FCE exam format: papers, parts and timing
B2 First, formerly known as Cambridge English: First and the First Certificate in English (FCE), is a Cambridge English Qualification at CEFR level B2. It has four papers (Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking) and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. A score of 160 on the Cambridge English Scale is a pass.
- Total time
- ≈ 3 h 30 min
- Papers
- 4
- Scores reported
- 122–190
- Pass (Grade C)
- 160
The four B2 First papers at a glance
The format is the same whether you take B2 First on paper or on a computer. This page sets out every part of every paper, with timings, marks, preparation times and how the exam is scored. Your result has five equally weighted scores, because the Reading and Use of English paper produces two of them.
| Paper | Time | Parts | Questions | Raw marks | Share of your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Use of English | 1 h 15 min | 7 | 52 | 70 (Reading 42, Use of English 28) | 40% (Reading 20%, Use of English 20%) |
| Writing | 1 h 20 min | 2 | 2 tasks | 40 | 20% |
| Listening | about 40 min | 4 | 30 | 30 | 20% |
| Speaking | 14 min (pairs), 20 min (groups of three) | 4 | 4 parts | 60 | 20% |
Reading and Use of English: 75 minutes
One paper of 1 hour 15 minutes with seven parts and 52 questions. It produces two of your five scores: Reading (Parts 1, 5, 6 and 7, 42 marks) and Use of English (Parts 2, 3 and 4, 28 marks). You read 2,200–2,500 words in total, from texts such as newspaper and magazine articles, reports, fiction, advertisements, messages, brochures and guides. On paper there is no extra time to copy answers onto the answer sheet.
| Part | Task | Questions | Marks | Counts towards | What you do | Official sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple-choice cloze | 1–8 | 1 each (8) | Reading | A short text with eight gaps and four options for each. Tests collocations, phrasal verbs, fixed phrases and precise meaning. | ≈ 180 words |
| 2 | Open cloze | 9–16 | 1 each (8) | Use of English | Write one word in each of eight gaps: mostly grammar words such as auxiliaries, prepositions, pronouns and linkers. | ≈ 165 words |
| 3 | Word formation | 17–24 | 1 each (8) | Use of English | Change a stem word in capitals (prefix, suffix, internal change or plural) to fit each of eight gaps. | ≈ 155 words |
| 4 | Key word transformations | 25–30 | up to 2 each (12) | Use of English | Six separate sentences: complete the second sentence in 2–5 words, including a key word you must not change. | 6 sentences |
| 5 | Multiple choice | 31–36 | 2 each (12) | Reading | One long text, such as an article or an extract from a modern novel, with six four-option questions on detail, opinion, attitude, purpose and meaning. | ≈ 700 words |
| 6 | Gapped text | 37–42 | 2 each (12) | Reading | Six sentences have been removed from a text. Choose the right one for each gap from seven; one is not needed. | ≈ 495 words + 7 sentences |
| 7 | Multiple matching | 43–52 | 1 each (10) | Reading | Match ten questions to one text in sections or up to six short texts. The questions come before the text, and a section can be the answer more than once. | ≈ 600 words |
| All | Total | 52 | 70 | Reading 42, Use of English 28 | 2,200–2,500 words to read in total | All parts |
Official sample: the approximate length of the text in the paper-based sample test in the B2 First Handbook for Teachers, as a guide. Cambridge publishes only the total reading load, not a length for each part.
Answer rules: Spelling must be correct in Parts 2, 3 and 4. In Part 2 the answer is always one word: contractions such as didn't count as two words, except can't (cannot). In Part 4 the key word must not be changed, more than five words scores zero, and each answer is split into two halves worth one mark each. Wrong answers never lose marks.
Writing: 80 minutes
One paper of 1 hour 20 minutes. You write two texts of 140–190 words: a compulsory essay, then one task from a choice of three. Both tasks carry equal marks. There are no set texts in B2 First.
| Part | Task | Words | What you are given | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Essay (compulsory), written for your teacher | 140–190 | An essay question with notes: two given ideas to write about, plus one of your own. The input is up to 120 words. | 20 |
| Part 2 | One of three tasks: article, email or letter, report, review | 140–190 | A situation of no more than 70 words that gives the context, the purpose and the reader. | 20 |
How Writing is marked: Each text is marked out of 20: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language, each from 0 to 5 (whole marks only). Writing roughly the right number of words is part of completing the task. American spelling is accepted if you use it consistently. The paper is worth 40 marks. Guides to every task: essay, article, email or letter, report, review.
