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Guia para o exame Cambridge
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Exam Skills Insider Guides 1/
By the Cambridge ESOL Exam Board
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The Insider Guides to Cambridge ESOL exams
Introduction
There are lots of myths about English language exams.
You may hear people talk about trick questions which are planted in papers to catch you out, how exercises are constantly recycled, how exams are made up in a matter of hours.
Actually, the development of exams at Cambridge ESOL is a huge job. It involves teams of researchers and an international network of thousands of writers and examiners. They make sure each exam is fair and a reliable guide to what level candidates have reached in the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and in their use of English.
Every test is different and is designed to examine very specific skills. That’s why test takers can benefit from knowing more about the particular exam they will be sitting and what examiners are really looking for.
In these pages you will find guides to how you can do your best in the world- renowned English language exams provided by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
The guides provide tips on what each exam is looking for from you – as well as advice straight from the examiners.
Preliminary English Test (PET)
First Certificate in English (FCE)
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
Business English Certificates (BEC)
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
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Listening Answer as much as you can when you hear the recording for the first time and then check your answers and find any missing answers when you hear the recording for the second time. Answer all the questions even if you are not exactly sure of the answer. You probably understand more than you think.
Speaking If you have any doubts about what you have to do, ask the examiner. Don't worry that your partner is a stronger or weaker speaker than you. The examiners assess the candidates individually. No matter how uncertain or nervous you feel, the important thing is to make an effort and speak as much as you can. Remember that both the examiners are there to help you to do your best in the test!
More information on the PET exam is available from http://www.CambridgeESOL.org
Jude Harvey, Cambridge ESOL writing examiner for PET, says:
“In the Writing part of the test, it is important to read the questions and think carefully before you start writing. Write clearly and make sure you leave time to check through and then correct any mistakes. Make sure you write enough or you will not be able to get high marks.
In Question 6 (the short message) make sure you answer all parts of the question. If you answer the points in the same order as they are in the question, you won’t forget to do any of them. Don’t try to be clever here, just answer the question. You will have more opportunity to show your language in the next part.
Read through Question 7 and Question 8 and decide which one you can write a better answer for. Don’t try to answer both questions as the examiner can only give you marks for one question. This is your chance to show what you can do. Link your ideas into sentences and don’t forget to use full stops where needed.
In the letter, you do not need to write your address or the date but start with ‘Dear…’ and finish with a closing phrase and sign it. You can start and finish your letter with a general comment or question, but make sure this is not too
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long; most of your letter should reply to the points asked in the friend’s letter. Don’t just copy out all the questions from the paper; try to use your own words.
If you choose the story, make sure it relates to the title or continues on logically from the first words that are given to you. Don’t make the story too complicated; the examiners are marking your English, not your imagination. If you organise it into a beginning, middle and ending you will easily be able to write enough.
Remember this is a test and it is important that you do what the questions ask you to do. Good luck!”
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Here’s how you can do the best you can in each paper.
Reading Quite often candidates will try to ‘word-spot’ where they choose an answer on the basis of a word having been used in the text and the question. This isn’t a guarantee it’ll be right. Don't be put off by vocabulary which is new to you. Examiners don’t expect you to understand every single word. The text will probably become much clearer by reading a bit more. Remember that if a multiple choice question is an incomplete sentence, the whole sentence must match the text, not just the phrases in the options. These phrases may be true in themselves, but not work with the start of the sentence that you have been given.
Writing Make sure you think about whom you are writing to and the kind of tone you should be using – is this a formal or informal situation? Prepare before you start writing. How are you going to start and finish the piece of writing; what kind of words will you want to use? Show that you can use a variety of words and expressions to link your sentences: create a sequence ( “On the next occasion we...” ), or show a contrast ( “However, despite that setback we…” ).
Use of English For the sake of speed, candidates often select what they think is the right answer before they have read the whole of a sentence – which leads to mistakes. Don't choose your answer in Part 1 before you have read all the options. Read the words following the gaps in Parts 1 and 2 as they may have an effect on the answer.
Listening Don't spend too much time on a question you are having difficulty with as you may miss the next question. There’s nothing to be gained from writing extra, irrelevant information in your answer. Individual words or phrases that look right might not always be the correct answer – it’s always better to think about the overall meaning.
Speaking
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Don’t worry about asking for the instructions to be repeated if you're not sure what to do – you won’t be marked down for this. Be prepared to start the conversation as well as respond to what your partner says, but don’t interrupt your speaking partner during their ‘long turn’ to speak. Make sure your answers are as full as they can be so that the assessor hears lots of your English.
