam sessions. These are an approximate
guide only!
Grade A = 80% and above
Grade B = 75% to 79%
Grade
C = 60% to 74%
Grade D = 55% to 59%
Grade E = 54% and below
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to Top]
8) Will I get a certificate if I pass?
Yes,
you will get a certificate showing your grade (A, B or C). However, you won't
get a certificate if you fail.
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9)
Will I find out how I performed in each paper?
Yes, all candidates are
given a Statement of Results, which shows how you performed in each paper: Exceptional,
Good, Borderline or Weak.
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10)
When do I get my results?
Approximately six weeks after you have taken
the exam, the exam centre is issued with your results. The results show how well
you performed in each Paper on the following scale: Exceptional - Good - Borderline
- Weak
About one month after that, the formal certificates will be issued.
N.B. Please do not contact Flo-Joe about your exam results as we are not involved
in the administration of the exams!
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11)
I've heard the FCE exam has been updated.
Yes, the first updated FCE
exam will be offered in December 2008. All the preparation material on the Flo-Joe
website, including FCE Exam Success Plus, has been revised to reflect the new
exam specifications.
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12)
What are the FCE set texts?
For 2009 these are:
Charles Dickens,
Great Expectations (Macmillan or any edition)
Gaston Leroux, The Phantom
of the Opera (Penguin or any edition)
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13)
What's the best way of preparing for the exam?
That depends on you,
how much money you want to spend and how you like to learn! You may decide to
take an FCE course in a language school; you may decide to study on your own with
FCE books and software; or you may decide to combine both of these ways. You should
ensure that any books or other materials you use are fully up-to-date with the
new FCE specifications.
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CAE Questions
1) I've decided to take CAE. How do I enrol for the exam?
2) When are the next CAE exams?
3) How many components are there?
4) How much is each paper worth?
6) How many marks do I need to pass, and do I need to pass each paper in order to pass the exam?
7) What percentage do I need to get an A, B, C grade, etc?
8) Will I get a certificate if I pass?
9) Will I find out how I performed in each paper?
11) I've heard the CAE exam has been updated.
12) What are the CAE set texts?
13) What's the best way of preparing for the exam?
1) I've decided to
take CAE. How do I enrol for the exam?
In order to take the exam you
will need to enrol at one of the 2,000 examination centres that Cambridge ESOL
has throughout the world. (Clicking will let you search
the Cambridge ESOL web site to find your nearest one.) You must approach your
local centre and not the examination board itself.
[Back to
Top]
2) When are the next CAE exams?
Reading
(Paper 1)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates Wednesday 17 June 2009
Dates
Wednesday 09 December 2009
Writing (Paper 2)
Dates Saturday 14
March 2009
Dates Wednesday 17 June 2009
Dates Wednesday 09 December 2009
Use of English (Paper 3)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates Wednesday
17 June 2009
Dates Wednesday 09 December 2009
Listening (Paper
4)
Dates Saturday 14 March 2009
Dates Wednesday 17 June 2009
Dates
Wednesday 09 December 2009
Speaking (Paper 5)
Dates Friday 06
March – Sunday 29 March 2009
Dates Monday 25 May – Sunday 28 June
2009
Dates Friday 20 Nov – Sunday 20 Dec 2009
Note that different
timetable arrangements will apply for CAE candidates at centres in Greece.
[Back
to Top]
3) How many components are there?
There
are five separate papers: Reading,
Writing,
Use of English
(grammar and vocabulary), Listening
and Speaking.
Click on each one to get a summary of what you have to do in each paper.
[Back
to Top]
4) How much is each paper worth?
Each
paper carries 20% of the total mark.
[Back to Top]
5)
How is the exam graded?
You will achieve either a pass grade (Grade
A, B or C) or a fail grade (Grade D or E).
[Back to Top]
6)
How many marks do I need to pass, and do I need to pass each paper in order to
pass the exam?
Each paper is worth a maximum of 40 marks. The total
number of marks available is therefore 200 and you will need to achieve around
60% overall in order to pass. (Individual papers are not marked on a pass/fail
basis.)
[Back to Top]
7)
What percentage do I need to get an A, B, C grade, etc?
The approximate
percentages you need to achieve each grade are as follows, but note that there
will be some slight variations between exam sessions. These are an approximate
guide only!
Grade A = 80% and above
Grade B = 75% to 79%
Grade
C = 60% to 74%
Grade D = 55% to 59%
Grade E = 54% and below
[Back
to Top]
8) Will I get a certificate if I
pass?
Yes, you will get a certificate showing your grade (A, B or C).
However, you won't get a certificate if you fail.
[Back to
Top]
9) Will I find out how I performed in each
paper?
Yes, all candidates are given a Statement of Results, which shows
how you performed in each paper: Exceptional, Good, Borderline or Weak.
[Back
to Top]
10) When do I get my results?
Approximately
six weeks after you have taken the exam, the exam centre is issued with your results.
The results show how well you performed in each Paper on the following scale:
Exceptional - Good - Borderline - Weak
About one month after that, the formal
certificates will be issued. N.B. Please do not contact Flo-Joe about your exam
results as we are not involved in the administration of the exams!
