Cambridge English examinations

New exam specifications for 2015

Cambridge English
reviews and updates all of the exams regularly to ensure they meet the needs of teachers and learners and reflect the latest research into language learning and assessment.


The revision of Cambridge English: Advanced is now complete and the updated exam will start being used for exam sessions in January 2015.

The updated exam will:
  • have four papers instead of five: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
    Reading and Use of English have been combined into a single paper assessing language knowledge and reading skills. All of the tasks in the current papers have been retained in modified formats in the new Reading and Use of English paper.
  • Approximately 45 minutes shorter than the previous examination. However, careful exam design means that the updated Cambridge English: Advanced still assesses at exactly the same level, and retains the same language and skills coverage as the current exam.
  • Features new tasks and testing focuses in the Reading and Use of English, Writing and Speaking papers
Short video: Changes to CAE

Speaking test - Demonstration video








  Resources
Watch the webinar
This webinar, recorded in November 2013, focuses on the revised versions of Cambridge English: Advanced, Cambridge English: First and Cambridge English: First for Schools, and is is aimed at teachers who wish to prepare candidates for these exams.
Sample papers 2015
Check the Exam Specifications and Sample Papers booklet.
Visit the Teaching Support for 2015 Updates website
What’s new
– changes to exam in detail and at a glance, including new timings and formats.
About the exam – information on marks, structure and task types.
Resources – specifications, sample papers, teaching tips, classroom activities, official exam preparation, and a video explaining changes to exam.


The revision of Cambridge English: First and Cambridge English: First for schools is now complete and the updated exam will start being used for exam sessions in January 2015.

The updated exam will:
  • have four papers instead of five: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
    Reading and Use of English have been combined into a single paper assessing language knowledge and reading skills. All of the tasks in the current papers have been retained in modified formats in the new Reading and Use of English paper.
  • Approximately 30 minutes shorter than the previous examination. However, careful exam design means that the updated Cambridge English: First and First for Schools still assess at exactly the same level, and retain the same language and skills coverage as the current exams.
  • Features new tasks and testing focuses in the Reading and Use of English, Writing and Speaking papers
Short video: Changes to FCE

Speaking test - Demonstration video







  Resources
Watch the webinar
This webinar, recorded in November 2013, focuses on the revised versions of Cambridge English: Advanced, Cambridge English: First and Cambridge English: First for Schools, and is is aimed at teachers who wish to prepare candidates for these exams.
Sample papers 2015
Check the Exam Specifications and Sample Papers booklet.
Visit the Teaching Support for 2015 Updates website
What’s new
– changes to exam in detail and at a glance, including new timings and formats.
About the exam – information on marks, structure and task types.
Resources – specifications, sample papers, teaching tips, classroom activities, official exam preparation, and a video explaining changes to exam.
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