All language schools require students to have passed the PET (Preliminary English Test) or a placement test to take a preparatory course for the First Certificate in English, which is usually offered by the schools free of charge or for a small fee. This is the only way to ensure that all participants actually have sufficient knowledge of English. The test requires language skills that allow the candidates to cope with a wide variety of conversational situations and express themselves appropriately on a wide range of topics. A comprehensive vocabulary is important as well as good grammar skills, written expression and correct sentence structures.

• Reading comprehension
• Writing
• Language application
• Listening comprehension
• Speak

If you want to prove your English skills with an officially recognized diploma, the best way to do this is after intensive preparation at a language school. Such English courses are usually called "diploma courses" and vary in length depending on the school. For a preparation course for the FCE, the Cambridge English First, you should - depending on your previous knowledge - expect around 80 to 90 lessons, which can be spread over 8 to 11 months. However, you also have the option of taking an intensive course to prepare for this language diploma exam and thus shorten the time span immensely. This is also possible during language stays or in online courses, so that the preparation time is cut in half.

The FCE is particularly suitable for people who already have a good command of English and would like to have their language skills certified with an officially and internationally recognized diploma. The Preliminary English Test (PET) could be of interest to all those who do not have sufficient language skills. People who need an English certificate primarily for their job should consider Business English Certificates (BEC) instead of the First Certificate in English, which can also be taken at different levels.