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It's great if you decide to take the FCE exam (First Certificate of English). This is the 1st serious document - after PET and before CAE - allowing you to live, study and work in an English-speaking country. In my article, I will try to describe in detail what difficulties you may encounter and what “secret strategies” for passing the exam you can take note of.

Why take this exam at all?

1. Firstly, FCE officially confirms the qualification of English at level B2 (Upper, or Higher Intermediate - ABOVE THE AVERAGE level - according to the Common European Proficiency Compensation foreign language(CEFR - Common European Framework of Reference - this system of levels of foreign language proficiency used in the European Union and developed specifically for assessment in exams and in teaching English.

2. Secondly, The exam has no statute of limitations and does not need to be confirmed.

3. Third, passing the FCE will give you an extra reason to add "professional value" to yourself and "show off" that value to your employer. The exam will also be a great line on your resume.

4. Fourth, as already mentioned, it provides an official and internationally recognized opportunity to live and work abroad.

What you need to know before taking the FCE?

1. It is important to know two things:

1) First, the timing of the exam;

2) Secondly, your current level of English (here you can give a link to the level determination test, if it is used in).
These two factors will help you decide on a specific exam preparation plan.

2. It’s better to prepare not just within the framework general course, but according to textbooks specially written for the preparation for the FCE exam. And, as often happens, you can know the language perfectly, but "stumble" when completing tasks, not knowing the format and structure of the exam and not having information about exactly which tasks are included in the exam and how to complete them.

The following textbooks are similar to the standard textbooks of British publishers (Oxford, Cambridge, Pearson) and consist of Student’s Book (a student’s book that is used for work in class), Workbook (a workbook for homework) + audio. You can also go absolutely free.

Here are the popular publications:
1) New Success at First Certificate;
2) Exam Maximizer;
3) Objective First Certificate;
2) First Certificate Avenues;
3) Fist Certificate Master;
4) FCE Gold;
5) Common Mistakes at FCE. (A very good format with a list of typical grammatical and lexical errors, and this book, if desired, you can go through on your own).
6) Tip: you can use books for a detailed study of grammar and vocabulary, their important nuances, called Grammar for FCE and Vocabulary for FCE.

7) You can also read the FCE Sample Papers. The collection contains samples examination papers and Past Papers - works of past years. FCE Trainer offers typical examples of work collected "under the cover" of one textbook.

FCE is a paid exam. Its cost of the exam depends on the center of delivery and can be about 10 thousand rubles.

It is necessary to prepare for the exam carefully and in advance, up to the entire academic year. Special training programs have been developed in language centers, and the practice of conducting them has existed for a very long time.

What determines your success in the exam?

1. Success depends on language abilities, which, of course, can be different and which you may or may not develop.
2. From your motivation.
3. From the ability (precisely) to take exams: knowledge of the format, having practice (see FCE Sample Papers), ability to concentrate, self-confidence and, corny, such factors as good sleep the night before, proper food and lack of health problems.
4. From the ergonomics of the workplace for which you are preparing (yes, yes!):

Create a comfortable atmosphere for yourself:
1) with all necessary stationery;
2) clean and uncluttered;
3) adequately lit;
3) calm, with no distractions;
4) with comfortable chair and work table.

5. From the ability to work and study correctly, to correctly build your work plan and work program, from the correct system of writing notes.

Approximate preparation plan:
1. Design a training schedule that suits you.
2. Take a break as often as needed, for example, for 15 minutes.
3. Avoid distractions.
4. Select the appropriate mnemonic techniques - techniques. Try a few to find the one that's right for you. (Here you can give a link to an article about memory, which we published earlier).
5. Your ability to read and process printed information effectively is paramount.
6. You must learn to prioritize the things you do.
Following these tips and others like them will teach you to be more “productive” (by the way, a very popular concept in the business environment right now).

Learning Skills You Need to Master

1. Note-taking skills - writing skills. Needed for taking notes and completing tasks in the Listening section. So, for example, professional translators engaged in oral translation have a special form of recording sound information, where each symbol serves as an abbreviation of a certain thought.

