FCE

FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH 2011

Best wishes and good luck to all my FCE pupils, who sit for the FCE 2011. I'm sure you'll all do great, and will obtain great results!

I'll be thinking of you all.

FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH

Remember exam time is coming up for Chilean students! Keep going, practise hard. Go to the FCE moodle website and do all you can. I know you have plenty of other things on your minds too at present, but remember that English is just as important as the PSU, and a good exam result will be a plus for your studies and future career.

Important dates

Speaking Test:  December 10th, 3.45 pm - British Institute, 3 Norte

Papers 1,2,3,4:  December 12th, 8.45 am - The Mackay School, Reñaca

http://christine.moodlehub.com/

 

FCE

First Certificate in English is looming up, and December is almost on us. Those of you who are preparing for this important exam, remember that the link below takes you to my FCE helpsite, where I have tried to cover as many areas as possible with interesting exercises, links and tips to attain success in the exam. Remember my motto: 'Practice makes perfect', and that the only way to improve your skills is by constant practice.  As there is still time to do this, how about making a resolution to do a little work every day. Don't wait until the last moment. Good luck!

Access as a guest user. You won't need a password for this.

http://moodlehub.com.edumoot.com

FOR FCE CANDIDATES

For people going for FCE at the end of this year, click on the FCE link in the menu on the right. There are lots of links that will provide useful practice for this exam. Practice a little every day, get into the habit of doing a task as often as possible. Don’t leave everything to the last moment. The key to success is practice, practice and more practice! Good luck!

                

FCE LINKS FOR INTERESTED STUDENTS

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/tsindex.htm

http://www.englishspeaker.com/index%20-%20FCE.html#FCE

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/

http://www.britishcouncil.org/croatia-exams-esol-resources.htm

Use these links to improve your FCE skills! 

FCE PRACTICE ONLINE

people!

For those who will be doing the FCE this year or next, here are some places where you can access exercises to improve your FCE skills. Remember, PRACTICE makes the best instructor. You have plenty of time ahead, make a habit of doing some exercising every week, apart from your regular English classes. It'll pay off in the end! Just think of your pride and satisfaction when you receive that 'A' certificate, or even 'B' or 'C' ! It will come in useful for your university studies, believe me.

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate/contenidotematico.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/tsindex.htm

http://firstcertificate.wordpress.com/category/practice-tests/

http://firstcertificate.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/sample-papers-download-print/

http://www.examenglish.com/index.php

http://www.testyourenglish.net/index.htm

 

 

FCE

FCE PRACTICE

 

Reading

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/tsindex.htm

 

Sentence transformation

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/2_strtest3.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/strtest2.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/Use_of_English.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/strtest1.htm

 

Here you have to guess the answer, then check with drop-down menu

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltransform1.htm

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltransform2.htm

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltransform3.htm

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltransform4.htm

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltransform6.htm

 

Word Formation

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/exams/fce/word-formation.html

 

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/2_wfmtst4.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/wfmtst2.htm

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/word_forms2.html

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/wfmtst1.htm

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/women_wordforms.html

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/word_forms3.html

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/vocabulary/interface.html

 

 

Open Cloze(out of your head)

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/2_oclts3.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/oclts2.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/oclts1.htm

 

 

Multiple  Choice Cloze  (with alternatives)

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/mchtst3.htm

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/english.html

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/mchtst2.htm

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/fortune_teller.html

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/mchtst1.htm

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/vocab_camb.html

 

 

Writing

Choose the correct alternatives/complete

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/women_sentences.html

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/ecotour_c.html

 

Examples of FCE writing and corrections

 

FCE INFORMATION AND PRACTICE

What is FCE? An overview of the exam for Fourth Seniors.Click on the following link.

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/about/index.htm

Several links to tips, advice and exercises on FCE.Click on the following link.

