Cambridge Exams

All Cambridge exams correlate to the Common European Framework, which is an

international framework to describe language ability. The following shows them in
context to the other exams available.

- Key (A2/KET), Preliminary (B1/PET) and First (B2/FCE) all have ‘for schools’
versions, which students may be taking. There is no difference in level
(officially!) – only the topics are different.
- Pass rates are overall, not for individual exams. Therefore, you can get 50% in
First writing as long as you get 70% in something else. Tell students to focus on
their strengths to pick up marks.
- The following are the pass marks for each exam:
70% to pass Key
70% to pass Preliminary
60% to pass First
- If the student scores highly enough, they can be given the next level up. ie. They
take the Key but are given a B1 certificate. Equally they can receive the level
below if they do not score highly enough to pass.
- All of the Cambridge exams have a Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
component (Reading and Writing sometimes combined), and the higher ones
also have Use of English (Grammar), which is combined with Reading. All are
weighted equally (double weighting for the combined papers). The student does
not need to ‘pass’ each paper, the mark is the average of all of them.
- All of the exams follow the same format, no moving around or change of question
type. ie. Section 1 KET Reading/Writing is always the multiple choice picture
round.

Key:
Reading and Writing – 1 hour, 10 minutes (double weighting)
Listening – 30 minutes
Speaking – 8-10 minutes per pair

Preliminary:
Reading and Writing – 1 hour, 30 minutes (double weighting)
Listening – 36 minutes (6 minutes transfer time)
Speaking – 10-12 minutes per pair

First:
Reading and Use of English – 1 hour, 15 minutes (double weighting)
Listening – 40 minutes
Speaking – 14 minutes per pair
Writing – 1 hour, 20 minutes

Advanced:
Reading and Use of English – 1 hour, 30 minutes (double weighting)
Listening – 40 minutes
Speaking – 15 minutes per pair
Writing – 1 hour, 30 minutes

Speaking:
- All exams are done in pairs – they can choose their partner as long as they both
register with this choice, and are taking the same exam on the same date.
- Make sure all students know their partner’s performance does not affect their
grade. It is possible to get a high mark even if their partner freezes and doesn’t
say a word.
- The examiner can repeat questions if asked, but cannot rephrase or clarify.
- There will be two examiners in the room, the interlocutor who asks the
questions, and the examiner who sits at the back and marks.
- Accent is not important, pronunciation and intelligibility is. Don’t let students
(especially higher level) get fixated on trying to emulate a British accent etc.
- Speaking exams can officially be up to 7 days before or after the written exams –
usually the same day. If students are travelling to a different city for exams they
will have it the same day.
General:
- Reading/Use of English and Listening answers have to be transferred to the
answer sheets. Listening has extra time to do this, the others do not. Make sure
students transfer as they finish and check a section to avoid losing marks
unnecessarily.
- Students can write on the question paper but need to make sure they have
transferred by the end as the examiners will only see the answer sheet.
- No notes can be taken into the exam.
- Answer sheets must be completed in pencil (erased and changed if necessary) as
they are read by computer.

Useful Websites:

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/ - general information about the exams

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/resources-for-teachers/ - lesson
plans, samples papers and extra resources

http://www.flo-joe.com - very useful non-official resources