Key Facts
| Digital exam results availability | 5–10 working days after the exam session |
|---|---|
| Paper-based exam results availability | normally 4–6 weeks after the exam session |
| Paper certificates for digital exams | usually sent to the exam centre within 3–4 weeks |
| Certificate validity | does not expire |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
B2 First, often still called FCE, is the Cambridge English exam that certifies English at CEFR Level B2, taken as four papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Cambridge University Press & Assessment owns the exam, and the certificate can state ability at Level C1 for a very strong performance or at Level B1 for a result just below the target level. Each skill receives its own score, and the overall result is the average of them.
Which CEFR level does B2 First certify?
B2 First certifies English at CEFR Level B2, which means following texts from fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines, understanding spoken material such as lectures, radio broadcasts, speeches and talks, and taking part in spoken interaction with an examiner, with another candidate and alone. The certificate is titled the B2 First Certificate in English, which is where the older name FCE comes from.
The four papers last as follows: Reading and Use of English for 1 hour 15 minutes, Writing for 1 hour 20 minutes, Listening for about 40 minutes, and Speaking for 14 minutes per pair of candidates or 20 minutes per group of three. Speaking is taken face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners.
How is the Reading and Use of English paper structured?
The Reading and Use of English paper has seven parts and 52 questions, runs for 1 hour 15 minutes and uses texts totalling 2,200 to 2,500 words from articles, reports, fiction, adverts, letters and messages. It carries 40% of the total marks. Parts 5 and 6 are worth two marks per question, Parts 1 to 3 and 7 one mark, and Part 4 up to two marks, so time per part is best planned around the marks on offer.
Parts 1 to 4 test grammar and vocabulary directly, which makes a notebook of collocations, phrasal verbs, dependent prepositions and word families built with prefixes and suffixes the most direct preparation. In Part 4 the gap takes between two and five words, one of which must be the key word unchanged, so practise writing the answer first and then counting the words and checking the meaning against the lead-in sentence.
Parts 5 to 7 reward reading for the writer's purpose. In Part 5, find the evidence in the text for your chosen option before looking at the others, since questions on detail, opinion and attitude tend to hinge on a single phrase. In Part 6, read the text around each gap for pronouns and linking words before testing a sentence, and in Part 7 underline the evidence for each match.
- Part 1: multiple-choice cloze (A to D), 8 questions
- Part 2: open cloze, 8 questions
- Part 3: word formation, 8 questions
- Part 4: key word transformations, 6 questions
- Part 5: multiple choice on detail, opinion and attitude (A to D), 6 questions
- Part 6: gapped text, 6 questions
- Part 7: multiple matching, 10 questions
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Enquire about this tutorWhat does the Writing paper involve?
The Writing paper lasts 1 hour 20 minutes and asks for two pieces of 140 to 190 words each, a compulsory essay in Part 1 and one task chosen from a choice in Part 2. It carries 20% of the total marks. The Part 1 essay gives a title and two ideas, and the candidate gives an opinion on a topic of general interest whilst adding an idea of their own.
Part 2 tasks may be an article, an email or letter, a review or a report, each set in no more than 70 words that give a context, a purpose for writing and a target reader. Tasks may ask the writer to advise, compare, describe, explain, express opinions, justify or recommend. Since a choice is always offered, picking the task type that suits your experience, and avoiding a question whose requirements are unclear, keeps the answer relevant.
Each piece is marked from 0 to 5 on four subscales: Content (whether the task was done and the target reader informed), Communicative Achievement (suitable genre, format and register), Organisation (a logical, ordered piece) and Language (range and accuracy of vocabulary and grammar). Length is also taken into account, because a response that is too short may lack range and one that is too long may add irrelevant content.
To prepare, write each practice piece to the word range and then mark it yourself. Tick every note in the Part 1 task against your text for Content, reread the Part 2 question for reader and register to check Communicative Achievement, and underline linking words for Organisation. Keep one variety of English, such as British spelling, throughout, since the criteria expect consistency.
Model answer: Opinion essay on working from home
Task: In your English class you have been talking about working from home. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
More and more employees now do some or all of their work from home. Should companies allow this?
Notes
Write about:
1. flexibility
2. contact with colleagues
3. (your own idea)
Write your essay in 140 to 190 words.
"Working from home has become common, and many employers now wonder whether it should be offered to everyone. In my opinion, most employees should be given the choice, although some limits are sensible.
"The main advantage is flexibility. Staff who avoid a long commute can start earlier, manage family duties and often concentrate better without the interruptions of a busy office. This usually leads to more careful work and happier employees.
"However, contact with colleagues is a real concern. New starters learn quickly by watching others and asking questions, which is much harder through a screen. Regular days in the office would solve this problem.
"A further point is cost. Companies could rent smaller buildings, whilst employees spend less on transport, so both sides save money.
"All things considered, I believe a mixture of home and office days suits most jobs, provided that managers set clear expectations for everyone.
What this model answer does:
- Content: the opinion is stated in the first paragraph, both given notes are developed with a reason, and the writer's own idea (cost) is added in a separate paragraph, so the target reader is fully informed.
- Organisation: each paragraph has one purpose, and linking words such as however, a further point and all things considered make the order easy to follow.
- Communicative Achievement: a neutral, fairly formal register suits an essay for a teacher, and the writer gives a clear position and a conclusion.
