The FCE exam typically includes sections on reading, writing, listening, speaking, and the use of English. Each section assesses different language skills. The reading paper combines reading comprehension with language use. It includes different types of texts, such as multiple-choice questions, gap-fill exercises, and word formation tasks. The focus is on assessing the candidate’s ability to understand the meaning of written English and use language accurately.
The Writing paper consists of two parts. In Part 1, candidates are asked to write an essay based on a given question. Part 2 involves writing a choice of one of three tasks, such as an article, a letter, or a report. The goal is to assess the candidate’s ability to produce clear, coherent, and accurate written English. The Listening paper evaluates the candidate’s ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. It includes different types of tasks, such as multiple-choice questions, sentence completion, and note-taking. The recordings feature a range of accents and speaking styles to reflect real-world listening situations.
The Speaking test is conducted as a face-to-face interview between the candidate and an examiner. It is divided into four parts: part 1 includes the introduction and interview about familiar topics, part 2 includes a long turn where the candidate speaks on a chosen topic, part 3 involves a collaborative task including a discussion between the candidates, while part 4 involves discussion on topics related to the long turn from Part 2.
An additional writing paper assesses the candidate’s ability to write coherent and well-structured texts. It includes tasks such as writing a letter, an essay, or a report based on information provided in a set of input texts.