Cambridge Exams
B2 FIRST
(FORMERLY FCE)
The exam covers the use of English in a variety of real-life situations and academic environments and test-takers are expected to understand fairly complex texts taken from a wide range of sources such as magazines, newspapers and fiction. In addition, they are expected to produce a fairly wide range of texts such as letters, e-mails, reports and essays, to be able to listen effectively to material drawn from public announcements, news broadcasts and interviews and engage in conversations covering a wide range of topics in which the test-takers has to express opinions and present arguments.
When taking tests of this kind, many students perform poorly because they are not adequately trained in the numerous skills and sub-skills required for each of the sections of the test. They will therefore be greatly assisted by the fact that Exam English classes take the form of private, one-on-one lessons in which individual performance can be assessed closely and in which the student has the trainer’s undivided attention. We are also prepared to be flexible in our administrative arrangements and, if necessary, lessons can be arranged outside normal business hours.
It is impossible to generalise about how much preparation will be needed as much depends on the individual student’s English language level. However, unless a student is already a strong upper intermediate, he or she should expect to invest considerable time in preparation as even textbooks designed for compact courses assume 50-60 hours of study.
C1 ADVANCED
(FORMERLY CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH)
C1 Advanced, previously known as the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) is an examination provided by Cambridge Assessment English. As its new name indicates, this exam is targeted at Level C1 (advanced) of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and candidates who pass the test will have shown that they have reached a high level of English language competence that will enable them to prepare for university or professional life in an English-speaking country.
Test-takers are expected to read genuinely complex texts taken from a variety of sources, both academic and non-academic, and demonstrate high levels of proficiency in producing a variety of texts such as letters, reports, reviews, proposals and essays. The listening and speaking requirements have much in common with those of the B2 First exam, but the levels of performance expected are obviously considerably more demanding. Any student who can pass the C1 Advanced exam will have shown that he or she has the skills needed to participate in undergraduate university coursework and communicate effectively in English at managerial levels in corporate settings.
When taking tests of this kind, many students perform poorly because they are not adequately trained in the numerous skills and sub-skills required for each of the sections of the test. They will therefore be greatly assisted by the fact that Exam English classes take the form of private, one-on-one lessons in which individual performance can be assessed closely and in which the student has the trainer’s undivided attention. We are also prepared to be flexible in our administrative arrangements and, if necessary, lessons can be arranged outside normal business hours.
It is impossible to generalise about how much preparation will be needed as much depends on the individual student’s English language level. However, unless a student’s English is already securely at the advanced level, he or she should expect to invest considerable time in preparation as even textbooks designed for compact courses assume 50-60 hours of study.