Practice Test FCE
Practice Test FCE
Practice Test FCE
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
TEST 1 25
2
ES
.......................................................................................................................
TEST 2 ....................................................................................................................... 41
G
TEST 3 .......................................................................................................................
PA 57
TEST 4 ....................................................................................................................... 73
TEST 5
E
....................................................................................................................... 89
PL
Further Practice
tice in Key W
Word Transformation
focused on:: grammar / structure,
struct vocabulary and collocation or idiomatic expression . . . . . . . 122
SA
Further
urther Practice
Pract in Word Formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
1 The last time I went to Crete was in July uly 2010. 9 The last time we went dancing was months ago.
BEEN I ....................................................................
..........................
................ FOR We ................................................................
PL
3 Robert began to writee poetry five years ye ago. 11 Look, the teacher is coming, boys!
WRITING Robert .........................
.............................................................
..................... HERE Look, ........................................................ ,
fivee years.
rs. boys!
SA
4 The group
up broke up three t years ago. 12 Derek met Susan eight months ago.
SINCE It .................
...................................................................
................ HAS Derek .........................................................
the group b broke up. eight months.
5 Its more thanan a month since I saw Peter. 13 He has got a job at a caf this summer.
FOR I .................................................................... IS He ..............................................................
more than a month. at a caf this summer.
6 This is the worst film Ive ever watched. 14 Why do you complain about the weather all the
NEVER I .................................................................... time?
bad film. FOREVER Why ...........................................................
3 Mr Swift did not stop workingg until he was seventy. seve ........................ the cupboards.
WHEN Mr Swift ........................................................
..........................
.............. 11 No other student had ever talked back to her.
working. ONLY He was the .................................................
talked back to her.
M
Mykonos every sum summer when she was SMOKING By the time I stopped, I ..............................
younger.
ounger. ................... twelve years.
5 She started cooking
ooking as soon as they arrived. 13 When I lived on the farm, I woke up at five every
UNTIL She ................................................................ day.
they had arrived. WOULD When I lived on the farm, ..........................
6 She has been working here for two years. ........................ at five every day.
STARTED She ................................................................ 14 They argued all the time when they were little.
ago. FOREVER They ...........................................................
when they were little.
7 When did you have a haircut?
SINCE How long ...................................................... 15 I had never watched a better game.
a haircut? BEST It was the ...................................................
watched.
8 The thieves left before the police got here.
BY The thieves .....................................................
the police got here.
4
Practice Test 1
READING & USE OF ENGLISH
PART 1
For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example
at the beginning (0).
Example:
0 A B C D
INDIAN SUMMER
Captain Majendie had bought the villa in India on his honeymoon, when
wh he was in
the British army there, and when he (0) ..... , his widow went out to India to (1) .....
some time there. Stuart had known Majendiee for years, so he
h felt he should write to
the widow and offer his sympathy (2) ..... he had never
n met her. Back in England,
Stuart received a letter from her, in
n which
w she expressed
pre a desire to meet him. 'I
shall be leaving India at the (3) ..... of Jun
June,' she wrote, 'and I have a lot of business
wer his closest friend, so I (4) ..... you can
to attend to. Howard always told me you were
help me with all the official (5
(5) ..... that needs attention. I shall be in Italy for the
summer; if you do not already
alread (6) ...
..... plans, I would be pleased if you could join me
there.' Stuart felt
elt obliged to (7) ..... his plans for a trip to Ireland and three weeks
d himself in a boat
later found boa crossing Lake Como, in northern Italy, (8) ..... for Mrs
Majendie's
ndie's house.
1 A p
pass B spend C stay D waste
5
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Parts 2 & 3
PART 2
For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.
There is an example at the beginning (0).
Example: 0 T H E M
GROWING PAINS
.......... with
The teenage years are often a challenging and difficult time for parents, presenting (0) ................... wi the problem
of how to maintain their children's respect and obedience, but at the (9) .................... time, allow their independence
to increase. It's quite normal (10) .................... children to be disobedient in some way, as they too probablyp find it an
awkward and confusing time. Generally, it's best to treat defiance calmly, unless it's causing serious seriou disruption at home
or school.
Two things that parents should try to avoid doing (11) .................... their teenagers are, a firstly, to become much
(12) .................... strict, and secondly, to try to be 'one of the kids'. Both these things (13) .................... only create
bigger divisions and differences.
The key lies (14) .................... keeping up good levels of communication
communicatio on both sides. Parents need to learn
(15) .................... to let their teenager know when they disapprove
rove of something,
someth (16) .................... being so critical or
negative that their child feels ignored or pushed away.
PART 3
For questions 17-24, read the text below. w. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form
a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an eexample at the beginning (0).
ETTERS.
