Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

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 taking CPE help you do?

CPE is at Level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) — an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. 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. Sample Paper

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. Sample Paper

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. Sample Paper

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.
Sample Paper
Audio part 1, 2, 3, 4.

Speaking: up to 14 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. Sample Paper

For further information see Information for Candidates.