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Changes to FCE and CAE 2015

The first we have to take into account is that the level assessed both in the First Certificate in English and the Certificate in Advanced English is exactly the same. Although there is less time, the quantity of questions has also been reduced.

Which are the modifications?

First Certificate in English

Until 2015 the exam had a total length of 3 hours and 59 minutes. Since January, it takes 3 hours and 29 minutes and has four papers instead of five.

• Reading/Use of English: Currently, they are integrated into one paper divided in seven parts: Multiple-choice cloze, Open cloze, Word formation, Key word transformation, Multiple choice, Gapped text, Multiple matching.The reason why Use of English comes before Reading is to create progression, going first from the lexical and grammatical level to the textual one.
• Writing: The compulsory section is an essay instead of an e-mail or letter and the alternatives in part two are reduced to three instead of five.
• Speaking: Personal questions in part one have less importance and the discussion is longer.
• Listening: There are no substancial modifications. However, in part one the options are not read. In part three there are three extra questions.

Certificate in Advanced English

It has now a length of 3 hours and 55 minutes and has four papers instead of five.

• Reading/Use of English: Currently, they are integrated into one paper divided in seven parts: Multiple-choice cloze, Open cloze, Word formation, Key word transformation, Multiple choice, Cross-text multiple matching, Gapped text, Multiple matching. The reason why Use of English comes before Reading is to create progession, going first from the lexical and grammatical level to the textual one.
• Writing: The compulsory section is an essay instead of an e-mail or letter and the alternatives in part two there are three options.
• Speaking: There are no substancial modifications, except for part three that gives more importance to the interaction between participants.
• Listening: There are no substancial modifications. 

The Cambridge English Scale is a new scale to communicate the results. It is designed according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It has been thought so that the results are expressed clearer and more detailed.