UCLES 2014

2015 Exams Revision

Cambridge English: First and
Cambridge English: First for
Schools
UCLES 2014

2
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UCLES 2014

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UCLES 2014

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UCLES 2014

Aims of the webinar
An overview of the changes to Cambridge
English: First/First for Schools
A more detailed paper-by-paper look at
the changes
Practical teaching ideas and resources
available
A summary of the session
Key dates and further support
UCLES 2014

Which statement describes you?
A. Im preparing students for Cambridge
English: First and/or Cambridge English:
First for Schools.
B. Im going to start preparing students for
Cambridge English: First and/or
Cambridge English: First for Schools in
the future.
C. Im not a teacher.
UCLES 2014

Overview of the Changes
Cambridge English: First and
Cambridge English: First For Schools

J anuary 2015
UCLES 2014

Aims of the revised exam
higher education
career enhancement
user-friendly and accessible
up-to-date methodical approach
modern, fresh appeal
set the standards for B2

UCLES 2014

Cambridge English: First
Revised: 3 hrs 29 mins Current: 3 hrs 59 mins
Reading
and Use of
English
1 hr 15 mins
7 parts
52 questions
Reading
1 hr
3 parts
30 questions
Use of
English
45 mins
4 parts
42 questions
Writing
1 hr 20 mins
one compulsory
question (essay);
one from choice of three
Writing
1 hr 20 mins
one compulsory
question (email/letter);
one from choice of five
Listening
40 mins
4 parts
30 questions
Listening
40 mins
4 parts
30 questions
Speaking
14 mins
4 parts
Speaking
14 mins
4 parts
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English paper
What do you think are the benefits of
combining the Reading and Use of English
papers?
UCLES 2014

Why combine the Reading and Use
of English papers?
The current papers share key features

UCLES 2014

Why combine the Reading and Use
of English papers?
The current papers share key features
More user-friendly for candidates

UCLES 2014

Why combine the Reading and Use
of English papers?
The current papers share key features
More user-friendly for candidates
Both papers can be marked objectively results
can be processed more quickly

UCLES 2014

Why combine the Reading and Use
of English papers?
The current papers share key features
More user-friendly for candidates
Both papers can be marked objectively results
can be processed more quickly
Consistency with revisions to Cambridge
English: Advanced and Proficiency


UCLES 2014

Why combine the Reading and Use
of English papers?
The current papers share key features
More user-friendly for candidates
Both papers can be marked objectively results
can be processed more quickly
Consistency with revisions to Cambridge
English: Advanced and Proficiency

Why do the Use of English tasks come before
the Reading tasks on the new paper?

UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English paper
Number of parts: 7
Number of questions: 52
Timing: 1 hour 15 minutes
Task types
Part 1: multiple-choice cloze (8 questions)
Part 2: open cloze (8 questions)
Part 3: word formation (8 questions)
Part 4: key word transformation (6 questions)
Part 5: multiple choice (6 questions)
Part 6: gapped text (6 questions)
Part 7: multiple matching (10 questions)
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 1: multiple-choice cloze
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 1: multiple-choice cloze


A. swapped
B. varied
C. replaced
D. differed
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 2: open cloze
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 2: open cloze
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 3: word formation
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 3: word formation
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 4: key word transformation
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 4: key word transformation
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 4: key word transformation
keep up stay at the same speed
keep on continue
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 5: multiple choice (Reading)
UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 5: multiple choice (Reading)
UCLES 2014



Reading and Use of English
Part 6: gapped text

UCLES 2014

Reading and Use of English
Part 7: multiple matching
UCLES 2014

How do you feel about the changes
to the paper?
A. The revisions make sense and I would
feel confident about preparing my
students
B. I understand the changes, but would like
more information and support
C. I dont really understand the changes and
would like more time to read about them.
UCLES 2014

Writing paper
UCLES 2014

Writing paper: what is staying the
same?
Timing: 1 hour 20 minutes
Number of parts: 2
Number of questions: 2

Candidates are required to complete two tasks:
Part 1: a compulsory task
Part 2: one task from a choice
UCLES 2014

Writing paper: what is changing?
Part 1 (compulsory task): essay (140190 words)
Part 2 (choice of task, see table below): (140190 words)



Cambridge English: First
Part 2 (choice of 3)
Cambridge English: First for
Schools Part 2 (choice of 4)
article article
email/letter email/letter
review review
report story
essay, article, review or letter
on the set text
UCLES 2014

