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
If your knowledge of English is already good enough for many everyday situations, then FCE is the right exam for you. It is
ideal if you want to work or study abroad or to develop a career which requires English. FCE is an upper-intermediate-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?
This means that if you pass FCE, your level of English is good enough to be of practical use in many types of job. Successful FCE candidates can deal with everyday letters and telephone conversations, and can understand some non-academic training courses and simple textbooks and articles.
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
Now you can prepare for FCE with Cambridge ESOL Online Practice Tests.
These are very similar to the real test, or you can choose to have more help to answer the questions.
Buy an Online Practice Test here
Free Online Practice Test Sample
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 Publication eShop.
To help you get started, Cambridge ESOL have some FREE material which you can download for FCE.
Top Tips for FCE sample pages
(771 Kb)
FCE Information for Candidates (English) from Dec. 2008 (717 Kb)
Understanding your Statement of Results (339 Kb)
Summary Regulations for Candidates (44 Kb)
Sample Papers
FCE sample papers 
(27 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.
