FCE PAPER 2 WRITING

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Paper format The paper contains two parts.

Timing 1 hour 20 minutes.

No. of parts 2.

No. of questions Candidates are required to complete two tasks: a compulsory one in Part 1 and one from a choice of five in Part 2.

Task types From the following: an article, an email, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story. Each task has a given purpose and a target reader.

Answer format The questions are in a booklet with lined pages for the answers. The blank pages at the back of the booklet can be used for writing notes or finishing answers, if necessary.

Marks Each question on this paper carries equal marks.

STRUCTURE AND TASKS

PART 1

Task type and focus QUESTION 1 Writing a letter or email. Focus on advising, apologising, comparing, describing, explaining, expressing opinions, justifying, persuading, recommending and suggesting.

Format Candidates are required to deal with input material of up to 160 words. This may include material taken from advertisements, extracts from letters, emails, schedules, etc.

No. of tasks and length One compulsory task. 120–150 words.

PART 2

Task type and focus QUESTIONS 2–4 Writing one of the following: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story. QUESTION 5 (Question 5 has two options) Writing one of the following, based on one of two prescribed reading texts: an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review. Varying focuses according to the task, including: advising, comparing, describing, explaining, expressing opinions, justifying, recommending.

Format A situationally based writing task specified in no more than 70 words.
No. of tasks and length One task to be selected from a choice of five. 120–180 words.

Test 2

FCE PAPER 5 SPEAKING

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Paper format The paper contains four parts.

Timing 14minutes.

No. of parts 4.

Interaction pattern Two candidates and two examiners. One examiner acts as both interlocutor and assessor and manages the interaction either by asking questions or providing cues for the candidates. The other acts as assessor and does not join in the conversation.
Task types Short exchanges with the interlocutor and with the other candidate; a 1 minute ‘long turn’; a collaborative task involving the two candidates; a discussion.
Marks Candidates are assessed on their performance throughout.

STRUCTURE AND TASKS

PART 1

Task type and format A conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate (spoken questions).

Focus General interactional and social language.

Timing 3 minutes.

PART 2

Task type and format An individual ‘long turn’ for each candidate with a brief response from the second candidate. In turn, the candidates are given a pair of photographs to talk about.

Focus Organising a larger unit of discourse; comparing, describing, expressing opinions.
Timing A 1 minute ‘long turn’ for each candidate, plus 20-second response from the second candidate.

PART 3

Task type and format A two-way conversation between the candidates. The candidates are given spoken instructions with written and visual stimuli, which are used in a decision-making task.

Focus Sustaining an interaction; exchanging ideas, expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating, reaching a decision through negotiation, etc.

Timing 3 minutes.

PART 4

Task type and format A discussion on topics related to the collaborative and format task (spoken questions).

Focus Expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing.

Timing 4 minutes.