PREPARATION FOR THE CAE EXAM

Reading
DOs and DONTs
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.
Link the questions to areas or sections in the text before reading closely.
Remember that questions come in the same order as the answers in the text in
the multiple-choice part of the paper.
Experiment with the order of the parts and the questions within the parts. Come
back to them later, if necessary.
Select your answer based on meaning and then check that it fits with the language
in the text. Use the coherence and cohesion in the text to help you with this.
Use a wide context in the text to help you find answers. Do not read narrowly or just
a few lines before and after the point where you find your answer.
Use paraphrasing of ideas rather than individual words in the questions to help you
identify the answer in the text.
Check that your selected answer fully answers the question and not only in part.
Answer all the questions no marks are deducted for incorrect answers.
Decide why the three distractors are wrong in each multiple-choice question and
make sure the extra paragraph does not fit. (Part 2)
Reread the whole text when you have placed all the paragraphs. (Part 2)

DONT
Dont use your world knowledge or personal opinions to answer the questions.
Dont select an answer after reading only one section in the multiple-matching
parts of the paper.
Dont spend too much time on any one part of the paper.
Dont forget to transfer all your answers to the answer sheet.
Dont be put off by or get stuck on difficult vocabulary it may become clear by
reading on or by later rereading.
Dont reread every section for every question. (Parts 1 and 4)

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How many marks is the Reading paper worth?
Each of the five papers in the exam is worth 40 marks, or 20% of the total.
See more details about the format of the exam
What kinds of texts are included?
The four texts are taken from newspapers, magazines, journals, non-literary books, leaflets,
brochures, etc. They are generally authentic but some editing may take place for

clarification. They may be informational, descriptive, narrative or discursive. Each text is

550850 words long with a total of about 3,000 words across the whole paper.
What reading skills are involved?
The tasks test your ability to skim and scan the text in order to:
build up a general understanding

identify the main points

locate specific information

deduce meaning

recognise the writers attitude or opinion

understand text organisation.

What kinds of tasks are there?

There are two multiple-choice tasks, one gapped text and one multiple-matching task.
Which is the most difficult part?
The combination of text, tasks and reading skills in each of the parts is different so there is
no simple answer to this question.
Past results show that any one of the four parts can be better answered in a session. You
need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and prepare accordingly.
How long should I spend on each part of the test?
There are no recommended timings for parts of the test. But you must transfer all your
answers to the answer sheet during the 1 hour and 15 minutes of the test.
The tasks do not have to be dealt with in the same order as they appear on the paper. You
may feel more confident with certain text or task types and may want to do these first and
faster.
Doing some practice tests should help you with timing your answers.
How can I prepare generally?
You should read widely and for interest from the same sources as the texts in the test. You
should be able to distinguish different types of writing, and understand the writers purpose
and the main ideas in the text. This will help you to predict the type of questions you will
find in the Reading paper, and increase your confidence about the test itself.

Part 1: Reading
CAE Reading Part 1
1. Read the title and look at any pictures to get a general idea of the subject and style of the piece.
2. Before you read the piece, read the question stems (just the questions, not the
answers). Identify the key words and then find the part of the text that is relevant to each
question.

3. Read the piece quickly but pay close attention to the part of the text that has the answer to the
question.
4. The answer will be found in the text, it will not be based on your general impression of
it. Eliminating obviously incorrect answers will help you choose the correct one.

CAE Reading Part 2

1. Read the title and look at any pictures to give yourself a general idea of the subject and style of
the piece.
2. Read the article at a quick pace. Try and remember the topic of each paragraph, but pay special
attention to anchors (logical connecting words, pronouns, and time clauses). A word like so
indicates a logical progressionlook for a reason something happened; these refers to
something in a previous paragraphfind them; afterwards refers to a progression of timewhat
happened before?
3. Read the paragraphs to be inserted in the text. Notice the content, but pay special attention
again to anchors.
4. Dont insist on completing this part of the test in order! Some of the paragraphs are easier to
match than the others. Answer the easy questions first and cross them off your question sheet
when they have been used.
5. Always check that the paragraphs match the text before and after them.
6. If the last paragraph doesnt seem to fit, take a minute to check your other answers. One of
them may be wrong as well and you dont want to miss two questions.

