How the overall score is composed?
The passing score for the CPE is 34, out of a possible 72 points. Keep in mind that for both parts of the exam, two readers will be evaluating your work.
The final score for a CPE exam is arrived at by a simple formula:
- The scores assigned by both readers for Task One are added together, to yield a cumulative Task One score.
- The scores assigned by both readers for Task Two are added together, then multiplied by 2, to yield an adjusted Task Two score.
- The cumulative Task One score and adjusted Task Two score are added together, yielding the final score. Note that there may be an adjustment of the final score based on statistical analyses of the exam’s difficulty (compared with other CPE exams).
For further detail about the scoring criteria for Task One and Task Two, read on.
Task One Scoring
For Task One of the exam, you will be scored in four separate categories. Those four categories are, briefly:
A. Developing a focused response to the writing assignment.
B. Demonstrating understanding of the readings.
C. Supporting ideas by providing specific references to the readings.
D. Writing clearly and effectively.
In each of these four categories, you will be assigned a score on a scale of 1 to 6 (6 is the highest, 1 is the lowest).
Generally, in order to perform solidly on this part of the exam, you should be aiming for a score of 3 or 4 in each of the four categories. To see a more detailed description of the scoring criteria, consult the Task One scoring guide.
Task Two Scoring
Task Two is scored on a scale of 1-6 (6 being the highest, and 1 the lowest).
To do well on Task Two, you should be aiming for a 4, defined as follows in the scoring guidelines:
Accurately identifies two claims from the reading selection
and adequately explains the relationship of Figure 1 to one of these claims
and Figure 2 to the other.
In other words, you single out one claim from the reading and then discuss how one of the charts relates to that claim (does it support it, challenge it, or both?). You need to (accurately!) include specific details from the chart.
Then, you pick out another claim from the reading, and do the same thing with the other chart. In other words, you need to match the second claim to the other chart, correctly identifying the relationship (support, challenge, or both?), again providing specific data from the graph to back yourself up.
Visually, this looks like this:
- Claim 1---Figure One
- Claim 2---Figure Two
To get a higher score than 4, try to match additional claims to either of the two figures in exactly the same way. In other words, to get a score of 5, you would have to do this:
- Claim 1---Figure One
- Claim 2---Figure Two
- Claim 3---Figure One or Two
And to get a score of 6, you would need to do this:
- Claim 1---Figure One
- Claim 2---Figure Two
- Claim 3---Figure One
- Claim 4---Figure Two
You don't lose previously earned points if you attempt to match an additional claim up with a chart and get it wrong, so go for it!
Generally, the more claims you can accurately relate to the figures, the higher your potential score.
For a more detailed description of the Task Two scoring criteria, consult the Task Two scoring guide.
What scores do I need for Task One and Task Two in order to pass the exam?
Receiving scores of 3 across the board is sufficient to pass the exam. This means
- you receive a "3" in each of the four Task One categories, from both your readers
- you receive a "3" from both your readers for Task Two.
How does it all add up? Remember, you need a 34 to pass the exam.
- If you add up your Task One scores, you get a total of 12 from each reader (3 in each category x 4 categories) or a cumulative score of 24 (12 x 2 readers).
- If you add up your Task Two scores, you get a total of 6 (3 from each reader x 2 readers), or an adjusted score of 12 (since you need to adjust the overall Task Two score by doubling it).
What's your total? 24 for Task One + 12 for Task Two = 36, or 2 points over the passing mark of 34.
Updated: 5/17/2005