Cambridge English: First for Schools, also known as First Certificate in English
(FCE) for Schools, shows that a student is becoming skilled in
English and can use it at upper-intermediate level for work or study purposes.
Take Cambridge English: First for
Schools exam
Why take the exam? Exam format Preparation Exam dates Results
Exam overview
Cambridge English: First for Schools follows exactly the same format as Cambridge English: First and the level of the
question papers is identical. The only difference is that the content and
treatment of topics in Cambridge English: First for
Schools have been particularly targeted at the interests and
experience of school pupils.
What's
in the exam?
|
Paper |
Content |
Marks |
Purpose |
|
Reading |
3 parts/30 questions |
20% |
Students need to be able to understand a range of texts, including how
they are organised and the opinions and attitudes expressed in them. The
texts will be from sources familiar to school-aged learners such as
magazines, articles, fiction and advertisements, but targeted at the
interests of students. |
|
Writing |
2 parts |
20% |
Students are required to produce two pieces of writing. The first
piece is compulsory and will be a letter or email of between 120–150 words.
For the second, they may choose from an article, essay, letter, report,
review or short story of between 120–180 words. |
|
Use of English |
4 parts/42 questions |
20% |
Students’ use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well
they can control their grammar and vocabulary. |
|
Listening |
4 parts/30 questions |
20% |
Requires being able to follow and understand a range of familiar
spoken materials such as news programmes, public announcements and other
sources but targeted at the interests of school-aged learners. |
|
Speaking |
4 parts |
20% |
A face-to-face test taken with one or two other candidates and an
examiner. Students have to show how well they can produce spontaneous spoken
language, talking with either the examiner, the other candidate(s), or by
themselves. |