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
AM
Example: 0 O R I G I N A L
career at university fo a job where Latin was a (17) ....................... . To be a lawyer's clerk, for
rsity or for REQUIRE
example, a person (18) ....................... needed this subject. Although most grammar schools have been TRADITION
replaced by comprehensive schools, the (19) ....................... of which was seen in England in the 1960s, INTRODUCE
The whole concept of a comprehensive (21) ....................... is one which many people have some EDUCATE
(22) ....................... to. Such a system is intended to take in all the children of the appropriate age, who OBJECT
live within the district, (23) ....................... of academic standard. Therefore, in theory, all children are REGARD
6
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 4
PART 4
For questions 25-30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
Example:
0 If he didnt have a computer, he wouldnt be able to manage.
DO
He could ....................................................................................... his computer.
The gap can be filled by the words not do without, so you write:
27 She cooked more food than was necessary for the party.
SO
She neednt .................................................................................
.............. for the party.
29 Although
ough she was rich, she was very down to earth.
SPITE
In .................................................................. rich, she was very down to earth.
7
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 5
PART 5
You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think
fits best according to the text.
Neil Sanders was a prisoner. He had committed a crime while on duty as a soldier and was being
taken to prison by an officer, Captain Bilham. As it happened, they were both from Scotland.
However, Neil came from the Highlands, while Captain Bilham had been born orn in Glasgow.
Glas
w
Nevertheless, they had agreed to forget their differences as the train journey was long and it would
ES
be easier for them both if they didn't argue.
G
remember openings and endings from some of the great gamesmes in the history of chess. He had a
wonderful memory and liked teaching; he said that was what made him such a good officer.
PAds. They were on
They started talking together, almost becoming friends.
the British army was stationed at that period of World
o a train crossing Egypt, where
ld War II. When
Whe they got to Cairo they would
never see each other again. Bilham told Neil that he wass being
bein sent there on a special mission, but
ould be put in prison.
he wouldn't go into details about it. Neil would i He might even be hanged.
As they talked, Captain Bilham started to feel that Neil wasn't a bad person at all that although Neil
E
fficer, it seemed, had gone mad. He had even pulled out his gun and
would all be killed. The officer,
r
threatened to shoot his own men if they refused to approach the enemy. Neil, a sergeant, had seen
cer was going
very clearly that the officer goi to get them all killed. There had been a battle going on; guns
had been firing all round them. Neil Ne had shot the officer, saving the lives of the twenty men in his
M
C
Suddenly, Captain Bilham felt ill. His face turned white and he started sweating. His hand went to
his chest. Neil wondered if he might have heart problems. Captain Bilham asked him to get some
white tablets out of his bag, and Neil jumped up to do so. But when he turned round with the small
bottle in his hand, he saw that Captain Bilham had stopped breathing. He was half lying on his seat,
his eyes still open but he was obviously dead. Neil's first reaction was to feel sorry for him.
Then he began to feel afraid. They would think he had done it!
8
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 5
31 Captain Bilham
A liked explaining things.
B used to be a teacher.
C cheated when he played chess by remembering old games.
D won most of the chess games they played.
9
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 6
PART 6
You are going to read an article about education. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from
the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A LESSON IN EDUCATION
You could say that the modern education system in Britain is based on equality. All boys and girls,
whether they are wealthy or not, are entitled to an education. However, it was not always like this.
37 In the early Middle Ages, education was mainly the responsibility of the church. It was,
therefore, only boys intending to become priests or monks who benefited from formal
mal learning.
lea
each Latin grammar
Grammar schools followed in the 12th century. First opened by the church to teach gram
ES
to boys, by the 16th century such schools also taught the languages and literature of the ancient
an
Greeks and Romans. However, they were no longer run solely by the clergy,
lergy, but by merchant
me and
trade associations as well. 38 In fact, before the late 1800s, girlss had little or no opportunity
o at
G
all to receive a formal education.
The poorer classes were also discriminated against. While thee sons of wealthier
wealt families attended
PA home This problem was first
exclusive public schools, the majority of the poor stayed at home.
arity schools which
addressed in the 1700s with the introduction of charity wh provided free teaching and
clothing for the children of the poor. 39 A type of modern-day
mod monitor can still be found in
ble for teaching lessons, these monitors,
some British schools today. Although they are not responsible
mmonly called,
or prefects as they are now more commonly ca help to discipline the younger students and
E
In 1918,
918, a new law was introduced to raise the school-leaving age. It meant that any student who
failed to
o be accepted
acce into grammar school would still be entitled to a free education up until the age
of fourteen. 41 Students now had to go to school until they were at least fifteen years old, and
new secondary schools were developed. At the age of eleven all children would be made to take an
examination. The successful candidates would immediately begin grammar school, while the less
successful students would attend the new secondary schools. 42
Nowadays, most grammar and secondary schools have been replaced by comprehensive schools.
Comprehensive schools welcome students of all abilities, so there is no longer any need for
eleven-year-olds to take a special test. Although grammar schools still exist in some places,
comprehensive education, which is generally considered to be the fairest system, offers a high
standard of education to all.