2. Learn to be a good listener: according to statistics, only 50% of students are such, and even of them 20%/30% misperceive information.

3. Be positive, genuinely inquisitive (a matter of motivation!).

4. Develop mindfulness and ability to concentrate!

Tips for successfully passing each part

According to Paul Newson, the author of numerous YouTube tutorial videos, advice like “read the instructions carefully”, “watch the time”, “take it easy”, “just enjoy the process” sounds pretty decent, but, unfortunately, does not always work ... (We need a more specific strategy. Let's try to analyze and summarize the advice of teachers working with FCE.

Reading and Use of English
Types and content of tasks:

Use of English (tasks 1-4) checks grammar and vocabulary.
Reading (5-7) assesses reading skills.

Use of English
Types and content of tasks:

Part 1 Multiple choice cloze: 8 tasks
Here you need to fill in the gaps in the text by choosing one of the four words.

Part 2 Open close: 8 tasks
Fill in the gaps in the text. Answer options are given.

Part 3 Word formation: 8 tasks
We fill in the text with words that are suitable in meaning, forming the correct form from the proposed single-root words.

Part 4 Key word transformations: 6 tasks
You will transform a sentence to include given word or a phrase.

Reading
Types and content of tasks:

Part 5 multiple choice
Choose the correct answer. Options are offered.

Part 7 Gapped text
You need to fill in the gaps in the text.

Part 8 Multiple matching
You need to match the statements with the information contained in the text.

Preparation Tips:

1.General advice: necessary develop analytic skills , learn to analyze the language and "play with it", since the main cognitive (thinking) skill required for almost all tasks on Reading is logical thinking.

You can not be able to speak fluently in a language, but have a developed logic - despite the fact that language and logic are mainly responsible for one hemisphere - the left, the use - beautifully, rhetorically - implies the work of the right hemisphere, responsible for creative thinking. I say this responsibly after classes with a boy who studies mathematics in depth, who completed tasks faster and sometimes more correctly than me

I'm talking now about "contextual and grammatical connections" - contextual and grammatical connections between sentences, that is, how they are connected, what words (context) and grammatical means (linking words - words or linking structures, the use of the same tense, pronouns of the same, etc.)

2. We stick to certain strategies for reading and understanding texts in a foreign language. It is not necessary to read word for word.
1) First, we go over our eyes, catch the main idea (“reading for gist”);
2) Then we read the questions and try to find answers to them in the text (“scanning reading”).

3. Good advice – underline key words both in questions and in the text, this is "relevant" for all assignments, and is especially relevant for Part 6 and Part 8.

4. PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELF QUESTION S, on the details contained in them.

5. Be attention- there are always "distractors" in the text - distracting tactics deliberately used by examiners and designed to confuse us. For example, the same words in questions and a piece of text, this pushes you to choose this particular piece of text, although it does not fit in the MEANING, but another one does - read CAREFULLY, be confident in your abilities, do not be distracted and remember: “You can be deceived) ".

6. Don't jump to conclusions: for example, the text says that "Mary and John were happy all their lives." The student assumes - "They are married." Stop. Why? Can't they be happy being each other's colleagues? Or friends? ... Again, language "traps" are specially placed everywhere, which you can fall into if you think in a standard way, or, conversely, imagine non-existent. Be careful.

Writing
This part tests your writing skills in a variety of genres and styles.

1. Essay. The assignment is given a title and two ideas related to the title. The topic is related to everyday life and does not require special knowledge.
You need to write an essay according to the topic, expressing your opinion on the title using these ideas. You express a third, now your own idea related to the title. The number of words that you must use in the essay is indicated.

2. Situationally conditioned writing task of different genres - article, email / letter, report or critical review (review).
The number of words, the context, the purpose of the work and the target audience of the written message are indicated.

