First Certificate in English

Do you want to be able to use English in everyday situations, continue your studies abroad or develop a career that requires English? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then FCE at Avalon is the ideal course for you.

The First Certificate in English is an internationally recognised qualification that indicates students have sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in jobs where English is required or to undertake studies in English. Performance is assessed on 5 modules, Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening and Speaking. Avalon School is consistently successful in achieving high exam grades for its students.

The FCE course at Avalon prepares students for the FCE exam. The course helps familiarise students with the format and content of the five papers and helps them to approach the exam with confidence. Students learn to confidently talk about a variety of topics, write in both formal and informal styles and read and understand texts from a variety of sources.

You do not have to take the exam to study the FCE course. The classes are excellent for students who want to improve their overall English skills and learn appropriate styles of language for a variety of situations. Avalon will prepare you for a lifetime of successful communication in English.

On the course you will learn:

• To express opinions
• Key vocabulary
• Essential grammar
• Practical language skills
• Exam techniques

The lessons run for two hours every weekday. For students who are below intermediate level Avalon provides an FCE Foundation course before starting the FCE exam course. The recommended length of study is 12 to 14 weeks depending on the student’s level when starting the course

About the exam

The FCE exam can be taken in March, June or December. The Listening and Speaking tests are usually taken a few weeks before the Reading, Writing and Use of English tests, which are taken on the same day.

Reading

1hr 15 minutes – 35 questions on texts of different styles and lengths.

Writing

1hr 30 minutes - Two pieces of writing between 120 and 180 words.

Use of English

1hr 15 minutes - 65 questions testing students’ grammar, vocabulary and spelling.

Listening

40 minutes - 30 questions including multiple choice, matching and note taking.

Speaking

14 minutes - Comparing and contrasting pictures and a short discussion with another candidate.