C2 Proficiency

C2 Proficiency (Formerly known as CPE – Cambridge English Proficiency)

The C2 Proficiency exam tests students for an extremely high level of English, for academic and professional settings.

Paper 1: Reading and Use of English (40% of final grade)

Paper 2: Writing (20% of final grade)

Paper 3: Listening (20% of final grade)

Paper 4: Speaking (20% of final grade)

The Speaking paper may be set before or after the other 3 papers.

Results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale.

Scores are between 200 and 230.

200 to 219: C2 level

180 to 199: C1 level

(If students score 180 to 199, a Certificate of Proficiency is not awarded, but a C1 level certificate will be.)

Paper 1: Reading and Use of English 📖

There are 7 parts.

Part 1: Multiple-choice cloze, 8 questions. Focus on vocabulary and grammar.

Part 2: Open cloze, 8 questions. Focus on vocabulary and grammar.

Part 3: Word formation, 8 questions. Focus on knowledge of word families.

Part 4: Key word transformations, 6 questions. Focus on reading a text and answering questions.

Part 5: Multiple-choice, 6 questions. Focus on reading a text and answering questions.

Part 6: Gapped text, 7 questions. Focus on reading a text with gaps and matching sentences.

Part 7: Multiple matching, 10 questions. Focus on reading several short texts and matching questions to texts.

(The reading and use of English exam lasts 90 minutes.)

Paper 2: Writing ✍️

There are 2 parts.

Part 1: Compulsory Essay.

A title and question will be given.

Write 240 to 280 words.

Part 2: Choice of tasks.

Options may include writing a review, report, letter, article or essay.

Write 280 to 320 words.

(The writing exam lasts 90 minutes.)

Paper 3: Listening 🔊

There are 4 parts.

Part 1: Multiple-choice, 6 questions. Several short texts with a choice of answers.

Part 2: Sentence completion, 9 questions. A monologue or text with gaps to fill in.

Part 3: Multiple-choice, 5 questions. A long text or interview with questions.

Part 4: Multiple matching, 10 questions. Several short texts with a choice of answers.

(The listening exam lasts 40 minutes.)

Paper 4: Speaking 💬

There are 3 parts.

Part 1: Interview. Personal questions between each student and examiner. (2 minutes)

Part 2: Collaborative task. 2 students discuss a set of prompts and work on a task together. (4 minutes)

Part 3: Long turn and discussion. Each student speaks for about 2 minutes on a given topic, then has a discussion with the other student. (10 minutes)

(The speaking exam lasts 16 minutes.)