40
Changes in Cambridge English: First, First for Schools and Advanced New Exam Updates 2015 Eva Vargová Consultant Cambridge English Language Assessment Part of the University of Cambridge
Changes in Cambridge English: First, First for Schools and Advanced
New Exam Updates 2015
Eva Vargov
ConsultantCambridge English Language AssessmentPart of the University of Cambridge
100 years of CPE
June 1913
3 candidates
Translation Essay Literature Phonetics Dictation Reading Conversation
12 hours
100 years of CPE
Nobody passed
The result of a consultation process
More suitable for higher education,
career enhancement and general purposes
Up-to-date methodical approach to language testing
User-friendly and accessible
Set the standards for B2 and C1 exams
Aims of the revised exams
General overview
Cambridge English: First
Cambridge English: First for Schools
Cambridge English: Advanced
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
Cambridge English: First (for Schools)Revised: 3 hrs 29 mins Current: 3 hrs 59 mins
Reading and Use of English
1 hr 15 mins
Reading1 hr
7 parts 3 parts52 questions 30 questions
Use of English
45 mins4 parts42 questions
Writing
1 hr 20 mins140-190, 140-190
Writing
1 hr 20 mins120-150, 120-180 words
1 compulsory question(essay)
1 compulsory question (email / letter)
1 from choice of 3 / 4 1 from choice of 5
Listening
40 mins
Listening
40 mins4 parts 4 parts30 questions 30 questions
Speaking14 mins
Speaking14 mins
4 parts 4 parts
Cambridge English: First (for Schools)Revised: 3 hrs 29 mins Current: 3 hrs 59 mins
Reading and Use of English
1 hr 15 mins
Reading1 hr
7 parts 3 parts52 questions 30 questions
Use of English
45 mins4 parts42 questions
Writing
1 hr 20 mins140-190, 140-190
Writing
1 hr 20 mins120-150, 120-180 words
1 compulsory question(essay)
1 compulsory question (email / letter)
1 from choice of 3 / 4 1 from choice of 5
Listening
40 mins
Listening
40 mins4 parts 4 parts30 questions 30 questions
Speaking14 mins
Speaking14 mins
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
Cambridge English: AdvancedRevised: 3 hrs 55 mins Current: 4 hrs 40 mins
Reading and Use of English
1 hr 30 mins
Reading
1 hr 15 mins8 parts 4 parts
56 questions 34 questions
Use of English
1 hr5 parts
50 questions
Writing
1 hr 30 mins220-260, 220-260
Writing
1 hr 20 mins180-220, 220-260
1 compulsory question(essay)
1 compulsory question(variety)
1 from choice of 3 1 from choice of 5
Listening
40 mins
Listening
40 mins4 parts 4 parts
30 questions 30 questions
Speaking15 mins
Speaking15 mins
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
Cambridge English: AdvancedRevised: 3 hrs 55 mins Current: 4 hrs 40 mins
Reading and Use of English
1 hr 30 mins
Reading
1 hr 15 mins8 parts 4 parts
56 questions 34 questions
Use of English
1 hr5 parts
50 questions
Writing
1 hr 30 mins220-260, 220-260
Writing
1 hr 30 mins180-220, 220-260
1 compulsory question (essay)
1 compulsory question (variety)
1 from choice of 3 1 from choice of 5
Listening
40 mins
Listening
40 mins4 parts 4 parts
30 questions 30 questions
Speaking15 mins
Speaking15 mins
4 parts 4 parts
1. Which parts have been changed?
2. Which tasks have been changed?
3. Where has the time been changed?
4. Where has the number of questions been changed?
Changes in
Cambridge English: First
Cambridge English: First for Schools
FCE: Reading and Use of English
Which of these tasks are in the current Reading paper
and Use of English paper?
Is any of the current tasks missing?
1. multiple-choice cloze
2. open cloze
3. word formation
4. key word transformation
5. multiple choice
6. gapped text
7. multiple matching
8 questions
8 questions
8 questions
6 questions
6 questions
6 questions
10 questions
12 questions
12 questions
10 questions
8 questions
8 questions
7 questions
15 questions
Revised Current
1. What is the change in the revised Reading and Use of
English?
2. Do I need to prepare my students for any new task type?
3. Which paper do the candidates start with?
FCE Reading and Use of English in summary:
FCE: Writing Paper, Part 1
Revised version: Current version:one compulsory question
letter / e-mail 120 150 words
one compulsory question
essay 140 190 words
In your English class you have been talking about the
environment. Now, your English teacher has asked you to
write an essay.
Write an essay using all notes and give reasons for your point
of view.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and
damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can
be solved?
Notes
Write about:
1. transport
2. rivers and seas
3. ....................... (your own idea)
First First for Schools
FCE: Writing Paper, Part 2
Revised version: Current version:a choice of five tasks
120 180 wordsa choice of 3 (First) / 4 (First for Schools) tasks
140 190 words
First First for Schools
article article
email / letter email / letter
review review
report story
essay, article, review or
letter on the set text
article email essay letter report review short story set text
FCE: Writing Paper, Part 2
First First for Schools
article article
email / letter email / letter
review review
report story
essay, article, review or
letter on the set text
1. Which text types are different?
2. Why are they different?
3. Do you like the text types distribution?
First First for Schools
article article
email / letter email / letter
review review
report story
essay, article, review or
letter on the set text
FCE: Listening Paper
All tasks retained, the same length Change to Part 1 and Part 3
Change to Part 1
the options are not read out
A series of 8 short unrelated
extracts, from monologues or
exchanges between
interacting speakers.
