March 2011

FCE Sample Test

Writing Part 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 120-150 words in an appropriate style.
1

You are helping to organise a visit to a college in an English-speaking country for a group
of students. You have received a letter from Michael Slater, the College Director. Read the
letter and the notes you have made. Then write a letter to Mr Slater using all your notes.

I am very glad to hear that you are coming to our

college this September. We will make sure you all have a
Yes, very
very enjoyable time and that you learn a lot of English!

important

because
Your accommodation can either be with

Englishspeaking families, or you can all stay together in

ayouth hostel. Which would you prefer?

Say which

and why

To help me organise some interesting free-time

activities, tell me something about the group. What sort

Give details
of things do they like doing?

If you need any other information, please ask.

Yours sincerely,
Weather

andclothes?

Michael Slater



Write your letter. You must use grammatically correct sentences with accurate spelling and
punctuation in a style appropriate for the situation.
Do not write any postal addresses.

Writing Part 2
Write an answer to one of the questions 2-5 in this part. Write your answer in 120-150 words in
an appropriate style.
2

Your English class has done a project on transport. Your teacher has now asked you to
write an essay giving your opinions on the following statement.
There is no future for public transport because travelling by car is so much more
convenient.
Write your essay.

March 2011

FCE Sample Test

3

You see this announcement in your school English-language magazine.

New Clubs after School

Your school wants to start some new after-school clubs. Chess, table tennis,

guitar playing and cookery have been suggested as possible ideas for clubs. What

do you think? Write an article for the school magazine.

Tell us which one of these four ideas you like best and why.

Make one other suggestion for a new club and explain why it would be

agood idea.


Write your article.
4

You recently saw this notice in an international travel magazine.

Reviews needed

We would like our readers to send us reviews of good or bad hotels. Write about

a hotel anywhere in the world. In your review, describe the hotel and say why

you did or did not enjoy staying there.

We will publish the most interesting reviews.

Write your review.

5 Answer one of the following two questions based on one of the titles below.

a) Officially Dead Richard Prescott

You have had a class discussion on the robbery in Officially Dead. Now your teacher has
asked you to write an essay answering this question:
Why did the police suspect John and Linda Bentley and how were they eventually
caught?
Write your essay.

b) Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

You have received this letter from your English penfriend, Greg.

Pride and Prejudice has so many different characters! Which person do you feel the most
sympathy for and why? Write and tell me.
Greg
Write your letter to Greg.

March 2011

FCE Sample Test

Speaking
You take the Speaking test with another candidate, referred to here as your partner. There are two
examiners. One will speak to you and your partner and the other will be listening. Both examiners
will award marks.

Part 1 (3 minutes)

The examiner asks you and your partner questions about yourselves. You may be asked about
things like your home town, your interests, your career plans, etc.

Part 2 (a one-minute long turn for each candidate, plus 20-second response from
the second candidate)

The examiner gives you two photographs and asks you to talk about them for one minute. The
examiner then asks your partner a question about your photographs and your partner responds
briefly.
Then the examiner gives your partner two different photographs. Your partner talks about these
photographs for one minute. This time the examiner asks you a question about your partners
photographs and you respond briefly.

Part 3 (approximately 3 minutes)

The examiner asks you and your partner to talk together. You may be asked to solve a problem or
try to come to a decision about something. For example, you might be asked to decide the best
way to use some rooms in a language school. The examiner gives you a picture to help you but
does not join in the conversation.

Part 4 (approximately 4 minutes)

The examiner asks some further questions, which leads to a more general discussion of what you
have talked about in Part 3. You may comment on your partners answers if you wish.