| Cambridge Assesment English: C2 Proficiency |
C2 Proficiency is the Cambridge English most advanced exam, for learners who have achieved an extremely high level of skill in the English language. The C2 Proficiency exam uses real-life situations that are especially designed to help you communicate more effectively and learn the language skills you need to function at the very highest levels of professional and academic life.
C2 Proficiency FAQs
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C2 Proficiency is set at Level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Preparing for C2 Proficiency will give you the practical English skills to:
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| Reliable Backed by the largest research programme of its kind, Cambridge English exams provide the most reliable reflection of your language skills. | ||
| Choice Choose when and how you take your exam - C2 Proficiency is available as either a paper-based or computer-based exam, allowing you even more choice over how you take your test. | ||
| Fair Cambridge English exams cover all major varieties of English and are designed to be fair to users of all nationalities and linguistic backgrounds. | ||
| Globally Accepted More than 3,000 employers, universities and colleges, government departments and other organisations around the world rely on C2 Proficiency It is accepted wherever a high level of English language is required. | ||
| Fast results Get your results in just two weeks with our computer-based exams. | ||
| A Cambridge English qualification Once you have earned a Cambridge English certificate, you hold one of the most valuable English qualifications in the world. | ||
What does C2 Proficiency involve?
C2 Proficiency is an in-depth assessment of English for people who want to use English in demanding work and study situations. It consists of four papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The Speaking exam uses a face-to-face test with two candidates and two assessors. This creates a more realistic and reliable measure of your ability to use English to communicate.
C2 Proficiency has five papers:
C2 Proficiency is an in-depth assessment of English for people who want to use English in demanding work and study situations. It consists of four papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The Speaking exam uses a face-to-face test with two candidates and two assessors. This creates a more realistic and reliable measure of your ability to use English to communicate.
C2 Proficiency has five papers:
 Reading and Use of English: 1 hour 30 minutesThe C2 Proficiency Reading and Use of English paper accounts for 40% of the total mark and has different types of text and questions. In one part, you may have to read one long text or three or more shorter, related texts. The texts may be from books (fiction and non-fiction), non-specialist articles from newspapers, magazines and the internet. The Reading and Use of English exam has 7 parts:
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| Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes The C2 Proficiency Writing paper has two parts. You have to show that you can write a variety of text types, such as essays, proposals, reports and reviews. Part 1 has one compulsory question and in part 2 candidates answer one question from a choice of four. In part 1 there are some material to read (two texts, each approximately 100 words). Using the information in this material, you have to write a discursive essay in which you have to summarise and evaluate the key points contained in two texts. Candidates must integrate a summary of these key points, an evaluation of the abstract arguments involved and their own ideas on the topic in a coherent essay. In part 2 there is a choice of four questions (2–5). For Questions 2–4, you may have to write an article, a letter, a proposal, a report or a review. If you have read one of the set books and want to write about it, you may decide to try Question 5. You have a choice of two tasks, 5(a) or 5(b) for this question. You may have to write an article, essay, letter, report or a review. This paper accounts for 20% of the total mark.
Writing checklist – Level C2 Use this checklist to improve your written English and practice for your exam. Download the Level C2 writing checklist | ||
| Listening: about 40 minutes (+ 5 minutes transfer time) The C2 Proficiency Listening paper has four parts and 30 questions. For each part you have to listen to a recorded text or texts and answer some questions. You hear each recording twice. Requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as lectures, speeches and interviews.