10
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 6
ES
C Although the majority of British schools continue to be
m to
state-run, the government is actively encouraging them
become more independent and to take greater control of
their own affairs.
G
D It wasnt until almost four hundred years later
ater that grammar
gramm
PA
schools opened their doors to female
le students.
sor
made compulsory.
PL
G It was in
n these schools that
t older students learned from the
hers and then
teachers th passed their knowledge on to the younger
ents.
students.
AM
11
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 7
PART 7
You are going to read an article about how people of other nationalities see the English lifestyle. For questions
43-52, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.
ES
feels that the political system in their own country should be different? 44
G
doesnt like the traditional English drink? 46
6
12
Practice Test 1 Reading & Use of English - Part 7
ES
subject. All conversations seem to start with a somewhere in the Midlands, ands, I was very shocked
s to
reference to the kind of weather were having, have find that video cameras as had been installed.
insta The club
had, or are going to have. Turned out nice again, chairman explained
ned that this had been
be done to stop
hasnt it? It looks like the rain might hold off. Its players cheatingg and claiming a hole-in-one. Its just
G
a nice day for it. Whatever the it refers to. And on a
not cricket! he said. If we allowed this to go on, our
it goes. At bus stops, complete strangers, who ould get a bad reputation
club would re and people would
wouldnt ordinarily give you the time of day, stop
PAop coming. It was then that I realised it was wrong
suddenly open up and want to become your lifelong to have these stereotyped images of people.
friends if you mention the w-word. I dont think Ill
ever get used to it.
There used to be a time when everything stopped stoppe usually thrash England at cricket, which is always
for elevenses and afternoon tea. I remember
reme when cause for great celebration amongst the Aussies
I first arrived in London,, back in the 70s, the entire living over here. What we Australians cant stand
M
London Underground was on strike: the workers about the English is their superior attitude and their
were demanding time for a tea break! br In fact, the Royal Family. Most English people still think were
whole country seemed med to run according to a tea all criminals or ex-convicts. As for the Queen, she
SA
13
Practice Test 1 Writing - Parts 1 & 2
WRITING
PART 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
1 In your English class, you have been talking about the benefits of travelling abroad. Now your English teacher has
asked you to write an essay for homework.
Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
ES
1 which is cheaper
2 which is more educational
3 ................................ (your own idea)
G
PART 2
Write an answer to one of the questions 2-5 in this part. Write your 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
ur answer in 140-
azine.
2 You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.
P
MY FAVOURITE PASTIME
ASTIM
Tell us about your favourite pastime and sayy why
w you think it is important for people to have an interest.
We will publish the most interesting articles next month.
E
Stories Wanted
We ar
are looking for stories for our new online magazine for teenagers.
Your story must begin with this sentence:
Joe was really excited as he had never been to a live concert before.
Your story must include:
a lost ticket
a meeting with somebody famous
LISTENING
PART 1
Questions 1-8
You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best answer (A, B or C).
7 You hear two people talking about a programme they saw on TV.
What was the main issue?
A pollution in cities
B problems with the underground system
C better parking facilities for motorists
15
Practice Test 1 Listening - Parts 2 & 3
PART 2
Questions 9-18
You will hear a talk about a cruise holiday. For questions 9-18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Cruises with Sunpacked Travel are available no matter what (9) ....................................... of year it is.
There are special reductions for old-age pensioners and families with children younger than
(10) ....................................... .
With its breathtaking scenery, the most popular destination is (11) ....................................... .... There are sspecial
facilities on board all the ships including (12) ....................................... which is available
ble for anyone whwho feels ill.
A crew member will take care of cleaning and booking tables in the restaurant as well as washing and
(13) ....................................... clothes.
Entertainment includes a cinema, cabaret, disco and casino as well as a (14) ...............
....................................... every second
night.
PART 3
Questions 19-23
You will hear five shortt extracts in which
w people are talking about their holidays. For questions 19-23, choose from the
list (A-H) what each speaker says. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.
A I bought gi
gifts for other people.
B I didn
didnt like the food.
Speaker 1 19
C I was slightly disappointed with the place I went to.
Speaker 2 20
D I had a terrible holiday.
Speaker 3 21
E I was injured during my holiday.
Speaker 4 22
F I didnt get on with the locals.
Speaker 5 23
G I spent too much money.
PART 4
Questions 24-30
You will hear part of a telephone conversation between two friends about redecorating a bedroom. For questions
24-30, choose the best answer (A, B or C).
17
Practice Test 1 Speaking - Parts 1 & 2
SPEAKING
S
AG
PL
18
Practice Test 1 Speaking - Part 2
E
G
LE
19
Practice Test 1 Speaking - Parts 3 & 4
telephone &
books
answering machine
S
How necessary
is each item?
AG
stereo computer
PL
20
6 PRACTICE TESTS
FOR THE CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH FIRST (FCE) FOR SCHOOLS
SCHO
These
ese six complete practice tests accurately reflect the content, level
and format
rm of th
the examination.