Information about the CAE and some useful tips how to practice. The information is taken from the Cambridge English Advanced handbook for teachers (http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/cambridge-english-advanced-handbook-2015.pdf)

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Cambridge Exam
Spring 2014

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The Common European Framework
of Reference

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Exam overview
 Reading & Use of English, 1 hour 30 minutes, 8 parts
 Writing, 1 hour 30 minutes, 2 texts 220-260 words
 Listening, 40 min, 4 parts
 Speaking, 15 minutes, 4 parts
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdGudT4Wu0&list=PLHXxw_fD9hAeQs7D26CFYB1fPw6heRsky

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Your CAE result
 Each of the listed components of the test counts for 25% of
your total score.
 To be awarded the Certificate in Advanced English you have to
receive a pass grade (A, B or C).
Passing grade
Grade A: 80% or more
Grade B: 75-79%
Grade C: 60-74%

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Reading and Use of English
 Part 1: Multiple choice cloze. Choose the correct word out of
4 alternatives. Phrases, collocations, idioms, linkers etc.
 Part 2: Open cloze. Fill gaps in a text of about. Mainly “form
words” such as prepositions, linkers etc. Tests grammatical and
lexio-grammatical knowledge
 Part 3: Word formation. Form words from a stem.
Grammatical and lexical knowledge.
 Part 4: Key word transformation. Transform information from
one sentence to another using a given word.

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Reading and Use of English
 Part 5: Multiple choice. Understanding opinions and details.
Longer text with 6 questions.
 Part 6: Cross text multiple matching: Match 4 statements
with 4 shorter texts. Test ability of understanding opinion and
attitude (NEW)
 Part 7: Gapped texts. Decide where paragraphs belong in a
text. Difficult. Tests understanding of text structure. Look for
linking words and nouns before and after the gaps.
 Part 8: Multiple matching. Match prompts to sections in the
text. Understanding specific information

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How to practice: Reading
 Read extensively in your spare time; focus on non-fiction and
articles.
 Tips: Bookmark English newspapers and read at least one article a day
(e.g. www.guardian.com, www.huffingtonpost.com etc)
 Install Stumbleupon to find English texts and articles about topics that
interest you
 Get accustomed to how the different parts are structured and what
it is they test.
 Different ways of reading; Scanning for specific information,
skimming a text to get the general meaning or detail reading to
thoroughly understand a text.
 Prediction-techniques; title, sub-title, key words give you ideas of
what to expect from the text.

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How to practice: Use of English
 Read, read, read and surround yourself with English to get
more familiar with expressions and sayings. This will practice
your natural sense of the language.
 Widen your vocabulary. Play Selingua (PC) and freerice
(www.freerice.com) 10 min/day .
 Practice grammar, in the textbook and online (see list of useful
links). I can also provide advanced working sheets.
 Learn about prefixes, suffixes and word stems to easier predict
what a word means.

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Writing (5 different texts)
 Part 1: An Essay with a discursive focus
Write an essay based on two points given in an
input text. Explain which point is most important and
give reasons for your opinions.
220-260 words
 Part 2: Letter/email, proposal, report or review.
Choose one out of five tasks. Clear context,
topic, purpose and audience is given.
220-260 words

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How to practice: Writing
 Write a diary in English to get used to being able to express
yourself quickly in English.
 Study the different text types (see compendium). Form, style, tone
etc.
 Use linking words! Memorize them and learn how to properly use
them creating flow and coherence in your texts.
 Practice using a more complex language. If you make mistakes
you still get extra credits for trying. Vary your sentence structure!
 Practice writing texts within the word limit since counting words in
the examination wastes time.

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W – Who is the target reader
R – Reason for writing
I – Include what?
T – Task type
E – Edit (and check) your work

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Listening
 Part 1: Short extracts. Multiple-choice questions.
 Part 2: Sentence completion. Write a word or a short phrase
heard in the monologue. Test ability to understand specific
information.
 Part 3: Multiple choice. Choose the best answer. Ability to
understand opinions and attitude.
 Part 4: Multiple matching. Select the correct answer form a list
of eight options. Understand attitude, main points and context.

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How to practice: Listening
 Get familiar with the different parts to know what to expect and
listen for (specific information, opinion, attitude, primary
meaning etc.)
 Listen to English podcasts. Download them to your phone and
listen on the way to school. Listen to an audiobook.
 Always read the question carefully and try to predict what will
come.
 Don’t get stuck if you don’t understand everything straight
away. You will hear it twice.