More information on the FCE exam is available from http://www.CambridgeESOL.org
Cambridge ESOL FCE oral examiner, Lucrecia Luque, says:
“When the test starts, try to relax. The examiners are friendly and will give you lots of opportunities to show off your English.
In Part 1, use a range of vocabulary. For example, if the examiner asks you whether you like music, ‘activate’ that area of vocabulary - think of words you know and try to use them (e.g. instrument, concert, classical, rock).
Make sure your basic grammar is correct. You may be asked questions about the past, the present or the future. Think of the verb tense you want to use, so you can avoid silly mistakes like saying ‘I go’ when you mean ‘I went’.
In Part 2, don’t forget to give a full answer to the second part of the task. The first part is always ‘compare and contrast’, but listen carefully when the examiner tells you the second part of the task.
Remember you are comparing two pictures, so don’t describe one of the photos in detail – you will run out of time. Remember you only have one minute to show off your level of language!
Use some complex language and not just very simple sentences. To do this, try to link some of your ideas together with connecting words (because, although, however, so, etc).
In Part 3, it is important to keep the discussion going until the examiner asks you to stop, so first discuss the different choices. Don’t come to a decision too soon because you may then struggle to find other things to say.
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The Insider Guides to Cambridge ESOL exams
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
Introduction Being successful in the Certificate in Advanced English proves you have the confidence to take on the English language requirements of higher study or work in a demanding career – such as medicine or business – using the English language.
Someone who gains the CAE is able to participate in professional meetings and discussions, express opinions clearly, and understand and produce texts of various types, including business letters and reports. You'll be more than capable of following a university course taught in English.
CAE has five papers: Reading (1 hour and 15 minutes). In this paper you’ll need to show you are comfortable with handling a range of texts from newspapers, magazines, journals, brochures etc. and textbooks, focussing on detail and structure, and being able to recognise different opinions and attitudes.
Writing (2 hours). This involves answering 2 questions. Each answer should be about – completing a series of 250 words and will be based on pieces of writing, such as reports, letters, reviews, proposals and articles, each aimed at different target readers.
English in Use (1 hour and 30 minutes). This paper contains various tasks which test your understanding of English at word, sentence and text level, such as error correction, register transfer and text completion.
Listening (around 45 minutes). In this paper you will need to listen to an audio recording and extract detailed and specific information from the spoken text and to understand speakers' attitudes and opinions in, for example, interviews, discussions, lectures and conversations.
Speaking (around 15 minutes). There are four parts to this test. In some parts you will talk on your own and in other parts you will talk to either the examiner or your partner, including an interview section, individual long turns, a collaborative task and a discussion. You are provided with stimulus materials such as photographs and drawings.
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Here’s how you can do the best you can in each paper.
Reading The reading paper is about your ability to deal with the texts provided - so don’t be tempted to use your world knowledge or personal opinions to answer questions! Sometimes candidates read very narrowly - just a few lines before and after the point where the answer is - which can lead to mistakes. Answer all the questions if you can - no marks are deducted for incorrect answers.
Writing Remember that in order to get a good mark at CAE level you not only need to write accurately but also to show you have a good range of vocabulary and structures at your fingertips. Think carefully about whether the task requires you to persuade or justify your opinion and make sure you do this in your answer. Don't write answers that are much longer than the 250 word limit as this means you might have included a lot of irrelevant material. Planning your answer will help you avoid this.
English in Use Detail is particularly important in this part of the exam, so check your spelling in all parts of the test. Don't expect more than five of the lines to be correct in Part 3. Make sure you read the surrounding context before deciding on your answer. Don't give alternative answers for any questions.
Listening Use the pauses provided on the tape to read the questions and try to predict the answer, and also to check your answers between the first and second listening. Don't panic in Part 2. There is plenty of time to write your answers as you listen. It’s always better to guess at an answer than to leave a blank space on the answer sheet.
Speaking This is a chance to really show what you can do, so make the most of it.
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The Insider Guides to Cambridge ESOL exams
Business English Certificates (BEC)
Introduction An internationally recognised qualification like one of the Business English Certificates (BEC) can give you an advantage in the job market or help with your plans to work overseas.
You can see the kinds of companies and organisations which recognise BEC here: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/support/recog/recog_bec_corp.pdf
There are three BEC exams - BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher - which test English language ability used in a business context at Council of Europe levels B1, B2 and C1 respectively.
BEC Preliminary involves three papers, for BEC Vantage and BEC Higher you need to sit four.
