The level of CAE in the speaking test

FCE  VS. CAE

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

            FCE                                       CAE

*talks about familiar, factual topics  *talks about unfamiliar, abstract topics



*hesitates to search for words                *hesitates to organise ideas 


*uses accurate & appropriate                       * uses accurate & appropriate

resources to express ideas                      resources to express complex ideas



*generally coherent discourse                     *coherent and easy to follow 

At FCE level you are “an independent language user” while at CAE level you become “a competent or proficient language user”.

By way of illustration: 

                      FCE

 

                                      CAE