| KEY FACTS | |
| CEFR level: | B2 |
| Scale score: | 160–179 |
| Test format: | Computer or paper-based |
| No. of papers: | 4 |
| Exam length: | About 3.5 hours |
Are you ready for B2 First (FCE)?
B2 First (FCE) – First Certificate in English – is the most popular Cambridge exam recognized by countless employers and educational institutions around the globe. It showcases your capability to communicate in everyday written and spoken English for work or study.
Cambridge First Certificate in English (B2) shows that you can:
- evaluates your English knowledge and skills at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- is recognized by countless institutions and employers globally as proof of your ability to communicate in spoken and written English for academic, professional, and everyday situations.
- is developed through thorough research to ensure that each test is appropriately timed and leveled, providing a fair and accurate reflection of your abilities.
- aims to demonstrate your proficiency in using English in various contexts.
- can be completed either on paper or via a computer.
The primary differences are in how the exam is conducted —either on paper or digitally—and the time it takes to get your results. For the paper exam, you can expect results in about 4 to 6 weeks, while the digital version allows for a faster result delivery of just 5 to 10 days.
Additionally, the digital format of the exam offer:
- For the listening test, you’ll use headphones that have volume control. During paper-based (PB) exams, the audio will be played through a speaker.
- The writing test features an automatic word count
- In the reading test, you’re allowed to take notes, highlight important text, and review your answers.
Try solving the example test and see if you could pass the B2 exam!
Prepare for B2 First Certificate (FCE)
Sign up to prepare for the exam and obtain your first prestigious language certificate.Timetable/Format:
B2 First (FCE) is made up of four papers developed to test your English skills (Reading, Use of English, Listening, Writing and Speaking), therefore your FCE exam preparation will have to be comprehensive and cover all areas
You can see exactly what is in each paper below.
| Reading and Use of English (1 hour 15 minutes) | 7 parts 52 questions | This part evaluates your reading abilities, including your attention to detail and comprehension of text structure, as well as your familiarity with and application of various vocabulary and grammar. |
| Writing (1 hour 20 minutes) | 2 parts | This part evaluates the content, effectiveness of communication, structure, and language used in your written English. |
| Listening (about 40 minutes) | 4 parts 30 questions | This part evaluates practical listening abilities, including the capacity to grasp overall meaning, extract information, understand opinions, and identify specific details. |
| Speaking (14 minutes per pair of candidates) | 4 parts | This evaluates how well you engage with other speakers, the way you structure your thoughts, your pronunciation, and your command of grammar and vocabulary. |
Time allowed: 1 hour 15 mins
Number of parts: 7
| Part 1 – Multiple-choice cloze A test that includes eight missing words. For each missing word, there are four multiple-choice answers available. See sample test |
| Part 2 – Open cloze A cloze test that includes eight empty spaces. See sample test |
| Part 3 – Word formation Here’s a text with eight empty spaces. Each space stands for a word that is missing. The base form of the missing word is shown next to the text and should be altered to fit the context. See sample test |
| Part 4 – Key word transformations The task consists of six individual tasks, where each begins with a lead-in sentence and is followed by a second sentence that contains a blank to be filled in with two to five words, one of which is a designated ‘key’ word. See sample test |
| Part 5 -Multiple choice A text that includes six choices, each with four possible answers to select from. See sample test |
| Part 6 – Gapped text Here’s a text that has had some sentences removed and shuffled around. The challenge for candidates is to identify where in the text those sentences were originally located. See sample test |
| Part 7 – Multiple matching One or more short pieces of writing, accompanied by several matching questions. Candidates need to align a prompt with various components within the text. See sample test |
It takes 1 hour 20 minutes and it consists of two separate tasks.