[Back
to Top]
11) I've heard the CAE exam has been
updated.
Yes, the first updated CAE exam will be offered in December
2008. All the preparation material on the Flo-Joe website, including CAE Exam
Success Plus, has been revised to reflect the new exam specifications.
[Back
to Top]
12) What are the CAE set texts?
For
2009 these are:
Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim
John Grisham, The Pelican Brief
[Back
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13) What's the best way of preparing
for the exam?
That depends on you, how much money you want to spend
and how you like to learn! You may decide to take a CAE course in a language school;
you may decide to study on your own with CAE books and software; or you may decide
to combine both of these ways. You should ensure that any books or other materials
you use are fully up-to-date with the new CAE specifications.
[Back
to Top]
CPE Questions
1) I've decided to take CPE. How do I enrol for the exam?
2) When are the next CPE exams?
3) How many components are there?
4) How much is each paper worth?
6) How many marks do I need to pass, and do I need to pass each paper in order to pass the exam?
7) What percentage do I need to get an A, B, C grade, etc?
8) Will I get a certificate if I pass?
9) Will I find out how I performed in each paper?
11) What are the CPE set texts?
12) What's the best way of preparing for the exam?
13) Does the CPE satisfy the requirements for university entrance in the UK?
1)
I've decided to take CPE. How do I enrol for the exam?
In order to take
the CPE (also known as the Proficiency) exam you will need to enrol at one of
the 2,000 examination centres that Cambridge ESOL has throughout the world. (Clicking
will let you search
the Cambridge ESOL web site to find your nearest one.) You must approach your
local centre and not the examination board itself.
[Back to
Top]
2) When are the next CPE exams?
Reading
(Paper 1)
Dates Thursday 18 June 2009
Dates Thursday 10 December 2009
Writing (Paper 2)
Dates Thursday 18 June 2009
Dates Thursday 10
December 2009
Use of English (Paper 3)
Dates Thursday 18 June
2009
Dates Thursday 10 December 2009
Listening (Paper 4)
Dates
Thursday 18 June 2009
Dates Thursday 10 December 2009
Speaking
(Paper 5)
Dates Monday 25 May – Sunday 28 June 2009
Dates Friday
20 Nov – Sunday 20 Dec 2009
Note that different timetable arrangements
will apply for CPE candidates at centres in Greece.
[Back
to Top]
3) How many components are there?
There
are five separate papers: Reading,
Writing,
Use of English
(grammar and vocabulary), Listening
and Speaking.
Click on each one to get a summary of what you have to do in each paper.
[Back
to Top]
4) How much is each paper worth?
Each
paper carries 20% of the total mark.
[Back to Top]
5)
How is the exam graded?
You will achieve either a pass grade (Grade
A, B or C) or a fail grade (Grade D or E).
[Back to Top]
6)
How many marks do I need to pass, and do I need to pass each paper in order to
pass the exam?
Each paper is worth a maximum of 40 marks. The total
number of marks available is therefore 200 and you will need to achieve around
60% overall in order to pass. (Individual papers are not marked on a pass/fail
basis.)
[Back to Top]
7)
What percentage do I need to get an A, B, C grade, etc?
The approximate
percentages you need to achieve each grade are as follows, but note that there
will be some slight variations between exam sessions. These are an approximate
guide only!
Grade A = 80% and above
Grade B = 75% to 79%
Grade
C = 60% to 74%
Grade D = 55% to 59%
Grade E = 54% and below
[Back
to Top]
8) Will I get a certificate if I
pass?
Yes, you will get a certificate showing your grade (A, B or C).
However, you won't get a certificate if you fail.
[Back to
Top]
9) Will I find out how I performed in each
paper?
Yes, all candidates are given a Statement of Results, which shows
how you performed in each paper: Exceptional, Good, Borderline or Weak.
[Back
to Top]
10) When do I get my results?
Approximately
six weeks after you have taken the exam, the exam centre is issued with your results.
The results show how well you performed in each Paper on the following scale:
Exceptional - Good - Borderline - Weak
About one month after that, the formal
certificates will be issued. N.B. Please do not contact Flo-Joe about your exam
results as we are not involved in the administration of the exams!
[Back
to Top]
11) What are the CPE set texts?
For
2009 these are
Tracy Chevalier: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Rose Tremain:
The Way I Found Her
[Back to Top]
12)
What's the best way of preparing for the exam?
That depends on you, how
much money you want to spend and how you like to learn! You may decide to take
a CPE course in a language school; you may decide to study on your own with CPE
books and software; or you may decide to combine both of these ways.
[Back
to Top]
13 Does the CPE satisfy the requirements
for university entrance in the UK?
All UK universities, in addition
to their specific course requirements, will ask you for evidence of competence
in English. Most, if not all, universities accept CPE as this evidence, although
some may ask for a B or even an A grade, depending on the degree course. For more
information on recognition of CPE in UK universities go to the Cambridge ESOL
website.
"http://www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/index.php"
Note that the CPE can give access to a range of careers where a thorough
knowledge of English is required.
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