CAE Reading Part 3

1. Read the title and look at any pictures to get a general idea of the subject and style of the piece.
2. Read just the question stems (not the answers) of the first two questions.
3. Now start reading the text until you find the part that answers the first and second questions.
4. The questions are in the order of the text, so you can use the question stems to locate the exact
part of the text that will provide the answers. Only when you have found and read the relevant
part of the text carefully should you read the answer choices and select the one that matches
the text.
5. Continue reading question stems, finding the relevant text and choosing your answer based on
the text. Breaking the text into smaller pieces will make it easier to find the answers. They can
all be found in the text, you will never be required to just choose what feels right.

CAE Reading Part 4

1. Quickly look at the title and look at any pictures to give yourself a general idea of the subject
and style of the piece, dont read the text until you have analysed the questions.

2. Read the questions carefully and underline the key expressions in each one to help focus your
mind on what you are reading for.
3. Try and remember these key expressions as you read the text at a reasonably fast pace. Some
of the answers will be obvious as you read, fill in your answer sheet as you go along.
4. Be careful that your answers match all of the information in the question. Sometimes the
question will be looking for more than just one criteria so you need to be careful.
5. Go back to the unanswered questions, look at the key expressions you underlined and try to
remember which area of the text had material related to them. When you are scanning the text,
try to keep several questions in mind at once to make more efficient use of your time.

Writing
DOs and DONTs
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.
Think carefully about whether the task requires you to persuade or justify your
opinion and make sure you do this in your answer.
Allow time to check through what you have written.
Read the opening paragraphs and instructions in Part 1 very carefully to make
sure you know what your role is and who you are writing to. (Part 1)
Plan your answer. Remember, you do not necessarily need to use all the input
information. Usually, part of the task is to select the appropriate information. (Part 1)
Try to use your own words when using information from the input. (Part 1)
Select your question carefully. Consider the vocabulary, grammatical structures and
register required by the task. (Part 2)

DONT
Dont 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.
Dont use a pencil.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How many questions do I have to answer?
You need to answer two. The question in Part 1 is compulsory and you have a choice of
questions in Part 2.

How much do I have to write?

You will need to write 180220 words for the first question and 220260 words for the
second question.
Can I use a pencil?
No. Answers for the Writing paper must be written in pen.
How much time do I have?
You have 1 hour 30 minutes to do the paper.
Can I have a little extra time at the end of the examination to check my work?
No. As with all the papers, time limits are strictly observed by the examination centre
administrators.
How many marks is the Writing paper worth?
Each of the five papers in the exam is worth 40 marks, or 20% of the total. How many
marks are there for each part?
Both parts are equally important as they carry the same number of marks. What kind of
texts do I have to write?
There is a range of task types which ask you to write different kinds of texts, including:
magazine and newspaper articles, contributions to leaflets and brochures, notices,
announcements, formal and informal letters, reports, proposals and reviews.

CAE Writing Part 1

1. You are required to complete the task in Part 1. You will need to write either a letter, a report, a
proposal, or an article.
2. Read the instructions carefully. Pay careful attention to the type of writing you are asked to do
and to your audience. You will receive a very poor mark if you are asked to write a report for
your principal but write an informal letter.
3. Identify the task, usually you are required to do three things in your writing. Make a plan before
you start writing so you are certain you fully answer the question.
4. Notice that the word limit is written in bold type, do you think this is important? If your boss asks
you for a one page proposal, he will not be pleased with a two page proposal. Expressing your
ideas completely within the word limit is an important part of getting a good mark.
5. Notice another set of words in bold: using the information appropriately. You must decide what
information will help you make the most persuasive or informative piece of writing. This will also
allow you to expand on some of the information which will give you a higher mark than if you
robotically copy the phrases from the question into your answer.
6. Use your own words as far as possible. This phrase is not in bold but it is still an important part
of getting a good mark. Write paraphrases next to the information on the question sheet. This
will help you avoid subconsciously using the words from the question as you write.

