Specialist in English language training
Overview of Cambridge English First Certificate Exam The Cambridge English: First examination is an exam at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). It consists of four papers. Grades A, B and C represent a pass grade. Grades D and E are a fail. It is not necessary to achieve a pass grade in each of the four papers to receive a final pass grade. Candidates who pass at grade A receive a certificate that notes they have achieved B1 level. Paper 1: Reading and Use of English1 hour 15 minutes This paper has seven parts. Parts 1-4 test use of English; Parts 4-7 test reading comprehension. br>Part 1: Multiple-choice clozeThis is a cloze test where you have to complete a text with eight gaps. For each gap you must choose the correct word from four options (A, B, C or D)Part 2: Open clozeThis is a cloze test with eight gaps. You have to think of a word to fit each gap.Part 3: Word formationYou read a test with eight gaps. At the end of each line that contains a gap you have a word stem. You must change the form of the word to fill the gap. Part 4: Key word transformation.There are six questions. Each question has a lead-in sentence followed by a key word and a second, gapped sentence. You must complete the second sentence using the key word. The second sentence must have the same meaning as the lead-in sentence.Part 5: Multiple-choiceYou read a text and answer six multiple-choice questions. Each question has four options (A, B, C and D). Part 6: Gapped textThis is a text with six sentences that have been removed. These sentences are jumbled up after the text. You have to decide which sentence belongs in each gap. There is one extra sentence you do not need to use.Part 7: Multiple matchingThis is one longer text or a number of shorter texts, with ten questions. You have to decide which section of the text (A, B, C or D) answers each question.Writing1 hour 20 minutesThe writing paper is divided into two parts. Part 1: This part has one compulsory question (there is no choice, you have to answer this question). You are given input in the form of an essay title with some accompanying notes to help guide you.Part 2: You can choice one task from a choice of three questions. You usually have a choice from among the following: a letter/email, an article, a review, a report. The First for schools exam gives the option of writing a story or answering based on a set book.ListeningApproximately 40 minutesYou listen to each part twice and write your answers on an answer sheet. Part 1: Multiple choiceYou listen to a series of eight unrelated extracts. These may be monologues (just one speaker) or exchanges between interacting speakers. There is one three-option multiple-choice question for each extract. You will hear each extract twice before moving to the next.Part 2: Sentence completionYou listen to a monologue with a sentence completion task. The task has ten questions. You will hear the whole monologue twice.Part 3: Multiple matchingYou listen to five monologues on the same topic. You have to match the speaker to the multiple-matching questions. You choose five answers from a list of eight. You will hear all the monologues once, then they will all be repeated.Part 4: Multiple choiceYou listen to an extended interview or exchange between two speakers and answer seven three-option multiple-choice questions. You will hear the recording twice.Speaking14 minutesFour partsYou take the speaking test with another candidate. There are two examiners in the room with you: the “interlocutor”, who asks the questions and introduces the tasks, and an examiner who listens. Each candidate is assessed on his/her own performance, which is marked by both examiners.Part 1: General conversation2 minutesThe interlocutor asks the candidates questions on everyday, personal topics.Part 2: Individual "long turn"4 minutesEach candidate in turn is given a pair of photographs and a written question relating to the photographs. They must compare the photographs and comment on the question for about a minute. Candidates are expected to talk continuously for this time and will not be interrupted. At the end of the first candidates turn, the interlocutor asks the second candidate a question related to the photographs or the topic. The the second candidate compares and comments on a different pair of photographs. Finally, the first candidate is asked a question related to the second candidates photographs.Part 3: Collaborative task4 minutesBoth candidates receive spoken instructions and a decision-making task based on written stimuli (for example a spider diagram). Candidates discuss the choices that are available for about two minutes. The interlocutor then asks the candidates to make a choice, and the candidates negotiate their final decision for about one minute.Part 4: Discussion4 minutesThe interlocutor joins the conversation and asks further questions relating to the topic in par 3. Candidates will be asked to justify their answers and to say if they agree or disagree with the other candidate’s opinions.
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