FCE - First Certificate in English
This most frequently taken exam in the world is for candidates who have studied English for about 4–5 years (500-600 hours). It is an upper-intermediate level examination requiring knowledge of all the language skills. It is highly suitable for commerce and industry, e. g. for public contact or secretarial work in banking, airlines, catering, etc. Many universities recognize this exam as proof of adequate language skills.
Contents of the exam
1. Reading – 1 hour 15 minutes
2. Writing – 1 hour 30 minutes
3. Use of English – 1 hour 15 minutes
4. Listening – approx. 40 minutes
5. Speaking – 14 minutes
Marks and results
To pass the FCE exam successfully, a candidate must reach a minimum of 60 % of the total number of points but it is not necessary to reach this level of percentage in all parts of the exam. Successful candidates will obtain a certificate with either of these marks: 'Pass with Merit' (A), 'Pass' (B) or ‘Narrow Pass’(C). Unsuccessful candidates will receive “Narrow Fail” or “Fail”.