Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

Who is it for?
If you can communicate with confidence in English for work or study purposes, this is the exam for
you. CAE is taken by more than 60,000 people each year in more than 60 countries.

CAE is one of the Cambridge exams.

What is the CAE test like?

The test has four sections:

1. Reading & Use of English - 90 minutes

2. Writing - 2 tasks , 90 minutes

3. Listening - 40 minutes, 30 questions

4. Speaking - interview, normally with another candidate, 15 minutes

Score
A, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)
CAE pass is accepted for entry to some universities.

The Reading and Use of English section counts for 40% of the marks.

The Writing, Listening & Speaking sections each count for 20% of the marks.

You will receive a Statement of Results. If your performance ranges between CEFR Levels B2 and
C2, you will also receive a certificate.
Pass grades:
Grade A (C2), Grade B (C1), Grade C (C1)

If you do not pass, but still do reasonably well you are issued a B2 certificate.

Level
Advanced. Click here to see a comparison of CAE with other exams.

Paper-based or computer-based exams

You can do the CAE exam on a computer or on paper.

When can I take the test?

Arrange with your closest test centre. The CAE test can be taken most months in either paper-
based or computer-based format. Not all test centres will administer both types of test.

How much does it cost to take CAE?

Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around 150 euros.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Reading & Use
of English
Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

What is the Cambridge Advanced Reading & Use of English test like?
The test has 8 parts and takes 90 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Multiple-choice cloze

2. Part 2 - Open cloze

3. Part 3 - Word formation

4. Part 4 - Key word transformations

5. Part 5 - text with multiple-choice questions

6. Part 6 - Cross-text multiple matching

7. Part 7 - text with paragraphs missing

8. Part 8 - Multiple matching

Scoring
There are 56 questions in the Cambridge Advanced Reading & Use of English test. It makes up
40% of the entire exam.

How to prepare for the Cambridge Advanced Reading & Use of English test

This paper tests your knowledge of reading, vocabulary and grammar.

Read as much as possible, and use a dictionary to help you learn new words

Use a grammar book to help you understand sentence structure

Read the instructions carefully before you start each part

Correct spelling is necessary. Get into the habit of checking the spelling of words

Read the surrounding context before giving an answer

Dont give alternative answers for any questions

 Read widely. The texts used in the reading can be: newspapers, magazines, journals, non-
literary books, leaflets, brochures, etc

Read the instructions carefully before you start

Read all the text before you answer any questions

Remember that questions come in the same order as the answers in the text in the multiple-
choice part of the paper.

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Writing

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

What is the Advanced (CAE) Writing test like?

The test has two sections and takes 90 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Write an essay with a discursive focus

Some material to read (up to 150 words) which may include material taken from
advertisements, extracts from letters, emails, postcards, diaries, short articles, etc. Using this
information, write an essay with a discursive focus.
220260 words.

2. Part 2 - Situationally based writing task

Choose one of four questions. You have to read some input material and write one of the
following: a letter/email, a proposal, a report or a review.
220260 words.

Scoring
The Advanced (CAE) Writing Test makes up 20% of the entire exam.

Your writing is assessed using four criteria:

Content - have you answered the question?

Communicative Achievement - have you completed the task in the right sort of language

Organisation - have you structured your writing with paragraphs?

Language - have you used a good range of grammar and vocabulary

How to prepare for the Advanced (CAE) Writing test

Choose a question that you are interested in. You will write better if you know the subject.
 Read this explanation of how to write an article.

Read the instructions carefully before you start. Make notes. You must include all the points
in the instructions.

Make a plan before you start writing. Decide what information to put in each paragraph.

Think about who you are writing to and use an appropriate style of language.

Try to use a range of complex language.

Leave enough time to check what you have written.

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Listening

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

What is the CAE Listening test like?

The test has four sections and takes about 40 minutes:

1. Part 1 - three short extracts from conversations with multiple-choice questions

2. Part 2 - Sentence completion

3. Part 3 - conversation with multiple-choice questions

4. Part 4 - Multiple matching

Scoring
There are 30 questions in the CAE Listening Test. It makes up 20% of the entire exam.

How to prepare for the CAE Listening test

Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will do. Listen to the radio, English
language TV, podcasts...

Recordings may be: monologues: announcements, radio broadcasts, speeches, talks,

lectures, anecdotes, etc.; or interacting speakers: radio broadcasts, interviews, discussions,
etc.

You will hear the audio twice

Read the instructions carefully before you start

 You have time to read the questions before you hear the audio

Think about the topic, the speaker(s) and the context as you read the questions.

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Speaking

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

What is the CAE Speaking test like?

The test has four sections and takes 15 minutes:

Normally you will do the speaking test with another candidate. The two of you will meet two
examiners. One of the examiners will talk to you, the other does not particpate in the conversations.

Speaking part 1: short questions and answers between you and the examiner

Speaking part 2: 'Long turn' .The examiner gives you between two and five photographs
and asks you to talk about them. You have to speak for 1 minute without interruption and the
interlocutor then asks the other candidate to comment on what you have said for about 30
seconds. The other candidate receives a different set of photographs and you have to listen
and comment when they have finished speaking.

Speaking part 3: Collaborative task. Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner
gives you some pictures and a task to do. You have to talk with the other candidate and make
a decision.

Speaking part 4: Discussion. Further discussion with the other candidate based on the
topics or issues raised in the task in Part 3.

Scoring
The Speaking section is worth 25% of the total score for the exam.

Your speaking is assessed using five criteria:

Grammar - have you used a range of grammar structures

Lexical resource - have you used a range of vocabulary

Discourse management - have you participated effectively in the conversations and

discussions?

Proununciation

Interactive Communication - have you completed the tasks effectively?

How to prepare for CAE Speaking

 Read this article explaining how to do well in the speaking exam.

Listen carefully to what the examiner has asked you to do.

Speak as much as you can, with your friends

Practise looking at photographs and speaking about them

Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will do. Listen to the radio, English
language TV, podcasts...