Time allowed: 1 hour 20 minutes
Number of parts: 2
| Part 1: Writing an essay Writing 140–190 words. There is only one question. You must write an essay which shows your opinion about the topic, using the ideas which are given in the question and one extra idea of your own. See sample test |
| Part 2: Writing other text (choose one task from three) Candidates are writing one of the following: an article, email, letter, review or report There is also a word limit between 140–190 words. See sample test |
Time allowed: About 40 minutes
Number of parts: 4
| Part 1 (Multiple choice) A collection of brief, unrelated fragments, each lasting around 30 seconds, taken from monologues or dialogues between speakers. Each excerpt is accompanied by a multiple-choice question that offers three possible answers. See sample test |
| Part 2 (Sentence completion) A monologue that runs for about 3 to 4 minutes. Participants need to finish the sentences using details they gathered from the recording. See sample test |
| Part 3 (Multiple matching) This task includes five concise monologues, each about 30 seconds long. Additionally, there are five questions where you need to pick the correct answer from a selection of eight choices. See sample test |
| Part 4 (Multiple choice) A conversation or dialogue between two individuals that lasts for about 3 to 4 minutes. It includes seven multiple-choice questions, each with three options to choose from. See sample test |
Candidates are generally evaluated in pairs, but if there’s an odd number of candidates, they may be assessed in groups of three. One of the examiners takes on the role of both the interlocutor and the assessor, guiding the interaction.
Time allowed: 14 minutes (for pairs) 20 minutes (for groups of three)
Number of parts: 4
| Part 1 (Interview) Each candidate has a brief general conversation (about 2 minutes) with the examiner. See sample test |
| Part 2 (Long turn) You and the other candidate(s) each speak for 1 minute about two photographs. After the other candidate has spoken, you also have 30 seconds to respond to what they said. See sample test |
| Part 3 (Collaborative task) You and the other candidate(s) discuss and complete a decision-making task. See sample test |
| Part 4 (Discussion) The candidates and the examiner all speak together about topics related to the task in Part 3. See sample test |
Scoring and results:
Each candidate will receive a score for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking and use of English). Every candidate will get a Statement of Results, and if you pass the exam, you’ll also earn a certificate.
Your score for (Reading + Use of English + Writing + Listening + Speaking) ÷ 5 = your exam result!
| Test Score | Grade | CEFR level |
|---|---|---|
| 180–190 | Grade A | C1 |
| 173–179 | Grade B | B2 |
| 160–172 | Grade C | B2 |
| 140–159 | Level B1 | B1 |
A candidate scoring 180 to 190 will receive a grade A and certificate at Level C1.
Candidates with scores from 173 to 179 will receive a grade B. Those scoring between 160 and 172 will receive a grade C.
These candidates will receive certificate at Level B2.
Candidates who score between 140 and 159 will receive a Cambridge English certificate stating they demonstrated ability at Level B1.
Candidates scoring under 140 will not receive a certificate, but score will be shown on the Statement of Results.
You can find these numbers on the document from your exam centre.
Statement of Results:
In the Statement of Results, candidates can find:
- their scores for each of the four exam sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
- score for their overall performance in the exam.
- Grade – this is based on the candidate’s overall score.
- Level on the CEFR – this is also based on the overall score.
See sample Statement of Results in PDF: Statement of Results (Download)
Certificate:
If you are well prepared and successful in the exam you will receive a B2 First Certificate in English which is normally sent to exam centres within three months of the exam.
It shows the candidate’s:
- Score on the Cambridge English Scale for each of the four exam papers
- Overall score on the Cambridge English Scale
- Grade – this is based on the candidate’s overall score.
- Level on the CEFR
- Level on the UK National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
See sample of Cambridge B2 First Certificate in PDF: FCE Certificate (Download)
Exam preparation:
Self-study in B2 First exam preparation is very important. Consider these methods to make your learning experience more tailored to you:
Handbook
access a variety of free study materials to help you get ready for the First Certificate in English, including helpful tips, informative articles, grammar guides, and practice exercises.
Visit page
Practice tests
here you’ll discover a variety of practice tests that closely resemble the actual B2 First (FCE) Cambridge exams, along with helpful tips and resources to aid in your preparation.
Visit page
Free online learning activities
provided by Cambridge and categorised by skill, level and time to complete
Visit page
Guide to FCE exam
information and advice on how to prepare before the exam, what to expect in the exam and what will happen after the exam.
Download guide
Prepare for B2 First Certificate in English
Sign up to prepare for the exam and obtain your first prestigious language certificate.
