- Listen carefully to what the examiner says.
- Before you start each part, think about how many exercises you have to do; how much time to spend on each exercise; how much time to allow for checking. Read the exam papers to make sure that you know exactly what you have to do.
- Check that you have answered every question. Don't leave any gaps or unanswered questions, make a sensible guess if necessary. No marks are deducted for wrong answers.
- Keep checking your answers until time runs out.
- Try not to be too nervous and don't panic.
 
 

READING COMPREHENSION (40-50 minutes)
This part usually consists of two to three exercises. Each exercise contains a text and a comprehension task of some kind.

General advice:
- Read and follow all instructions carefully.
- Read the texts through quickly before doing the related tasks.
 

WRITING (60 minutes)
This part consists of two writing tasks. One of them usually involves writing a letter and the other one may include articles, reports, applications, stories, etc. Across the two tasks, candidates are expected to write about 250 words in all (125 each).

General advice:
- Read through this part of the exam and decide which of the two tasks you are going to start with.
- Spend a few minutes making a simple plan for each piece of writing. Decide on an appropriate style, layout and organisation. Then think about the content of paragraphs and the language you will use, e.g. verb tenses. Keep your plan in mind while writing.
- Don't spend more than half the time on your first answer.
- Make sure you answer all the points in the question appropriately.
- Check your writing by reading it through. Check grammar, spelling and punctuation.
 

LISTENING COMPREHENSION (30-40 minutes)
This part consists of two to three listening tasks. Each task contains one or more recorded texts and accompanying comprehension questions. The recorded texts used may include the following: documentaries, news, advertisements, interviews, etc.

General advice:
- Listen carefully to the instructions on the video tape.
- Try to predict as much about the recording as you can from the question paper.
- Don't panic if you don't understand everything the first time.
- Answer all the questions.
 

GRAMMATICAL COMPETENCE (30 minutes)
This part of the exam usually contains two or three exercises which test the candidate's knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Each exercise consists of a text with gaps followed by a choice of four answers for each gap.

General advice:
- Spend about 20 minutes on the 2/3 tasks. This will allow 10 minutes to check your answers and to go back to parts you found difficult. 
- If there is a question you can't answer, don't waste time worrying about it. Make an educated guess and go on to something else.
 

SPEAKING TEST (10-15 minutes)
As a general rule there are two examiners and one candidate. At first, one of the examiners will ask the candidate a few general questions about himself. The candidate will then be given a picture (from a choice of two) and will be asked to describe it. After talking about the physical details, the conversation will move on to the theme of the pictures. Examiners will be testing the candidate's following language abilities: accurate use of grammar, range and use of vocabulary, pronunciation, communication.

General advice:
- Try to show how good your English is. This means speaking correctly and fluently and with good pronunciation, using a range of vocabulary and communicating successfully.
- Above all, keep talking and stay calm. 

As you can see, the speaking test is worth 40% of the total, and each of the other four parts are worth 15%. In order to pass the exam and obtain the Certificat Elemental d'Anglès candidates must achieve 65 marks or more.