B2 First

B2 First, formerly known as Cambridge English: First (FCE), is one of our Cambridge English Qualifications. It is our most popular exam, accepted by thousands of businesses and educational institutions worldwide.

A B2 First qualification shows that you can:

communicate effectively face-to-face, expressing opinions and presenting arguments
follow the news
write clear, detailed English, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view
write letters, reports, stories and lots of other types of text.

Key facts

Scale score	160 – 179
Test format	computer or paperbased
Exam length	approx. 3.5 hours
Exam costs	CHF 390

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B2 First – explained

Reasons to choose B2 First

Accepted for entry to foundation/pathway/pre-sessional courses in English-speaking countries and to undergraduate programmes taught in the medium of English in non-English-speaking countries.

Exam Format – Overview

Paper	Content	Purpose
Reading and Use of English (1 hour 15 minutes)	7 parts / 54 questions	Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction, newspapers and magazines. Tests your use of English with tasks that show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.
Writing (1 hour 20minutes)	2 parts	Requires you to be able to produce two different pieces of writing, such as letters, reports, reviews and essays.
Listening (about 40 minutes)	4 parts / 30 questions	Requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as news programmes, presentations and everyday conversations.
Speaking (14 minutes per pair of candidates)	4 parts	Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face to face situations. You will take the Speaking test with one or two other candidates.