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/index.htm

More advice and free exam sections to do. Click on the following link.

http://amaldi-english-corner.wikispaces.com/FCE+EXAMS

 

FCE LISTENING ONLINE

For those who will embark on FCE this year, some sites to do listening online:

http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-exams-fce-listening-1.htm

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fcelistening.htm

The site instructions are in Czech not in English, but it is easy to follow:

http://www.helpforenglish.cz/Certifikaty/FCE/c2006081604--
E-FCE--Listening--part-1.html

http://www.helpforenglish.cz/Certifikaty/FCE/c2006103001--
E-FCE--Listening--part-2.html

http://www.helpforenglish.cz/Certifikaty/FCE/c2006110101--
E-FCE--Listening--part-3.html

I hope these are useful!

FIRST CERTIFICATE ENGLISH PRACTICE

Try some of the following links to practise your FCE skills. Only regular practice can assure you a reasonable degree of success. Only, and I’m sorry to keep harping on it, only constant work and practice can help you prepare for that moment of truth, when you’re sitting in the examination room alone with yourself and what you have learned (and practised) all this time. Don’t wait until the last moment! Do as much as you can NOW!  I hope you won’t have to feel regret at that moment for the opportunities and time lost on the way.

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate/contenidotematico.htm

http://www.portalweblog.com/fce/index.php?blog=5&cat=24

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/cambridge.html

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/strategy/p3pt3a.htm

http://www.selfaccess.com/

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evr_english_grammar.htm

http://www.imparareinglese.co.uk/esercizi_inglese/FCE_key_word_transformation_3.html

http://esl.about.com/cs/britishcambridge/a/a_fce_2.htm

 

WHAT (in a nutshell) IS THE FCE?

THERE ARE FIVE PAPERS:  Reading (Paper 1) 1 hour 15 minutes

The Reading paper assesses candidates’ ability to read and understand texts taken from fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines. Candidates are expected to be able to show understanding of gist, detail and text structure, and deduce meaning.

Writing (Paper 2) 1 hour 30 minutes

The Writing paper assesses candidates’ ability to write non-specialised text types such as letters, articles, reports, compositions and reviews of 120-180 words covering a range of topics and target readers and also set texts.

Use of English (Paper 3) 1 hour 15 minutes

In the Use of English paper, candidates are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and control of the language system by completing various tasks at text and sentence level. These include filling gaps, transforming words and phrases, and identifying errors in texts.

Listening (Paper 4) 40 minutes

The Listening paper assesses candidates’ ability to understand the meaning of spoken English, and to extract gist and meaning from spoken text.

Speaking (Paper 5) 14 minutes

The Speaking Test assesses candidates’ ability to interact in conversational English in a range of contexts. It contains four parts, including an interview section, individual long turns of about one minute, a collaborative task and a discussion

FCE PRACTICE

Timed online reading test for FCE

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading.htm

Writing test

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/FCE_writing.htm

Use of English test

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/Use_of_English.htm

Listening test

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fcelistening.htm

Try these in your spare time. All this requires patience and practice, more than anything.

 

 

FCE PRACTICE SITES

FCE Practice Sites

For all those who are thinking about the FCE, here are some links to help you practice a little bit more. You can never say, 'I've done enough' !

 

http://www.englishspeaker.com/index%20-%20FCE.html

 

http://www.okey-dokey.co.uk/exams/fce.php

 

http://www.englishforjapanese.com/tests/Cambridge/fce/using/03%20transform.html

 

http://alea-english.blogspot.com/2006/09/pet-fce-practice-exercises.html

 

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/exams/fce/word-formation.html

 

http://etornauta.wordpress.com/

 

http://etornauta.wordpress.com/2007/01/17/reading-19/

 

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/exams/fce/students-activities.html

 

http://www.lexdenit.com/cescstudent/learningenglish.htm

Good Luck 

 

FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH

For those of you in Level A Fourth Seniors, who are approaching the moment of FCE, here are some places to do extra work (if you feel so inclined!)

