FCE exam day tips: the week before, the morning and every paper

The last week is not the time to learn lots of new grammar. Your goal is to arrive calm, rested and confident with the format.

• Read your confirmation carefully. Check the address, the start times and the ID you need. Write them somewhere you will see them.
• Do one final timed practice, ideally two or three days before, not the night before. Use it to rehearse your time plan, not to test yourself.
• Review, don't cram. Go over your own notes: your list of common mistakes, useful phrases for Speaking and a few linking words for Writing. Our FCE linking words page is a good final review.
• Plan the journey. If the centre is somewhere new, find out how long it takes to get there at that time of day.
• Sleep. A tired brain reads more slowly and makes more careless mistakes. Protect your sleep for the last two or three nights.

• Eat a proper breakfast and bring water if your centre allows it.
• Leave early. Arriving with time to spare is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress.
• Warm up your English. On the way, listen to a short English podcast or read a short article. Ten minutes of English helps your brain switch language.
• Check what you need the night before: ID, confirmation and anything else your centre asks for. If you take the paper version, find out what pens or pencils are required.
• Avoid last-minute panic conversations. Students outside the exam room often compare what they have or haven't studied. If it makes you nervous, put your headphones on.

Reading and Use of English Start with the part that gives you confidence. Many students prefer to begin with Use of English Parts 1–4, then move to the longer reading texts. Keep an eye on the clock: you have 1 hour 15 minutes for all seven parts. Never leave a gap empty, because a guess can still get the mark.

Writing Read both Part 2 options carefully before choosing one. Pick the task where you have the clearest ideas and the right vocabulary, not the one that looks shortest. Spend a few minutes planning each text, and save time at the end to check verb tenses, spelling and word count (140–190 words each). The FCE writing checklist is a good thing to memorise.

Listening You hear every recording twice. Use the time before each recording to read the questions and think about what kind of answer you need. In Part 2, check that your word fits the sentence grammatically. If you miss an answer, let it go and focus on the next question.

Speaking Listen to the examiner's question and answer that question. Talk to your partner, not only to the examiner, especially in Part 3. If you don't understand, it is fine to ask the examiner to repeat. Our FCE speaking phrases page has natural ways to do this.

Once you finish, take a real break. Whatever happens, the work you did has improved your English. When your results arrive, our page on B2 First grades explains what the scores mean. If you are still preparing, our FCE study plan will help you use the final weeks well, and is FCE hard? explains which parts students usually find most challenging.