The document provides an overview of the Cambridge English: First (FCE) exam format. It is divided into four sections that test reading, writing, use of English, and listening abilities. The reading section contains multiple choice, gapped text, and matching questions to test understanding of details, opinions, and main ideas. The writing section includes writing a compulsory letter/email and choosing one of five writing tasks such as an article or report. The use of English section contains multiple choice, open cloze, word formation, and key word transformation questions testing grammar, vocabulary, and language use. Finally, the listening section includes multiple choice, sentence completion, matching, and short answer questions to evaluate understanding of speakers

1. CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH
FCE EXAM

2. Reading (1 hour)
Part Task type Tests ability to Questions
A text followed by multiple-choice understand
1. Multiple choice questions with four options: A, B, C detail, opinion, gist, attitiude, meani 8
or D. ng, tone, purpose and main ideas
A text with missing sentences; understand text organisation (how
2. Gapped text candidates choose the sentence language achieves cohesion and 7
order from a jumbled list. coherence)
One or several texts with prompt
questions; candidates match the understand specific information,
3. Multiple matching 15
prompt to the relevant section of detail, opinion and attitude
the text(s).

3. Writing (1 hour 20 minutes)
Part Task type Tests ability to Word length
Read input information
make appropriate use of the
(including adverts, extracts
input, write for a specific
1. Compulsory task from letters, emails, schedules, 120-150
purpose and audience, with
etc. of up to 160 words) and
accurate language control
write a Letter or Email.
2: (Questions 2-4) Candidates
write one of the following:
Article, Essay, Letter, Report,
Review or Story.
(Question 5. 2 options)
Candidates write one of the
write for a specific purpose and
2. Choice of one out of five following, based on one of the
audience, with accurate 120-180
tasks. set reading texts: Article, Essay,
language control
Letter, Report, Review
Note: Question 5 has two
options - 5a and 5b. Visit the
FCE section of our FAQs page
for details of this year's set
texts.

4. Use of English (45 minutes)
Part Task type Task focus Questions
A text with twelve gaps.
Candidates choose the correct
Collocation, phrasal verbs,
1. Multiple choice missing words by answering 12
idioms, phrases
twelve multiple-choice questions
with four options.
A text with twelve gaps.
2. Open cloze Candidates fill in the missing Grammatical items 12
words.
A text with ten gaps. Candidates
Prefixes and suffixes, compound
3. Word formation form the missing words from the 10
words
given stem words.
Eight separate questions, each
containing a lead-in sentence,
followed by a 'key word' and a
4. Key word transformations second (gapped) sentence. Grammar and vocabulary 8
Candidates complete the second
sentence in two to five words,
and must include the 'key word'.

5. Listening (40 minutes)
Part Task type Tests ability to Questions
A series of extracts with one or
more speakers lasting around 30
pick out general meaning specific
seconds each. Candidates answer
1. Multiple Choice information, understand attitude 8
one multiple choice question per
and/or events from the text.
extract, each with three options:
A, B or C.
A three-minute monologue or pick out general meaning or
2. Sentence completion dialogue. Candidates fill in the specific information from the 10
gaps to complete the sentences. text.
A series of related monologues
lasting around 30 seconds each. pick out general meaning specific
3. Multiple matching Candidates match the extract to information, understand attitude 5
the correct option from a list of and/or events from the text.
six.
A three-minute monologue or
pick out general meaning or
dialogue. Candidates answer
4. Multiple choice specific information from the 7
multiple choice questions with 3
text.
options: A, B or C.

6. Speaking (14 minutes)
Part Task type Tests ability to
Candidates take it in turns to answer spoken
1. Conversation between Interlocutor and give personal information and talk about past,
questions that focus on interactional and social
each candidate present and future experiences
language.
Each candidate is given a pair of photographs
2. Individual 'long turn' (1 minute) and and asked to talk about them, using the prompt
speak for a long turn using appropriate
response from second candidate (20 questions on the page. The second candidate
language
seconds) gives a brief response. Tasks focus on:
comparing, describing and expressing opinions.
Candidates are given spoken instructions, along
with visual and written prompts, and work on a
decision-making task. The focus is on sustaining
3. Two-way conversation between give opinions, agree & disagree, make
the interaction by: sharing ideas, expressing
candidates suggestions etc; take turns
and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or
disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating
and negotiating to reach a decision.
Candidates answer spoken questions that focus
give and justify opinions, agree & disagree, take
4. Discussion related to the task in Part 3 on: expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing
turns and explore topics
and/or disagreeing.