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FCE Tips - Part 4: Paper 5 - Speaking

A. What's in the Speaking Test?

• Part 1: conversation with the examiner in which you give personal information and opinions.
• Part 2: you compare 2 photographs and answer a question.
• Part 3: you discuss some pictures with the other candidate and reach a decision.
• Part 4: further discussion  with the examiner about the task from Part 3

Time: 15 minutes per pair of candidates

Your speaking is assessed on:

• grammar and vocabulary
• discourse management (= development of ideas)
• pronunciation
• interactive communication
• global achievement

 

B. General Tips for Speaking

• Don't worry if the examiner stops you before you have finished everything that you want to say. You and your partner will be given the exact time set out in the test.
• Always speak clearly so that the examiner can hear you and understand what you say.
• Don't worry if you make some grammatical mistakes. That's only a part of the assessment.
• Do NOT prepare sentences or short speeches before the test!!  Just react naturally to what your partner and the examiner say to you.
• Do NOT write anything down as part of your preparation for the test. Remember! This is a speaking test.
• In Part 2 and Part 3, the task is written at the top of the page, but if you aren't sure what to do, ask the examiner to repeat the instructions before you start. You can also check what you have to do with your partner.
• Don't try to talk all the time. Don't interrupt your partner while they are speaking. Wait till they have finished.
• Do NOT use slang e.g. I'm a bit pissed off with school. Say something like: I sometimes find school boring
• Last but not least, relax, don't be too nervous and enjoy the experience!

SOURCE: The Official Top Tips for FCE - Cambridge ESOL Examinations - UCLES 2008

FCE Tips - Part 3 - Paper 4 - Listening

 

A. What's in the Listening Paper

• Part 1: 8 short listening texts with 1 multiple-choice question for each (1 mark for each correct answer)
• Part 2: a longer listening text with 10 sentence-completion questions(1 mark for each correct answer)
• Part 3: 5 short listening texts to match to a series of statements (1 mark for each correct answer)
• Part 4: a longer listening text with 7 multiple-choice questions (1 mark for each correct answer)

Time: approximately 40 minutes (including 5 minutes to copy your answers onto the answer sheet.)

B. General Tips for Listening

• Use the time you have to read through the questions. Underline key words so that you know exactly what you are listening for. Remember! No one is asking you to understand every single word spoken!
• You hear the instructions on the recording. Always listen carefully and read the question at the same time, as they give you the context and the topic.
• If you are not sure of an answer, mark those that you think are possible. Use the second listening to confirm your choice.
• Use the second listening to confirm your answers even if you are sure you are right. Don't stop listening!
• Make sure you write clearly when transferring your answers onto the answer sheet. You have plenty of time to do this.
• Write only the missing word or short phrase on the answer sheet in Part 2, and don't rephrase it.
• Don't choose an answer based on a single word or phrase in Parts 1, 3 and 4. Concentrate on the overall meaning of what you hear. 

SOURCE: The Official Top Tips for FCE - University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - UCLES 2008

FCE Tips - Part 2: Paper 2- Writing

 

A. What's in the Writing paper?

• Part 1: One compulsory question - a transactional email / letter which could be formal or informal. You read some material and then you write an email / letter using all the notes on the task.
• Part 2: One question from a choice of four, including an article, email (usually informal), essay (opinion composition), report, review and story.
• Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

(Each Part carries 20 marks.)

 

B. Useful Tips for Writing

• Before you start writing, highlight or underline the key words in the task.
• It is important to know what kind of writing you are required to produce, what style you should be using and what layout is appropriate.
• In Part 1 check and double check that you have included all the notes.
• In Part 2 read all the questions carefully before you decide which one to do. Choose to answer the one you feel you are especcially good at.
• Practise writing things in different ways using a range of tenses and vocabulary.
• Last but not least, remember to plan what you write, and read it through afterwards to check that you have not made any mistakes. 

 

SOURCE: The Official Top Tips for FCE - University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - UCLES 2008

 

 

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FCE Tips - Part 1: Paper 1- Reading

A. What's in the Reading Paper?

• Part 1: 8 multiple choice questions (2 marks for each correct answer)
• Part 2: gapped text with 7 questions (2 marks for each correct answer)
• Part 3: text with 15 multiple matching questions (1 mark for each correct answer)
• Time: 1 hour

Useful Tips

• Read the instructions of each text first. These will tell you what kind of text it is and what it is about.
• Answer the questions one by one. Don't fill in answers to questions you are uncertain about first. Cross off those you are sure about as you do them, and go back to those you are unsure about later.
• Don't just decide which the right answer is.  Tell yourself why the others are wrong.
• Always put an answer on the answer sheet even though you are not totally sure if you are correct.
• There is always information in the text to help you get the right answer - you never need to guess or incur information.
• In Part 1, read the text first without trying to answer any of the questions so that you understand what it is about.
• In Part 2, when you have put all the missing sentences into the text, read the complete text through to check that it makes good sense and you can see the links between text and sentence. Always read one sentence before the gap paying attention to reference words - this , that , them  those, it etc
• In Part 3, skim and scan the text - just read through very quickly and underline the relevant information that matches the questions.

SOURCE: Top Tips for FCE -  University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations  - UCLES 2008               

IGCSE ESL Past Exam Papers - Reading and Writing - May / June 2011- Exercise 6 - Model Answer

IGCSE Reading and Writing May / June 2011

Exercise 6

Dear Sue,

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write but I’ve been revising for my IGCSEs and have been jammed up with studying. As if that was not enough, guess what! Our TV broke down at the very beginning of the summer break and took two weeks to repair!

When our TV broke down, it was as if I were in mourning – a depression set in. I was shocked at how much I depended on television. For example, at the weekends, I used to turn on the TV at 8:00 am and turn it off at midnight!.

For the first few days, I felt awful but after six days without the constant invasion of TV hosts, game shows and theme tunes, something strange happened. My whole lifestyle began to change. My family and I started talking to each other. We did many things together, like going swimming, visiting museums and playing board games.  It was quite exciting and surprising at the same time. I’d been a total TV addict up to that point but, without TV I became much friendlier and nicer. But now my whole family is amazed by the change in our relationships. There’s much more togetherness.

 Now unless a programme is really entertaining, I just switch the TV off. I haven’t given up watching TV, however  I’m much more selective in my viewing habits – you won’t find me glued to the box any more!!

What’s up with you? I miss you and really can’t wait to hear from you soon.

Love,

Maria

(253 words)

IGCSE ESL Past Exam Papers - Listening - May / June 2011-Answer Key

Download Igcse-listening-may-june2011-answer0001

IGCSE ESL Past Exam Papers - Reading and Writing - May / June 2011-Answer Key

Download Igcse-readingandwriting-may-june2011-answer0001

IGCSE ESL Past Exam Papers - Listening - May / June 2011

Here is the test. You must have Adobe Reader to download this file.

Download Igcse-listening-may-june2011

And here is the recording. Click on the mp3 files to listen. Please follow instructions and listen to each track twice only.

 

Download 01 - Track 0.mp3 (2208.9K) Download 02 - Track 1.mp3 (13863.6K) Download 03 - Track 2.mp3 (14114.2K) Download 04 - Track 3.mp3 (15045.6K) Download 05 - Track 4.mp3 (14824.4K) Download 06 - Track 5.mp3 (12135.4K)

The answer key will be posted on Sunday, May 6 2012.

IGCSE ESL Past Exam Papers - Reading and Writing - May / June 2011

Download igcse-readingandwriting-may-june2011.pdf (5517.4K)

The answer key will be posted on Monday, June 7  2012   

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