Cambridge FCE Exam in Dublin

On this page you will find out more about the Cambridge FCE Exam in Dublin. For instance, what is it, how to register, what are the benefits, how to prepare with Atlas and much more.

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Cambridge English B2 First (FCE) Exam

The Cambridge B2 First exam (formally known as the FCE exam) is a test of your general English language skills in all areas. It assesses your use of English, and your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The B2 First (FCE) is an upper-intermediate qualification in your language learning journey between B1 Preliminary and C1 Advanced. It demonstrates that you have the necessary language skills to live and work independently in an English-speaking country or study on undergraduate courses taught in non-English speaking countries. Here at our Rathmines Exam Centre (Dublin 6) you can take the test in the paper-based format.

Registration process

How can I register for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam?

Step 1 – Choose a Date. Choose when you would like to take your Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam. See the calendar of dates below.

Step 2 – Book your Test. Fill in the online application form and send that to us.

Step 3 – Pay the Exam Fee. After we receive your application form we will send you details of how you can confirm a place by paying the exam fees by bank transfer.

How much does it cost to take the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam?

The CAE exam fee is EUR190.

What is the deadline for registering for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam?

The list of Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam dates and application deadlines is available in the table below.

Exam Date Registration Deadline
Saturday 1 June 2024 Tuesday 23 April 2024
Saturday 5 October 2024 Tuesday 27 August 2024
Saturday 14 December 2024 Tuesday 5 November 2024

Please note that you are only registered for the exam once we have received payment of fees. In order to avoid disappointment, both the completed registration form and the payment must be received before the registration deadline.

Key Information

The exam has four papers. 

You take the following 3 papers one after the other on the same day:

  • Reading & Use of English – 7 parts, 52 questions in 75 minutes
  • Writing – 2 tasks in 80 minutes.
  • Listening – 4 parts, 30 questions in 40 minutes

The fourth paper, Speaking (4 parts, 14 minutes), you will be scheduled to take on a different day, most probably two or three days before the written papers. You’ll do the Speaking test with two examiners and, normally, one other candidate.

Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the exam start time.

The only thing that you must absolutely bring is a government-issued photo ID. This can be a passport, European Union (EU) ID card, Biometric Residence Permit or Photographic Driving License (including a provisional licence). Obviously, the ID document must be in date.

Before you go into the exam room, you will be asked to leave your bags, coats, watches etc. in a separate room. No watches at all are allowed in the exam room. We will also collect your mobile phones at the start of the day and keep them in the safe until the exam has finished. Please make sure you switch your phone off. We strongly recommend that you do not bring any valuables (including watches) with you on exam day. We cannot take responsibility for the loss or damage of your personal belongings.

You may only bring into the exam room:

  • A pen, black or dark blue ink (for the writing paper). Please also remember that no correction fluid (e.g., Tippex) is allowed.
  • A pencil (non-mechanical), H or HB (for the Reading / Use of English and Listening papers)
  • A rubber / eraser
  • A pencil sharpener
  • A bottle of still water
  • Your ID document

Apart from water, you should also bring some food to eat in the waiting room in the short breaks between exam papers. We’d recommend sandwiches, bananas or some chocolate. Candidates may not smoke during the short breaks since they are not supposed to leave the building.

The Cambridge B2 First (FCE) written papers take just over 4 hours to complete, including breaks, all in one day. If we schedule the session to start at 9.00am you should certainly be finished before 1.30pm.

The Speaking paper at Atlas has always been scheduled to take place in the week leading up to written papers (usually on the Wednesday or Thursday), i.e., 2 or 3 days before the written papers.

All papers carry an equal weighting of 20% towards the final score. The Reading and Use of English papers are taken together, giving 40% of the overall score. This ensures a balanced overall assessment of your language skills.

  • Reading & Use of English  40%
  • Writing  20%
  • Listening  20%
  • Speaking  20%

In order to receive an overall mark you must sit all papers. If, for example, you miss the Speaking paper, you will not receive an overall mark or any certificate.

The B2 First (FCE) exam is scored out of 190 points on the Cambridge English Scale. A score of 160 or above is considered a “pass” and students with that mark will receive the Cambridge B2 First certificate. This corresponds to the B2 level of English in the CEFR.

Students scoring 180 or above in the B2 First exam will receive a Cambridge English B2 First certificate, but the Statement of Results will serve as proof of C1 ability. This Grade A pass in the B2 First (FCE) exam is equivalent to the Grade C in the next higher C1 Advanced (CAE) exam.

When doing practice exams, as a rule of thumb, you should be looking to get at least 60% in order to “pass”.

Officially, there is no “pass” or “fail” mark. However, even though there is no official ‘fail’ grade, you still need to reach an overall result of at least 160 in order to “pass” the exam and get the B2 certificate and Statement of Results.

If your overall result is below 160 (i.e., below the B2 level), though, but falls within B1 band level (i.e., 140 – 159), that achievement is recognised and you will receive a Cambridge English certificate stating that you demonstrated your English language abilities at the B1 level. You won’t receive a certificate if you fall below this B1 level.

Test Score Grade CEFR level
180 – 190 Grade A C1
173 – 179 Grade B B2
160 – 172 Grade C B2
140 – 159 Level B1 B1

Officially, Cambridge B2 First (FCE) results are released at some point in a 2-week window that opens 4 weeks after the exam date. In practice, in our experience, the results are generally available online on the first day of that window, i.e., exactly 4 weeks after taking the exam.

Candidates receive an “ID number” and “secret number” on the Confirmation of Entry document they receive from Cambridge to confirm their registration details before the exam, along with an invitation to register for their results on the first day of the window. Candidates should use these login details to access their results online 4 weeks after taking the exam.

Certificates are sent to the Exam Centre 6 weeks after the exam date. We will contact you to confirm that you can collect your certificate, or ask if you would like us to post them by registered post. There is an additional 10 Euro fee to cover these costs.

The Cambridge B2 First (FCE) certificate is valid for life.

Practise your reading skills by reading a wide range of materials, such as books (including graded readers), newspapers and magazines, both in print and online. Make a note of any useful expressions from the texts you read. Build a vocabulary notebook. Practise your writing skills by completing timed essays. Listen to podcasts and YouTube videos with and without the transcripts. And do practice tests, first untimed to practise the strategies that work for you, and then timed so that you can also learn to manage your time. For more advice and tips on how to prepare for the exam, you can also download our B2 First Preparation Guide. And, of course, you can also sign up to join one of our part-time or full-time Cambridge B2 First exam preparation courses here at Atlas Language School in Dublin.

If you have any questions or want to know any more about registering for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam, either as an individual or on behalf of a group of candidates from a school, please email us: enquiries@atlaslanguageschool.com

Or you can call us on 01 4782845 between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

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