New Exam Updates 2015

Changes in Cambridge English: First, First for Schools and Advanced

Eva Vargová

Consultant
Cambridge English Language Assessment
Part of the University of Cambridge
100 years of CPE
• June 1913
• 3 candidates

 Translation
 Essay
 Literature
 Phonetics
 Dictation
 Reading
 Conversation

• 12 hours
100 years of CPE

Nobody passed 
 Aims of the revised exams

• The result of a consultation process

• More suitable for higher education,
career enhancement and general purposes
• Up-to-date methodical approach to language
testing
• User-friendly and accessible
• Set the standards for B2 and C1 exams
 General overview

Cambridge English: First

Cambridge English: First for Schools

Cambridge English: Advanced

 Cambridge English: First (for Schools)
Revised: 3 hrs 29 mins Current: 3 hrs 59 mins
1 hr 15 mins 1 hr
7 parts Reading 3 parts
Reading and Use of 52 questions 30 questions
English 45 mins
Use of English 4 parts
42 questions
1 hr 20 mins 1 hr 20 mins
140-190, 140-190 120-150, 120-180 words
Writing 1 compulsory question Writing 1 compulsory question
(essay) (email / letter)
1 from choice of 3 / 4 1 from choice of 5
40 mins 40 mins
Listening 4 parts Listening 4 parts
30 questions 30 questions
14 mins 14 mins
Speaking Speaking
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
 Cambridge English: First (for Schools)
Revised: 3 hrs 29 mins Current: 3 hrs 59 mins
1 hr 15 mins 1 hr
7 parts Reading 3 parts
Reading and 52 questions 30 questions
Use of English 45 mins
Use of English 4 parts
42 questions
1 hr 20 mins 1 hr 20 mins
140-190, 140-190 120-150, 120-180 words
Writing 1 compulsory question Writing 1 compulsory question
(essay) (email / letter)
1 from choice of 3 / 4 1 from choice of 5
40 mins 40 mins
Listening 4 parts Listening 4 parts
30 questions 30 questions
14 mins 14 mins
Speaking Speaking
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
 Cambridge English: Advanced
Revised: 3 hrs 55 mins Current: 4 hrs 40 mins
1 hr 30 mins 1 hr 15 mins
8 parts Reading 4 parts
Reading and 56 questions 34 questions
Use of English 1 hr
Use of English 5 parts
50 questions
1 hr 30 mins 1 hr 20 mins
220-260, 220-260 180-220, 220-260
Writing 1 compulsory question Writing 1 compulsory question
(essay) (variety)
1 from choice of 3 1 from choice of 5
40 mins 40 mins
Listening 4 parts Listening 4 parts
30 questions 30 questions
15 mins 15 mins
Speaking Speaking
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
 Cambridge English: Advanced
Revised: 3 hrs 55 mins Current: 4 hrs 40 mins
1 hr 30 mins 1 hr 15 mins
8 parts Reading 4 parts
Reading and 56 questions 34 questions
Use of English 1 hr
Use of English 5 parts
50 questions
1 hr 30 mins 1 hr 30 mins
220-260, 220-260 180-220, 220-260
Writing 1 compulsory question Writing 1 compulsory question
(essay) (variety)
1 from choice of 3 1 from choice of 5
40 mins 40 mins
Listening 4 parts Listening 4 parts
30 questions 30 questions
15 mins 15 mins
Speaking Speaking
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
 Changes in

Cambridge English: First

Cambridge English: First for Schools

FCE: Reading and Use of English
Revised Current
1. multiple-choice cloze 8 questions 12 questions
2. open cloze 8 questions 12 questions
3. word formation 8 questions 10 questions
4. key word transformation 6 questions 8 questions
5. multiple choice 6 questions 8 questions
6. gapped text 6 questions 7 questions
7. multiple matching 10 questions 15 questions

Which of these tasks are in the current Reading paper

and Use of English paper?
Is any of the current tasks missing?
 FCE Reading and Use of English in summary:

1. What is the change in the revised Reading and Use of

English?

2. Do I need to prepare my students for any new task type?

3. Which paper do the candidates start with?

 FCE: Writing Paper, Part 1
Revised version: Current version:
one compulsory question one compulsory question
– essay – letter / e-mail
– 140 – 190 words – 120 – 150 words
In your English class you have been talking about the
environment. Now, your English teacher has asked you to
write an essay.
Write an essay using all notes and give reasons for your point
of view.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and
damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can
be solved?
Notes
Write about:
1. transport
2. rivers and seas
3. ....................... (your own idea)
 FCE: Writing Paper, Part 2
Revised version: Current version:
a choice of 3 (First) / 4 (First for Schools) tasks a choice of five tasks
140 – 190 words 120 – 180 words

article email essay letter report review short story set text

First First for Schools

article article
email / letter email / letter
review review
report story
essay, article, review or
letter on the set text
FCE: Writing Paper, Part 2
First First for Schools
article article
email / letter email / letter
review review
report story
essay, article, review or
letter on the set text