Listening: about 40 minutes
About 40 minutes, four parts and 30 questions, one mark each. You hear every recording twice. The 40 minutes include 5 minutes at the end to copy your answers onto the answer sheet (paper) or 2 minutes to check them (computer).
| Part | What you hear | Questions | What you do | Time to read the questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Eight short, unrelated extracts of about 30 seconds: monologues or conversations. A sentence read out before each one tells you the situation. | 1–8 | Choose A, B or C | Time to read each question before it plays (length not published) |
| Part 2 | One monologue of 3–4 minutes, such as a talk, broadcast or presentation | 9–18 | Complete ten sentences with a word, number or short phrase you hear (never more than three words) | 45 seconds |
| Part 3 | Five short monologues on one theme, each by a different speaker | 19–23 | Match each speaker to one of eight options; three are not used | 30 seconds |
| Part 4 | An interview or conversation between two speakers, 3–4 minutes | 24–30 | Choose A, B or C; the questions follow the order of the recording | 1 minute |
Spelling and answers: In Part 2, minor spelling mistakes are not penalised as long as the meaning is clear, and you are never asked to spell words above B2 level. The answer is a word or phrase you hear, and it does not need to be changed. The preparation times above are the ones given in the official recordings.
Speaking: 14 minutes
About 14 minutes for a pair of candidates, or 20 minutes for a group of three when numbers are uneven (the tasks are the same, with longer timings). There are two examiners: the interlocutor asks the questions and gives a Global Achievement mark; the assessor listens and gives the other marks. One examiner may examine remotely online. The Speaking test is face to face whether you take the other papers on paper or on a computer.
| Part | Task | What happens | Pair | Group of three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview | The interlocutor asks each of you questions about yourself, such as where you live, what you like and how you spend your time. You do not talk to each other. | 2 min | 3 min |
| 2 | Long turn | Each of you compares two photographs for about a minute and answers the question printed above them. Then you answer a short question about your partner's photographs (about 30 seconds). | 4 min | 6 min |
| 3 | Collaborative task | You get 15 seconds to read a question with five written prompts, then discuss it with your partner for 2 minutes. Then you have a minute to try to reach a decision; you are not penalised if you do not agree. | 4 min | 5 min (3 min discussion + 1 min decision) |
| 4 | Discussion | The interlocutor asks broader questions on the Part 3 topic, to each of you or to both of you. | 4 min | 6 min |
| All | Total | Four parts; you are marked on your performance across the whole test, individually rather than against your partner | 14 min | 20 min |
How Speaking is marked (60 marks)
| Criterion | Given by | Scale | Weighting | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammar and Vocabulary | Assessor | 0–5 | × 2 | 10 |
| Discourse Management | Assessor | 0–5 | × 2 | 10 |
| Pronunciation | Assessor | 0–5 | × 2 | 10 |
| Interactive Communication | Assessor | 0–5 | × 2 | 10 |
| Global Achievement | Interlocutor | 0–5 | × 4 | 20 |
| Total | Both examiners | Half marks allowed on each scale | 60 | |
Paper-based vs computer-based B2 First
Both versions lead to the same qualification, with the same tasks, timings and marks. These are the differences you will notice.
| What differs | Paper-based | Computer-based |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Use of English answers | In pencil on an answer sheet: shade a lozenge in Parts 1, 5, 6 and 7, write capital letters in Parts 2, 3 and 4 | Clicked or typed on screen. You can change answers at any time, and the bar at the bottom shows which questions you have answered. |
| Multiple-choice options | Lettered A, B, C, D | Not lettered |
| Word formation stems (Part 3) | At the end of the line with the gap | On the right of the screen |
| End of the Listening paper | 5 minutes to copy answers onto the answer sheet | 2 minutes to check; answers are saved automatically, you use headphones with adjustable volume, and the audio cannot be paused |
| Listening Part 3 | Shade the letter for each speaker on the answer sheet | Drag each option onto a speaker: drag and drop since 1 November 2025, to reduce scrolling |
| Writing | Handwritten on the answer sheet | Typed, with a word count on screen. You can copy, paste and edit, but there is no spell-checker. Digital Writing uses hybrid marking: technology together with human examiners. |
| Notes and highlighting | On the question paper | On-screen highlighting and notes, plus paper for notes provided by the centre |
| Speaking | Face to face with two examiners | The same face-to-face test |
| Results | Normally 4–6 weeks after the exam | 5–10 working days after the exam |
Exam dates for both versions run throughout the year, but not every centre offers every date, so check with your centre. Cambridge's FAQs: Cambridge English Qualifications Digital explain the computer-based exam in more detail.
