First Certificate - Practice Tests [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION TO THE EXAMINATION AND MARKING SCHEME The FCE examination is held in June and December every year. It consists of five papers (described below) and these are usually taken over two separate days. Paper 1: Reading Comprehension (1 hour) There are two parts to this paper: Section A 25 multiple choice questions. Each question has a missing word and four possible answers. You choose which is the most suitable one. Each correct answer gets one mark. Section B 15 multiple choice questions based on three or more texts. Each correct answer gets 2 marks. The total number of marks for Paper 1 is 55. This is adjusted to give you a final mark out of 40. Paper 2: Composition (1 hour 30 mins) You are required to write two compositions from a choice of five. The topics usually include a letter, a narrative, a discussion and a speech or talk. There is always a question on the prescribed texts. Each composition is marked out of 20, giving you a total mark for the paper out of 40. Paper 3: Use of English (2 hours) This paper tests your knowledge of grammar - how well you know it, and how well you can use it. There are usually five or six different types of questions. Some of these may vary, but there is always a blank filling, a sentence transformation and a directed writing exercise. There is a guide to these three standard items beginning on page 2. Other questions may include word building, completion of dialogues/ letters or exercises on phrasal verbs. The total number of marks for this paper is adjusted to give you a mark out of 40. Paper 4: Listening (about 30 minutes) This paper consists of a recording of three or four examples of natural spoken English in everyday situations, such as telephone conversations, announcements or radio programmes. There is usually a variety of question types, often including multiple choice, true/false, sequencing, matching or blank filling. This paper is marked out of 20. Paper 5: Interview (15-20 minutes) For this part of the exam you speak to an examiner, either on your own or with another student. Your teacher will ask you which you would prefer, sometime before the day of the exam. There are usually three parts to the interview. In the first two parts, the examiner will show you a picture and then later a short extract from a reading passage, usually on a related subject, for you to describe and talk about. In the third part of the exam you take part in a roleplay or discussion with either the examiner, or, if you are being examined with someone else, the other student. If you wish you can choose to talk about one of the prescribed texts in the interview. This must be arranged beforehand. The examiner will give you marks on six different areas of spoken language: fluency, grammatical accuracy, pronunciation of sentences, pronunciation of individual sounds, interactive communication, and range of vocabulary. These marks are later adjusted to give you a total mark of 40.