How to improve your writing skills you can read

Preparation Tips:

1. Before starting work, make an essay plan. This can take up to 25 minutes.
(It will take 50 minutes to copy the text into the form).
2. Clearly know the boundaries and criteria of each genre. Choose the right name, follow the style.
3. Write 2 essays every week.
4. There is a “Dos and don’t of Writing” at the end of every FCE preparation book. Read them carefully.
5. Read in English, note the peculiarities of the language!
6. Find information or ask the teacher about the criteria for grading the written assignment.
7. After finishing your essay, CHECK IT!

Speaking

1.Interview. The total time is 2 minutes.
The examiner will take turns asking questions of you and your task partner. Themes are general and standard - work, free time, hobbies, family, etc.

2. long turn. Each candidate conducts a monologue for 1 minute.
Before you a couple of photos and a question to them. You answer it in detail within 1 minute. Then, within 30 seconds, your partner gives his comment.
After that, you switch roles.

3. collaborative task. Total time - 3 minutes
Before you material with the task. You need to build a conversation with your partner, during which you will discuss the proposed options - for 2 minutes, and during the last you will come to a compromise.

4. Discussion: 4 minutes generally.
On a topic that logically follows from the previous task, you again need to conduct a dialogue ...

Implementation tips:

Part 1
1. Evaluation begins from the moment you enter the office - do not forget about good manners!
🙂
Greet the examiner in an appropriate manner and try to answer ANY questions correctly, not just the ones in the assignment.
2. Answer not too short, but not too "long".
3. Remember that the question must match the question.
4. Do not be silent, do not hesitate if you do not know the answer.
5. Be careful with humor - no racist jokes or ridiculous flirtations with the examiner.
6. Show all the richness of your vocabulary.
7. Lies are allowed. If you don't know what to say, think of it.
8. Speak slowly, clearly and understandably.
9. Answer 2-4 short sentences for each question.

part 2
1. Do not waste time describing each picture, the main thing is comparison.
10 sec - briefly describe what is in the pictures.
45 seconds - for comparison and reflection.
2. Don't stop until the examiner stops you.
3. Try to connect the imagination: start with some fact from your life related to the content of the pictures; find connections between them - they can be the most unexpected, make your story interesting and creative.
4. Don't stay too long on one picture.
5. Again - a lot of people make mistakes in this direction - do not digress from the topic and do not go very far from it: answer a specific question.
6. Use a variety of "linking words".

Part 3
The general rule is that the conversation should sound NATURAL, imagine that you are gossiping at the cooler in the office)))
1. Allocate 2 minutes for the task itself and 1 minute for the conclusion, as an answer to the examiner's question.
2. Use vocabulary to express
3. Should you help a confused partner? Yes, the task should sound "beautiful".
What to do with too arrogant and overly talkative "comrade"? Politely ask to insert your remark: “Excuse me, can I just butt in here?” Joke))) - “Excuse me, can I just say something here?”.
4. Listen carefully to your partner.
5. "Share the topic" - pass the topic to each other, that is, you must juggle it like a ball, as subtly and masterfully as possible.
6. Don't spend too much time on one item.
7. It is not necessary to “come to a final compromise” right there! Tastes differ/ So many men, so many minds.
8. Always argue your point of view, this is very important!

The most common mistakes in this part:
- too simple language;
- the task is not logically completed, or, as they say, "the topic is not disclosed";
- there is no conversation as such, says mainly one, no "masterly juggling" with the topic.

Part 4
1. When you answer, always give reasons for your answer.
2. Your speech should sound all 4 minutes - speak until the examiner stops)
3. Correspondence of information in the answer to the question.
4. Wide shaped, from different areas of life
5. Listen to your partner.

listening

1. multiple choice: 8 tasks
Dialogue or monologue and questions to it; There are 3 answers to choose from.

2. Sentence Completion: 10 tasks
Monologue approximately 3 minutes long. You must fill in the gaps in the tasks with suitable words from the monog.

