The B2 First exam (FCE): a complete guide

B2 First is an English exam made by Cambridge. Many people still call it FCE, from its old name, First Certificate in English, and you will see both names on this site. The exam is targeted at CEFR level B2, which teachers usually describe as upper-intermediate. At this level you can follow the main ideas of complex texts, take part in conversations on familiar and general topics without too much effort, and write clear, organised texts that give your opinion.

The exam is not a test of facts or knowledge. It checks what you can do with English: read for gist and detail, write a clear essay, follow people talking at natural speed, and have a real conversation with another candidate. That is good news, because practical skills can be trained step by step.

This is an independent site. We are not Cambridge and we are not connected to them. For official information, always check the Cambridge English website.

B2 First suits learners who already use English with some confidence and want a recognised certificate of their level. In our classes, the typical candidates are:

• secondary-school and university students who need a B2 certificate for their studies or an exchange programme
• young adults who want to show their English level on a CV
• people who plan to live, study or work in an English-speaking environment
• learners who simply want a clear goal that keeps them motivated

There is also a version called B2 First for Schools, made for school-age learners. It is at the same level and has the same overall structure, but the topics are chosen for teenagers. Read B2 First vs B2 First for Schools to decide which one fits you.

The exam has four papers, but you get five scores, because Reading and Use of English are one paper with two separate scores. You can see the full breakdown in our page on the FCE exam format and timing. In short:

1. Reading and Use of English: 1 hour 15 minutes, 7 parts and 52 questions. Parts 1, 5, 6 and 7 count towards your Reading score; Parts 2, 3 and 4 count towards Use of English.
2. Writing: 1 hour 20 minutes and 2 tasks of 140–190 words each. Part 1 is always an essay. In Part 2 you choose one task from three (an article, an email or letter, a review or a report).
3. Listening: about 40 minutes, 4 parts and 30 questions. You hear each recording twice.
4. Speaking: 14 minutes for a pair of candidates, with two examiners and four parts.

You can take the exam on a computer or on paper. The tasks are the same in both versions. Our page on computer-based vs paper-based B2 First explains the small differences and how to choose.

Each of your five scores is reported on the Cambridge English Scale. Your overall score is the average of the five scores, and that overall score decides your grade:

• Grade A: 180–190. This is reported at C1 level, above the target level of the exam.
• Grade B: 173–179 (B2).
• Grade C: 160–172 (B2).
• Level B1: 140–159. You do not pass at B2, but you still receive a certificate at B1 level.

Scores from 122 to 139 are reported, but with no grade and no certificate. There is no minimum score for each paper, so a strong paper can balance out a weaker one. The full explanation is on our B2 First grades and scores page, and you can estimate your own result from a practice test with the score calculator.

Preparation is easier when you separate two jobs: improving your English and learning the exam. You need both. Strong English with no exam practice often leads to lost marks through poor timing or misunderstood tasks. Exam technique with weak English only takes you so far.

This is the approach we use with our own classes:

1. Find your starting point. Do a full practice test under timed conditions and work out an estimated score. Our free practice tasks and the official sample papers on the Cambridge English website are good places to start.
2. Decide how much time you have. Read how long to prepare for FCE for a realistic way to think about this.
3. Follow a weekly plan. Our FCE study plan gives 8, 12 and 24-week versions, and the study planner builds one around your date.
4. Work on your weakest score first. Because the grade is an average, raising a low score is usually the fastest way to raise your overall result.
5. Practise every part of every paper, not just the ones you like.
6. Get ready for the day itself. Our exam day tips cover what to do the week before and on the morning of the exam.

If you are worried about the level, read our honest answer to is FCE hard?.

• FCE exam format and timing: every paper, part and question type
• B2 First grades and scores: the scale, the grades and how the average works
• Computer-based vs paper-based: what is the same and what is different
• B2 First vs B2 First for Schools: which version to choose
• How long to prepare for FCE: a teacher's way to estimate your time
• FCE study plan: 8, 12 and 24-week plans
• Is FCE hard?: what makes it challenging and how to deal with it
• FCE exam day tips: the week before, the morning and each paper

You will also find free tools, such as a writing word counter and vocabulary trainers, and an honest guide to the best books for FCE.