First Certificate in English (FCE)
Welcome to the FCE Home page, where you can find all the information and help you need to start preparing for FCE from December 2008.
ABOUT FCE
FCE is an intemediate-level Cambridge ESOL exam, at Level B2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). What is Level B2?
What's in FCE?
The table below shows you the different parts of FCE. You can also view the FCE papers in more detail.
| Paper | Content | Time | Marks (% of total) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Reading |
3 parts/30 questions | 1 hour | 20% |
 Writing |
2 parts | 1 hour 20 minutes | 20% |
 Use of English |
4 parts/42 questions | 45 minutes | 20% |
 Listening |
4 parts/30 questions | about 40 minutes | 20% |
 Speaking |
4 parts | 14 minutes per pair of candidates | 20% |
SUPPORT FOR FCE
Start revising now with Top Tips for FCE, the exciting new revision guide for candidates taking FCE. Contact your local centre for information on how to buy in your country or visit the Cambridge ESOL eShop.
To help you get started, Cambridge ESOL have some FREE material which you can download for FCE.
Information for Candidates
This short booklet explains what's in the exam in more detail.
Download the FCE Information for Candidates (English) from Dec. 2008
(717 Kb)
Sample Papers
Download the FCE Reading sample paper from Dec. 2008 (2.8 Mb)
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT FCE
Phan Hoang Hoa, Vietnam
I am working in an international environment which requires me to continuously improve my English. After the exam I got the motivation to study more English and then decided to enroll in an MBA conducted in English.
The certificate helped me to complete my enrollment procedures as a proof of my English level.