3. Multiple matching: 5 tasks
5 monologues different people lasting approximately 30 seconds. After listening to them, you choose which 5 statements out of 8 presented correspond to which monologue.

4. multiple choice: 7 tasks
A conversation of 2 or more people sounds (its duration is 3-4 minutes). As usual, you choose one option out of three available.

All tasks in Listening are played 2 times. Topics do not contain complex highly specialized vocabulary

Preparation Tips

1. Standard advice: get in the habit of watching movies only in the original + series and shows, American, British, Australian, New Zealand - this develops the skill / habit of concentrating on sounding speech and listening comprehension. Game of Throne in the original is an opportunity to meet, learn to recognize and understand different accents.

2. Do not listen to recordings with headphones when listening to recordings. It is recommended to try different volumes, as well as different distances from the speech source.

3. Begin to underline key words without paying attention to the speaker reading the task. 45 seconds is not enough to read the questions carefully.

I will cover the assessment criteria for the exam in the next article, but for now - get ready! And they will always help you in preparation)

The article was written by teacher Ekaterina Semyanina.

FCE stands for First Certificate in English(First Cambridge Certificate). Its other name is Cambridge English: First. This is part of the Cambridge English series of general exams. In terms of complexity, it corresponds to the European system of language competence.

FCE exists in two versions: Cambridge English: First(for adults) and (for schoolchildren). Both versions have the same difficulty level and structure. Each of them includes four sections: reading and using the language, writing, listening, speaking. The difference between them is only in the topics of texts for reading and writing for listening. In the version for schoolchildren, they are focused on the interests and experiences of children and adolescents.

Structure of the FCE Exam

1. Reading and using language



Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

By "use of language" we mean knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. This section consists of seven parts and includes 52 questions. The texts in the section in total do not exceed 3000-3500 words. The examinee is required not only to understand the content of the texts, but also to distinguish between styles: artistic, journalistic, advertising, informational.

2. Letter



Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

The letter section consists of two parts. Part 1 contains one mandatory question - writing an essay. Part 2 gives three possible options for writing a text of 140-190 words: an article, a letter (regular or electronic), a report or a review.

3. listening



Duration: about 40 min.

The listening section consists of four parts and includes audio recordings of dialogues and monologues from various sources: news programs, radio broadcasts, speeches by famous speakers and public speaking.

It is necessary that the examinee demonstrate a wide range of listening skills: understanding the essence of the conversation, the attitudes and opinions of interlocutors, recognizing details.

4. Colloquial speech



Duration: 14 min.

This section has four parts and is shared with other examinees. Candidates are required to be involved in the discussion, express their opinions, exchange ideas and be able to reach a common decision through discussion.

Evaluation of results

After passing the test, you will receive a separate score for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), as well as a score for use skills in English. These five scores are averaged to give the overall score for the exam. The results are correlated with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR). All candidates, without exception, receive a document that reflects their scores. Those who successfully passed the exam also receive a certificate. Here's how the scores earned compare to the CEFR:

Candidates who score less than 140 will only receive a sheet with their grades, without a certificate.

1. Before taking the FCE, familiarize yourself with its format and possible tasks in detail. Go through a few trials on your own.


2. Always start with the easiest questions you know the answer to. There is a time limit on the FCE, so if you are not sure about the answer to a question, save it for later.


3. Keep track of time. Take the trial versions of the test and calculate how long each part takes you. Respect time limits. If the writing section is 80 minutes long, don't spend more time on it, because otherwise you won't have time to complete other tasks.


4. In the reading section, start not with the text itself, but with questions to it. This way you can save valuable time. You do not need to fully understand the entire text. The main thing is to answer questions to him. Therefore, it will be faster to look for answers to questions in the text, and not to read it thoughtfully. The sequence of questions, as a rule, coincides with the chronology of the sentences of the text.


5. In the writing section, write about things that you can clearly and clearly explain, even if you don't agree with it. Your ability to correctly build sentences, structure the text, use a variety of vocabulary is tested, and not your personal opinion on any issue. Write to the point, do not try to fill the amount of text by paraphrasing the same thought.


