Cambridge Exam Preparation Courses

First Certificate (FCE)

The Cambridge First Certificate is an exam which tests English at an Upper-Intermediate level. The exam covers writing, reading, grammar, listening and speaking. The course at British Study Centres will prepare you for all these different parts of the exam. In addition you will do a lot of work on areas of general English, so you certainly will not spend all your time doing practice exams! At the end of the course we want you to pass the exam but also to have learned a lot of English and to have enjoyed your stay.

Course Contents

09:15-12:05: Specialist coursebook class which focuses on exam practice techniques.

12:25-13:15: Speaking & Listening which is an extra opportunity for fluency practice.

The intensive FCE4 programme includes an extra 5 lessons which are taken on 2 afternoons per week from 14:15 to 16:35.

Advanced (CAE)

The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English is an exam that tests English at an Advanced level. It is a practical course relating to the world of work rather than academic purposes.

To gain entry to the course you should have achieved a level of English equivalent to Grade C or above at First Certificate level (TOEFL level at least 500 points).

All students who apply to do the course will be given a test to decide if their starting level is appropriate. The test also serves as a needs analysis, which enables the teacher to compile material to work on specific needs of the students in the class. Every month tutorials are held to assess progress and also to decide which areas need to be worked on.

The exam covers writing, reading, grammar, listening and speaking, and the course at BSC will prepare you for all these different parts of the exam. The course works across the skills base and concentrates on English in use. We look at past papers and work from a number of recommended books. The aim of the course is to give the student the necessary grounding to enable them to pass the exam, and also to have learned a lot of English. As in any exam the final outcome depends on student's motivation throughout the course.

Course Contents

09:15-12:05: Specialist coursebook class which focuses on exam practice techniques.

12:25-13:15: Speaking & Listening which is an extra opportunity for fluency practice.

The intensive CAE4 programme includes an extra 5 lessons which are taken on 2 afternoons per week from 14:15 to 16:35.

Pre-Test

If you decide to take a First Certificate or an Advanced course we will send you an entry test to decide if you have the appropriate level to realistically pass the exam. This needs to be returned to us 2 weeks before the course start date.

Acceptance on the course is subject to the result of this and an oral exam, which will be given on the first day. The test is also a needs analysis, which enables the teacher to compile material to work on the special needs of the students in the class. Every month tutorials are held to assess progress and also to help you and teacher decide which areas must be worked on.

Please Note

Our exam preparation classes may include non-exam students of the same level. Some parts of the exam may be taken before the end of the course. For more information about the Cambridge exams, please see the University of Cambridge website.