First for Schools Writing Part 1
UCLES 2014

Writing Part 1 how to help
students
come up with ideas
language input
planning
think about how to organise/structure
essay

UCLES 2014

Feedback on writing
I like the way you
You used language such as
I liked because
You could improve ... by
I would change to , because
UCLES 2014

Writing Part 2
UCLES 2014

Writing Part 2
A. This is usually written for a magazine or website, and its
main purpose is to give an opinion on something that the
writer has experienced (such as a film).
B. This is written to a specific person, and will be a response to
something received from that person.
C. This may be written for a magazine or a website, and it
should be an interesting and engaging piece of writing on a
specific topic.
D. This is usually written for a superior (such as a teacher) or
for a peer group (such as members of a club), and it contains
factual information along with suggestions or
recommendations.

UCLES 2014

Listening paper
UCLES 2014

Listening paper
Approximately 40 minutes
Four parts
All tasks retained
Change to Part 1 the options are not
read out
Change to Part 3 there are two
additional distractors
UCLES 2014

Change to Part 1
UCLES 2014

Change to Part 3
UCLES 2014

Listening paper
Part Text type Task type
Part 1 Eight short, unrelated
texts (monologues/
dialogues)
Multiple choice
Part 2 Long monologue

Sentence completion
Part 3 Five short, related
monologues
Multiple matching
Part 4 Dialogue Multiple choice
UCLES 2014

Ideas for practising listening skills
pre-listening activities prediction (using
rubric to predict)
paraphrase
give students strategies to cope with the
reading in the test (e.g. Part 4)
UCLES 2014

Listening Part 4
UCLES 2014

Speaking test
Timing: 14 minutes
Number of parts: 4
Usually:
Two examiners
Two candidates


UCLES 2014

Speaking test changes
Part Task Timing
1 Short conversation between each candidate and
interlocutor.
2 minutes
2 Individual long turn by each candidate, based on
two pictures. The listening candidate must then
answer a question.
1-minute long turn,
plus 30-second
response
(total: 4 minutes)
3 Two-way conversation between candidates,
based on instructions with written prompts.
Discussion and decision-making tasks.
2-minute
discussion;
1-minute decision-
making task
(total: 4 minutes)
4 Three-way discussion with interlocutor on topics
related to Part 3.
4 minutes
UCLES 2014

Speaking Part 3
UCLES 2014

Functions for Speaking Part 3
exchanging ideas
expressing and justifying opinions
agreeing and/or disagreeing
suggesting
speculating
evaluating
reaching a decision through negotiation
UCLES 2014

Summary
Overview of the Cambridge English:
First/First for Schools exams
Detailed look at the changes on each
paper
Teaching ideas
Key dates and more information
UCLES 2014

Key dates and further support
These changes will come into effect in
J anuary 2015
UCLES 2014

Teaching Support website
Information about
all Cambridge English
Language Assessment
examinations and teaching
qualifications
Teaching resources for
each part of each exam
Lots more features to
support teachers
www.cambridgeenglish.org/teachingsupport
UCLES 2014

New microsite for revised exams
Information about
all the changes
Videos, specifications,
sample papers, teaching
tips, classroom activities
teachingsupport.cambridgeenglish.org

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Official Preparation Materials for
the Revised 2015 Cambridge
English: First (FCE) and
Cambridge English: First (FCE) for
Schools
Cambridge English: First
Jun 14 Aug 14 Jan 14 Jan 14
Cambridge English: First for
Schools


Jul 14
Mar 14
Sep 14
Practice and Supplementary
First for Schools First
Trainer Oct 14

Dec 14

Grammar and
Vocabulary

Feb 15


Unique preparation materials
Internationally recognised authors
Experts in teaching, learning and
assessment
Informed by research into real exam
candidates answers and the mistakes they
make
English Profile insights into vocabulary
learning at each CEFR level


www.cambridge.org/elt/exams
UCLES 2014

Further information
University of Cambridge
Cambridge English Language Assessment
1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1223 553997
Fax: +44 (0)1223 553621
Email: helpdesk@cambridgeenglish.org

Keep up to date with whats new via the
Cambridge English Language Assessment website:
www.cambridgeenglish.org

For information on Cambridge English webinars for teachers:
www.cambridgeenglish.org/webinars

Changes to Cambridge English: Advanced from 2015
17 and 19 March 2014