What's the difference between FCE and TOEFL

Question

Hey guys!I wanted to apply for something where is TOEFL certificate required. I already have FCE, but I think that it is not enough. Anyway, I would really like to clear in my head the exact difference.Can someone help?

Tanit · Accepted Answer

Hi!

1. The FCE is part of -- let's say -- a "series" of graded tests (KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE). It should be taken by candidates whose level in English is approximately upper-intermediate (in Europe, level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference). The TOEFL has no such "grades", so a candidate can sit for the exam irrespective of his/her level.

2. The FCE has a "pass mark" (around 60-65% of the total marks), while in the TOEFL a minimum pass mark doesn't exist. This means that weak candidates are not failed; they simply get low marks.

3. One can pass the FCE with A (approx. 80-100% of the total marks), B (approx. 75-79%) or C (approx. 60-74%). Those who take the TOEFL receive a score ranging from 0 to 120 (in the Internet based format, IbT).

4. The FCE consists of five papers: Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening, and Speaking. The TOEFL IbT hasn't got a section on grammar, so it consists of four parts: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

5. FCE candidates have to write their answers on booklets provided on the day of the exam (for papers 1 to 4, that is, for each part of the test except Speaking). TOEFL takers (IbT version) sit in front of a computer and type their answers.

6. FCE (as well as KET, PET, CAE and CPE) tests general English, while the TOEFL focuses on academic English.

As you've already taken the FCE, I will now go on to some specific points about the TOEFL IbT.

7. READING: TOEFL readings are (guess what!) academic and much longer than those appearing in the FCE; the format of the tests is different, too. You have generally to chose from predefined answers (sort of FCE "selective cloze") and might be asked for the meaning of a specific word, for synonyms etc.

8. LISTENING: During the TOEFL IbT listening part, you are made to listen to two types of listenings: 1) excerpts from lectures whose subject can be pretty much anything, from archaeology to biology, from sociology to astronomy; 2) dialogues related to university life in general (e.g. a student asking his teacher an extension; a student borrowing a book from the library; two students talking about the modules they wish to take etc.)

9. WRITING: For the TOEFL IbT writing part, you have to type on the computer two essays (allotted time: 30' for each composition). One of them will be an academic essay (no prior knowledge of the topic required! They will make you listen to a piece of a lecture and read a test, usually dealing with the same topic as the lecture but with a different perpective, and then you could be asked to compare and contrast, or to summarize, contents coming from both the reading and the listening). The other will be an ordinary essay (persuasive, argumentative, balanced etc) where you might be asked to give your opinion (no opinions in the academic essay, though!).

10. SPEAKING: This is daunting!!! In Cambridge exams, speaking tests are (usually) taken in pairs and in front of two examiners. Forget about that in the TOEFL ... you have to talk to a computer, in a microphone! Some of the questions have to do with university/campus life situations and some with academic lectures (for instance, you might be asked to summarize the main points of a lecture). In Cambridge exams, you answer a question on the spot. In the TOEFL, you have some time (not much!) to prepare your answer.

10. Cambridge tests are "for life". The TOEFL expires after two years.

A small comment, now.

Whether the FCE is enough depends onwhat you're going to do with the certificate and where.

That's all that came to my mind. If you've got any specific questions, feel free to ask.

Jovan · Answer

Thanks a lot!

This was really one great answer.

Anonymous · Answer

I wanted to know more or less the mark that I would get with the first certificate level in a TOEFL exam.

Thank you

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,

I am a brazilian candidate of the FCE and I'll take it in December of this year. if you don't mind, I have a few questions:

- Do they consider the candidate's accent as a mark on the speaking test? (in my case a brazilian accent)

- what is the avarage for passing? 60% - 74% (C) ?

ps: are you an examiner ? do you have any recommendation for the exam? thanks

Tofayel · Answer

This is really excellent answer and helpful to us. Thanks Tanit

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your explanations!

Anonymous · Answer

This is a wonderful response! I really appreciate you. I hope in a near future I overcome obstacles and take all examsss

successfully.

Anonymous · Answer

Hello Joven. Taking a TOEFL is different from a FCE. I'm sure many people have already told you the main differences between these two exams but I hope muy personal experience helps you. I trained for several time for the TOEFl and this helped me developing some skills such as a good dar and ability to take notes in order to cover the main points of a writing por listening task. I have taken some FCE exams and from muy own experience I can sum up some of the real differences between them. First of all reading un TOEFL is considerably harder than the FCE reading paper. The main reason is because the text given to you is mainly scientific. They can be related to biology,chemistry,sociology,geology, of art. This really measures up your reading comprehension ability regardless you are a native of foreign speaker. The second main difference is speaking. The speaking section is rreally hard on a TOEFL because you are given a topic (complex one) and you have 15 to 30 seconds to prepare tour answer and 40 to 60 seconds for speaking. The challenge here is covering the main points of the task un the exacta amount of time not more not less. Now, concerning the writing part the toefl is way harder than fce. The main reason is the scoring rubrics. I got 22 over 30 con toefl but a 17% over 20% con the fce so you can easily see how demanding is this test compared to FCE. From my personal experience I would say that the only tasks that are harder to complete un the fce are use of english(specially the part in which you have to re-write part of a sentence) and one of the listening tasks un which you have to recognize which characteristic belongs to each speaker. I hope this information helps you

What's the difference between FCE and TOEFL

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