Cambridge FCE
Reading, Writing and Use of English
Ninh Thuan June 2012
Reading
(1 hour)
Writing
(1 h 20 min)
Use of English
(45 mins)
Listening
(40 mins)
Speaking
(14 mins)
Paper 1 Reading
1 hour
3 parts
Part 1: long text / multiple choice
Part 2: gapped text / missing sentences
Part 3: multiple matching
Part 1 Multiple choice
One long text
8 multiple choice questions
Reading Part 1
There were usually two or three jobs advertised in the Veterinary Record each week and an average of eighty applicants for each one. It hadn’t seemed possible when the letter came from Darrowby in Yorkshire. Mr S. Farnon would like to see me on the Friday afternoon; ...Most young people emerging from the colleges after five years of hard work were faced by a world unimpressed by their enthusiasm and bursting knowledge. So I had grabbed the lifeline unbelievingly.
2. What had surprised the writer about the job?
A There had been no advertisement.
B He had been contacted by letter.
C There was an invitation to tea.
D He had been selected for interview.
Reading Part 1 answer
There were usually two or three jobs advertised in the Veterinary Record each week and an average of eighty applicants for each one. It hadn’t seemed possible when the letter came from Darrowby in Yorkshire. Mr S. Farnon would like to see me on the Friday afternoon; ...Most young people emerging from the colleges after five years of hard work were faced by a world unimpressed by their enthusiasm and bursting knowledge. So I had grabbed the lifeline unbelievingly.
2. What had surprised the writer about the job?
A There had been no advertisement.
B He had been contacted by letter.
C There was an invitation to tea.
D He had been selected for interview.
Reading Part 2

Long text
7 gaps
8 sentences
Insert sentences into gaps
Tests understanding of text organisation and structure
Reading Part 2
Approach
Skim: understand the whole text; get the topic of each paragraph and the structure
Identify things to help you: people, places, time, topics
Look at sentences and identify topics, people, places time etc.
Look at each gap:
Topic/time/place
Check by looking at referencing
Reading Part 2
Downhill racer
My first race was a cross-country race in 1995. It wasn’t an amazing success. After entering a few more cross-country races, a local bike shop gave me a downhill bike to try. I entered a downhill race, fell off, but did reasonably well in the end, so I switched to downhill racing.
C The courses were twice as long and the crowds were twice
as big.
F I finished last, but it didn’t matter as I really enjoyed it.
Reading Part 2
Downhill racer
My first race was a cross-country race in 1995. It wasn’t an amazing success. After entering a few more cross-country races, a local bike shop gave me a downhill bike to try. I entered a downhill race, fell off, but did reasonably well in the end, so I switched to downhill racing.
F I finished last, but it didn’t matter as I really enjoyed it.
Ideas – a race that wasn’t a success = I lost = I finished last
Time – simple past for one occasion in both F and paragraph containing 9
Referencing – ‘enjoyed ‘it’ refers back to my first race..