CAE Writing Part 2

1. You have a choice of tasks in Part 2. You will be able to choose from a wide range of subject
matter and a number of different writing formats: an article, a competition entry, a contribution to
a larger piece (such as a book), an information sheet, a letter, a proposal, a report or a review.

2. Select the question you wish to answer based on your familiarity with the writing style required,
your interest in the topic, and your range of vocabulary related to the topic.
3. Read the question carefully and underline the task (usually the task will have two or three parts)
and the target reader. This will help you ensure you answer the question completely and use
the correct level of formality.
4. Make a plan before you begin writing. This will not only improve your organization, but writing
down the information will allow you to concentrate on the language.

Use of English
DOs and DONTs
DO

Read extensively to build up a wide range of vocabulary in different contexts.

Check your spelling in all parts of the test.
Make sure you transfer your answers to your answer sheet as you finish each
part.
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.
Check that the answer has the right meaning and that it fits in with both the local
grammatical context and with the text as a whole. (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
DONT
Dont leave any questions unanswered.
Dont give alternative answers for any questions.
Dont wait until the end to copy all your answers on to your answer sheet.
Dont copy the words on to your answer sheet. Only one letter (A, B, C or D) is
necessary. (Part 1)
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How many marks is the Use of English paper worth?
The Use of English paper makes up 40 marks or 20% of the total marks of the
examination. See more details about the format of the exam
Are marks deducted for incorrect answers?
No, marks are not deducted if candidates give an incorrect answer. A candidate is either
awarded the mark for the correct answer or gets no mark if the answer is incorrect. You are
advised not to leave any question unanswered.
How do candidates record their answers?
Candidates write their answers on the answer sheets provided by shading a lozenge or by
writing words (36 words allowed for answers in Part 5). The answer sheet is marked
according to a mark scheme and then scanned by computer. You must transfer your
answers to the answer sheet within the time given for the paper (1 hour).

How important is spelling in the Use of English paper?

All spelling must be correct in this paper. Candidates will not get a mark for answers which
are not spelled correctly. American spelling will not be penalised if used consistently.
What happens if a candidate gives two or more answers to a question?
If a candidate offers two or more answers and one of these is incorrect, no mark is
awarded. If all answers given are correct, candidates are awarded the mark for that
question. Candidates should write only one answer for each question.
In the open cloze test (Part 2), are words like doesnt and isnt counted as one or
two words?
Two words. To count the number of words, you should take the full form into account, e.g.
didnt = did not = two words.

CAE Use of English Part 1

1. Read the text quickly to understand the topic, style and tone of the piece.
2. Now read again and try to guess what word might fill the gap without looking at the proposed
answers.
3. Pay close attention to the words before and after the gaps, they will determine what words can
and cant be used.
4. Now look at the answer choices. Select any answers that you guessed and then read the
sentences carefully, before and after the gaps, to help you make your choice.
5. Do not spend too long on this part, it is very confusing and more time usually doesnt help you
get more correct answers.

CAE Use of English Part 2

1. Read over the entire text once quickly. Take note of the topic, the style and the opinion of the
writer.
2. Now read it again more carefully, filling in the gaps and paying close attention to the words
before and after them.
3. If you dont know what the missing word is, read the whole sentence again carefully and identify
what function it has: is it a pronoun? an auxiliary verb? part of a phrasal or prepositional
verb? part of an expression? Analyse the sentence to find out what is missing.

