Cambridge C1 Advanced Certificate Exam Information
The exam is made up of four papers. The Reading and Use of English, Writing, and Listening papers are done together in 3 hours 55 minutes with short breaks between them.
The Speaking test is taken at a different time and possibly on a different day. It's conducted face-to-face with two candidates and two examiners, providing a more realistic and reliable measure of your ability to use English to communicate.
Exam Options
You can take the C1 Advanced exam on paper or the new digital exam on a computer.
Test Locations
Tests are arranged with your closest test centre.
Test Dates
The C1 First (FCE) test is available most months in either paper-based or computer-based format. The paper-based test is available in March, May, June, August, and December. The computer-based test is available in February, April, July, August, and November. Not all test centres administer both types of test.
Exam Fees
Fees are set by test centres, with an expected cost of around €200 euros.
Scoring System
Scores are A, B, C (pass), D, E, or U (fail). An FCE A grade pass is considered equivalent to a C1 level and is accepted for entry to some universities. Other universities require a C1 certificate, so please check with the relevant institution before signing up for the exam.
Exam Papers
Click on the exam parts below for more detailed information and our exam strategies to excel.
| Paper | Format | Length | What to expect - (click below for more details) | Try Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Use of English | 8 parts / 56 questions | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 |
|
| Writing | 2 parts | 1 hour 30 minutes | Coming Soon |
|
| Listening | 4 parts / 30 questions | About 40 minutes |
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 |
|
| Speaking | 4 parts | 15 minutes per pair of candidates | Coming Soon |