6. During listening, do not try to remember every word spoken - in this case, you will quickly lose concentration and miss important information. In the course of listening, you can mark key words and phrases in yourself, this will be enough to make up the big picture. If you can't listen and take notes at the same time, just focus on listening.


7. When speaking, be confident, speak clearly and loudly. Don't stop until the allotted time is up. Better to be interrupted than to think you have nothing more to say. Do not repeat what other candidates have said - you are required to answer on your own. Remember that the examiner is not interested in your opinion on a particular issue; it is important for him to see your ability to competently build a speech, express any point of view and argue it.


8. If possible, do not leave the answer fields blank. Even if you don't know the correct answer, try to guess - suddenly you're lucky.

How to prepare

You can prepare for FCE at language schools, with a tutor or on your own. For self-study you will need study guides and thematic sites.

Books

Complete first certificate

This manual covers all sections of the FCE. It comes with a CD with listening materials. You can prepare for it yourself.

Cambridge English: First for Schools

This textbook is for students. It aims to familiarize students with the FCE format and possible assignments. It also comes with an audio CD.

First Certificate Gold

Here, in addition to numerous tasks and exercises, the authors give tips that will help during the FCE exam: what phrases are best to use, what tasks to complete first, etc.

Sites

Collected here general information about the FCE exam, tips for passing it and, of course, online exercises in all sections: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

This is the official site for the FCE exam. Here you can find the most up-to-date information about its features and changes in the format, as well as free trial materials available for download.

A large collection of exercises from the FCE exam, compiled by an experienced teacher Alex Case.

Video about the international FCE exam:

Cambridge exams are good for two reasons: perpetual certificates and global recognition. That's just not all Cambridge exams can be a sufficient basis for admission to one of foreign universities. As a rule, universities and top companies that can become your employers require Cambridge test certificates for the Advanced level (at least) and above, and this, but not FCE.

The FCE (First Certificate in English) test is taken by candidates who speak English at the Upper-intermediate level. For work and study abroad, this level is quite enough, but some universities and organizations may put forward higher requirements. And yet, it is necessary to take the test, especially if you plan to receive CAE, CPE certificates in the future.

What does the FCE pass give?

• you get an international certificate
• the certificate is recognized by many universities and organizations - potential employers
• get the necessary experience of passing and preparing for international exams in English

Exam Structure

The test consists of 5 parts: reading skill (Reading), written English skill (Writing), ability to use the language (Use of English), ability to perceive information by ear (Listening). And, of course, the most important part is checking spoken English. The oral interview with the examiner takes only 14 minutes, which is quite a bit compared to the other, longer parts of the test: Reading and Use of English - 75 minutes, Listening - 40 minutes, Writing - 80 minutes. But for many candidates, it is the Speaking part that is the most difficult.

Evaluation of the FCE test

This exam is recommended for all those who have reached the Upper Intermediate level in written and spoken English or the B2 level on the European CEFR scale. Each part of the exam is assessed separately, so the assessment consists of five components. You can get one of four grades: A,B,C,D. The first three grades give you the right to receive an international certificate.

You can learn more about this exam at the Cambridge Tests.

The ECE test is the first major language certification legal force. The exam shows language proficiency at level B2 (upper intermediate, above average). The holder of the FCE certificate is a "confident user" of the language: he can keep up the conversation on any everyday topic, understands journalistic texts, and correctly expresses his thoughts.

What is the FCE certificate for?

Confirmation of language proficiency is now required everywhere. We list the situations in which an FCE certificate will be enough for you.

