Study Cambridge ESOL English exams (First Certificate/FCE, Advanced/CAE, Proficiency)

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< Up	English / Exams / Cambridge
Cambridge EFL exams (KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE)


Sections:	Introduction
	KET
	PET
	FCE
	CAE
	CPE
	Further information
	Links

Related pages:	Guide (information about all of the English language tests)
	Oral (speaking exams)
	IELTS
	TOEFL

INTRODUCTION

The Cambridge exams are some of the most popular tests of general English in the UK. They are managed by Cambridge ESOL (formerly known as UCLES: the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate).

The main levels of exam are:
KET (Key English Test)
PET (Preliminary English Test)
FCE (First Certificate in English)
CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)

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KET

The KET (Key English Test) is for elementary students.
Background information on the exam is available at: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/ket.htm
Recommended books for studying for KET (these use the revised format of the test which was introduced from March 2004):

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Objective KET Authors: Annette Capel, Wendy Sharp Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2005 Workbook		Cambridge Key English Test 5 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: January 2010 Book only
	Common Mistakes at KET...And How to Avoid Them Author: Liz Driscoll Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2007		Cambridge Key English Test 4 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: January 2006 Book only
			Cambridge Key English Test Extra (book and CD) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: May 2008

PET

The PET (Preliminary English Test) is for pre-intermediate students.
Background information on the exam is available at: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/pet.htm
Recommended books for studying for PET (these use the revised format of the test which was introduced from March 2004):

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Complete PET Authors: Emma Heyderman, Peter May Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2010		Cambridge Preliminary English Test 6 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: January 2010 Book only
	Objective PET (2nd edition) Authors: Louise Hashemi, Barbara Thomas Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: March 2010		Cambridge Preliminary English Test 5 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2008 Book only
	Insight into PET Authors: Helen Naylor, Stuart Hagger Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2004		Cambridge Exams Extra PET (book and CD) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: September 2006
	Common Mistakes at PET...And How to Avoid Them Author: Liz Driscoll Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2005

FCE

The FCE (First Certificate in English) is for intermediate students.
The FCE (First Certificate in English) is the most popular of the Cambridge general English exams.
The exam is available in June and December, and also in March in some centres. It can be taken in many parts of the world.
There are 5 papers, with 20% of the total marks for each one. The papers are: Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening and Speaking.
You need about 60% of the total marks to pass (you do not need to pass all of the papers individually). Grades A, B or C are passes.
For more information about the speaking test of the FCE exam, see: English/Exams/Oral.

Background information on the FCE exam is available at: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/fce.htm
Note that an updated exam was introduced in December 2008.
Recommended books for studying for FCE:

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Complete First Certificate (for updated exam) Authors: Guy Brook-Hart Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2008		Cambridge First Certificate in English 4 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: October 2010 Book only
	Objective First Certificate (for updated exam) Authors: Annette Capel, Wendy Sharp Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2008		Cambridge First Certificate in English 3 (for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: December 2008 Book only ; CDs only
	Common Mistakes at FCE...And How to Avoid Them Author: Susanne Tayfoor Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2004		Cambridge First Certificate in English 2 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: July 2008 Book only
			Cambridge First Certificate in English 1 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2008 Book only

CAE

The CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) is for upper intermediate students.
Background information on the exam is available at: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/cae.htm
Note that an updated exam was introduced in December 2008.
Recommended books for studying for CAE:

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Complete CAE (for updated exam) Authors: Guy Brook-Hart Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2008		Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English 4 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: October 2010 Book only
	Objective CAE (for updated exam) Authors: Felicity O'Dell, Annie Broadhead Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: January 2008		Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English 3 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2009 Book only
	Common Mistakes at CAE...And How to Avoid Them Author: Debra Powell Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2005		Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English 2 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: July 2008 Book only
			Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English 1 (book and CDs, for updated exam) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: January 2008 Book only

CPE

The CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) is for advanced students.
Background information on the exam is available at: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/cpe.htm
Recommended books for studying for CPE:

Textbook		Practice Tests
	New Progress to Proficiency Author: Leo Jones Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: January 2002		Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English 5 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: August 2006 Book only
	Objective Proficiency Authors: Annette Capel, Wendy Sharp Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: May 2002 Workbook		Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English 4 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: May 2005 Book only
	Common Mistakes at Proficiency...And How to Avoid Them Author: Debra Powell Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2005		Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English 3 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2004 Book only

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information about the Cambridge exams can be found at http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams.
You can download handbooks and sample papers for the exams from the page: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/resources/learner/index.html
For more details about study books produced by Cambridge University Press: http://www.cambridge.org/elt/catalogue/exams

If you are taking an exam course at a language school, your school will usually help to organise your entry for the exam.
If you are studying independently you need to contact one of the test centres: http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/index.do
To book an exam at a London test centre, see: http://www.londonopencentre.org

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LINKS

FCE speaking test: English/Exams/Oral
Studying English: English/Study
Find an English language school: Course/Language

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