Notes for Cambridge

Key terms and definitions:

Candidate The person taking the exam.

FLE FLE stands for First Language English. It is a Cambridge course
designed to test basic comprehension and use of English as the candidates
primary language.
FLE Exam The exam for FLE is a two hour exam consisting of three
questions that test the candidates reading comprehension via their writing
skills. The exam counts as 50% of your score.
FLE Coursework A series of three writing assignments in different genres
and forms to assess the candidates writing ability over time. This is the other
50% of your score.
Qualification mark The score you need to get to show you are college and
career ready in English.
Markscheme the rubric used to determine a candidates score on questions
and coursework pieces.
Assessment Objectives these are the objectives (goals) we want to reach for
reading and writing.
*review the AOs.

Exam
Question Three:

When you sit the exam, begin by answering question three first. This is the
most straight forward question and is worth the most points.
Question three involved writing a summary of the text you read for Question
One plus a secondary passage.
Question three is divided into two parts:
o Part One: After analyzing the question, find 15 pieces of evidence from
the text answer the question. This is work 15 points (one point per
correct piece of evidence)
o Part Two: Use those pieces of evidence to write a summary in your own
words. This is worth five points.
Note: The summary will NOT be a summary of the entire passage, only what
is asked. For example:
o Read the passage Self-Build Homes, in the Reading Booklet Insert and
then answer question 3(a) and 3(b).
o 3 (a) Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of building a home
for yourself according to Passage B. Write your answer using short
notes (not complete sentences).

3 (b) Now use your notes to write a summary of what Passage B tells
you about the advantages and disadvantages of building a home for
yourself.
A summary should be short. A good rule of thumb is to have no more than
five sentences total.
In order to be Clear and Concise (2Cs), you must combine dot-points
whenever possible.
You should only summarize the specific facts or content you are asked, not
the whole text.
If you are asked to summarize both passages, it is beneficial for you to write
two SEPARATE paragraphs rather than try to combine them.
You need to use your own words in the summary. In order to help with this,
you should put all evidence into your own words before beginning your
summary.
o

*Explain mark scheme for question three.

Question One

Question one should be the second question you answer. This is because it is
the most time consuming question and takes the most planning.
Question One is a directed writing question. This means the exam question
will direct you who to write as, who to write for, what to write, and what to
write about.
Question One is worth 20 points; 15 points for the content of the answer
(proof you read the passage and understand it) and 5 points for the quality of
your writing.
Question One has several components to watch for:
o Example: You are Sunitras father
o Write a letter to your own parents Sunitras Grandparents asking
them for financial help with the project to buy land and materials for
your new home.
In your letter:
Describe the place you have found and why it is perfect for you
Persuade your parents that there are benefits for Sunitra,
despite her objections.
Suggest what the other attractions are of this plan to move and
how you imagine life will be.
Begin your letter, Dear Mom and Dad, Finally we have found
the perfect plot on which to build our dream home.
You should use the content of the specified passage to answer the question.
Some of the dot-points may not be covered in the passage. You must make
inferences (educated guesses based on reading) of what the writer is feeling.
The goal of this task is to make inferences and write from different
perspectives.
DO NOT base your ideas on your imagination.

You will be rewarded for using details directly from the passage and
developing those ideas and use of supporting ideas.
*Review mark scheme
Question Two

Question Two is the last question you should answer. It is worth the least
amount of points and is typically where candidates from the United States
struggle the most.
Question two is all about writers effects. This is the effect on the reader
created by an authors words. This effect could be to stimulate our sense of
sight, touch, hearing or even smell. It could be to convey a scene, idea or
emotion or to set the tone of a passage.
This question is not just about finding the effect, but explain how and why the
author is using it and what it does for the reader.
The question is typically divided into two parts:
o Reread the descriptions of
o A. The view from the trailer window in paragraph 2, beginning She
glanced out of the trailer window
o B. the weather and the stream in paragraph 7, beginning Last night
the wind..
o Select four powerful words and phrases from EACH paragraph.
It is important to give equal attention to both passages. (Four from each
means 8 total).
You should include imagery in your selections.
Explain how each word or phrase selected is used effectively in the context.
Do not just label it as a metaphor, simile, etc.
Try to find the strongest examples from each paragraph. There are usually far
more than four! Do not use the first examples you come across.
You may not always like the text, but the best way to find writers effects is to
be engage. Fake it till you make it, homes.

*review mark scheme.