Preliminary English Test (PET)
PET is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an intermediate level. It covers all four language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. Preparing for the exam is a popular way to develop and improve your language skills because it provides practical language practice in a variety of everyday work, study and leisure situations.
PET reflects the use of language in real life, such as understanding signs and announcements, and is accepted by many employers as proof of ability to use English in clerical, secretarial or managerial jobs. It is also widely accepted for use in jobs where spoken English is necessary such as tourism, retail, construction, manufacturing and engineering.
Is PET for you?
Can you use English to:
deal with everyday events?
read simple textbooks or magazine articles?
write letters on familiar subjects?
take notes in a meeting?
If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then PET is the right exam for you.
What will PET do for you?
Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking PET:
a PET certificate is valid for life. You will not need to take the exam again
PET is a truly international certificate, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
thousands of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise PET as an intermediate qualification in English
although PET is a basic exam, it offers a chance to find out your strengths and weaknesses in using English, and gives you a pathway to higher qualifications such as the First Certificate in English (FCE)
PET’s ‘Can Do’ skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.
What will taking PET help you do?
PET is at Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. ‘Can Do’ statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real language skills.
At B1 level, typical users can be expected to:
understand the main points of straightforward instructions or public announcements
deal with most of the situations you might meet when travelling as a tourist in an English-speaking country ask simple questions and take part in factual conversations in a work environment write letters or make notes on familiar matters.
Your preparation for PET will give you these kinds of practical language skills.
What is involved in taking the PET exam?
PET has three papers:
Reading and Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes
You need to be able to read texts from signs, journals, newspapers and magazines and understand the main points. You will need to show you can use vocabulary and structure by completing tasks such as writing a short message, and a story or letter of around 100 words. You will also need to complete an exercise involving changing the meaning of sentences.
Listening: 30 minutes (approx)
You will need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of recorded spoken material, including announcements and discussions about everyday life. You need to be able to follow the attitudes and intentions of the speakers.
Speaking: up to 10 minutes
Candidates take the Speaking test in pairs. You have to show your spoken English by taking part in conversation, asking and answering questions, and talking freely about your likes and dislikes.
First Certificate in English (FCE)
FCE is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level. It is an ideal exam for people who want to use English for work or study purposes.
Is FCE for you?
Can you…
understand texts from a wide variety of sources?
use English to make notes while someone is speaking in English?
talk to people about a wide variety of topics?
understand people talking in English on radio or television programmes?
If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then FCE is the right exam for you.
What will FCE do for you?
Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking FCE:
an FCE certificate is valid for life
FCE is truly international, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
thousands of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise FCE as a qualification in upper-intermediate English.
FCE gives you a pathway to higher qualifications such as the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
FCE’s ‘Can Do’ skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.
What will taking FCE help you do?
FCE is at Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. ‘Can Do’ statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language.
For example, at B2 level, typical users can be expected to:
understand the main ideas of complex pieces of writing keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, expressing opinions and presenting arguments produce clear, detailed writing, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view.
Your preparation for FCE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.
What does FCE involve?
FCE has five papers:
Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes
You will need to be able to understand information in fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.
Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes
You will have to show you can produce a number of different items such as a short story, a letter, an article, a report or a composition, each of about 120-180 words.
Use of English: 1 hour 15 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you control your grammar and vocabulary.
Listening: 40 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.
Speaking: up to 14 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in groups of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
CAE is an exam for advanced users of English. This exam is aimed at people who can use written and spoken English for most professional and social purposes. It is widely recognised work or study purposes.
Is CAE for you?
Can you…
use English in an effective way for business or study purposes?
use English confidently and flexibly?
produce well-structured, clear pieces of writing on complex issues?
If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then CAE is the right exam for you.
What will CAE do for you?
Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking CAE:
a CAE certificate is valid for life, you never need to take the exam again
CAE is truly international, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
hundreds of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise CAE as a qualification in advanced English passing CAE gives you the confidence to take on the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) CAE’s ‘Can Do’ skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.
What will taking CAE help you do?
CAE is at Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. ‘Can Do statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language.
For example, at C1 level, typical users can be expected to:
read quickly enough to cope with an academic course understand complex opinions
produce clear, well structured and detailed pieces of writing express themselves well with a good degree of fluency use English flexibly for social, professional and academic purposes.
Your preparation for CAE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.
What does CAE involve?
CAE has five papers:
Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes
You will need to understand texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.
Writing 2 hours
You will have to show you can process information from different types of input to produce a number of different types of writing such as letters, articles, reports and reviews. The pieces of writing will be aimed at specific types of readers, each of about 250 words.
Use of English Paper 1 hour 30 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.
Listening: 45 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.
Speaking: up to 14 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in groups of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.
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