Cambridge English exams have been recognised by the Ministry of Education of Republic of Moldova as a way to be exempted from the English paper for the Baccalaureate. However, with all the exams, dates and formats, you might be a bit lost.
So, here is all the information you need to know! 🙂
You can take 3 different Cambridge English exams at our centre for the Baccalaureate:
- B2 First (FCE, formerly known as Cambridge English: First)
- B2 First for Schools (FCE fS, formerly known as Cambridge English: First for Schools)
- C1 Advanced (CAE, formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced)
- C2 Proficiency (CPE, formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency)
All of the above give you the possibility to avoid the English paper of the baccalaureate with the automatic mark of 10.
Every exam consists of 4 papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Here’s the structure for each one of the exams below:
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B2 FIRST |
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Paper |
Content |
Purpose |
|
Reading and Use of English (1 hour 15 minutes) |
7 parts/52 questions |
Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction, newspapers and magazines. Tests your use of English with tasks that show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary. |
|
Writing (1 hour 20 minutes) |
2 parts |
Requires you to be able to produce two different pieces of writing, such as letters, reports, reviews and essays. |
|
Listening (about 40 minutes) |
4 parts/30 questions |
Requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as news programmes, presentations and everyday conversations. |
|
Speaking (14 minutes per pair of candidates) |
4 parts |
Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face to face situations. You will take the Speaking test with one or two other candidates. |
FCE for Schools differs from the FCE exam in topics chosen for tasks. These will be more relevant for teenagers as they touch upon many subjects which are oriented towards school children. The certificate received after taking the FCE for Schools does not indicate the fact that the exam taken was focused on different content. It only states the final level of the candidate and the name of the examination, which is First Certificate in English.
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B2 FIRST FOR SCHOOLS |
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Paper |
Content |
Purpose |
|
Reading and Use of English (1 hour 15 minutes) |
7 parts/52 questions |
Students need to be able to understand a range of texts, including how they are organised and the opinions and attitudes expressed in them. The texts will be from sources familiar to school-aged learners, such as magazines, articles, fiction and advertisements, but targeted at the interests of students. Students’ use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well they can control their grammar and vocabulary. |
|
Writing (1 hour 20 minutes) |
2 parts |
Students are required to produce two pieces of writing. The first piece is compulsory and will be an essay of 140–190 words. For the second, they can choose from an article, email/letter, essay, review or story of 140–190 words. |
|
Listening (about 40 minutes) |
4 parts/30 questions |
Requires being able to follow and understand a range of familiar spoken materials, such as news programmes, public announcements and other sources, but targeted at the interests of school-aged learners. |
|
Speaking (14 minues per pair of candidates) |
4 parts |
A face to face test taken with one or two other candidates and an examiner. Students have to show how well they can produce spontaneous spoken language, talking with either the examiner, the other candidate, or by themselves
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C1 ADVANCED |
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Paper |
Content |
Purpose |
|
Reading and Use of English (1 hour 30 minutes) |
8 parts/ 56 questions |
Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction, newspapers and magazines. Tests your use of English with different types of exercise that show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary. |
|
Writing (1 hour 30 minutes) |
2 parts |
You create two different pieces of writing, such as essays, letters/emails, proposals, reports and reviews. |
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Listening (about 40 minutes) |
4 parts/ 30 questions |
Tests your ability to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as interviews, radio broadcasts, presentations, talks and everyday conversations. |
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Speaking (15 minutes per pair of candidates) |
4 parts |
Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face–to–face situations. You will take the Speaking test with another candidate. |
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C2 PROFICIENCY |
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Paper |
Content |
Purpose |
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Reading and Use of English (1 hour 30 minutes) |
7 parts/ 53 questions |
Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and manuals. |
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Writing (1 hour 30 minutes) |
2 parts |
Requires you to be able to write a variety of text types, such as essays, reports and reviews. |
|
Listening (about 40 minutes) |
4 parts/ 30 questions |
Requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as lectures, speeches and interviews. |
|
Speaking (16 minutes per pair of candidates) |
3 parts |
Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations. |
An average school student should get B2 level (FCE, FCE for Schools) in order to be exempted from the final English exam in Moldova. Students of bilingual schools should pass C1 exam (CAE) for this purpose. Make sure you check our Dates tab to get a closer look at the exam calendar for this year.
Do keep in mind that if you get over 180 points for the FCE or FCE for Schools exams, you will be awarded a C1 level.
If you register for a CAE exam, you will be awarded a B2 level if you get between 160-180 points. But you will get a C2 level if you get more than 200 points. You can check out the scale below for more information:
For more information regarding Cambridge English exams, please contact Diana CRETU, Centre Exams Manager and Centre Exams Officer, at ipopova@alfr.md
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