Obtaining a work visa to the UK
Work in the technical field in English-speaking countries (from master to engineer)
Work in a foreign company in Russia
Admission to many colleges and some universities in the UK (when applying to a university, be sure to specify which language tests are required. In the academic environment, FCE is, alas, skeptical, most universities require an IELTS or TOEFL certificate)

Exam Structure

The exam consists of five parts:

Reading

In 60 minutes you will have to read four short texts of different genres: an excerpt from art book, a newspaper note, a fragment of a scientific article and answer 30 questions to the text. Assignments will be both for a general reading comprehension and for the search for specific facts. You will be asked to choose a phrase that conveys the general meaning of the text better than others, choose the best title, insert missing words and sentences into the text, find the correct answer, and so on.

Preparation

The best way to prepare is practice. The main task is to get used to the linguistic and thematic field, learn to read quickly, fishing out key information. A few steps will help.

· Download any collection training texts and solve all the tasks in a row. Be sure to limit yourself in time: for each task, allocate no more than ten minutes. This will allow you not to get lost in the stressful situation of the exam.
· Read original texts.
o Take a good fiction book (for example, Diana Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale or JK Rowling's The Random Job).
o Check the English-language press every day. Online versions of major publications, such as the British "The Times" and the American "The New York Times", are posted on the Internet.
o Flip through popular science magazines (Discover, Popular Mechanics, National Geographic): most texts for the exam are adapted from there.

Letter

You will have 90 minutes to write two texts. The first task is the same for everyone: you need to answer the letter. This can be a formal message or an email from a foreign pen pal. In the first case, you may be asked to participate in the organization of the event, leave feedback on the work of the store, write a motivation letter to admission committee University or tell about yourself to a potential employer. In the second, most likely, there will be several general questions about your country (for example, “I would like to come to Russia, what do you think, when is the most interesting here”), several specific requests (“Advise me where to stay and which museum I go").

In the second task, you will be offered several topics to choose from. You can choose from:
write a short (120-180 words) essay on one of the topics of the school curriculum (“My best friend”, “The most important day in my life”, “My favorite city” and so on),
Give a review of a recently watched play or film
tell a pen-friend about a particular book,
Come up with a short plot story that begins with a given sentence.

Preparation

Despite the apparent variety of topics, all letters for the first task are created according to a couple of templates. The main thing is to remember a few speech formulas and build a text frame in advance.

Learn the formulas for greetings (Dear sir or madam, Dear Ladies and gentlemen for a formal letter, Dear + first name for a friendly) and farewell (Thank You for Your attention, Best wishes, Yours sincerely for a business letter, Hope to hear from you soon, Love - for informal).
· Think of a few sentences about yourself: be prepared to tell where you studied and worked. This does not have to be true at all: the main thing is that the story sounds convincing.
· Prepare some facts about your country and city.

In order to optimally prepare for the second task, it is advisable to decide in advance on the task that you will perform on the exam. Get ready for two out of four options: one of them will definitely be suitable.

· Refresh your lists of thematic vocabulary. Be sure to check out selections of adjectives to describe a person and a city, as well as lists of basic verbs.
· Think about what cultural event you are ready to talk about.
Write or scroll in your head the plots of a couple of books, films and performances, remember the names of the actors, think about why these works are interesting to you and others.

Use of English (use of English)

This part of the exam lasts 70 minutes and includes grammar tasks. Basic themes are checked:

· verb tenses,
Verbs used with infinitive and gerund
· modal verbs,
degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs,
· subordinate clauses,
· indirect speech,
· passive voice,
· conditional sentences,
articles,
· demonstrative pronouns,
closed questions (yes/no)
sentences with inversion

You will find a wide range test items. You will be asked to choose the most appropriate form of the word in the context, fill in the missing word, rebuild the sentence using the specified word, correct errors in the text, and so on.

Preparation

Unfortunately, one cannot prepare for this block of tasks without cramming. Review each of the topics listed and solve practice tests.

Listening

You will hear four pieces of text and have to answer 30 questions. The first task will sound eight short quotes, for each there will be one question with a choice of answers. In the second - a monologue or dialogue and ten sentences that will need to be completed. In the third - 5 fragments of the text, for each of which gjnht,etncz choose the most appropriate sentence in meaning. In the last task there will be a monologue or dialogues of seven questions with a choice of answers.

