2026-10-23

FCE or CAE? How to choose between B2 First and C1 Advanced

FCE or CAE: differences in level, format, scores and fees, what counts for the bac and for universities abroad, and how to pick the right exam.

Choose B2 First (FCE) if the student is at B2 now and needs a certificate for the bac or for a university in Romania. Choose C1 Advanced (CAE) if they already pass C1 practice tests or are applying to a university abroad. Both replace the bac English test.

What is the difference between FCE and CAE?

FCE is the old name for B2 First, and CAE the old name for C1 Advanced. They have the same four papers and the same scoring rule, but C1 Advanced takes longer, uses longer texts and asks for longer pieces of writing.

	B2 First (FCE)	C1 Advanced (CAE)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Total length	approx. 3 h 29 min	approx. 3 h 55 min
Reading and Use of English	1 h 15 min, 7 parts, 52 questions	1 h 30 min, 8 parts, 56 questions
Reading text length	2,200–2,500 words in total	3,000–3,500 words in total
Writing	1 h 20 min, 2 texts of 140–190 words	1 h 30 min, 2 texts of 220–260 words
Listening	approx. 40 min, 4 parts, 30 questions	approx. 40 min, 4 parts, 30 questions
Speaking	14 min per pair	15 min per pair
Pass (Grade C)	from 160 points	from 180 points
Grade A	180–190, C1-level certificate	200–210, C2-level certificate
Below Grade C	140–159, B1-level certificate	160–179, B2-level certificate
British Council Romania fee	940 lei	965 lei

In both exams, the final score is the average of five equally weighted scores: Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Other centres' fees are in the guide to Cambridge exam fees in Romania in 2026.

FCE or CAE for the bac?

Either works for the bac. Both are on the list in OME 6152/2023: B2 First, passed with at least 160 points, replaces the language test (proba C) at B2, and C1 Advanced, with at least 180, at C1.

The bac recognises the level of the exam taken. A Grade A in B2 First gives a C1-level Cambridge certificate, but for C1 at the bac you sit C1 Advanced.

In 2027, proba C runs on 19–21 April, with registration on 5–9 April. The steps are in the guide to bac English equivalence with a Cambridge certificate.

FCE or CAE for a university abroad?

C1 Advanced. The universities we checked list C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, not B2 First: King's College London, TU Delft and Alliance Manchester Business School. For bachelor's programmes, TU Delft asks for at least C1 Advanced, with no minimum score.

Universities in Romania set their own lists. For example, ASE Bucharest accepted B2 First with at least 160 points, as well as C1 Advanced, for its 2026 master's admission.

Check the chosen faculty's list. If you are also weighing IELTS, see the Cambridge English or IELTS comparison.

What happens if a student sits CAE without C1 level?

Each exam is built for one level. A B2 student who sits C1 Advanced may score between 160 and 179 and gets a B2-level Cambridge certificate, not C1. Below 160 there is no certificate.

The same student might get Grade B or even Grade A in B2 First. How to read the score on each exam is in the guide to Cambridge English Scale scores.

How do you choose between B2 First and C1 Advanced?

Choose B2 First if:

the student passes B2 First practice tests but not C1 Advanced ones;
you need a certificate for the bac or for a Romanian university that accepts B2;
the student is in grade 9 or 10 and has time for C1 later.

Choose C1 Advanced if:

the student passes C1 Advanced practice tests consistently;
they are applying to a university abroad within the next two years;
they want one certificate that covers both the bac and university.

Practice tests in the real format, marked by a teacher, show best where the student is now.

How does a student prepare for FCE or CAE?

At Pathway English School, classes are online, in small groups of 6–8 students of the same level, with Cambridge exam preparation, Cambridge-certified lecturers and monthly progress reports. The free trial lesson helps you choose between B2 First and C1 Advanced. Book the free trial lesson.

FAQ

What is the difference between FCE and CAE?

FCE (B2 First) certifies B2, and CAE (C1 Advanced) certifies C1. CAE takes longer, about 3 h 55 min against 3 h 29 min, has longer reading texts and asks for 220–260 words per Writing task, against 140–190 in FCE.

FCE or CAE for the Romanian bac?

Both replace the bac English test. B2 First passed with at least 160 points gives B2, and C1 Advanced passed with at least 180 gives C1. The bac recognises the level of the exam taken.

Do universities abroad accept FCE?

Many do not. King's College London, TU Delft and Alliance Manchester Business School list C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, not B2 First. Check the page of the programme you want.

What happens if you sit CAE without C1 level?

With a score between 160 and 179 you get a B2-level Cambridge certificate, not C1. Below 160 there is no certificate, only the Statement of Results.

How much do FCE and CAE cost in 2026?

At British Council Romania, B2 First costs 940 lei and C1 Advanced 965 lei. Other exam centres charge different fees.

Sources

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