B2 First scores, grades and results
B2 First reports scores on the Cambridge English Scale from 122 to 190. A certificate is awarded from 140, and 160 is a pass.
| Overall score | Result | CEFR level | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180–190 | Grade A | C1 | Yes, B2 First Grade A (shows ability at C1) |
| 173–179 | Grade B | B2 | Yes, B2 First Grade B |
| 160–172 | Grade C | B2 | Yes, B2 First Grade C |
| 140–159 | Level B1 | B1 | Yes, a B1 certificate |
| 122–139 | No certificate | Not reported | No; the score appears on the Statement of Results only |
How the overall score works. Your Statement of Results shows a scale score for each of Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking, your overall score (the average of the five, rounded), your grade and your CEFR level. There is no pass mark for individual papers. For example, skill scores of 176, 168, 172, 180 and 174 average 174, which is Grade B. Because all Cambridge exams share one scale, 180–190 on B2 First is reported as Grade A with a certificate showing ability at C1. To turn the raw marks from a practice test into scale scores, use the FCE score calculator.
When results arrive. Results for computer-based exams are available 5–10 working days after the exam session, and results for paper-based exams normally 4–6 weeks after it. The Confirmation of Entry from your centre gives the final date. The paper certificate is usually sent to your exam centre within 3–4 weeks of a computer-based exam, or 7–10 weeks after a paper-based one.
How long the certificate lasts. A Cambridge English certificate does not expire. Universities, colleges and employers can still decide how long they accept results for, so check with the organisation you are applying to.
Test-day photo. Cambridge has reported that Statements of Results and certificates were redesigned and that a photo taken on the test day is now required for B2 First.
B2 First or C1 Advanced?
B2 First and C1 Advanced overlap on the Cambridge English Scale: B2 First reports up to 190, and C1 Advanced awards a B2 certificate from 160 and a pass from 180. If your B2 First mock scores are comfortably above 180, compare the two exams before you book: the B2 First vs C1 Advanced guide sets out the differences, and the C1 Advanced exam format page has the full C1 reference.
FCE exam format: questions
How long is the B2 First exam?
About 3 hours 30 minutes in total: Reading and Use of English 1 hour 15 minutes, Writing 1 hour 20 minutes, Listening about 40 minutes and Speaking 14 minutes for a pair (20 minutes for a group of three).
How many questions are there in B2 First?
Reading and Use of English has 52 questions in seven parts and Listening has 30 in four parts. Writing has two tasks and Speaking has four parts.
What score do you need to pass B2 First?
160 on the Cambridge English Scale is a pass at Grade C; 173–179 is Grade B and 180–190 is Grade A. Scores are reported from 122 to 190, and a certificate is awarded from 140 (140–159 earns a B1 certificate).
Is the computer-based B2 First different from the paper-based exam?
The tasks, timings and marks are the same. On screen, multiple-choice options are not lettered, Listening Part 3 is drag and drop, Writing is typed with a word count, Listening ends with 2 minutes to check instead of 5 minutes to transfer, and results come in 5–10 working days instead of 4–6 weeks.
Do I need to pass every paper in B2 First?
No. There is no pass mark for each paper. Your overall score is the average of your five skill scores, so a strong paper can make up for a weaker one.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment)
- B2 First exam format
- Cambridge English Qualifications: results
- Converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores
- FAQs: Cambridge English Qualifications Digital; Cambridge English Qualifications Digital
- Change to the format for Cambridge English Digital Listening tests (Cambridge English Helpdesk) (the Listening task itself is in the handbook above)
- Changes to the Statement of Results and Certificate (Cambridge English Helpdesk) (as reported; results and certificates also on Cambridge English Qualifications: results)
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
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