Preparation

Many consider audition to be the most difficult part exam. English phonetics is far from Russian, and in order to learn how to parse words in a stream of noise and manage to understand the general meaning, you need a lot of practice. training tasks not enough. You need to listen to the original, unadapted speech. Try watching British news. If you manage to retell what you saw, you don’t have to worry about the exam. If you can't keep up with spontaneous speech yet, listen to audiobooks. The text is read slowly and expressively, and the through plot is easier to perceive than replicas taken out of context. You can start with children's books. Listen to Stephen Fry's Harry Potter or Rob Inglis' The Hobbit. Watch movies, or better - series.

speaking

The shortest part of the test: you only have 15 minutes to impress the examiner. Unlike other language tests, here you will have to work with a partner, another examinee. First you will sit down to the examiner and he will ask you some general questions: what is your name, where are you from, where do you study or work, what are your hobbies. Then the host will give you and your "colleague" two photos each. In a minute you have to describe the images and compare them. After that, the partner will ask a question. Then you will listen to the interlocutor's monologue and will have to come up with a question for him. In the third task, you and your partner will have to discuss a given topic for three minutes. You can be asked to talk about anything: about different types transport, about modern diseases, about the prices of education. The topic will be problematic: you will need to find a conflict, discuss it from different angles, suggest solutions. At the end, the examiner will start a conversation with both of you about the topic covered in the third task. He will be interested in your opinion about any social problem. He will ask you open-ended questions, expecting detailed answers to them.

Preparation

The main thing for inspectors is not the depth of thought, but the fluency of speech. Your main task is not to be silent. To avoid pauses, think of a dozen common phrases in advance. You can buy time with silence filler sentences: “That`s a good question”, “When you come to think about it” and so on. Learn the question cliches (“What do you think about”, “And how about”), so that, if anything, “throw the ball” to the interlocutor. Remember the formulas of polite disagreement: “I see what you mean but “,”I can see your point but”. All this will add liveliness to speech.

Where to take the FCE and how much does it cost

In Russia, the exam is taken in 39 cities. Full list can be viewed on the official website of the Cambridge exams. The cost of the exam is between £122 and £145 depending on the exam date.

The FCE exam is perhaps the most common of all the Cambridge tests. Here you do not need complex grammar or knowledge of scientific terminology. The main thing is your ability to use the language to communicate. Therefore, it is very pleasant to prepare for FCE. Watch TV shows, read the news, communicate with foreigners on the Internet - and everything will work out.

Maria Gorshkova

Behind the abbreviation FCE is the famous test from the Examination Council of the University of Cambridge in England, confirming English language proficiency at the Upper-Intermediate level, which corresponds to the B2 level on the Council of Europe scale.

This test is part of a series of Cambridge exams (Cambridge ESOL) for those who want to learn English as a foreign language.

Among those wishing to pass the First Certificate in English Exam (FCE) - students, researchers; export and import businessmen who want to use the language with confidence in their daily activities.

How FCE certification can help

Good news for those who plan to travel abroad for work or study: the certificate of passing the exam does not expire. That is, it does not have to be retaken later. In many universities and colleges in Europe, this document is among the required for admission, and applicants with an FCE passed are automatically classified as having a high level of language proficiency.

For the same reason, it is easier for a certificate holder to find a job. Employers with good reason believe that such applicants for vacancies will be able to confidently fulfill their functional duties in the business sphere. Finding a job in the banking and insurance sector, tourism business, marketing and sales is much easier if you have a document on passing the FCE exam.

And in general, with this certificate it is easier to adapt to life in an English-speaking environment, to keep up conversations on any topic, because the exam covers the British and American versions of the language, as well as various dialects.

How is the FCE exam

Regardless of the venue, the exam is organized by the Cambridge ESOL department of the University of Cambridge. The language skills assessment procedure takes place in four stages, which last a total of 3.5 hours.