Variety of accents: Recordings will contain a variety of accents corresponding to standard variants of native-speaker accent, and to non-native accents that approximate to the norms of native-speaker accents. Text types: Texts vary in terms of length and interaction. Text types used include: interviews, discussions, conversations, talks, speeches, lectures, documentaries, instructions. Task types: A variety of task types are used. These reflect the different reasons for, and focuses of, listening: understanding opinion, attitude, gist, detail, main idea, speaker's purpose; gathering information about the speaker, the person being spoken to, the place or situation; inferring meaning, agreement and opinion. | ||
| Speaking: 16 minutes per pair of candidates The C2 Proficiency Speaking contains three parts and you take it together with another candidate. There are two examiners. One of the examiners (the interlocutor) conducts the test and the other examiner (the assessor) listens to what you say and takes notes. Part 1 is a conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate. The examiner asks each of you a series of questions, addressing a question to each of you in turn, to give you an opportunity to talk about yourselves. In Part 2 The interlocutor gives you some spoken instructions and one or more pictures to look at. First, you have to answer a question which focuses on your reaction to aspects of one or more pictures (1 minute). The second part is a decision-making task which you have to do with the other candidate. In Part 3 the interlocutor gives you a card with a question and some ideas on it and you have to speak for about 2 minutes on your own. After you finish, your partner has to comment and the interlocutor then asks you both a question on the same topic. The interlocutor follows the same procedure with your partner and then leads a discussion with both of you. The Speaking test accounts for 20% of the total mark.
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Your results
If you are successful in the exam you will receive two documents: a Statement of Results and a certificate. Universities, employers and other organisations you apply to may ask you for either of these documents as proof of your English language skills.
'Statement of Results'
Your Statement of Results contains three pieces of information:
Your certificate
If a candidate demonstrates that he/she has achieved level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), one of the following certificates will be awarded:
If you are successful in the exam you will receive two documents: a Statement of Results and a certificate. Universities, employers and other organisations you apply to may ask you for either of these documents as proof of your English language skills.
'Statement of Results'
Your Statement of Results contains three pieces of information:
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For Cambridge English: Proficiency, the following scores will be used to report results:
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 | The exam is targeted at Level C2 of the CEFR. The examination also provides reliable assessment at the level below (Level C1). Scores between 162 and 179 are also reported for Cambridge English: Proficiency. You will not receive a certificate, but your Cambridge English Scale score will be shown on your Statement of Results. Please click on the image to the left of this text to find out the relationship between the CEFR levels, the Cambridge English Scale and the grades awarded in Cambridge English: Proficiency.
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Your certificate
If a candidate demonstrates that he/she has achieved level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), one of the following certificates will be awarded:
 | Cambridge English: Proficiency - Level C2 If you achieve grade A, B or C in your exam, you will be awarded the Cambridge English: Proficiency certificate at Level C2. |
| Level C1 Certificate If your performance is below Level C2, but falls within Level C1, we will recognise your achievement with a Cambridge English certificate stating that you demonstrated ability at C1 level. |
 If you want a university, employer or other organisation to verify your
result, you must provide them with the information on your Statement of
Results and two additional pieces of information:1.- Your ID Number (a sequence of nine letters and numbers). 2.- Your Secret Number (a four-digit number). Both of these pieces of information can be found on your Confirmation of Entry, which you receive when you register for the exam. They can then verify your result by logging in to www.cambridgeenglish.org/verifiers |
On this page you will find useful resources to help you to prepare for your C2 Proficiency exam
| Free Practice Tests | ||
 | Computer tests Try a computer-based sample C2 Proficiency exam paper: TUTORIAL Reading-Use of English Listening Writing
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| Paper and pencil tests Try a paper-based sample C2 Proficiency exam paper. Download sample papers Download examiners comments | ||
| Books for Study | ||
| You can find a huge range of course books and learning resources to help you prepare for your Cambridge English exam here: http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/prepare-and-practise/books-for-study/ | ||
| Exam success: Flo-Joe |
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 | The place on the Web for Cambridge exam preparation! This website is for teachers or students of the Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET), First (FCE), Advanced (CAE) and Proficiency (CPE). It contains up-to-date advice about the Cambridge English exams, grammar, vocabulary and exam practice for students and extra classroom resources for teachers. http://www.flo-joe.co.uk | |
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| Visit the Cambridge English: Proficiency support page here: http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/Proficiency/how-to-prepare/ |
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