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2015 Exams Revision Cambridge English: First and Cambridge English: First for Schools

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Language policy & strategy

Analysis & diagnostics

Curriculum reform

Materials & resources

Teacher development

Assessment &

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Technology consulting

Programme implementation

& evaluation

Cambridge English value

chain

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For a full list of organisations worldwide accepting Cambridge English exams, visit www.cambridgeenglish.org/recognition

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Aims of the webinar • An overview of the changes to Cambridge

English: First/First for Schools • A more detailed paper-by-paper look at

the changes • Practical teaching ideas and resources

available • A summary of the session • Key dates and further support

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Which statement describes you? A. I’m preparing students for Cambridge

English: First and/or Cambridge English: First for Schools.

B. I’m going to start preparing students for Cambridge English: First and/or Cambridge English: First for Schools in the future.

C. I’m not a teacher.

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Overview of the Changes Cambridge English: First and Cambridge English: First For Schools January 2015

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Aims of the revised exam • higher education • career enhancement • user-friendly and accessible • up-to-date methodical approach • modern, fresh appeal • set the standards for B2

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Cambridge English: First Revised: 3 hrs 29 mins Current: 3 hrs 59 mins Reading and Use of English

• 1 hr 15 mins • 7 parts • 52 questions

Reading • 1 hr • 3 parts • 30 questions

Use of English

• 45 mins • 4 parts • 42 questions

Writing • 1 hr 20 mins • one compulsory

question (essay); one from choice of three

Writing • 1 hr 20 mins • one compulsory

question (email/letter); one from choice of five

Listening • 40 mins • 4 parts • 30 questions

Listening • 40 mins • 4 parts • 30 questions

Speaking • 14 mins • 4 parts

Speaking • 14 mins • 4 parts

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Reading and Use of English paper

What do you think are the benefits of combining the Reading and Use of English papers?

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Why combine the Reading and Use of English papers? • The current papers share key features

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Why combine the Reading and Use of English papers? • The current papers share key features • More user-friendly for candidates

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Why combine the Reading and Use of English papers? • The current papers share key features • More user-friendly for candidates • Both papers can be marked objectively – results

can be processed more quickly

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Why combine the Reading and Use of English papers? • The current papers share key features • More user-friendly for candidates • Both papers can be marked objectively – results

can be processed more quickly • Consistency with revisions to Cambridge

English: Advanced and Proficiency

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Why combine the Reading and Use of English papers? • The current papers share key features • More user-friendly for candidates • Both papers can be marked objectively – results

can be processed more quickly • Consistency with revisions to Cambridge

English: Advanced and Proficiency

Why do the Use of English tasks come before the Reading tasks on the new paper?

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Reading and Use of English paper Number of parts: 7 Number of questions: 52 Timing: 1 hour 15 minutes Task types • Part 1: multiple-choice cloze (8 questions) • Part 2: open cloze (8 questions) • Part 3: word formation (8 questions) • Part 4: key word transformation (6 questions) • Part 5: multiple choice (6 questions) • Part 6: gapped text (6 questions) • Part 7: multiple matching (10 questions)

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Reading and Use of English Part 1: multiple-choice cloze

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Reading and Use of English Part 1: multiple-choice cloze

A. swapped B. varied C. replaced D. differed

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Reading and Use of English Part 2: open cloze

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Reading and Use of English Part 2: open cloze

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Reading and Use of English Part 3: word formation

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Reading and Use of English Part 3: word formation

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Reading and Use of English Part 4: key word transformation

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Reading and Use of English Part 4: key word transformation

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Reading and Use of English Part 4: key word transformation

keep up stay at the same speed

keep on continue

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Reading and Use of English Part 5: multiple choice (Reading)

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Reading and Use of English Part 5: multiple choice (Reading)

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Reading and Use of English Part 6: gapped text

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Reading and Use of English Part 7: multiple matching

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How do you feel about the changes to the paper?