The BEC Preliminary papers are: Reading and Writing (1 hour and 20 minutes – Reading includes seven tasks, like a multiple choice test and a gap-filling exercise; in the Writing test you’ll be asked to produce two short pieces relating to business);
Listening (around 40 minutes – based on input such as interviews, discussions and telephone conversations of the type you might be involved in at work);
Speaking (around 12 minutes – you do this part with one other candidate, giving a ‘mini-presentation’ and discussing business issues with the other candidate and the examiner).
The task types are similar for BEC Vantage and BEC Higher, but aimed at a higher level of language.
For BEC Vantage the papers are: Reading (1 hour); Writing (45 minutes); Listening (around 40 minutes); Speaking (around 14 minutes).
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The papers for BEC Higher are: Reading (1 hour); Writing (1 hour 10 minutes); Listening (around 40 minutes); Speaking (around 16 minutes).
Here’s how you can do the best you can in each paper.
Reading This paper will be looking at your ability to understand business- related texts at word, phrase, sentence and paragraph level, and your knowledge and control of the language system. You will need to identify the purpose of each task and to apply the appropriate approach. You may need to read quickly or slowly, skimming for the general ideas or scanning for a specific point. For example, when you read an instruction manual on how to mend the photocopier, you read for detailed understanding, but when you are looking through your ‘in-tray’ of materials it is just to find the main points.
Writing Where you can, try to use a range of business words and expressions that are often used in the workplace. In the appropriate tasks, include some good linking words such as 'firstly', 'also', 'however', 'moreover' and 'nevertheless', as these help to provide some structure. Don't waste time writing addresses for a letter, as they are not required.
Listening Use the preparation time before each text is played to read through the question and think about the context. Use the information on the page to help you follow the text. Don't spend too long thinking about a question - leave it until the second listening.
Speaking Get plenty of speaking practice in small groups, especially on topics likely to be used in the exam. Collect and keep records of words and phrases useful for carrying out the exam tasks.
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examiner’s follow-up questions are the final chance you have to show what you can do, so do try to give full and appropriate answers, using personal experience if you can, and try to involve your partner too to keep the discussion going.
Finally, don’t be surprised if the examiner interrupts you before you have finished speaking – they have to keep to strict timing in the tests.
I wish you all good luck in the exam!”
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The Insider Guides to Cambridge ESOL exams
International English Language Testing System (IELTS )
Introduction IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the international English language test to access opportunities in careers, study and migration.
It’s run by an international partnership of The British Council, IDP Education Australia and Cambridge ESOL. Well over half a million candidates sit IELTS each year through a network of 400 test centres in 150 countries worldwide. It is recognised by more than 3,800 leading universities and colleges, government agencies and professional organisations.
IELTS has four papers: Listening (30 minutes, 40 items in 4 sections),
Reading (60 minutes, 40 items in 3 sections),
Writing (2 tasks in 60 minutes, a 150 and a 250 word piece),
Speaking (11 to 14 minutes),
and depending on how you want to use your test score, you can choose between “ Academic ” and “ General Training ” in the Reading and Writing papers.
Here’s how you can do the best you can in each paper.
Reading Some students believe only practising tests will really help them, and want to do test after test. This can be discouraging, as you won’t see the rapid progress you would like. Instead you should read widely - newspapers, journals, magazines and books - and use materials from these sources when preparing for the test. Particular areas you should focus on in your practice are: using synonyms, summary words etc. to help you locate information; different ways of expressing the same ideas or information in a text; reading skills such as skimming and scanning for information.
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Anthea Bazin, Speaking Test examiner for IELTS, says:
“You may feel rather nervous about taking a Speaking test and think there is nothing much you can do to improve your performance, but there are some simple ways in which you can help yourself.
The most important point to remember is that an examiner can only judge your English on what s/he hears. So don’t give minimal answers. Always try to explain the reasons for your choices or opinions and give examples from your experience where relevant.
You will have a topic to talk about in the second part of the test. You are allowed one minute to prepare for this and it is very important to use this time well. You can make notes if you want, but you won’t have time to make detailed ones. Practise writing down key words only or draw a mind map if you find that more helpful. Some people prefer to use the time to just think about the topic and collect their ideas. It’s good to try out the different methods before the test and decide which suits you best.
Examiners are looking for a well-organised, fluent talk. You can prepare by collecting some phrases to help you start your talk and move on from point to point. Having some phrases ready will help to make you feel more confident and relaxed too.
Practise giving a talk at home and time yourself because it’s difficult to calculate how much you will need to say in two minutes.
Above all, try to show the examiner your English at its best. Vary your vocabulary and structures (verb forms etc) if you can and if you hear yourself making a mistake, correct it.
Take a deep breath before you enter the examination room - and remember the examiner wants you to perform well, too.”
