Introduction to Cambridge English First (ex-FCE) Preparation for the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Cambridge English First

This 40-hour course has been divided into 16 lessons of 2 1/2 hours each. Attendance is compulsory. 8 lessons will cover Reading and Use of English. 8 lessons will cover Writing, Listening and Speaking. Homework will be assigned during the course. Introduction to First

Textbook needed for course: -First Certificate Practice Tests Plus without key/CD-Rom Pack by Nick Kenny and Lucrecia Luque-Mortimer, Pearson Longman Cost: about €20.00 Introduction to First

Time of exam: 4 hours The exam is divided into 5 papers: – Paper 1: Reading – Paper 2: Writing – Paper 3: Use of English – Paper 4: Listening – Paper 5: Speaking

Paper 1: Reading Time: 1 hour No. of questions: 30 Task types: multiple choice, gapped text, multiple matching No. of parts: 3 – Part 1: Text with 8 multiple choice questions – Part 2: Gapped text with 7 sentences – Part 3: 15 multiple matching

Paper 1: Reading Part 1: Text with 8 multiple choice questions

Paper 1: Reading Part 2: Gapped text with 7 sentences

Paper 1: Reading Part 3: 15 multiple matching

Paper 2: Writing Time: 1 hour 20 minutes Task types: an article, an , an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story No. of parts: 2 – Part 1: Question 1 – Writing a letter or (length: words)

– Part 2: Choose from questions 2 to 5 (length: words) questions 2 to 4 – choose from an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review, a story question 5 – choose from two options based on two texts and write an article, an essay, a letter, a report or a review Paper 2: Writing

Part 1: Question 1 Writing a letter or (length: words)

Part 2: Choose from questions 2 to 5 (length: words) Paper 2: Writing

Time: 45 minutes No. of questions: 42 No. of parts: 4 – Part 1: 12 multiple choice cloze – Part 2: 12 open cloze – Part 3: 10 word formations – Part 4: 8 key word transformations Paper 3: Use of English

Part 1: 12 multiple choice cloze Paper 3: Use of English

Part 2: 12 open cloze Paper 3: Use of English

Part 3: 10 word formations Paper 3: Use of English

Part 4: 8 Key Word Transformations 1.The teacher advised the class to use a dictionary. you “If I …….. a dictionary,” said the teacher to the class. “If I were you I would use a dictionary,” said the teacher to the class. 2.My grandmother was sixty when she learnt to drive. age My grandmother learnt to drive …….. sixty. My grandmother learnt to drive at the age of sixty.

Paper 3: Use of English 3. Bad weather caused the ferry to be delayed. result The ferry was delayed ….. bad weather. The ferry was delayed as a result of the bad weather. 4. “You’ve broken my CD player, Darren,” said Fiona. accused Fiona ….. her CD player. Fiona accused Darren of breaking her CD player.

Paper 3: Use of English 5. It might rain later so take an umbrella. case Take an umbrella ….. later. Take an umbrella in case it rains later. 6. Is it all right for me to make a phone call? if Do …….. a phone call? Do you mind if I make a phone call?

Paper 3: Use of English 7. Helen often gets angry for no reason at all. tendency Helen ……. angry for no reason at all. Helen has the tendency of getting angry for no reason at all. 8. Could I stay with you for the weekend? put Could you …….. for the weekend? Could you put me up for the weekend?

Paper 4: Listening Time: approx. 40 minutes No. of questions: 30 No. of parts: 4 – Part 1: 8 multiple choice – Part 2: 10 sentence completion – Part 3: 5 multiple matching – Part 4: 7 multiple choice

Part 1: 8 multiple choice Paper 4: Listening

– Part 1: 8 multiple choice You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C. Paper 4: Listening

Part 1: 8 multiple choice Paper 4: Listening

Part 2: 10 sentence completion

Paper 4: Listening Part 3: 5 multiple matching

Paper 4: Listening Part 4: 7 multiple choice

Paper 5: Speaking Time: 14 minutes No. of parts: 4 (two candidates) – Part 1: general conversation (3 min.) – Part 2: photo description and expressing opinions (4 min.) – Part 3: two-way conversation (3 min.) – Part 4: justifying opinions (4 min.)

Paper 5: Speaking Let’s watch a Cambridge English First Speaking examination

Paper 5: Speaking Part 1: general conversation (3 min.) -What’s your name? Where are you from? What do you like about your town? -Do you prefer to spend time on your own or with other people? Why? -What kind of work would you really like to do in the future? Why? -What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever visited? -Tell us about a TV programme you’ve seen recently. -Do you use the Internet to learn new things? What sort of things?

Paper 5: Speaking Part 2: Describing photographs Phrases a-f can be used when describing photographs. Put these words into the correct spaces: side at top/bottom in on a.….. the left b.…. the middle c.….. the background / foreground d.….. the …. left/right-hand corner e.…. the top/bottom f.….. the left/right-hand ….

Paper 5: Speaking Part 2: photo description and expressing opinions (4 min.) Candidate A:

Paper 5: Speaking Part 2: photo description and expressing opinions (4 min.) Candidate B:

Paper 5: Speaking Part 2: photo description and expressing opinions (4 min.) Candidate A:

Paper 5: Speaking Part 2: photo description and expressing opinions (4 min.) Candidate B:

Paper 5: Speaking Part 3: two-way conversation (3 min.) This task has two parts, but the first part is the most important. Say as much as you can about each picture. Interact with your partner as you talk about each picture. Use different strategies during your discussion (i.e. don’t just ask questions, agree, disagree or make suggestions.)

Paper 5: Speaking Part 3: two-way conversation (3 min.) Part 4: justifying opinions (4 min.)

Paper 5: Speaking Part 4: justifying opinions (4 min.) -What are the disadvantages of living in a big city? -Why do you think some people choose to live in the centre of cities? -Some people say that living in a city can be very lonely. What do you think? -Do you think it’s better to live in one place or to try living in several different places? Why? -In the future, do you think more people will choose to live in the city or in the countryside? Why?

Paper 5: Speaking Part 3: two-way conversation (3 min.) Part 4: justifying opinions (4 min.)

Paper 5: Speaking Part 4: justifying opinions (4 min.) -What can we do to prevent certain kinds of animals dying out? -Where do you think airports should be built? -Some people say we should stop traffic from driving into city centres? Do you agree? -Instead of throwing things away, what could we do with them instead? -How can the different countries of the world help each other? -Do you think one day we might go and live on another planet? Why?

Websites to try practice tests for First: s-and-qualifications/ s-and-qualifications/ Introduction to First

Websites to brush up on your English: - (lexis/ tests – Intermediate and Advanced) (grammar / tests / vocabulary etc.) - (practice listening and reading skills) Introduction to First

Thank you for listening Introduction to First