C2 Proficiency (CPE)

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Number of parts: 7 parts

Number of questions: 53 questions in total

Part 1 (8 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer)

(Use of English component; mainly lexical) One short gapped text with eight multiple-choice questions. Candidates must choose one word or phrase from a set of four to fill each gap.

Part 2 (8 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer)

(Use of English component; mainly grammatical) One modified open close of a text with eight gaps. Candidates have to identify the right single word which best fits each gap.

Part 3 (8 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer)

(Use of English component; affixation) One short text with eight gaps, each of which corresponds to a word. The stems of the missing words are given beside the text and candidates have to change them to form the missing words.

Part 4 (6 questions - up to 2 marks for each correct answer)

(Use of English component) Six discrete items with a ‘lead-in’ sentence followed by a key word and a response sentence with a gap.  Using the key word, candidates have to complete the response sentence in 3–8 words so that it means the same as the ‘lead-in’ sentence.

Part 5 (6 questions - 2 marks for each correct answer)

(Reading component) One long text (700-750 words) with six four-option multiple-choice comprehension questions.

Part 6 (7 questions - 2 marks for each correct answer)

(Reading component) One gapped text from which paragraphs have been removed and placed in jumbled order after the text. Candidates must decide from where in the text the paragraphs have been removed.         

Part 7 (10 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer)

(Reading component) One long text (or several short texts) followed by multiple-matching questions. Candidates must match a prompt to elements in the text. 

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Number of parts: 2 parts

Question 1

Candidates are required to write an essay summarizing and evaluating the key ideas contained in two texts of approximately 100 words each.

1 task (240-280 words)

Questions 2-5

Candidates choose one of five contextualized writing tasks, each specified in no more than 70 words.

1 task (280-320 words)

For questions 2-4, candidates may have to write an article, letter, report or review. For question 5, candidates may have to write an article, essay, letter, report or review, based on reading one from a prescribed list of two books.

Set texts for C2 Proficiency January 2020 - December 2021:

• Nick Hornby: About a Boy (any edition)
• Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying the film directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz (2002) as well as, or instead of, the novel.
• Dodie Smith: I Capture the Castle (any edition)
• Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying the film directed by Tim Fywell (2000) as well as, or instead of, the novel.

Set texts for C2 Proficiency January 2022 – December 2023:

• Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey (any edition)
• Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying the film directed by Jon Jones (2007) as well as, or instead of, the novel.
• David Nicholls: Us (any edition)
• Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying the BBC television mini-series directed by Geoffrey Sax (2020) as well as, or instead of, the novel. 

Duration: about 40 minutes

Number of parts: 4 parts

Number of questions: 30 questions

Part 1 (6 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer.)

Three short, unrelated recording lasting approximately 1 minute each, consisting of either monologues or exchanges between interacting speakers. Candidates have to listen to the recordings and answer two multiple-choice questions for each recording. Each question has three options (A, B or C).

Part 2 (9 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer.)

A monologue lasting 3–4 minutes. The questions are a series of incomplete sentences. Candidates have to listen to the recording and identify the information needed (single words or noun groups) to fill each gap.

Part 3 (5 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer)

A recording involving interacting speakers lasting 3–4 minutes. Candidates have to listen to the recording and answer a series of multiple-choice questions, each with four options.        

Part 4 (10 questions - 1 mark for each correct answer)

Five short themed monologues, of approximately 35 seconds each. There are two multiple-matching tasks, each requiring selection of the five correct options from a list of eight. 

Duration: 16 minutes per pair of candidates

Format: 2 examiners - 2-3 candidates

Number of parts: 3 parts

Part 1

A conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate (spoken questions).

Part 2

A two-way conversation between the candidates. The candidates are given instructions with written and visual stimuli, which are used in a decision-making task.

Part 3

An individual “long turn” from each candidate followed by a discussion on topics related to the long turns. Each candidate in turn is given a written question to respond to. The interlocutor leads a discussion to explore further the topics of the long turns.

Use this link to enter the ORFEAS online registration system. From there, follow the steps as suggested. Choose your exam, date and venue and then provide your personal details. In the last step you will be asked to pay with your card of choice. All the information you will need for the day of the exam will arrive in your inbox via email and SMS.

If you have any questions about the procedure, even as you complete the steps in the process, contact us on 2103680000 for assistance. We have staff available from 9 am - 5 pm on weekdays to help you complete the registration process and answer your questions.

Once you complete your registration you will be sent updates on the status of your application. For example, any changes to the date of the examination, if these occur, will be communicated to you via email, SMS or telephone by our support team.