(B2 First and C1 Advanced)

Exam preparation course in Dublin

Everest offers Cambridge Exam preparation in Dublin for the the FCE and CAE. The Cambridge suite of exams: B2 First Certificate in English (FCE) and C1 Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) are recommended for those who which to show their level of English to potential employers as well as some universities. These English exams are offered by the University of Cambridge in a number of test centres in Dublin and around Ireland. Everest Language School offers evening Cambridge exam preparation courses as well as one-to-one B2 and C1 exam preparation classes. If you are interested in Cambridge exam preparation in Dublin (B2 First Certificate in English FCE or C1 Certificate in Advanced English CAE) please contact us, or book your course and start today.

Everest’s Cambridge Exam Preparation in Dublin

CAMBRIDGE FIRST (FCE)

Cambridge preparation courses are suitable for students from a B2 level of English. If your level is B2, we recommend you take the First Certificate in English (FCE)

CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED (CAE)

Cambridge preparation courses are also suitable for students at a C1 level of English. If your level is C1, we recommend you take the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

PREPARATION FOR OTHER EXAMS: IELTS

In addition to the Cambridge Exam preparation in Dublin we offer, we also offer IELTS preparation courses. IELTS is one of the most widely accepted exams in the world. You can find out more about our IELTS preparation courses here.

Why you should take a Cambridge Exam?

Cambridge exams are often requested by employers as a proof of your level of English. If you are looking for work in Ireland, a Cambridge exam can be way to demonstrate your English proficiency. The exam is more based on real world English than other exams. The English you encounter in the CAE or FCE is close to the English you will encounter in your every day life or in a work setting. There are four sections to the exam (reading, writing, listening and speaking) as well as vocabulary and use of English (grammar) in context.

Which Cambridge Exam should I take?

As a first step, we would recommend you take our online level test. Depending on your current level of English we can then advise you on which exam is best for you to take. There are 3 levels to the Cambridge suite of exams:

• FCE (B2 First) This qualification shows you have the language skills needed to communicate confidently in an English-speaking environment.
• CAE (C1 Advanced) This is proof of high-level achievement in English and the ideal qualification to prepare you for university or professional life.
• CPE (C2 Proficiency) This is our highest level qualification and it shows the world you have mastered English to an exceptional level.

We are here to help you, so please contact us if you you are considering taking a Cambridge exam. We have Cambridge preparation courses and one-to-one Cambridge (FCE and CAE) exam preparation lessons. And if you are not ready to take the FCE or the CAE yet, we also have lots of General English courses.

More information about our Cambridge exam preparation courses

Cambridge Qualified Teachers

All of our Cambridge exam preparation teachers also have Cambridge teaching qualifications. In fact, all Everest teachers have a minimum of an undergraduate degree and a Cambridge certificate in Teaching English. If you are taking a FCE or CAE preparation course, you can be confident that your teacher has years of experience preparing students for these exams.

Cambridge (FCE and CAE) Course Timetable

We offer evening and afternoon Cambridge exam preparation courses in Dublin and online. The focus in the classes is on skills and exam techniques. Each day the teacher will focus on different skills in class and you will interact with both your teacher and the other students. Every week, you will get homework including practice FCE and CAE tests to help you prepare for the exam in the shortest possible time.

Taking the Cambridge Exam in Dublin

There are a number of centre where you can take the Cambridge exams in Dublin, as the prices change every year, we would recommend you check their websites in order to check the price of FCE or CAE exam. If you are considering taking a Cambridge exam, we would recommend you book a minimum of 4 weeks preparation in order to fully understand the exam. However, most students dedicate at least 12 weeks to specifically preparing for these exams.

Can I prepare for the exam online?

Yes, absolutely. All of our English courses are now available online with live teachers. These are one to one lessons.

Everest’s Cambridge Exam Preparation Podcast

For more episodes check out our podcast page or follow us on Spotify (for free)

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Cambridge Exam Preparation Dublin

This blog will tell you all you need to know about Cambridge Exam Preparation Dublin.

Cambridge Exams are amongst the most widely recognized and popular English language exams for foreign language students. Students who have passed their Cambridge exam automatically have a distinct advantage when applying to schools, companies and over 15’000 universities. The exams come from and are named after the prestigious University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Students who successfully pass a Cambridge Exam will hold an internationally recognized certificate. Cambridge Exam Preparation Dublin courses are accepted for VISA purposes for many students looking to study in Europe from non-EEA countries.

Regardless as to whether you use the exam to get into a University or job, it’s also a great way to improve your general English as the course is specifically designed to give tools to assess students abilities to speak English in real-life situations.