One multiple choice
question per text, each with
three options
Five short related
monologues. The multiple-
matching questions require
selection of the correct option
from a list of six.
Part 1 Part 3
Change to Part 3
there are two additional distractors
(three in total)
FCE: Speaking Paper
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Revised Current
General topics
conversation
Individual long
turn, short answer
Conversation between
the candidates
Discussion
2 minutes
3 sets of 4 qs
3 minutes
5 sets of 5 qs
the answer 30
secs 20 secs
written prompts
2 mins discussion
+ 1 min decision
visuals
in total 3 mins
no change
Changes in
Cambridge English: Advanced
CAE: Reading and Use of English
Is there any new task?
1. multiple-choice cloze
2. open cloze
3. word formation
4. key word transformation
5. multiple choice
6. cross-text mult. matching
7. gapped text
8. multiple matching
12 questions
15 questions
10 questions
8 questions
7 questions
6 questions
15 questions
8 questions
8 questions
8 questions
6 questions
6 questions
4 questions
6 questions
10 questions
Revised Current
cross-text mult. matching
Cross-text multiple matching
Focus Understanding of opinion and
attitude, comparing and
contrasting of opinions and
attitudes across texts.
Format Four short texts, followed by
multiple matching Qs. Candidates
must read across texts to match a
prompt to elements in the texts
No. of Qs 4
CAE: Cross-text Multiple Matching
CAE: Writing Paper, Part 1
Revised version: Current version:
one compulsory question article / report / proposal / letter 180 220 words
one compulsory question essay 220 260 words
In what way is the CAE and FCE essay different?
In what way is the CAE essay more demanding?
In your English class you
have been talking about
the environment. Now, your
English teacher has asked
you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all
notes and give reasons for
your point of view.
Every country in the world
has problems with pollution
and damage to the
environment. Do you think
these problems can be
solved?
Notes
Write about:
1. transport
2. rivers and seas
3. .......................
(your own idea)
You have listened to a radio discussion programme about facilities
which should receive money from local authorities. You have made
the notes below.
Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes. You
should explain which facility is more important for local authorities
to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer.
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the
discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage
to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved?
Notes
Which facilities should receive money from local authorities?
1. museums
2. sport centres
3. public gardens
Some opinions expressed in the discussion:
Museums arent popular with everybody!Sports centres mean healthier peopleA town needs green spaces parks are great for everybody
CAE and FCE Essay Comparison
In your English class you
have been talking about
the environment. Now, your
English teacher has asked
you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all
notes and give reasons for
your point of view.
Every country in the world
has problems with pollution
and damage to the
environment. Do you think
these problems can be
solved?
Notes
Write about:
1. transport
2. rivers and seas
3. .......................
(your own idea)
You have listened to a radio discussion programme about facilities
which should receive money from local authorities. You have made
the notes below.
Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes. You
should explain which facility is more important for local authorities
to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer.
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the
discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage
to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved?
Notes
Which facilities should receive money from local authorities?
1. museums
2. sport centres
3. public gardens
Some opinions expressed in the discussion:
Museums arent popular with everybody!Sports centres mean healthier peopleA town needs green spaces parks are great for everybody
CAE and FCE Essay Comparison
CAE revised CAE current
CAE: Writing Paper, Part 2
Revised version: Current version:
a choice of 4 tasks 220 260 words
a choice of 3 tasks 220 260 words
CAE revised CAE current
email / letter article letter
proposal competition entry proposal
report information sheet report
review essay review
contr. to a l. piece set text
article competition entry contribution to a longer piece essay
informatin sheet email/letter proposal report review set text
1. How is the text types reduction going to change the exam preparation?
2. Do you find it benefitial?
CAE: Listening Paper
No changes in CAE Listening
CAE: Speaking Paper
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Revised Current
General topics
conversation
Individual long
turn, short answer
Conversation between
the candidates
Discussion
2 minutes 3 minutes
written prompts
2 mins discussion
+ 1 min decision
visuals,
4 minutes
5 minutes 4 minutes
no changes
Both Cambridge English: First and
Cambridge English: Advanced are shorter.
The Reading and Use of English papers have been combined.
Part 1 of the Writing Paper is an essay.
Most significant changes
Example:
Cambridge English:
Advanced
Overall Score 182
Reading 177
Use of English 171
Writing 183
Listening 187
Speaking 181
The Cambridge English Scale
A single range of scores that covers all CEFR levels
Candidates receive a score for each skill (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) plus Use of English.
They also get an overall score on the scale for the
exam
Scores on the Cambridge English Scale will replace the standardised score and candidate profile
Cambridge English: First, Advanced and Proficiencywill report on the scale from January 2015
What is the Cambridge English Scale?
Questions?
www.CambridgeEnglish.org
www.CambridgeEnglish.org/Teaching-English
information about all exams teaching resources: sample papers, classroom activities, lesson plans
www.CambridgeEnglish.org/Webinars
www.Youtube.com/CambridgeEnglishTV
webinars videos about exams teaching videos, learning videos
Courses Webinars
Recruitment
Knowledge Network
Community Reputation Control
www.CambridgeEnglishTeacher.org
Online Professional Development for Teachers
Join us on Facebook
www.Facebook.com/CambridgeEnglishCZ
www.CambridgeEnglishSchools.cz
Thank you!
Have a great day!
Contact us at:
Eva Vargov
[email protected] 948 304 551
