us

+ introduction lo Ihe exam

+ your questions answered

+ exam strategies and lips

+ sample answer sheets

teaching
not just test ing
-~ ~ -~-~

~
-~ --
~~
-~ -~ -~ -~
-- -- --...
-- -~ ....
--- ~

...
~ -..
~-~ - .....-.....-......-...--....
 Exam Overview

Pradice Test 1 4 Pradice Test 6 97

Paper1 Reading 4 Paper 1 Reading 97
Paper2 Writing 12 Paper2 Writing 104
Paper3 Useof English 14 Paper3 Useof English 106
Paper4 Listening 19 Paper4 Listening 111
Paper5 Speaking 23 Paper5 Speaking 114

Pradice Test 2 24 Pradice Test 7 115

Paper1 Reading 24 Paper 1 Reading 115
Paper2 Writing 32 Paper 2 Writing 122
Paper3 Useof English 34 Paper 3 Use of English 124
Paper4 Listening 39 Paper 4 Listening 129
Paper5 Speaking 42 Paper 5 Speaking 132

Pradice Test 3 43 Practice Test 8 133

Paper1 Reading 43 Paper 1 Reading 133
Paper2 Writing 50 Paper 2 Writing 140
Paper3 Useof English 52 Paper 3 Use of English 142
Paper4 Listening 57 Paper 4 Listening 147
. Paper5 Speaking 60 Paper 5 Speaking 150

Pradice Test 4 61 Visuais for Paper 5 151

OMR Answer Sheets 175
Paper 1 Reading 61
Answer Key 177
Paper 2 Writing 68
Tapescripts 192
Paper 3 Use of English 70
Paper 4 Listening 75 First Certificate Examination:
Paper 5 Speaking 78 Top 20 Questions

Pradice Test 5 79
Paper1 Reading 79
Paper2 Writing 86
Paper3 Useof English 88
Paper4 Listening 93
Paper5 Speaking 96

CONTENTS IBl
The First Certiticate in English is an intermediate level . The examination questions are task-based and simulate
examination which is held three times a year in March, June real-life tasks.
and December. There are five papers in the exam and each
. Questions in Papers 1-3 are text-based. This means that
paper receivesan equal weighting of 20 per cent of the I
there is always something to read when doing the tasks.
marks. Papersare: I
. Rubrics are important and should be read carefully. They
1 hour 15 minutes set the context and give important information about the J
1 hour 30 minutes tasks.
l
1 hour 15 minutes i
. For Papers 1, 3 and 4 you have to write your answers on
45 minutes (appraximately)
a separate answer sheet. I
14 minutes (for each pair of
students)
t

Paper Formats Task focus

Reading Part 1: matching headings or summary sentences to Part 1: reading for the main ideas in a
four texts, the paragraphs in a text. text.
35 reading Part 2: answering multiple-choice questions. Part 2: reading for detailed
comprehension Part 3: choosing which sentence or paragraph fits understanding of the text.
questions into gaps in a text. Part 3: reading to understand text l
structure. l
Part 4: deciding which of 4-6 short texts contains l
Part 4: reading for specific information. l
given information or ideas.
I
Writing Part 1: using given information to write a letter of Part 1 : selecting fram and comparing t
Part 1: one 120-180 words. given information to produce a t
Part 2: producing one piece of writing of 120-180 transactional letter.
compulsory task
Part 2: one task words, from a choice of five. Either an informalletter, Part 2: writing for a specific reader, using
from a choice of a story, a report, an article or a composition. apprapriate layout and register.
four

Use ot English Part 1: multiple-choice doze. Choosing which word Part 1: vocabulary.
four texts, fram a choice of four fits in each of 15 gaps in the text. Part 2: grammar and vocabulary.
65 questions Part 2: open cloze. Writing the missing word in each of Part 3: grammatical accuracy and
15 gaps in a text. vocabulary.
Part 3: key-word transformations. Using the key word Part 4: grammatical accuracy.
to complete a new sentence which means the same as Part 5: vocabulary.
the one given.
Part 4: praof-reading. Finding the extra words that do
not belong in a text.
Part 5: wordbuilding doze. Changing the form of the
word given so that it fits into the gaps in a text.

Listening Part 1: eight short texts each with one multiple- Part 1: understanding gist meaning.
four parts, choice question. Part 2: understanding specific information.
30 questions Part 2: long text with ten gap-fili questions. Part 3: understanding gist meaning.
Part 3: five short texts to match to one of six prompts. Part 4: understanding attitude and
Part 4: long text wit h seven questions. Either opinion as well as both specific
multiple-choice, true/false or three-way matching. information and gist meaning.

Speaking Part 1: the examiner asks each student questions. Part 1: giving personal information.
four parts Part 2: comparing and contrasting two pictures. Each Part 2: giving information and
student has to speak for 1 minute. expressing opinions.
Part 3: interactive task. Students discuss something Part 3: exchanging ideas and opinions
together using a visual prompt. and reacting to them.
Part 4: discussion. The examiner asks questions Part 4: expressing and justifying opinions
related to the theme of Part 3. and ideas.

~~