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/letters.html

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/cambridge.html

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/index.htm

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/OMFIRST/presentacion1.htm

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/

 

 

 

 

 

IMPROVING YOUR FCE WRITING SKILLS

The following links will take you to places where you can practice different aspects of writing to prepare yourself outside school for the First Certificate in English test, which you will sit in December.

http://a4esl.org/q/h/fb008-ci.html

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/linking/contrast.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/linking/addition.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/linking/reason.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/linking/time.htm

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/express/index.htm (Formal expressions for strating/the body/ending a letter)

Combining ideas

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/combining_quiz2.htm

http://www.eslcafe.com/quiz/punctuation1.html 

http://www.eslcafe.com/quiz/punctuation2.html

Examples of different  writing texts

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/writing/makeover/index.htm

 

FIRST CERTIFICATE in ENGLISH

                                        

REMEMBER TO RETURN THE SIGNED SLIP AND PAY BY FRIDAY 31st of AUGUST !

Those of you 4th Seniors Level A who do not hand it in by Friday 31st will lose the opportunity to have a great part of this exam paid for by the school, which means that , either you don't give it, or you'll have to pay for it entirely.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/fce.htm#why

Above is a link which will take you to the official site of Cambridge examinations. There is information about the exam, what it involves, how it will help you in the future, and so on.

 

FCE RESULTS

 

The pupils of Fourth Seniors, Level A, 2006 who passed are:

 

Marcelo Estay	C
Pablo Muniain	C
Natalia Navarro	B
Karime Parodi	A
Andres Terzago	C
Diego Villarroel	C
Kennet Zambrano	C
Roberto Bórquez	C
Camila Fuenzalida	C
Pablo Gonzalez	B
Enrique Merino	C
Camilo Leon	C
Eduardo Simpson	B
Carla Veglia	C
Constanza Riveros	C
Vicente Torres	C
Francisca Araya	C

My congratulations to them, and one day, they'll realise how useful this will be to them.

 

 

FCE IS A PLUS IN YOUR LIFE

Those hardworking pupils who put time and energy into preparing the FCE will realise that the effort was worth it when they apply for jobs after completing their studies at university level.  A good FCE result shows you can deal confidently with a range of spoken and written communications,  in everyday, business and study purposes, at an intermediate English ability.

Take a look at the advertisements published in many national newspapers and you will see how important knowledge of English is today, at all levels. If you want to study abroad, or develop a career which involves language skills, such as business, medicine or engineering, having passed the FCE means you are proficient enough in English to be able to use it in practical terms in clerical, secretarial or managerial jobs in many industries, particularly tourism, where contact with English speakers is required.

What does the exam involve?

FCE has five papers:

• Reading
• Writing
• Use of English
• Listening
• Speaking

Reading (Paper 1), 1 hour 15 minutes

This paper assesses your ability to read and understand texts taken from fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines. You are expected to be able to show understanding of gist, detail and text structure, and deduce meaning.

Writing (Paper 2), 1 hour 30 minutes

This paper assesses your ability to write non-specialised text types such as letters, articles, reports, compositions and reviews of 120-180 words covering a range of topics and target readers and also set texts.

Use of English (Paper 3), 1 hour 15 minutes

This paper requires you to demonstrate your knowledge and control of the language system by completing various tasks at text and sentence level. These include filling gaps, transforming words and phrases, and identifying errors in texts.

Listening (Paper 4), 40 minutes (approx.)

This paper assesses your ability to understand the meaning of spoken English, and to extract gist and meaning from spoken text. The texts are taken from a variety of text types including interviews, discussions, lectures and conversations.

Speaking (Paper 5), 14 minutes

The Speaking Test assesses your ability to interact in conversational English in a range of contexts. It contains four parts, including an interview section, individual long turns of about one minute, a collaborative task and a discussion. You are provided with stimulus material such as photographs and drawings. You will normally take the Speaking Test in pairs.

As you can see, doing the FCE can only bring you benefits. So, what are you waiting for?