1. Reading and Use of English

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (7 parts / 52 questions).

At this stage, the examinee is offered several texts. They need to be read, to grasp the essence, to answer questions, to complete oral tasks. The purpose of the stage is to find out how deeply a person is able to understand the content of literary texts, journalism, news and magazine articles.

The level of correct use of the English language as a whole (grammar, vocabulary) is also tested. You need to answer questions by choosing from these options; fill in the gaps in the text, reformulate ready-made phrases.

1. Letter / Writing

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes (2 parts).

The task is to demonstrate the skills of writing essays, articles, reviews, reports, letters on a variety of topics. The first task includes writing a letter up to 150 words, the second (four tasks are given to choose from) - an essay, a letter or a review up to 180 words.

1. Listening / Listening

Duration: 40 minutes (4 parts / 30 questions).

On this stage listening comprehension is tested. You will need to listen to several audio recordings (fragments of TV news, radio programs, everyday dialogues), then answer the questions and do additional tasks.

1. Conversational speech / Speaking

Duration: 14 minutes (4 parts).

Speech practice is given in pairs or threes with other participants in the exam. It is necessary to show the ability to answer the questions asked, discuss, discuss photos and pictures - the topics are set by two examiners. They also draw a conclusion about the level of proficiency in colloquial speech.

Conditions for passing FCE tests

The examinee is required to have the following skills:

• demonstrate knowledge corresponding to the European Upper-Intermediate level;
• have a rich vocabulary;
• the ability to conduct a conversation freely, without tension, in various everyday situations of communication;
• be able to quickly find the main information in the text, differentiate it from the secondary;
• retell the text orally and convey its content in writing.

The listed skills are usually formed as a result of at least 500-600 hours of learning English. So, you need to seriously approach the preparation and choose a good course.

How and where to prepare for the FCE test

The ideal option is to combine classes with a teacher (individually or in a language course in a group) and train at home additionally.

• Teachers with a ready-made FCE preparation program can be found on the Italki website. Use the filter on the site to choose a teacher who specializes in preparing for Cambridge tests, read reviews, take a few trial lessons before making a choice. Don't expect first-class preparation if you started looking for a teacher a couple of weeks before the exam. Of course, it depends on the stock of skills that you already have, but you need to prepare several months in advance.

Search for a teacher to prepare for the international FCE test. Just select "test preparation" and "FCE" in the "skills" section.

• The best study guides to date are sets of profile books from Cambridge University Press. They usually include a textbook, workbook, audio recordings. The structure of the manuals is fully tuned to prepare for the FCE - all tasks imitate those that await you on the exam, the necessary vocabulary and grammatical structures are given. You will need a partner to practice speaking assignments, which is why language school and group classes, and in person, will help in preparation. A complete list of grants is provided on the official site Cambridge tests.
• Do not ignore the official resource for Cambridge exams Cambridge Assessment English. Here you can see examples of assignments, download materials and practice, read tips on preparing for the test. On the YouTube channel of the organization, it is very interesting to see how the test goes, in particular Speaking.

Where to take the FCE test

Around the world, there are about 2,800 centers in 130 countries where you can take the exam. Of these, less than a hundred operate in Russia - in Moscow, St. Petersburg, regional and regional centers. Each of them has its own schedule for conducting computer testing and passing in a "paper" format.

You can find out the addresses of FCE delivery centers in your city on the official website of the test organizer. Bookings must be made in advance, preferably two or three months in advance.

FCE exam results

Since the tests are checked in Cambridge, the results can be received only after a couple of months.

The grades obtained for each stage of the test are summed up, and the results are assigned points, the maximum number of which is 200. Grades A (more than 80% correct answers), B (more than 75%) and C (more than 60%) are considered passing; but D (less than 55% correct answers) and E (up to 54% correct answers) are unsatisfactory.

The results of the test are specified in their examination center. Each participant receives a detailed report on passing the exam with marks for each stage. A few weeks later, a certificate is issued!

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