Cambridge Exam courses

The University of Westminster is a leading Cambridge Main Suite examination open centre in the UK. In 2011 we will be offering computer based exams in FCE and CAE alongside the traditional paper based exams in FCE, CAE and CPE. All examinations are held on site at 309 Regent Street, the University Headquarters.

A certificate from Cambridge ESOL tells people a great deal about you and what you can do. It is recognised as proof of your language abilities by more than 8,500 employers, universities and government bodies around the world.

Course content

Level: Upper-intermediate to Advanced

Four hours a week 6.30pm – 8.30pm

We offer courses in:

• Cambridge First Certificate (FCE)
• Cambridge Advanced Examination (CAE)
• Cambridge Proficiency (CPE)

FCE – Tuesday and Thursday
CAE, CPE – Monday and Wednesday

First Certificate in English (FCE)

Download FCE Information

Passing the FCE exam shows that you can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level. FCE is an ideal exam for people who want to use English for work or study purposes.

What will FCE do for you?

• FCE is an international exam, recognised as a qualification in upper intermediate English by thousands of employers such as airlines, banking and other industrial, administrative and service-based industries.
• FCE is also widely accepted by universities and other educational institutions for admission purposes. You can find a list of organisations and universities that recognise FCE at: www.CambridgeESOL.org/recognition
• FCE exams use real-life situations designed to help you communicate more effectively and increase your confidence in using English in everyday situations.
• As well as the four language skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking — FCE also focuses on grammar and vocabulary through the Use of English paper.
• Your preparation for FCE gives you the skills you need for using English in work, study and social situations.
• Passing FCE prepares you to move on to higher qualifications such as the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

Remember ... Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous University of Cambridge: a Cambridge ESOL certificate is an achievement that says a great deal about your ability and your hard work.

What level is FCE?

FCE is at Level B2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) — an internationally recognized framework.

At B2 level, typical users can:

• understand the main ideas of complex pieces of writing
• keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, expressing opinions and presenting arguments
• produce clear, detailed writing, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view.

Your preparation for FCE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.

What does FCE involve?

FCE has five papers:

Reading– 1 hour

You need to be able to understand a range of texts, including how they are organised and the opinions and attitudes expressed in them. The texts will be from sources such as newspaper and magazine articles, reports, fiction, advertisements etc.

Writing – 1 hour 20 minutes

You have to produce two pieces of writing. The first piece is compulsory and will be a letter or an email of between 120-150 words. For the second, you may choose from an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, or a short story of between 120—180 words.

Use of English – 45 minutes

Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening – 40 minutes

You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material which may be taken from news programmes, public announcements and other sources.

Speaking – 14 minutes

You take the speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three. You will have to show how well you can produce spontaneous pieces of spoken language, sometimes talking with the examiner or the other candidate(s) and sometimes by yourself.

Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

Download CAE Information

CAE is an exam for advanced users of English. This exam is aimed at people who can use written and spoken English for most professional and social purposes. It is widely recognised for work or study purposes.

Is CAE for you?

Can you:

• use English in an effective way for business or study purposes
• use English confidently and flexibly?
• produce well-structured, clear pieces of writing on complex issues?

If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then CAE is the right exam for you.

What will CAE do for you?

Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking CAE:

• A CAE certificate is valid for life
• CAE is truly international, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
• hundreds of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise CAE as a qualification in advanced English
• passing CAE gives you the confidence to take on the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
• CAE's 'Can Do' skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.

What will taking CAE help you do?

CAE is at Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - an internationally recognised benchmark of language ability. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. 'Can Do' statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language.

For example, at C1 level, typical users can be expected to:

• read quickly enough to cope with an academic course
• understand complex opinions
• produce clear, well structured and detailed pieces of writing
• express themselves well with a good degree of fluency
• use English flexibly for social, professional and academic purposes.

Your preparation for CAE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.

What does CAE involve?

CAE has five papers:

Reading – 1 hour 15 minutes

You will need to be able to understand texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing 1 hour 30 minutes

You will have to show you can produce two different pieces of writing such as an article, a report, a proposal and a review.

Use of English 1 hour

Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening: 40 minutes

You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, radio broadcasts, speeches and talks.

Speaking: 15 minutes

You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidate and by yourself.

Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

CPE is Cambridge ESOL’s most advanced exam. It is aimed at people who use English for professional or study purposes and are approaching the fluency and sophistication of an educated first language speaker.

What will CPE do for you?

• Nearly all UK universities recognise CPE as an English qualification suitable for students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
• CPE is an international exam, recognised by thousands of employers, universities and government departments around the world for professional and academic purposes. You can find a list of the organisations and universities that recognise CPE at: www.CambridgeESOL.org/recognition.
• As well as the four language skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking — CPE also focuses on grammar and vocabulary through the Use of English paper.
• Your preparation for CPE gives you the skills you need for using English for professional, study and social purposes - even in complex or sensitive situations.

Remember... Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world famous University of Cambridge: a Cambridge ESOL certificate is an achievement that says a great deal about your ability and your hard work.

What Level is CPE?

CPE is at Level C2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) — an internationally recognised framework. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability, with C2 being the highest.

At C2 level, typical users can:

• Understand with ease virtually everything they hear and read, including the finer points of complex texts
• Make accurate and complete notes during a presentation
• Understand colloquial asides and cultural references
  
• Talk about complicated and sensitive issues without awkwardness
• Express themselves precisely and fluently, adapting their tone and style appropriately

Your preparation for CPE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.

What does CPE involve?

CPE has five papers:

Reading– 1 hour 30 minutes

You need to be able to understand a range of texts, including how they are organised, the opinions and attitudes expressed in them and the precise meaning of the words within them.

Writing – 2 hours

You have to produce two pieces of writing, such as an article, an essay, a letter, a proposal, a report or a review, each of about 300—350 words.

Use of English – 1 hour 30 minutes

Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary and how well you can summarise information.

Listening – 40 minutes

You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, which may be taken from, for example, talks, speeches, radio plays, lectures and documentaries.

Speaking – 19 minutes

You take the speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three. You will have to show how well you can produce spontaneous pieces of spoken language, sometimes talking with the examiner or the other candidate(s) and sometimes by yourself.