Writing is one of the most difficult skills to learn in foreign language. In the FCE exam you have 1 hour 20 minutes to read the question, make some notes and a rough draft, write your final answer, and then check your work. That´s not much time!
The CAE exam is 10 minutes longer, but you have to write more words. The tables below summarise the format of the FCE and CAE exams. They have a similar structure with 2 parts in each exam. The main differences are the word count and the time allowed. Another is that in Part 2 of the FCE you have the option of writing an article but in the CAE you have the option of a proposal.
Over the next few weeks we´ll be looking at each type of writing in more detail and will explain exactly how to get the best mark possible in your exam. If you have any questions, let us know by commenting below!
| FCE | Part 1 | Part 2 | CAE | Part 1 | Part 2 |
| Number of words | 140-190 words | 140-190 words | Number of words | 220-260 words | 220-260 words |
| Types of writing | Essay | Letter/email Review Report Article | Types of writing | Essay | Letter/email Review Report Proposal |
| Options | ONE compulsory question | Choose ONE out of three questions | Options | ONE compulsory question | Choose ONE out of three questions |
| Total time for exam | 1 hour 20 minutes | Total time for exam | 1 hour 30 minutes | ||
| Certificate awarded | B2 | Certificate awarded | C1 | ||
