Certificate of Proficiency in English
Certificate of Proficiency in English otherwise known as CPE is an advanced exam run by Cambridge ESOL aimed at people who use English for professional or study purposes.
Many employers, universities and government departments all over the world officially recognise CPE as proof of proficiency in English.
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How it Works
The CPE exam consists of five papers:
- Reading (1.30 hrs)
You will need to be able to understand the meaning of written English at word, sentence, paragraph and whole text level.
- Writing (2 hrs)
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 300—350 words.
- Use of English (1.30 hrs)
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary and how well you can summarise information.
- Listening (40 min)
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.
- Speaking (20 min)
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.
Preparing for CPE
If you apply for the CPE exam you may want to take a preparation course. These are run by language schools and universities.
Alternatively you can use the support materials provided by Cambridge ESOL (short booklets, information for candidates, sample exam papers, etc.)
There is also a wide choice of books and other aids to help you prepare for taking CPE.
