FCE FAQs
FAQs about FCE
Reading
- What is the range of text types in each part of the FCE Reading paper?
- Does each part have a time limit?
- Can computers spot when a candidate has made a mistake transferring the answers?
Writing
- Are candidates penalised for writing over-long or over-short answers?
- Is the report format obligatory for the 'report' in the Writing paper?
- Are addresses to be omitted ONLY when stated in the task?
- What is the situation with the use of closing formulae in the Writing paper?
- What happens if the narrative prompt is in the wrong place in the candidate's answer?
- Do candidates have to study both the set texts?
Use of English
- How are marks awarded in the Transformation task in the Use of English paper?
- What happens if candidates miss a negative in the transformations, thereby giving the opposite meaning to the original?
- How is the Word Formation task evaluated when the form of the word is right, but it should be plural instead of singular or the other way round?
Listening
- Is wrong spelling penalised in the Listening paper?
- Are candidates supposed to write the words they hear on the recording in answers to Part 2, or do they get more marks if they use their own words?
- In the Listening paper, can candidates fill in the answer sheet directly?
- Can candidates wear headphones in the Listening paper?
Speaking
- What should candidates do if they don't understand the instructions?
- What is done when there's only one candidate left at the end of a Speaking test session?
Reading
What is the range of text types in each part of the FCE Reading paper?
It is possible for any of the text types listed in the handbook to appear in any part of the paper. It is helpful for FCE candidates to be familiar with any text type that might appear in the exam and with the different test focuses for each part. Appropriate tasks are selected to suit the individual text.
Does each part have a time limit?
No. The time limit of 1 hour is for the whole of the Reading paper and candidates can organise this time as they wish.
Can computers spot when a candidate has made a mistake transferring the answers?
If more than one lozenge has been completed for one question, the computer rejects the answer sheet, which is then dealt with on an individual basis. Checks are in place to identify incomplete answer sheets, which are also then checked.
Cases where all the answers have been entered incorrectly, e.g. by putting answer 1 to question 2, answer 2 to question 3 etc., cannot be identified.
Candidates should be careful when filling in their answer sheets.
Writing
Are candidates penalised for writing over-long or over-short answers?
Candidates are not penalised simply for writing more or fewer than the stipulated number of words. An exception to this is made where answers have fewer than 50 words — these are awarded a score of Band 0.
However, as length of answer is a factor of task achievement, candidates would be penalised for over-long answers where the extra material is considered to be irrelevant and has a negative effect on the target reader. Similarly, a candidate who produces considerably fewer than the stipulated number of words is unlikely to have included all the features of content necessary to achieve the task.
All FCE Writing tasks are extensively trialled before they appear on a live paper, and care is taken to ensure that tasks do not expect answers that are significantly longer or shorter than the required number of words.
Is the report format obligatory for the 'report' in the Writing paper?
Reports should be clearly organised and may contain headings. The report format is not obligatory, but will make a good impression on the target reader if used appropriately. The mark awarded to the report will, however, depend on how the report meets the requirements of the General Mark Scheme and the Task Specific Mark Scheme for the question.
Are addresses to be omitted ONLY when stated in the task?
As a matter of policy, where the genre is given as a letter, the instruction 'You do not need to include postal addresses' is added to the rubric. Where other genres are given in the rubric (e.g. report, article), candidates sometimes choose to use a letter format to answer the question if appropriate to the task. In no case will the address, if included by the candidate, be subject to assessment, either negative or positive.
What is the situation with the use of closing formulae in the Writing paper?
There is no fixed penalty for using a formula which has traditionally not been considered the appropriate one. It would be difficult to impose such a penalty as worldwide there is a range of correct endings. This is all part of the effect on the target reader as an appropriate ending has a positive effect and is part of the correct register for the task. Cambridge ESOL would not penalise the use of 'Yours sincerely' as opposed to 'Yours faithfully' and vice versa. The use of 'Love' or 'Cheers' in a formal letter would, however, be inappropriate register, as would 'Yours faithfully' in an informal letter.
What happens if the narrative prompt is in the wrong place in the candidate's answer?
If the prompt sentence is used at the wrong end of the story, (i.e. ends the story when it should begin it), or is embedded somewhere within the story, candidates will be penalised by a whole band for non-completion of the task. The mark would of course be lower if the language is weak, but stories awarded a mark in Band 2 or 1 will not be penalised further for task infringement.
Do candidates have to study both the set texts?
The set text questions are optional. If candidates decide to answer on a set text, it is only necessary to study one of the books as there is always a question on each of them.
The FCE texts are Graded Readers which have been adapted to the level and are suitable for FCE candidates. Other editions of these books may be available. However, teachers and candidates should be aware that the language level in other editions may be less accessible.
Information on which set texts have been selected for a particular year can be found in Exam Details and Timetables.
Use of English
How are marks awarded in the Transformation task in the Use of English paper?
Transformation questions contain two key elements, and the key is designed so that this is clear to markers, e.g. do you want | to take.
As long as candidates' responses contain the emboldened prompt word from the item, and are between two and five words in length, candidates are eligible for both marks. If candidates get the first part wrong, they can still get a mark for a correct second part of the answer (and vice-versa). This allows candidates to be rewarded for partially correct answers.
What happens if candidates miss a negative in the transformations, thereby giving the opposite meaning to the original?
The instructions to the candidate state that the second sentence must have a similar meaning to the first. However, in the mark scheme the answer is divided into two parts (see below). The two parts of the sentence (either side of the dividing line) are always treated separately, so a candidate will receive one mark for correctly completing one part of the sentence even if a negative has been omitted from the other part.
e.g. The last time Enrico saw Gloria was the day they left school
SEEN
Enrico has ............. the day they left school.
n't / not seen Gloria ][ since
How is the Word Formation task evaluated when the form of the word is right, but it should be plural instead of singular or the other way round?
A singular in an answer where a plural is required is marked as incorrect. Candidates are expected to look at indicators in the text to decide whether a singular or plural form is appropriate. The same applies for positively/negatively prefixed adjectives.
Listening
Is wrong spelling penalised in the Listening paper?
At FCE level, minor spellings are not penalised, but the candidate's intention must be clear. Candidates will not be asked to spell words which are above FCE level. However, where a word has been spelled out letter by letter, for example a proper name, and where this would actually be a test of the candidate's ability to follow the spelling, the spelling must be correct.
Are candidates supposed to write the words they hear on the recording in answers to Part 2, or do they get more marks if they use their own words?
Candidates should try to use the actual words they hear on the CD. They do not get more marks for using their own words.
In the Listening paper, can candidates fill in the answer sheet directly?
There is nothing to prevent candidates from doing this. However, it is recommended that candidates put their answers on the question paper while listening to the recording and then transfer these answers to the answer sheet when the recording has finished.
Can candidates wear headphones in the Listening paper?
There is no regulation against candidates using headphones. This depends on how the centre administers the exam.
Speaking
What should candidates do if they don't understand the instructions?
Candidates should ask the examiner to repeat the instructions. They will not be penalised for this. However, for reasons of standardisation, no variation on the instructions can be given.
What is done when there's only one candidate left at the end of a Speaking test session?
In all Main Suite examinations, candidates are examined in pairs with two examiners. At centres with an uneven number of candidates, the last single candidate will be examined with the last pair to form a group of three.
