Tag Archives: CPE

The CPE or Cambridge Proficiency in English exam, the most advanced test from Cambridge ESOL is changing from March 2013 so, if you are preparing for the test, be careful when choosing study materials or preparation courses. While the difficulty level of the exam remains the same as before (i.e. level C2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Language), the structure of the exam is quite different, particularly with regard to the Reading and Use of English Papers, which are now to be combined.

In this post, we will detail the changes which take effect from this year, and explain what you can now expect when taking the exam.

CPE Changes 2013

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The CPE speaking test is divided into 3 parts, each testing your speaking ability in distinctive contexts. The speaking test is best viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of vocabulary and the range of grammatical structures that someone with a C2 level of English is expected to possess.

Preparation for the CPE speaking test

Firstly, consider taking a preparatory course such as the one offered by Desktop English. Cambridge estimate that 80% of CPE candidates complete a preparation course before taking the exam. This should be the first consideration if you are interested in the Proficiency exam. An experienced Cambridge exam teacher will be able to manage your preparation regime and identify weak areas where you need to concentrate your energy during your study. Once you have chosen a course, your teacher will help you to:

• Practise the speaking test with other students preparing for the exam and you get feedback about your performance
• Familiarise yourself with the format of each part of the test, including the interaction patterns (i.e. when you are required to speak alone, with the other candidate, with the examiner, or both).
• Become familiar with the timings of each part of the exam and practise speaking for fully 2 minutes in preparation for the long turn in part 3.
• Practise using an expansive vocabulary and a variety of complex structures that enable you to speculate, talk about perception, discuss abstract concepts and to paraphrase where necessary
• Learn how to listen to the questions in the exam to identify what kind of language is required in your answer
• Recognise opportunities in each part to produce the kind of structures and vocabulary required to prove your level

We at Desktop English offer an online preparation course for the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Take a look at how we can help you pass.

Desktop English CPE Preparation Course

In the second in our series of posts about the true meaning of prepositions in English, we examine the word up and look at how native speakers perceive the word both in isolation or as a particle in a phrasal verb.

Up – It’s real meaning

In this blog, I will demonstrate that the meaning of up is literally a direction (i.e. the opposite of down). Additionally, after hundreds of years of linguistic evolution, it has come to form part of a variety of what are known as phrasal verbs, frequently with a meaning that falls into one of the following categories:

• completion
• termination
• fulfilment
• increase
• emergence
• construction
• reconciliation/achieving parity

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Intensive 4 week preparation course

If you have recently failed a Cambridge exam and wish to retake and pass it soon, we can help. We are offering a 4 week intensive preparation course for people planning to re-take Cambridge exam, be it FCE, CAE or CPE in April or May 2012.

During the 4 week course, you will:

• Take 8 x 1hour classes by Skype with an experienced Cambridge exam specialist teacher
• Do 2 x full mock / simulation exams over the 4 weeks which will be assessed by your teacher
• Receive an in-depth error analysis stating your problem areas and prioritising where you need to improve
• Receive extra homework practice on the areas identified as key to your improvement
• Get help with exam strategy and find out how you can improve your writing and speaking scores in particular
• Use our daily chat support facility to get help with your homework or answers to your questions about the exam

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In IELTS and Cambridge exams, you are required to read several texts of considerable total length. This can be a daunting task for students and you may feel that you don’t have time to read everything.

You’ve probably heard the terms skim reading and scan reading and are probably aware that these skills are important when answering questions on a text. But what is skim reading? Is it just reading quickly or trying to find specific words in a text?

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Take a look at the CPE exam dates for 2012. Remember to check with your exam centre for the days that they offer.

Saturday 10th March
Speaking exam window – 24th February to 11th March

Saturday 12th May
Speaking exam window – 4th to the 13th May

Thursday 14th of June
Speaking exam window – 25th May to 17th June
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The Certificate of Proficiency in English is accepted globally by thousands of employers, universities and government agencies as proof of your level of English. Many industrial, administrative and service-based employers accept the CPE and universities recognise that candidates with a Certificate in Proficiency in English have a fluency and a sophistication at a level approaching that of a native speaker.

An advantage to the CPE is that once you have the qualification it does not expire, unlike the IELTS exam which is only valid for 2 years. The CPE has life-long validity.

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