The Cambridge exams include FCE (First Certificate in English), CAE(Certificate in Advanced English), and CPE (Certificate in Proficiency of English). With so many options it can be confusing to decide which exam to take.

The Cambridge English exams

Unlike the TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC exams, the FCE, CAE, and CPE are English-specific exams. The vocabulary and grammatical structure in each of these exams are different. The FCE or B2 exam is the upper-intermediate level, the CAE advanced level, and CPE or C2 is the proficiency level exam. You need to get a passing score of at least 60% in these exams. All these exams are accepted by universities, companies, and governments. All these tests demonstrate the proficiency of English of non-native speakers.

You should take the FCE exam if you have advanced-level English skills. CAE and CPE are trickier exams. You must assess your current level of English before deciding which exam to take. You can get your English level tested at a language academy. They can take a certain test to find out how good you are in English.

The FCE test has two versions: 'for schools' and 'for adult students'. Both the tests have the same format except that the topics are different. The CAE test is appropriate for study, work, or immigration purposes. This test indicates that the person's English level is suitable for academic and professional life. The CPE test is a difficult exam and tests the highest English skill level. The passing score of this exam shows that the candidate can speak English fluently using native-speaker expressions. The prestigious and top educational institutions accept this test.

English Grammar for the FCE, CAE, and CPE tests

Linking word - Conjunctions and linkers
- Linking words – Synonyms
- Time conjunctions

Determiners and Pronouns - Some, any, no, none
- Much, many, a lot
- A few, a little
- Every, each
- There, it
- Personal pronoun
- Reflexive pronoun
- Possessive forms
- Expressing numbers
- Quantifiers
- Compound pronouns

Relative clauses - Defining and non-defining clauses
- Omitting Relative Pronouns

Nouns and articles - Uncountable/countable nouns
- Subject-verb agreement
- Collective Nouns
- Definite Article 'THE'
- Gender of Nouns
- Singular nouns ending in -s

Conditionals and unreal past - Unreal Past - Wish (If Only)
- Unreal Past - Supposing, It's Time, As If
- Would Rather vs (Would) Prefer
- First Conditional
- Second Conditional
- Third Conditional
- Mixed Conditionals

Adjectives/adverbs/comparison - Other(s), Another
- Like vs As
- Such, So
- Adverb Position
- Adverb Order
- Adjective Order
- Adv/Adj Collocations
- Irregular Adjectives

Subject, Person - Compound Adjectives
- Comparison

Sizes and Numbers - Verb patterns
- Gerund vs infinitive
- Compound Verbs

Verb + Preposition - Passive Voice/Causative
- Passive Voice (Tenses)
- Passive Voice (Agent)
- Passive Voice (Agent vs Instrument)
- Passive Voice (Questions)
- Passive Voice (Personal vs Impersonal)
- Passive Voice (Get + Past Participle)
- Causative (Tenses)
- Causative (Have, make, get)
- Causative (Questions)

Modal Verbs - Modal Verbs (Present and Future)
- Modal Verbs (Must vs Have to)
- Modal Verbs (Be able to, can, could)
- Modal Verbs (Should, ought to, had better)
- Modal Verbs (Logical assumption, possibility)
- Modal Verbs (Used to vs Would)
- Modal Verbs (Needn't have vs Didn't need to)
- Modal Verbs (Synonyms)
- Modal Verbs (Functions)

Noun + preposition - Compound Nouns

Adjective + preposition Prepositional Phrases Prepositions - Prepositions of time - in, on, at
- Prepositions (Place - in, on, at )
- Prepositions Common Errors 1)
- Prepositions (Common Errors )
- Compound Prepositions1

Tenses - Present Simple vs Continuous
- Present Simple vs Continuous (Stative/Active)
- Present Simple vs Continuous (Differences)
- Past Simple vs Past Continuous (Usage)
- Past Simple vs Past Continuous (Time)
- Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous (Usage)
- Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous (Differences)
- Past Tenses (Time Expressions)
- Present Perfect (Usage)
- Present Perfect (Word Order)
- Present Perfect (Have been/gone to/have been in)
- Present Perfect (For, Since)
- Present Perfect (Yet, Already, Still, Never ...)
- Present Perfect vs Past Simple (Time Expressions)
- Present Perfect vs Past Simple (Rephrasing)
- Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
- Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
- Future Simple vs Going to (Usage)
- Future Simple vs Going to (Differences)
- Future Continuous (Usage)
- Expressing Future
- Future Perfect vs Future Perfect Continuous (Differences)
- Identifying Tenses

Inversion/Emphasis - Inversion (Negative Adverbials)
- Inversion (Time Expressions)
- Inversion (Only + Time/Preposition)
- Inversion (So, Such, Not, Not for)
- Inversion (Phrases)
- Inversion (Neither/Nor, So, As)
- Inversion (Adverbs of Place)
- Emphasis (It-Clause Cleft Sentences)
- Emphasis (What/All-Pseudo Cleft Sentences)

Reported Speech - Reported Speech (Tenses)
- Reported Speech (Statements)
- Reported Speech (Place and Time)
- Reported Speech (Commands, Requests, etc.)
- Reported Speech5 (Questions)
- Reported Speech6 (Reporting Verbs)
- Reported Speech (Verb Patterns)
- Reported Speech (Conditionals)
- Reported Speech (Modal Verbs)

Additional Exercises - Parts Of Speech
- Connectors
- Contractions
- Substitution
- Ellipsis/Omission

You should do the practice tests of these exams to know how the various topics of grammar are tested. Tenses play an important part in the writing and speaking sections. But you have to also learn how to structure the argument and content. You should be able to use proper phrases and demonstrate your vocabulary skills. You must spend time revising verb patterns, relative clauses, linking words, noun phrases, and others.

You will find various grammar books in the market. It is better to rely on multiple grammar books for exam preparation. If self-study isn't your thing, then you can join courses to get a better score on these exams. You should practice questions as much as you can to learn all the grammar techniques. Practicing will also tell you where you are making mistakes. Though the grammar topics of all the exams are similar, you must remember that the higher-level exams CAE and CPE have questions that are harder than those in FCE. So, you must prepare accordingly for the exam.