FCE cheat sheet

Paper 1 Reading has 4 parts, 30 questions, 75 minutes total (shared with Use of English); Part 1 is 8 multiple-choice questions on one long text.

Part 5 (Reading) is 6 four-option multiple-choice questions on a long text; Part 6 is 6 gapped sentences (choose from 7 options) testing text cohesion.

Part 7 is 10 questions matching 4-6 short texts or people to statements; answers may be distributed unevenly, so do not assume one match per person.

Read the questions before the text; locate the relevant paragraph, then compare each option word-for-word against the text to eliminate paraphrase traps.

Distractor options often repeat exact words from the text but reverse the meaning (e.g., 'not all' vs 'all', 'unlikely' vs 'impossible').

In gapped-sentence tasks, check pronouns, articles, and linking words (this, such, however) to find grammatical and logical fits.

Time budget: about 15-20 minutes per part; do not spend more than 2 minutes on a single item.

Answers must be transferred to the answer sheet within the 75-minute limit; no extra transfer time is given.

Paper 1 Use of English has 4 parts (Parts 1-4), 22 questions, and shares the 75-minute limit with Reading.

Part 1: 8 multiple-choice cloze questions (4 options) testing vocabulary and collocation; read the whole sentence and the sentence before/after.

Part 2: 8 open cloze questions, usually one word per gap; common targets are articles, prepositions, pronouns, auxiliaries, and linking words.

Part 3: 8 word-formation questions; the base word is given in capitals and must be changed to fit the gap (e.g., NOUN to ADJECTIVE, positive to negative).

Part 4: 6 key word transformation questions; use the given word (2-5 words) to complete the second sentence so it means the same as the first.

In Part 4, the given word must not be changed, and the completed sentence must keep the original meaning; contractions count as two words (e.g., don't = do not).

Part 4 often tests passive voice, reported speech, conditionals, comparatives, and phrasal verbs; check tense and subject-verb agreement after transforming.

Spelling must be correct in Parts 2-4; a misspelled word is marked wrong even if the grammar is right.

Paper 2 Writing has 2 parts and 80 minutes total; Part 1 is a compulsory essay (140-190 words) based on two short texts and a question.

Part 2 offers a choice of 4 tasks: article, email/letter, report, or review (140-190 words each); choose one.

Part 1 essay must integrate ideas from both input texts and add the candidate's own opinion; copying text verbatim is penalized.

Assessment uses 4 criteria: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation, and Language, each scored 0-5.

Content = task achievement (all points covered); Communicative Achievement = register and conventions of the text type; Organisation = paragraphing and linking; Language = range and accuracy.

Register: formal for essays/reports; semi-formal to informal for emails to friends; reviews can be semi-formal with evaluative language.

Word count 140-190: under 140 loses Content marks; over 190 is allowed but not rewarded and may increase error risk.

Plan for 5-10 minutes, write for 55-60 minutes, and leave 5-10 minutes to check spelling, tenses, and word count.

Paper 3 Listening has 4 parts, 30 questions, about 40 minutes; each recording is heard twice.

Part 1: 8 short unrelated recordings (monologues or dialogues) with 3-option multiple choice; focus on the speaker's purpose or main point.

Part 2: 10 gap-fill sentences on one recording (monologue); answers are usually 1-3 words and must be spelled correctly.

Part 3: 5 multiple-matching questions on one long conversation; match speakers to options; options may be used more than once or not at all.

Part 4: 7 three-option multiple-choice questions on one long interview or discussion; questions follow the order of the recording.

In gap-fill tasks, write the exact word(s) heard; do not paraphrase or change word forms unless the sentence grammar requires it.

Distractors are often corrected mid-sentence ('Actually, it was Tuesday, not Monday'); wait for the correction before writing.

Transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go or at the end; 5 extra minutes are given at the end of the Listening paper for transfer.

Paper 4 Speaking has 4 parts and takes about 14 minutes per pair of candidates; two examiners assess (one interlocutor, one assessor).

Part 1: Interview (about 2 minutes); answer personal questions about daily life, interests, and plans with 2-3 sentences, not one word.

Part 2: Individual long turn (about 1 minute each) comparing two photographs and answering a question printed above them; the partner answers a short question afterwards (about 30 seconds).

Part 3: Collaborative task (about 3 minutes) with a spider diagram; discuss options and reach a decision with your partner.

Part 4: Discussion (about 4 minutes) with the interlocutor, developing topics from Part 3; give opinions with reasons and examples.

Assessment criteria: Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication, each scored 0-5.

Useful long-turn structure: brief comparison, then answer the question, then a personal reaction; avoid describing every detail of the photos.

In interactive tasks, ask your partner questions, respond to their ideas, and use fillers (well, I suppose, let me think) to keep fluency.