Listen to the audio recordings only , just like in the real exam. Do not pause or rewind during the first attempt. This trains your brain to maintain focus under time constraints. 2. Review the Tapescripts
: Includes full-color photographs specifically for the Speaking Paper to simulate real exam conditions.
Here’s a tip: Don’t just listen once. Use the audio for dictation practice. Pause after each sentence in Part 2 and write exactly what you hear. That trains your ear for the real exam. Fce Practice Tests Karen Dyer Dave Harwood Audio
: The first test often acts as a guided introduction, walking students through the individual sections and task types.
Verdict: If you can only buy one practice book for the listening paper, the offers the closest replication of real exam conditions. Listen to the audio recordings only , just
To get the highest return on investment from your practice book and audio files, avoid simply running through the tests back-to-back. Instead, follow a structured, multi-pass framework. Phase 1: The Diagnostic Test (Untimed)
However, a significant critical weakness emerges regarding . Compared to real Cambridge B2 audio from 2016 onwards, Dyer and Harwood’s tracks are often 10-15% slower. The enunciation is unnaturally crisp. For example, in Part 4 (multiple matching), the short extracts feature speakers who complete their utterances with exaggerated pauses between ideas. This creates a false sense of security. High-achieving students who master these tracks often suffer a ‘speed shock’ when they attempt official Cambridge materials or the actual exam, where speakers overlap words and use ellipsis (e.g., “Went shop, forgot keys” instead of “I went to the shop and forgot my keys”). Consequently, while the audio is excellent for introducing the format, it is insufficient for mastering the listening paper. Use the audio for dictation practice
A: Yes. Express Publishing has updated the Dyer & Harwood series to reflect the latest Cambridge changes (e.g., removal of the Part 1 article in Writing, changes to Reading Part 6). Always check the publication date (look for 2020 or later).
FCE Practice Tests , authored by Karen Dyer and Dave Harwood