A Complete Guide to the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14
First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14: A Comprehensive Review
If you are preparing for the Cambridge English: First (FCE) exam, you might be looking for a reliable and effective resource to help you achieve your goals. One of the books that claims to offer such assistance is the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14. But is this book really worth your time and money? In this article, we will provide a comprehensive review of the book, covering its structure, content, benefits, drawbacks, tips, strategies, resources, price, availability, and customer feedback. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of whether this book is suitable for your needs and expectations.
First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14
What is the First Certificate Trainer?
The First Certificate Trainer is a self-study book that contains six full practice tests for the FCE exam, along with detailed answer keys and explanations. The book is written by Peter May, an experienced teacher and examiner who has been involved in FCE preparation for over 20 years. The book is published by Cambridge University Press, which is the official provider of Cambridge English exams and materials.
The structure and content of the book
The book consists of six practice tests that follow the format and level of difficulty of the real FCE exam. Each test has four papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The Reading and Use of English paper tests your ability to read different types of texts and answer various questions on vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. The Writing paper tests your ability to produce two pieces of writing: an essay and an email/letter/report/review. The Listening paper tests your ability to understand different types of spoken texts and answer multiple-choice or gap-fill questions. The Speaking paper tests your ability to interact with another candidate or an examiner in different situations.
The book also provides detailed answer keys and explanations for each test. The answer keys show you the correct answers for each question, along with alternative answers or common errors. The explanations give you the rationale behind each answer, along with useful tips and advice on how to approach similar questions in the future. The book also includes audio scripts for the Listening paper and sample answers for the Writing paper.
The benefits of using the book for exam preparation
There are several benefits of using the First Certificate Trainer for your FCE exam preparation. Some of them are:
The book gives you an accurate and realistic idea of what to expect in the real exam. You can familiarize yourself with the format, style, topics, and level of difficulty of the exam questions.
The book helps you assess your strengths and weaknesses in each skill area. You can identify which parts of the exam you are confident in and which parts you need to improve on.
The book provides you with valuable feedback and guidance on how to improve your performance. You can learn from your mistakes and understand how to avoid them in the future. You can also get useful tips and advice on how to tackle different types of questions and tasks.
The book helps you practice your time management and test-taking skills. You can simulate the exam conditions by completing each test within the allotted time limit. You can also practice your strategies for coping with stress, anxiety, and distractions.
The book boosts your confidence and motivation for the exam. You can see your progress and improvement as you complete each test. You can also celebrate your achievements and reward yourself for your hard work.
The drawbacks and limitations of the book
However, the First Certificate Trainer is not a perfect resource and it has some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of. Some of them are:
The book does not cover the full range of topics and vocabulary that you might encounter in the real exam. You might need to supplement your reading and listening practice with other sources of authentic texts, such as newspapers, magazines, podcasts, videos, etc.
The book does not provide enough practice for the productive skills of writing and speaking. You might need to seek additional feedback and guidance from a teacher, a tutor, or a peer on how to improve your writing and speaking skills. You might also need to practice your writing and speaking skills in different contexts and genres, such as formal, informal, academic, professional, etc.
The book does not offer any interactive or adaptive features that can enhance your learning experience. You might need to use other tools or platforms that can provide you with personalized feedback, recommendations, quizzes, games, etc.
The book does not address the psychological and emotional aspects of exam preparation. You might need to develop your own strategies for managing your stress, anxiety, motivation, and self-esteem before and during the exam.
How to use the First Certificate Trainer effectively?
Now that you know what the First Certificate Trainer is and what it can offer you, you might be wondering how to use it effectively for your exam preparation. Here are some tips and strategies that can help you get the most out of the book:
Tips for completing the practice tests
Before you start each test, review the instructions and format of each paper carefully. Make sure you understand what you are expected to do and how you will be assessed.
Set a timer and stick to the time limit for each paper. This will help you practice your time management skills and simulate the exam conditions.
Use a pencil and an eraser to mark your answers on the answer sheet. This will allow you to change your answers if you are unsure or make a mistake.
Do not look at the answer key or the explanations until you finish each test. This will prevent you from cheating or influencing your answers.
After you finish each test, check your answers against the answer key and calculate your score. Use the conversion table provided in the book to convert your raw score into a band score.