1. Which text types are different?

2. Why are they different?
3. Do you like the text types distribution?
FCE: Listening Paper

• All tasks retained, the same length

• Change to Part 1 and Part 3
Part 1 Part 3
A series of 8 short unrelated Five short related
extracts, from monologues or monologues. The multiple-
exchanges between matching questions require
interacting speakers. selection of the correct option
One multiple choice from a list of six.
question per text, each with
three options

Change to Part 1 Change to Part 3

the options are not read out there are two additional distractors
(three in total)
FCE: Speaking Paper
Revised Current

General topics 2 minutes 3 minutes

Part 1 conversation 3 sets of 4 qs 5 sets of 5 qs

Individual long the answer 30

Part 2 turn, short answer secs 20 secs

Conversation between written prompts visuals

Part 3 the candidates 2 mins discussion in total 3 mins
+ 1 min decision
Part 4 Discussion no change
 Changes in

Cambridge English: Advanced

CAE: Reading and Use of English
Revised Current
1. multiple-choice cloze 8 questions 12 questions
2. open cloze 8 questions 15 questions
3. word formation 8 questions 10 questions
4. key word transformation 6 questions 8 questions
5. multiple choice 6 questions 7 questions
6. cross-text mult. matching 4 questions
7. gapped text 6 questions 6 questions
8. multiple matching 10 questions 15 questions

Is there any new task? cross-text mult. matching

CAE: Cross-text Multiple Matching

Cross-text multiple matching

Focus Understanding of opinion and
attitude, comparing and
contrasting of opinions and
attitudes across texts.
Format Four short texts, followed by
multiple matching Qs. Candidates
must read across texts to match a
prompt to elements in the texts
No. of Qs 4
 CAE: Writing Paper, Part 1
Revised version: Current version:
one compulsory question one compulsory question
– essay – article / report / proposal / letter
– 220 – 260 words – 180 – 220 words

In what way is the CAE and FCE essay different?

In what way is the CAE essay more demanding?

 CAE and FCE Essay Comparison
You have listened to a radio discussion programme about facilities In your English class you
which should receive money from local authorities. You have made have been talking about
the notes below. the environment. Now, your
Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes. You English teacher has asked
should explain which facility is more important for local authorities you to write an essay.
to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer. Write an essay using all
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the notes and give reasons for
discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible. your point of view.

Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage Every country in the world
to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved? has problems with pollution
and damage to the
Notes environment. Do you think
Which facilities should receive money from local authorities? these problems can be
1. museums solved?

2. sport centres Notes

3. public gardens Write about:

Some opinions expressed in the discussion: 1. transport

“Museums aren´t popular with everybody!“ 2. rivers and seas

“Sports centres mean healthier people“ 3. .......................
“A town needs green spaces – parks are great for everybody“ (your own idea)
 CAE and FCE Essay Comparison
You have listened to a radio discussion programme about facilities In your English class you
which should receive money from local authorities. You have made have been talking about
the notes below. the environment. Now, your
Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes. You English teacher has asked
should explain which facility is more important for local authorities you to write an essay.
to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer. Write an essay using all
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the notes and give reasons for
discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible. your point of view.

Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage Every country in the world
to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved? has problems with pollution
and damage to the
Notes environment. Do you think
Which facilities should receive money from local authorities? these problems can be
1. museums solved?

2. sport centres Notes

3. public gardens Write about:

Some opinions expressed in the discussion: 1. transport

“Museums aren´t popular with everybody!“ 2. rivers and seas

“Sports centres mean healthier people“ 3. .......................
“A town needs green spaces – parks are great for everybody“ (your own idea)
 CAE: Writing Paper, Part 2
Revised version: Current version:
a choice of 3 tasks a choice of 4 tasks
– 220 – 260 words – 220 – 260 words
article competition entry contribution to a longer piece essay
informatin sheet email/letter proposal report review set text

CAE revised CAE current

email / letter article letter
proposal competition entry proposal
report information sheet report
review essay review
contr. to a l. piece set text
1. How is the text types reduction going to change the exam preparation?
2. Do you find it benefitial?
CAE: Listening Paper

No changes in CAE Listening

CAE: Speaking Paper

Revised Current

General topics 2 minutes 3 minutes

Part 1 conversation

Individual long no changes

Part 2 turn, short answer

Conversation between written prompts visuals,

Part 3 the candidates 2 mins discussion 4 minutes
+ 1 min decision
Part 4 Discussion 5 minutes 4 minutes
Most significant changes

• Both Cambridge English: First and

Cambridge English: Advanced are shorter.

• The Reading and Use of English papers have

been combined.

• Part 1 of the Writing Paper is an essay.

The Cambridge English Scale

Example:

Cambridge English:
Advanced

Overall Score 182

Reading 177
Use of English 171
Writing 183
Listening 187
Speaking 181
What is the Cambridge English Scale?

A single range of scores that covers all CEFR levels 

Candidates receive a score for each skill (Reading, 

Writing, Listening and Speaking) plus Use of English.
They also get an overall score on the scale for the
exam

Scores on the Cambridge English Scale will replace 

the standardised score and candidate profile

Cambridge English: First, Advanced and Proficiency 

will report on the scale from January 2015
Questions?
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Thank you!
 Have a great day! 
Contact us at:

Eva Vargová

[email protected]
00421 948 304 551