Bond University English Language Institute (BUELI)

first certificate in English (FCE) exam preparation Courses

CRICOS Code 032488F

The First Certificate in English (FCE) is the most widely taken of all the Cambridge examinations. It is at the Upper-Intermediate English level, and aims to develop your skills in English to a level that is 'sufficient for public contact in employment in areas such as banking, airlines, catering, etc'.

What is the level of the FCE ?

Try these Reading and Use of English practice tests to give you an idea of the level. If you get 50% on these tests you might consider taking the FCE course - however, all students MUST take an entrance test.

What is the difference between FCE and IELTS?

  • IELTS texts and material are designed specifically for students going to university, and focus on academic skills.
  • FCE is general English, and tests the English that students will need to survive in the ‘real’world for their work, social lives and study. FCE looks at both formal and informal language.

How are the Cambridge courses different to General English?

The Cambridge courses are very intensive and require a great deal of hard work. There are 2 hours of homework every day and the teachers will push you - although you will also have a lot of fun too of course! Cambridge leads to an external exam.

What do we study?

Use of English - grammar and vocabulary. The FCE course will improve your grammar , and increase your vocabulary, particularly phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions...

Writing - informal letters, formal letters, articles, reports, opinion type compositions, narratives

Reading - we look mainly at magazine articles to increase your reading speed and understanding of text organisation

Listening -  short extracts and longer monologues, announcements, extracts from radio programmes and the news.

Speaking - we look at pronunciation and ways of developing your spoken accuracy and fluency for conversational English

The course and the teachers

Our Cambridge teachers are all highly qualified and experienced, and several of them have worked as Cambridge examiners for the speaking test. There is a large amount of practice test material in the BUELI self access centre, as well as specially designed computer programmes to help you revise and practise