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Speaking
 Part 1: Conversation between candidate and interlocutor about
personal questions.
 Part 2: Individual long turns and brief responses. Talk for about
one minute on your own about a set of pictures.
 Part 3: Two way interaction between candidates. Discuss a
problem solving task. Tests ability to interact, exchange ideas,
agree or disagree etc.
 Part 4: Conversation between candidate and interlocutor about
wider issues connected to topic in part 3.

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How to practice: Speaking
 Learn how the test is constructed and what is demanded of you
in the different parts. If it’s expressing opinions, give responses,
interact etc.
 Practice to express yourself freely in English. Have discussions
with your friends in English from time to time discussing
pictures and “staging” old speaking exams.
 Try using more complex language. Write down phrases and
synonyms that might be useful.

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Dos and DON’Ts: Reading
 DO
 Skim through the text for
general understanding.
 Read the instructions very
carefully – they set the scene
and give you initial orientation.
 Highlight or underline
important words in the
questions.
 Decide what type of question
you are answering and then
employ the correct reading skill,
especially in the multiple-choice
part.
 Don’t
 Don’t spend too much time
on any one part of the paper.
 Don’t forget to transfer all
your answers to the answer
sheet.
 Don’t be put off by or get
stuck on difficult
vocabulary – it may become
clear by reading on or by later
rereading.

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Dos and DON’Ts: Use of English
 DO
 Check your spelling in all parts
of the test.
 Read the surrounding
context before giving an answer.
 Read the instructions, the
information about the texts, the
titles and the texts before starting
to answer.
 Read the texts again to check
your answers make sense.
 DON’T
 Don’t leave any questions
unanswered.
 Don’t give alternative
answers for any questions.
 Don’t wait until the end to
copy all your answers on to
your answer sheet.

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Dos and DON’Ts: Writing
 DO
 Read the task carefully and
plan an answer which addresses
all the content points of the task.
Try to develop each point fully
 Demonstrate a good range of
vocabulary and structures as
well as writing accurately to get a
good mark.
 Consider who the ‘target
reader’ is and the genre (e.g.
newspaper article, formal letter)
for each question and try to write
in an appropriate style and tone.
 DON’T
 Don’t write answers that are
much longer than the word
limit as this means you may
have included a lot of irrelevant
material. Plan your answer
carefully to avoid this.
 Don’t spend to much time on
the first question
 Don’t use a pencil.

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Dos and DON’Ts: Listening
 DO
 Listen to and read the
instructions to understand what you
have to do.
 Think about the topic, the
speaker(s) and the context as you
read the questions.
 Use the pause to read the
questions and try to predict the
answers
 Check that your answer is correctly
spelled. (Part 2)
 Copy only the missing words on to
the answer sheet. (Part 2)
 DON’T
 Don’t worry if you miss a question.
Continue with the next question then
listen again for the missing
information when you hear the
recording for the second time.
 Don’t leave a blank space on the
answer sheet. If you are not sure,
guess.
 Don’t repeat information which is
already in the sentences. (Part 2)
 Don’t panic. There is plenty of time to
write your answers as you listen. (Part
2)

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Dos and DON’Ts: Speaking
 DO
 Show you can communicate
effectively.
 Give full and extended responses.
 Raise the level of your language above
the mundane.
 Listen carefully to what the examiner
has asked you to do.
 Speculate on the content of the visual
material, even if you are unsure about
what they are illustrating.
 Involve your partner in the
conversation and create opportunities
for them to speak.
 DON’T
 Don’t panic if you cannot
remember, or do not know, a
particular word. Just keep going
and paraphrase instead.
 Don’t merely describe the
visuals.
 Don’t let your partner always
‘take the lead’. You also must
initiate at times.
 Don’t waste your
opportunities to show the
examiners what you can do

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More information
 More Dos and DON’Ts, FAQ and general tips:
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/
advanced/how-to-prepare/
 My collection of links regarding CAE:
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s112/sh/1a052d5c-ef6a-4a38-
9266-e608c6e8bbb1/d318bebcd2e0d64091cb38cbeacb0dc6
 Don’t underestimate GOOGLE to find useful grammar, spelling,
listening pages/exercises. Have a look on YouTube. Use
search terms such as ESL (English as a Second Language),
Advanced, CAE.