Part 2
Speed read or skim whole article. Get an idea of the whole article
Identify the topics of the paragraphs and how they are arranged
Look at each sentence and match it to the paragraph topic
Use linking words/reference words etc. to check the sentence fits the gap
Part 2 answers
9 F
10 H
11 C
12 A
13 E
14 B
15 G
Part 3: multiple matching
A number of short texts
15 questions
Have to choose the text
Part 3: multiple matching
Approach
Skim
Scan
Read in detail to check
Remember to paraphrase!
Part 3
You are going to read a magazine article about people who collect things. For questions 16–30, choose from the people (A–D). The people may be chosen more than once.
Reading - answers
Part 3
16 B 17 C 18 A 19 D
20 A
Answer sheet
Remember to use B or HB pencil
Remember to be clear and accurate
If you make a mistake, erase it completely
Practice!
Remember you can write anything you like on the question paper
Paper 1 Reading
Preparation
General:
Read a lot
Pay attention to text structure:
Paragraph topics
Referencing
Summarise what you read to other people
Exam preparation
Practice – use time limits
Check your answers and understand why
Paper 2 Writing
1 hour 20 minutes
two parts
Paper 2 Writing Part 1
compulsory
a letter or email
120–150 words
input material of up to 160 words
express a range of functions
given purpose and target reader
Part 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in
120–150 words in an appropriate style on the opposite page.
1 You have received an email from your English-speaking friend, Sara, who is planning to open a restaurant. Read Sara’s email and the notes you have made. Then write an email to Sara, using all your notes.
Write your email. You must use grammatically correct sentences with accurate spelling and punctuation in a style appropriate for the situation.
Part One Tips
Read and understand input material
Answer question
Important to include all notes
Think about target reader
Think about style: formal or informal
Start and end in letter/email style
Paper 2 Writing Part 2
one question from a choice of five
an article, essay, letter, report, review, story
120–180 words
question 5 based on set texts
range of testing focuses
given purpose and target reader
You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.
MY FAVOURITE TEACHER
Tell us about a favourite teacher of yours and say what you remember about him or her.
We will publish the most interesting articles next month.
Write your article.
You have had a class discussion on how to keep healthy and your teacher has now asked you to write a report for new student at your college giving them some advice on places to go in the area. You should include information on sports facilities and healthy places to eat locally.
Write your report.
Part Two Tips
Ignore question 5 (students need to read set book)
Answer question
Use recognisable genre
Keep it short, well-organised (paragraphs) and interesting
Writing Assessment
Bands 0–5 (5 is the top)
focus on communication
Criteria are in the FCE handbook
Writing assessment
Content: task completion & expansion of ideas
Organisation & cohesion: order of ideas & how they are linked into paragraphs
Range: language
Accuracy: grammar & vocab
Register: appropriate writing style & format
Target reader: who will read your writing; the effect of your writing on them




For a Band 3 to be awarded, the candidate’s writing, on the whole, achieves the desired effect on the target reader. All the content points required in the task are included. Ideas are organised adequately, with the use of simple linking devices and an adequate range of structure and vocabulary. A number of errors may be present, but they do not impede communication. A reasonable, if not always successful, attempt is made at register and format which is appropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience.
Checklist for Writing
Have you…
included all the notes (part 1)?
Used appropriate genre (part 2)?
used paragraphs?
written the right number of words?
linked the points clearly?
Used a range of structures/tenses?
made any mistakes in grammar/spelling?
used a range of vocab?
started & ended the letter/email correctly (part 1)?
used the right style for the target reader?
Formats
Email (formal /informal)
Letter (formal/informal)
Report
Article
Review
Short story
Essay
Set text: DON’T DO THIS ONE!
Preparation
Study the genre conventions.
(FCE preparation course books are good at this).
Use the genre conventions when you write
Practice writing
Bring your writing to your study groups
In your study groups, grade your writing
Use the marking criteria from the handbook
Read the model answers and grade them. Compare your answers to the examiner comments

Paper 3 Use of English
45 minutes
four parts
A love of travelling
For Nigel Portman, a love of travelling began with what’s (0) called a ‘gap year’. In common with many other British teenagers, he chose to take a year out before (1) …….. to study for his degree. After doing various jobs to (2) …….. some money, he left home to gain some experience of life in different cultures, visiting America and Asia.
A settling down B getting to C taking over D holding back
A achieve B raise C advance D win
Part 1
Fashion
Throughout history people have worn clothing of (0) …….... description or another. Apart (13) ……....
protection against the weather, clothes were also often used to show the wearer’s status and wealth. Over the years, numerous fashions in clothing have come and gone. (14) …….... some of these have been popular for relatively short periods, others have lasted longer.
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example:
0
Part 2
Part 3
For questions 25–34, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example:
0
Walking holidays
The Real Walkers Company offers a (0) ………… of small group walking holidays which explore some delightful hidden corners of Europe, the Americas and Australasia. There is something for everyone to enjoy on these holidays, (25) ………… of age or level of (26) …………. The brochure includes various destinations and a range of itineraries.
SELECT


REGARD
FIT
Part 4
For questions 35–42, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).
Example:
0 A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.
DRIVEN
We …………………………………. a very friendly taxi driver.
The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:
Example: 0 WERE DRIVEN INTO TOWN BY
Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Use of English answers
Part 1 Part 2
1 A 13 whose
2 B 14 been
3 C 15 part
4 B 16 be
5 A 17 are
6 A 18 of
7 D
8 D
Use of English - answers
Part 3
25 regardless 27 historical
26 fitness 28 adventurous
Part 4
35 on their own
36 had better leave
37 there’s no point / there is no point
38 had been on time
39 was the first time
Further information
University of Cambridge
ESOL Examinations
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