All the Cambridge exams are accredited by the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Language), this is the international standard for describing someone’s language ability. Once you have passed your Cambridge exams, you have it for life, there is no expiry date on it!

Two of the most popular Cambridge exams are the FCE (First Certificate Exam) and the CAE (Cambridge Advanced Exam).

What is the FCE Exam?

The FCE stands for the First Certificate Exam. It is one of the most popular exams with English language students. It is aimed towards students who have an Upper-Intermediate (B2) level and are confident using everyday general English in both speaking and writing. Similar to the IELTS exam, it is divided into 4 categories – reading and Use of English, writing, listening and speaking. The written assessments will all take place on the same day, however the speaking assessment may be timetabled for a different day! Below we’ll take a look at what to expect in the exam and help you with your Cambridge Exam Preparation.

1. Reading and Use of English

In this section of the FCE, you are allocated 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete 7 parts containing an overall of 52 questions. The materials you will be expected to read are basic everyday extracts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.

This section is worth the most points and accounts for 40% of your total grade.

Parts 1 to 4 will focus on a wide variety of texts and you will be asked to complete vocabulary and grammar tasks. This may include filling in blank gaps in texts with the correct words and being able to recognize idioms or fixed phrases through answering multiple choice questions.

2. Writing

The writing section is divided into 2 parts – there is one compulsory question and one question from a choice of three.

In the compulsory question you will be provided with an essay title of a general interest with 2 ideas relating to the title. Using these ideas you must write an essay between 140 to 190 words giving your opinions on them. You will need to showcase your writing abilities in persuasion, expression and justification. A good way to prepare for this question is to read newspaper articles and then practice writing your own opinion on the issues in the article.

The second part will give you an option of writing either an article, email/letter or report/review. You will be expected to write between 140 to 190 words. You will be given some guidelines and context as to the style you should be writing in.

The writing section is worth 20% of the points and you will be given 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete it.

3. Listening

The listening section is 40 minutes long, and is divided into 4 parts. Each part will contain different forms of speaking, such as radio broadcasts, interviews, conversations, monologues, stories or anecdotes.

You will be asked specific information about the content in all of the recordings and you will have to be able to identify the speaker’s attitude, opinion tone and emotion. Some questions will be multiple choice and in some you will be asked to complete sentences.

A really great way to practice your listening skills is to listen to podcasts. Check out some great podcasts for listening to English here.

4. Speaking

The speaking test is divided into 4 parts and you won’t be alone as another candidate will sitting the exam with you!

Part 1 is basic enough, it’s an interview style conversation where you will speak with the examiner and they will ask you information about yourself such as your hobbies and interests, career goals and some of your opinions about various topics.

Part 2: You and the other candidate will be handed a set of two photographs. You will take turns speaking separately about your photographs for 1 minute and will then be asked to comment on each others photographs.

Part 3: The interviewer will give you and the other candidate some material as well as a task based on the material. You will have to discuss the material with the other candidate and you will be required to exchange ideas and come up with a solution to the related task.

Part 4 consists of further discussion on the task in part 3 prompted and directed by the interviewer. This is mostly to test your conversational skills.

You can check out sample papers for all sections here.

Many students who successfully pass the FCE, then go on to prepare for the CAE exam.

What is the CAE exam?

The CAE stands for Certificate of Advanced English and is suitable for students looking to acquire a C1 Advanced level of English. Like the FCE, it is a widely recognized certificate and an extremely beneficial qualification to have when applying to universities or jobs.

The sections in the CAE exam are pretty much identical to the sections in the FCE exam. The difference is they will be longer, and the questions, topics and grading will be more difficult and complex.

You can check out sample papers for all sections here.

Both exams are graded on the Cambridge Scaling System, it is quite complicated so it is advisable to aim for 60% or higher in order to pass the exam. If you study a Cambridge Exam Preparation course your teacher will be able to help you understand how the scaling system works!

Cambridge Exam Preparation Courses Dublin

Preparing for Cambridge exams on your own can be difficult to do. Many students opt to study Cambridge Exam Preparation courses to help them prepare for the exam. Everest Language School in Dublin has some great Cambridge exam preparation courses for both FCE and CAE with qualified native speaking teachers who know the Cambridge exam inside out with their eyes closed! Having this guidance from a teacher is so important when preparing for the exam and can help the student not only pass the exam, but ace it!

The first course on offer is the Intensive Cambridge Exam Preparation (26 hrs). It runs from Monday to Friday from 9am to 1.10pm with two additional afternoon classes from 1.50 to 5pm. In this course students will be taught General English as well as Cambridge Exam Preparation as we find studying both simultaneously can be really beneficial, especially for the speaking sections in the Cambridge exam.

