FAQs
Frequently asked questions about the Cambridge English exams
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 B2: First (FCE), C1: Advanced (CAE) and C2: Proficiency (CPE) are widely respected across the world.
You can search the Cambridge English recognition database to show the latest schools,
universities and employers that recognise the Cambridge exams:
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/recognition/
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3) When do the
exams take place?
The B2: First (FCE), C1: Advanced (CAE) and C2: Proficiency (CPE) exams take place several times
a year. 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
B2: First (FCE), C1: Advanced (CAE) or C2: Proficiency (CPE) exam you will need to enrol at one of the 2,000 examination centres
that Cambridge English has throughout the world. Clicking the link below will
let you search the Cambridge English website to find your nearest exam centre?
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/
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.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/see-exam-results-online/
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B2: First (FCE) Questions
1) I've decided to take B2: First. How do I enrol for the exam?
2) When are the next B2: First 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's the best way of preparing for the exam?
1)
I've decided to take B2: First. 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 English has throughout the world. (Search
the Cambridge English web site to find your nearest one.) You must approach
your local centre and not the examination board itself.
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2) When are the next B2: First exams?
Check dates
here on the Cambridge English website.
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3) How many components are there?
There
are four separate papers: Reading
and Use of English, Writing,
Listening
and Speaking.
Click on each one to get a summary of what you have to do in each paper.
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4) How much is each paper worth?
The
Reading and Use of English paper carries 40% of the total mark. The other three
papers are 20% each.
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5)
How is the exam graded?
Visit the Cambridge English website for an
explanation of how
your grades are awarded.
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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?
Visit the Cambridge English website for an explanation
of how
your grades are awarded.
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7)
What scores 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 = 180-190 (C1)
Grade B = 173-179 (B2)
Grade C = 160-172 (B2)
Level
B1 = 140-159
More information here.
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8) Will I get a certificate if I pass?
Yes,
you will get a certificate showing your grade (A, B or C).
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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.
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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.
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) 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 B2: First course in a language
school; you may decide to study on your own with B2: First 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 B2: First specifications.
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CAE Questions
1) I've decided to take C1: Advanced. How do I enrol for the exam?
2) When are the next C1: Advanced 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's the best way of preparing for the exam?
1)
I've decided to take C1: Advanced. 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 English has throughout the world. (Clicking will let you search
the Cambridge English 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 C1: Advanced exams?
Download
dates here on the Cambridge English website.
[Back to Top]
3) How many components are there?
There
are four separate papers: Reading
and Use of English, Writing,
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?
The
Reading and Use of English paper carries 40% of the total mark. The other three
papers are 20% each.
[Back to Top]
5)
How is the exam graded?
Visit the Cambridge English website for an
explanation of how
your grades are awarded.
[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?
Visit the Cambridge English website for an explanation
of how
your grades are awarded.
[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 = 200-210 (C2)
Grade B = 193-199 (C1)
Grade
C = 180-192 (C1)
Grade D = 160-179 (B2)
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8)
Will I get a certificate if I pass?
Yes, you will get a certificate showing
your grade (A, B or C).
[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.
[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.
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'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 C1: Advanced 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 C1: Advanced specifications.
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C2: Proficiency (CPE) Questions
1) I've decided to take C2: Proficiency. How do I enrol for the exam?
2) When are the next C2: Proficiency 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's the best way of preparing for the exam?
12) Does the C2: Proficiency satisfy the requirements for university entrance in the UK?
1)
I've decided to take C2: Proficiency. How do I enrol for the exam?
In order to
take the C2: Proficiency (also known as CPE) exam you will
need to enrol at one of the 2,000 examination centres that Cambridge English has
throughout the world. (Clicking will let you search
the Cambridge English 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 C2: Proficiency exams?
Download
dates
here on the Cambridge English website.
[Back to
Top]
3) How many components are there?
There are four separate papers: Reading
and Use of English, Writing,
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?
Reading and Use of English 40%
Writing 20%
Listening
20%
Speaking 20%
[Back to Top]
5)
How is the exam graded?
Visit the Cambridge English website for an
explanation of how
your grades are awarded.
[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?
Visit the Cambridge English website for an explanation
of how
your grades are awarded.
[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 = 220-230 (C2)
Grade B = 213-219 (C2)
Grade
C = 200-212 (C2)
Grade D = 180-199 (C1)
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8)
Will I get a certificate if I pass?
Yes, you will get a certificate showing
your grade (A, B or C).
[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.
[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.
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 C2: Proficiency set texts?
Set texts for January 2020 - December 2021:
Nick Hornby: About a Boy (any edition); film directed by Chris and Paul Weitz (2002)
Dodie Smith: I Capture the Castle (any edition); film directed by Tim Fywell (2000)
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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 C2: Proficiency course in a language school; you may decide to study on your own with C2: Proficiency
books and software; or you may decide to combine both of these ways.
[Back
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13 Does the C2: Proficiency 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 C2: Proficiency 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 C2: Proficiency in UK universities go to the Cambridge English
website.
"http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/recognition/"
Note that the C2: Proficiency can give access to a range of careers where a thorough
knowledge of English is required.
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Question not answered?
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