A. The revisions make sense and I would feel confident about preparing my students

B. I understand the changes, but would like more information and support

C. I don’t really understand the changes and would like more time to read about them.

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Writing paper

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Writing paper: what is staying the same? Timing: 1 hour 20 minutes Number of parts: 2 Number of questions: 2 Candidates are required to complete two tasks: Part 1: a compulsory task Part 2: one task from a choice

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Writing paper: what is changing? Part 1 (compulsory task): essay (140–190 words) Part 2 (choice of task, see table below): (140–190 words)

Cambridge English: First Part 2 (choice of 3)

Cambridge English: First for Schools Part 2 (choice of 4)

article article email/letter email/letter review review report story

essay, article, review or letter on the set text

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First for Schools Writing Part 1

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Writing Part 1 – how to help students • come up with ideas • language input • planning • think about how to organise/structure

essay

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Feedback on writing • I like the way you … • You used language such as … • I liked … because … • You could improve ... by … • I would change … to …, because …

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Writing Part 2

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Writing Part 2 A. This is usually written for a magazine or website, and its

main purpose is to give an opinion on something that the writer has experienced (such as a film).

B. This is written to a specific person, and will be a response to something received from that person.

C. This may be written for a magazine or a website, and it should be an interesting and engaging piece of writing on a specific topic.

D. This is usually written for a superior (such as a teacher) or for a peer group (such as members of a club), and it contains factual information along with suggestions or recommendations.

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Listening paper

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Listening paper • Approximately 40 minutes • Four parts • All tasks retained • Change to Part 1 – the options are not

read out • Change to Part 3 – there are two

additional distractors

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Change to Part 1

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Change to Part 3

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Listening paper

Part Text type Task type

Part 1 Eight short, unrelated texts (monologues/ dialogues)

Multiple choice

Part 2 Long monologue

Sentence completion

Part 3 Five short, related monologues

Multiple matching

Part 4 Dialogue Multiple choice

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Ideas for practising listening skills

• pre-listening activities – prediction (using rubric to predict)

• paraphrase • give students strategies to cope with the

reading in the test (e.g. Part 4)

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Listening Part 4

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Speaking test Timing: 14 minutes Number of parts: 4

Usually: Two examiners Two candidates

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Speaking test – changes Part Task Timing 1 Short conversation between each candidate and

interlocutor. 2 minutes

2 Individual long turn by each candidate, based on two pictures. The listening candidate must then answer a question.

1-minute long turn, plus 30-second response (total: 4 minutes)

3 Two-way conversation between candidates, based on instructions with written prompts. Discussion and decision-making tasks.

2-minute discussion; 1-minute decision-making task (total: 4 minutes)

4 Three-way discussion with interlocutor on topics related to Part 3.

4 minutes

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Speaking Part 3

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Functions for Speaking Part 3 • exchanging ideas • expressing and justifying opinions • agreeing and/or disagreeing • suggesting • speculating • evaluating • reaching a decision through negotiation

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Summary • Overview of the Cambridge English:

First/First for Schools exams • Detailed look at the changes on each

paper • Teaching ideas • Key dates and more information

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Key dates and further support These changes will come into effect in

January 2015

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Teaching Support website • Information about

all Cambridge English Language Assessment examinations and teaching qualifications

• Teaching resources for each part of each exam

• Lots more features to support teachers

www.cambridgeenglish.org/teachingsupport

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New microsite for revised exams • Information about

all the changes • Videos, specifications,

sample papers, teaching tips, classroom activities

teachingsupport.cambridgeenglish.org

• Courses Earn a certificate from Cambridge.

• Experts Live every week: advice and webinars.

• Knowledge Stay inspired with articles and videos.

Online Professional Development

Join at www.CambridgeEnglishTeacher.org

Official Preparation Materials for the Revised 2015 Cambridge

English: First (FCE) and Cambridge English: First (FCE) for

Schools

Cambridge English: First

Jun ’14 Aug ’14 Jan ’14 Jan ’14

Cambridge English: First for Schools

Jul ’14 Mar ’14 Sep ’14

Practice and Supplementary First for Schools First

Trainer Oct ‘14

Dec ‘14

Grammar and Vocabulary

Feb ‘15

Unique preparation materials • Internationally recognised authors • Experts in teaching, learning and

assessment • Informed by research into real exam

candidates’ answers and the mistakes they make

• English Profile insights into vocabulary learning at each CEFR level

www.cambridge.org/elt/exams

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Further information

University of Cambridge Cambridge English Language Assessment 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, UK Tel: +44 (0)1223 553997 Fax: +44 (0)1223 553621 Email: helpdesk@cambridgeenglish.org Keep up to date with what’s new via the Cambridge English Language Assessment website: www.cambridgeenglish.org For information on Cambridge English webinars for teachers: www.cambridgeenglish.org/webinars

Changes to Cambridge English: Advanced from 2015 17 and 19 March 2014