Your day will be divided into two parts.

Session 1: (9am – 1.10pm) Focus on grammar, vocabulary, speaking, fluency, pronunciation and general English skills. These classes are on every day (Monday – Friday).

Session 2: (1.50pm – 5pm) Focus on the exam. You will learn skills, techniques and methods to get the highest mark possible in your FCE or CAE exam. These classes are on Monday and Wednesday.

For students unable to commit to an intensive course we have a Cambridge Exam Preparation (6 hrs) course that runs twice a week, usually on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1.50pm to 5pm. In this course you will learn skills, techniques and methods to get the highest mark possible in your Cambridge exam.

If you wish to enquire about our Cambridge courses please contact info@everestlanguageschool.com. You can also check if you are the right level for the class. You can take our online level test.

To book a course please complete our online booking form!

You can book your Cambridge exam in any of the following centres in Dublin that are close to the school! – UCD, The English Academy or Oscars International

Costs to sit the exam range from €175 to €200 depending on where you choose to go.

All English courses are taught using a communicative methodology; this means you will spend your time in class improving your English speaking and listening skills as well as focusing on key skills necessary to pass exams, get into university and get a job.

See some testimonials from our Cambridge students below!

‘If you want to improve your English, Everest Language School is the best school in Dublin. Located in the very heart of the city, it offers the best courses and the best teachers to reach the top of your results’ – Laura Inzoli

‘I spent two fabulous weeks at Everest last summer and I enjoyed an intensive course. Indeed, lessons are demanding; however, teachers are highly skilled and helpful and have an amazing way of teaching

As a result, I went through the Cambridge Advanced Exam in November, and… I passed it!!! Simply fantastic!’ – Francesca Maria Rizzotti

‘This is the best english school I have ever been, I have learnt a lot of new and interesting things, and I have had many good experiences with the teachers and other students, the classes are really entertaining and with their help I have passed my FCE! Wonderful place!!’ – Maria Ribas Roselló

‘I studied at Everest School for 6 months and they are such a amazing english school that allowed me to start the course in the pre intermediate and finish with advanced level. All the teachers are excellent, always focusing on the main examinations of certifications and the language used in the day to day.’ – Isabella Campos

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Cambridge Exam Dates 2017

Dublin exam dates for CAE & FCE

The new dates for the Cambridge exams from March to December 2017 are out now.  If you’re interested in signing up for one of the following exam dates book your Cambridge Preparation Course.

These are the dates for the General English Certificates

Some frequently asked questions about the Cambridge exams (CAE & FCE) in Dublin:

Where can I do the First (FCE) or Advanced (CAE) exam in Dublin?

There are two places you can do the First Certificate and Cambridge advanced exam in Dublin. One is UCD ALC. UCD is located about 20 minutes from the city centre by bus. You can check the location and you can find out how to get to UCD ALC with this Google map. There is also the English Academy in Dublin city centre. The location of the English Academy can be seen on this map.

How much is the First Certificate in Dublin?

The First Certificate exam in UCD costs €175.

How much is the Cambridge Advanced exam in Dublin?

The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English in UCD is €185.

Where can I prepare for the CAE and FCE in Dublin?

If you need to prepare for Cambridge exams (CAE or FCE), we have preparation courses for you.

Source
UCD Cambridge

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by Derrick Smyth

The CAE written test takes 90 minutes and is divided into two parts. Part 1 requires that you write 220-260 words about a given topic, considering both sides of the argument. You will be provided a starting point based on something like information from an advertisement, an email, a short article etc. Here is a sample taken from the Cambridge website.

Your class has attended a panel discussion on facilities which should receive money from local authorities. You have made the notes below:  

Which facilities should receive money from local authorities?

• museums
• sports centres
• public gardens

Some opinions expressed in the discussion:

“Museums aren’t popular with everybody!”

“Sports centres mean healthier people.”  

“A town needs green spaces – parks are great for everybody.”

Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes.  You should explain which facility it is more important for local authorities to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible.

Before you begin

The most important task is to identify ALL parts of the question. Take a few minutes to read and underline the important parts noting which are obligatory and which, if any, are optional. For example.

Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes.  You should explain which facility it is more important for local authorities to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible.

Create a plan

Next, create a plan of everything you wish to include and how you will arrange it. Remember, good writing is arranged logically and uses clear formatting such as paragraphs. This is only possible with planning.

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

• Benjamin Franklin

Assessment criteria

Your writing will be assessed on the following criteria which is important to understand before you begin.

• Content – Have you answered all of the question?
• Communicative Achievement – Have you used the right style of writing?
• Organisation – Have you structured your writing logically?
• Language – Have you used a good range of grammar and vocabulary?