Analyze your results and identify your strengths and weaknesses in each skill area. Note down which questions or tasks you found easy or difficult and why.
Review the explanations for each answer and understand why they are correct or incorrect. Pay attention to the tips and advice given for each question or task.
Learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future. Make a list of the areas that you need to improve on and plan how to work on them.
Strategies for improving your skills and performance
To improve your reading and use of English skills, read a variety of texts on different topics and genres. Expand your vocabulary by learning new words and phrases in context. Practice different types of questions and tasks, such as multiple-choice, gap-fill, word formation, key word transformation, etc.
To improve your writing skills, write different types of texts for different purposes and audiences. Follow the conventions of each genre, such as layout, tone, register, etc. Use a range of vocabulary and grammar structures appropriately. Organize your ideas clearly and coherently. Check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar carefully.
To improve your listening skills, listen to a variety of spoken texts on different topics and genres. Develop your listening strategies, such as predicting, inferring, summarizing, etc. Practice different types of questions and tasks, such as multiple-choice, gap-fill, matching, etc.
To improve your speaking skills, speak on different topics and situations with different interlocutors. Use a range of vocabulary and grammar structures appropriately. Express your opinions clearly and support them with reasons and examples. Interact with others effectively by asking questions, giving feedback, agreeing or disagreeing politely, etc.
Resources and tools to supplement your learning
as Cambridge Dictionary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/) or Oxford Learner's Dictionaries (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/) to look up the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of new words and phrases.
To supplement your writing practice, you can use online tools such as Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/) or ProWritingAid (https://prowritingaid.com/) to check and improve your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. You can also use online platforms such as Write & Improve (https://writeandimprove.com/) or IELTS Writing Assist (https://ieltsassist.britishcouncil.org/writing-assist) to get feedback and suggestions on how to improve your writing skills.
To supplement your listening practice, you can use online platforms such as TED Talks (https://www.ted.com/talks) or BBC Learning English (https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/) to listen to a variety of spoken texts on different topics and genres. You can also use online tools such as Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org/) or VLC Media Player (https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html) to record, edit, and play audio files.
To supplement your speaking practice, you can use online platforms such as Cambly (https://www.cambly.com/) or italki (https://www.italki.com/) to find and talk to native or fluent speakers of English. You can also use online tools such as SpeakPipe (https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder) or Vocaroo (https://vocaroo.com/) to record and share your voice messages.
Where to get the First Certificate Trainer and how much does it cost?
If you are interested in getting the First Certificate Trainer for your exam preparation, you might be wondering where to get it and how much it costs. Here are some information that can help you:
The official website and other online platforms
The official website of the book is https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/first-certificate-trainer/9B8E8F0F1C6D0E4D7A4B9F0F5C5B7E1A. Here you can find more details about the book, such as the table of contents, sample pages, audio files, etc. You can also order the book online from the website or find a local distributor near you.
Alternatively, you can also get the book from other online platforms, such as Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/First-Certificate-Trainer-Practice-Answers/dp/052112820X), Book Depository (https://www.bookdepository.com/First-Certificate-Trainer-Six-Practice-Tests-with-Answers-Peter-May/9780521128209), or AbeBooks (https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=9780521128209). However, be aware that the prices and availability of the book may vary depending on the platform and the region.
The price and availability of the book
The price of the book depends on whether you buy it with or without the audio CDs. The book with the audio CDs costs around $50 USD, while the book without the audio CDs costs around $35 USD. However, these prices are only approximate and may change depending on the exchange rate, taxes, shipping fees, discounts, etc.
The availability of the book depends on whether it is in stock or not. The book is usually in stock on the official website and other online platforms, but it may run out of stock occasionally due to high demand or low supply. Therefore, it is advisable to check the availability of the book before you place your order.
