CPE考试介绍
　　CPE is Cambridge ESOL’s most advanced exam. It is aimed at people who use English for professional or study purposes.
　　 Is CPE for you?
　　 Can you...
　　 use English to advise on, or talk about complex or sensitive issues?
　　 understand the finer points of documents, correspondence and reports?
　　 If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then CPE is the right exam for you.
　　 What will CPE do for you?
　　Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking CPE:
　　 a CPE certificate is valid for life, you never need to take the exam again
　　 CPE is truly international, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
　　 hundreds of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise CPE as proof of proficiency in English
　　 CPE’s ’Can Do’ skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.
　　 What will taking CPE help you do?
　　 CPE is at Level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) — an internationally recognised benchmark of language ability. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. ’Can Do’ statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language.
　　 For example, at C2 level, typical users can be expected to:
　　 understand with ease virtually everything they hear and read
　　 make accurate and complete notes during a presentation
　　 understand colloquial asides
　　 talk about complex and sensitive issues without awkwardness
　　 express themselves precisely and fluently.
　　 Your preparation for CPE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.
　　 What does CPE involve?
　　 CPE has five papers:
　　 Reading 1 hour 30 minutes
　　You will need to be able to understand the meaning of written English at word, sentence, paragraph and whole text level.
　　 Writing 2 hours
　　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 hour 30 minutes
　　 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: 45 minutes
　　You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.
　　 Speaking: 19 minutes
　　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.
　　 Supporting you
　　As with all of Cambridge ESOL’s certificates, there is a lot of support to help you prepare for your exam.
　　 Most candidates prefer to take the preparation courses run by language schools and universities.
　　 You can access a variety of support materials from the Resources area of our website. This includes a short booklet, Information for Candidates, and sample exam papers, which includes sound files for the Listening test materials.
　　 Many publishers have produced a wide choice of books and other aids to help you prepare for taking CPE. Ask your local bookshop for details.
　　 To help you prepare for CPE, we provide teachers with their own website so they can download sample exam papers, handbooks, and other teaching support material.
　　 Resources available
　　CPE sample papers, (ZIP 23.9Mb)
　　 CPE Information for Candidates, (PDF 2.3Mb)
　　 Order past papers
　　 Books for study
　　CPE Exam details and timetables for 2009
　　 CPE Exam details and timetables for 2010
　　 Summary regulations for candidates (PDF 59Kb)
　　 Information on changes to the CPE Statement of Results (PDF 333Kb)
　　 Exam FAQs
　　CPE Teaching Resource and CPE teacher downloads (including exam handbook and exam reports)
　　 A world of opportunities — worldwide recognition
　　 CPE is a truly international exam, recognised by hundreds of employers as proof of proficiency in English and also by universities and colleges as proof of ability to study in English to undergraduate level.
　　 Companies such as Coca-Cola, IBM, Nestlé, Sony, Procter & Gamble and Nokia recognise the value of CPE in their overseas offices.
　　 Find more details on the organisations and universities that recognise CPE.
　　 English for your future
　　 CPE’s ’Can Do’ skills enable you to use English in real situations with confidence. CPE exams use real-life situations and are especially designed to help you communicate more effectively in your own life.
　　 Because CPE exams focus on all four communication skills - Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking — you increase your confidence in using English in everyday situations.
　　 Marking
　　 Exam scripts are sent to Cambridge ESOL for marking and grading and the results are sent back to the test centres.
　　 Your results
　　 Each component of the exam carries 20% of the total marks.
　　 Candidates can access their results through the Cambridge ESOL Results Online website.
　　 There are three Pass grades, A, B and C — candidates reaching these grades are awarded a certificate. Candidates achieving grades D or E do not receive a certificate.
　　 Information on changes to the CPE Statement of Results (PDF 333Kb)
　　 If you have any questions about your results, you should contact the centre where you took the exam.
　　 Exam dates
　　 CPE can be taken in June and December.
　　 CPE can be taken on 14 May and 3 December in 2011.
　　 Set texts
　　 2009
　　 Paper 2: Writing (2 hours)
　　 One or both of the following texts may be read as background preparation for the two optional set text tasks:
　　 *Tracy Chevalier: Girl with a Pearl Earring
　　 Rose Tremain: The Way I Found Her
　　 *Set also in 2008.
　　 Next steps
　　Register
　　 If you are studying English at the moment, speak to your teacher about how to enrol.
　　 If you are not studying at the moment, your nearest Cambridge ESOL exam centre will be able to advise you about how to register, fees, the dates of the exam and other arrangements. We have more than 2,000 centres in 130 countries. Please note that centres may set registration deadlines that are earlier than those published.
　　 Entries cannot be made directly to Cambridge ESOL.
　　 Already registered? Visit the Candidate Support site for exam preparation help.
　　 If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) it may be possible to ask for Special Arrangements to be made when taking the exam.