Frequently asked questions about the Certificate of Proficiency in English

I've decided to take the CPE. How do I enrol for the exam?
In order to take the exam you will need to enrol at one of the 1,000 examination centres that Cambridge ESOL has throughout the world. (Clicking will let you search the Cambridge ESOL web site to find your nearest one.)

How many components are there?
There are five separate papers: Reading, Writing, English in Use (grammar and vocabulary), Listening and Speaking. Click on each one to get a summary of what you have to do in each paper.

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. The Flo-Joe site will be a great addition to any of the options that you choose.
N.B. In December 1999 the CPE exam was changed slightly. Make sure that any books or other materials you use are fully up-to-date with the new specifications.

How is the exam graded?
You will achieve either a pass grade (Grade A, B or C) or a fail grade (D or E).

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 get a grade C. (Individual papers are not marked on a pass/fail basis.)

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. Many universities accept CPE as this evidence, although some may ask for a B or even an A grade. For more information on recognition of CPE in UK universities go to Cambridge ESOL website.
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/index.php

Adapted from 'CPE Handbook', which is available from Cambridge ESOL (Clicking here will take you to their site.)