The customer reviews and ratings of the book
The customer reviews and ratings of the book are generally positive and favorable. The book has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on 18 customer reviews. Most customers praised the book for its quality, usefulness, comprehensiveness, clarity, and accuracy. Some customers also appreciated the tips and explanations provided in the book. However, some customers complained about the high price, the lack of interactive features, and the difficulty level of some questions.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14 is a self-study book that contains six full practice tests for the FCE exam, along with detailed answer keys and explanations. The book is written by an experienced teacher and examiner and published by the official provider of Cambridge English exams and materials. The book has several benefits, such as giving you an accurate and realistic idea of what to expect in the real exam, helping you assess your strengths and weaknesses in each skill area, providing you with valuable feedback and guidance on how to improve your performance, helping you practice your time management and test-taking skills, and boosting your confidence and motivation for the exam. However, the book also has some drawbacks and limitations, such as not covering the full range of topics and vocabulary that you might encounter in the real exam, not providing enough practice for the productive skills of writing and speaking, not offering any interactive or adaptive features that can enhance your learning experience, and not addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of exam preparation. Therefore, you might need to supplement your learning with other resources and tools that can help you improve your skills and performance in each skill area. You can get the book from the official website or other online platforms, but you should check the price and availability of the book before you order it. The customer reviews and ratings of the book are generally positive and favorable, but you should also consider your own needs and expectations before you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Recommendations and advice
If you are looking for a reliable and effective resource to help you prepare for the FCE exam, the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14 might be a good option for you. However, you should also keep in mind that this book is not a magic solution that can guarantee your success in the exam. You still need to put in a lot of effort, time, and dedication to improve your skills and performance in each skill area. You also need to use other resources and tools that can complement your learning and enhance your experience. You also need to manage your stress, anxiety, motivation, and self-esteem before and during the exam. Ultimately, the outcome of the exam depends on how well you prepare for it and how well you perform on it.
Therefore, we recommend that you use the First Certificate Trainer as one of the resources for your exam preparation, but not as the only one. We also advise that you plan your study schedule carefully and allocate enough time for each skill area. We also suggest that you review your progress regularly and adjust your strategies accordingly. We also encourage that you seek feedback and support from others who can help you improve your skills and performance. We also urge that you stay positive and confident throughout your exam preparation journey.
We hope that this article has given you a comprehensive review of the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14 and has helped you decide whether this book is suitable for your needs and expectations. We wish you all the best for your FCE exam preparation and we hope that you achieve your goals.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14:
What is the difference between the First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14 and the First Certificate Trainer Second Edition?
The First Certificate Trainer Six Practice Tests With Answers 14 is an updated version of the First Certificate Trainer Second Edition, which was published in 2015. The main difference is that the new version reflects the changes made to the FCE exam in 2019, such as the removal of some question types (e.g., multiple matching) and the addition of some question types (e.g., open cloze). The new version also includes some new topics, texts, questions, tasks, tips, explanations, etc.
How long does it take to complete each practice test in the book?
The time limit for each practice test in the book is the same as the time limit for each paper in the real FCE exam. The Reading and Use of English paper takes 75 minutes to complete. The Writing paper takes 80 minutes to complete. The Listening paper takes 40 minutes to complete. The Speaking paper takes 14 minutes to complete (per pair of candidates). Therefore, it takes about four hours to complete each practice test in the book.
How many practice tests should I do before taking the real FCE exam?
the real FCE exam. This will give you enough exposure and practice to familiarize yourself with the exam format, style, level, and expectations. However, you should also avoid doing too many practice tests, as this might cause you to feel bored, tired, or overconfident. You should also balance your practice tests with other types of learning activities, such as reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, etc.
How can I get the audio CDs for the book?
If you buy the book with the audio CDs, you will get two CDs that contain the audio files for the Listening paper of each practice test. You can play the CDs on any CD player or computer that supports audio CDs. Alternatively, you can also download the audio files from the official website of the book (https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/first-certificate-trainer/9B8E8F0F1C6D0E4D7A4B9F0F5C5B7E1A) or scan the QR code on the back cover of the book. You can then play the audio files on any device that supports MP3 files.
How can I get feedback on my writing and speaking skills?
The book provides sample answers for the Writing paper and sample transcripts for the Speaking paper. You can compare your answers or transcripts with the sample ones and see how they differ in terms of content, language, organization, etc. You can also use the assessment criteria provided in the book to evaluate your own performance and identify your areas of improvement. However, this might not be enough to get comprehensive and objective feedback on your writing and speaking skills. Therefore, you might need to seek feedback from a teacher, a tutor, or a peer who can give you more detailed and personalized feedback and suggestions on how to improve your writing and speaking skills.
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