Example of a plan

First make a list about the pros and cons of each choice.

Next decide which two you are going to write about and which points you would feel most confident comparing.

Primary points marked in red

Secondary points marked in orange

Unused points in blue

Writing task

Because you are writing an essay you must write in a semi-formal style. Here you will find an example of how you might structure such a letter with useful phrases in bold.

After attending the discussion regarding how best to allocate the funds for a new facility I would like to discuss a few of the options.

PARAGRAPH 1 – INTRODUCTION. What you have to do is introduce the topic (go from general to concrete). I would suggest three sentences here. Make the third one a question.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Discuss the first bullet point. Write a good topic sentence and give reasons to support your argument. Point out advantages and maybe also disadvantages (on the other hand, it is ….). Use examples where possible.

PARAGRAPH 3 – Discuss the second bullet point you have chosen in a similar way. It’s not obligatory to point disadvantages again (bear in mind you have to write up to 260 words).

PARAGRAPH 4 – CONCLUSION. State your opinion. Write two or three sentences. Point out clearly which of the two discussed aspects is more important, on the basis of what you have written above. The conclusion should put a full stop to what you have written and not open a new argument.

NOTES:

STYLE

Semi-formal to formal. Be objective and not too emotional. Avoid too expressive words (amazing, magnificent, disgusting).

LANGUAGE

Use various structures and vocabulary with more set phrases and idioms. Pay special attention to appropriate linking devices.

………

Introducing the topic: Some people believe that, It is often said that.

Supporting your argument: Firstly, Secondly, Last but not least.

Adding information: In addition, Furthermore, What is more, Moreover.

Expressing an opposite point of view: On the other hand.

Summing up: In conclusion, To sum up. – See more at: http://examwriting.blogspot.ie/2015/01/how-to-write-essay-for-new-cae-format.html#sthash.5YuEXLSw.dpuf

Write an essay discussing two of the facilities in your notes.  You should explain which facility it is more important for local authorities to give money to, giving reasons in support of your answer.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible.

Remember to allow 5 – 8 minutes to check your work before the time ends.

Find out more about our Cambridge English Courses in Dublin.

For more detailed information and practice tests you can visit this free website (www.flo-joe.co.uk)

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CAE writing Part 2 – Letter / email

The CAE written test takes 90 minutes and is divided into two parts. CAE writing Part 2 is situationally based writing task requiring you to write 220-260 words. Unlike Part 1, you will be given a choice of four questions and you must answer only one using the appropriate format, listed below.

1. A letter / email
2. A proposal
3. A report
4. A review

To be successful at this task you must be familiar with these formats and be able to confidently use them to talk about any potential subject.

In this post we will look at  a sample letter / email question taken from the Cambridge website.

You have read an article in your college magazine about the effects of the internet on studying.  The article focuses on the negative effects, in particular the influence of social-networking sites and email.  You feel the article has too negative a view of the way students use the internet, and decide to write a letter to the editor explaining your opinion. Write your letter.

Before you begin

The most important task is to identify ALL parts of the question. Take a few minutes to read and underline the important and relevant parts.
You have read an article in your college magazine about the effects of the internet on studying. The article focuses on the negative effects, in particular the influence of social-networking sites and email. You feel the article has too negative a view of the way students use the internet, and decide to write a letter to the editor explaining your opinion. Write your letter.

Create a plan

Next, create a plan of everything you wish to include and how you will arrange it. Remember, good writing is arranged logically and uses clear formatting such as paragraphs. This is only possible with planning.(8 – 10 minutes)

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” – Benjamin Franklin

Assessment criteria

Your writing will be assessed on the following criteria which is important to understand before you begin.

• Content – Have you answered all of the question?
• Communicative Achievement – Have you used the right style of writing?
• Organisation – Have you structured your writing logically?
• Language – Have you used a good range of grammar and vocabulary?

Check your work

Remember to allow 8-10 minutes to check your work before the time ends. Common mistakes occur in words with silent letters (i.e. government) and prefixes and suffixes (careful / carefully) The recommended word count is 220-260 but do not waste time counting words or trying to remove them afterwards. As a general rule, 200 is not enough and 300 is too much.
For more detailed information and practice tests you can visit this free website (www.flo-joe.co.uk) and you can find a practice exercise here (www.examenglish.com). If you want to prepare for the CAE in Dublin, check out our CAE (Cambridge Advanced) and FCE (Cambridge First) courses.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1469115843988{background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_icon icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-download” color=”sky” background_style=”rounded” size=”xl” align=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

Download Free CAE Writing Example

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