- Language: contrast and condition are shown with whilst, provided that and who-clauses, and the vocabulary (commute, expectations, interruptions) fits the topic.
How is the Listening paper structured?
The Listening paper has four parts and 30 questions, lasts about 40 minutes and plays each recording twice, with one mark for each question.
Because every recording is heard twice, the first hearing is best used to locate each answer and the second to confirm it. Use the time before each recording to read the questions and predict the kind of information needed, and in Part 2 predict whether each gap needs a noun, a number or a verb form. After each practice paper, read the transcript against any wrong answers to find the phrase that signalled the answer and the phrase that acted as a distractor.
- Part 1: eight short unrelated recordings of about 30 seconds each, multiple choice (A to C), 8 questions
- Part 2: one monologue of 3 to 4 minutes, sentence completion, 10 questions
- Part 3: five short related monologues of about 30 seconds each, matched to a list of eight statements, 5 questions
- Part 4: an interview or exchange of 3 to 4 minutes, multiple choice (A to C), 7 questions
What happens in the Speaking test?
The Speaking test has four parts and is taken in a pair, or a group of three, with two examiners, one of whom conducts the test whilst the other listens. In Part 1 the examiner asks about personal information, experiences, circumstances and plans for about 2 minutes per candidate. In Part 2 each candidate speaks for 1 minute about a pair of photographs, and the partner then answers a short question for about 30 seconds.
Part 3 is a collaborative task in which the candidates discuss written prompts for 2 minutes and then reach a joint decision in 1 minute. Part 4 is a guided discussion of about 4 minutes on the Part 3 topic. The assessor awards marks for Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation and Interactive Communication, and the interlocutor awards a mark for global achievement. Each candidate is assessed on their own individual performance.
To prepare, practise Part 2 by filling the full minute with both photographs and ending cleanly when the examiner stops you. For Part 3, practise inviting your partner's view, responding to it and steering towards a decision inside the minute allowed. Record practice sessions and play them back against the four criteria, noting hesitation, linking phrases and word stress.
How is B2 First scored, and what do grades A, B, C and B1 mean?
B2 First results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, with a separate score for each skill and an overall score that is the average of those results. Every score is reported on one continuous scale, so the number shows how close a result sits to the next boundary.
Grade A covers scale scores of 180 to 190 and is certified at CEFR Level C1. Grade B (173 to 179) and Grade C (160 to 172) are both certified at Level B2. A score of 140 to 159 earns a Cambridge English certificate stating ability at Level B1, with no letter grade attached.
All candidates receive a Statement of Results showing the score for each skill and the overall score. Scores of 122 to 139 are reported on the Statement of Results without a certificate.
What does a timed practice routine look like?
A useful routine rotates through the four papers, with each session run to the real timing and followed by a review against the published criteria. Start with part-by-part drills for the paper you find hardest, then move to full papers as accuracy settles, since a full paper trains pacing as well as language.
Reviewing matters as much as the attempt itself. For Reading and Use of English and Listening, list every wrong answer with the reason, such as a missed collocation or a distractor. For Writing and Speaking, score the attempt yourself on the four subscales or four criteria, then redo the weakest area in the next session.
- Reading and Use of English: one full paper in 1 hour 15 minutes, allowing longer for Parts 5 and 6 because they carry two marks per question
- Writing: the Part 1 essay in 140 to 190 words, then a Part 2 task, changing the task type each session
- Listening: a full paper with each recording played twice, followed by a transcript check
- Speaking: Parts 1 to 4 with a partner, using the real timings of 1 minute for the long turn and 2 plus 1 minutes for Part 3, recorded for playback
Related guides
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English for adults is taught one-to-one or in small groups, at every level from beginner (CEFR A1) to proficient (C2), online or in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level, there is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Employers can book programmes for staff and are invoiced directly.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is FCE the same exam as B2 First?
- FCE is the older name for the same exam, which comes from the First Certificate in English. The certificate for a Grade B or C result is still titled the B2 First Certificate in English at Level B2, and Grade A carries the same title with a statement of ability at Level C1. Search results and course books use both names, so material labelled either way is relevant.
- How should learners choose between the Writing Part 2 tasks?
- Choose the task type that suits your experience, since a choice is always offered. Check that you understand every word of the question, because each task sets a context, a purpose and a target reader in no more than 70 words. Avoid any question whose requirements are unclear, as the answer may not be wholly relevant, and decide on the format and register before you begin writing.
- Does the exact word count matter in Writing?
- Each task has a guideline of 140 to 190 words, and length is taken into account when responses are marked. A response that is too short may lack range of language and fail to give the required information, whilst one that is too long may contain irrelevant content that affects the reader. Practise until your planned answer naturally falls inside the range.
- How is Speaking Part 3 assessed when candidates work with a partner?
- Each candidate is assessed on their own individual performance, so a partner's mistakes do not lower your marks. The assessor looks at Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation and Interactive Communication, and the interlocutor gives a global achievement mark. Interactive Communication rewards taking turns, responding to your partner and moving the discussion towards the joint decision.
- What happens if a result falls just below Level B2?
- A score of 140 to 159 earns a Cambridge English certificate stating ability at Level B1. Scores of 122 to 139 appear on the Statement of Results with no certificate. Because the Statement of Results shows a score for each skill, it also shows which papers pulled the overall average down, which makes the next round of preparation easier to target.
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