CAE Use of English Part 3

1. Quickly read the entire text to notice the topic, style, tone and attitude of the writer.
2. You must understand the context of the sentences because there is usually at least one word
that must be made negative.
3. After you have changed the word, read the sentence again to check that it makes sense and the
grammar is correct (does the word have to be plural?).

CAE Use of English Part 4

1. Part 4 requires a bit of creativity. Sometimes it may help to work on this part for 5 minutes, then
do a different part, and then come back to Part 4 with hopefully a fresh perspective.
2. Read the three sentences forming the question and identify what part of speech the word is, it
will be the same part of speech in all three.
3. Write the words that come to mind when you read each sentence. Try to think of as many ways
as you can to fill each gap.
4. Look for similarities among the words you chose for each sentence. Sometimes a word will
work for two sentences but not for three, this is why you must read and try and complete all
three sentences.
5. If you dont find the answer right away, do a different exercise and come back. Sometimes a
little time is all you need to find it.

CAE Use of English Part 5

1. This is the most difficult part of the Use of English paper. Make sure you allow at least 15
minutes to complete it. Take your time, be methodical, analytical and careful.
2. The questions are each worth two points, you get one point for using the key word correctly and
another for identifying the remaining grammar or vocabulary needed to complete the sentence.
3. Read the two sentences and compare them. Underline everything in the first sentence that is
given in the second sentence, this will show you the part of the sentence to be transformed.
4. Look at the key word and identify the role it will play in the transformation. The other part of
your answer is usually part of a phrase or expression that is a way of restating the information
you identified as needing to be transformed.
5. Use the parts of the second sentence before and after the gap to help you remember the words
you need.
6. You can get one point for half of the correct answer, so always write something on the answer
sheet!

Listening
DOs and DONTs
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.
Remember that the order of information matches between the
information/questions on the page and the order of information in the recording.
Check your answers during the pause between the first and second listening.

Copy your answers carefully onto the answer sheet and check that you have
followed the numbering correctly.
Try to use the actual words you hear on the tape. (Part 2)
Check that your answer makes sense in the gap. Look at the information both
before and after the gap when checking your answer. (Part 2)
Check that your answer is correctly spelled. (Part 2)
Copy only the missing words on to the answer sheet. (Part 2)
Read through both tasks in multiple matching in the pause before you hear the
recording for the first time. (Part 4)
Remember that there are two questions for each speaker. (Part 4)

DONT
Dont try to write very long answers.
Dont 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.
Dont leave a blank space on the answer sheet. If you are not sure, guess.
Dont repeat information which is already in the sentences. (Part 2)
Dont panic. There is plenty of time to write your answers as you listen. (Part 2)

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What aspects of listening are tested in the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
Listening test?
You may be tested on your understanding of gist, main points, detail or specific information,
or your ability to deduce meaning from a text. You may listen to monologues or interacting
speakers from a variety of sources.
How many times do candidates hear each text?
You will hear each text twice.
How do candidates record their answers?
You must write all your answers on a separate answer sheet. You can write on the question
paper as you listen, but you must transfer answers to the answer sheet. Five minutes are
allocated at the end of the test for candidates to do this.
How many marks are given in the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Listening
test?
There are 30 questions in the Listening test and each question carries 1 mark. The total
score is then adjusted to give a mark out of 40.

CAE Listening Part 1

1. Quickly read the first line above the question to understand the context of the conversation you
are about to hear.
2. Use the preparation time to identify and underline the most important information in the question
stems (not the answers), then quickly read the answer choices.
3. Read the underlined information again before the conversation begins.

4. The questions may not be answered in order in the conversation, so concentrate on both
questions as you listen.
5. Select an answer (even if you are not sure) after you hear the recording the first time and then
confirm it or change it after the second time.

CAE Listening Part 2

1. Quickly read the introduction at the top of the page to familiarise yourself with the context of the
text.
2. Use your preparation time not just to read the text, but to guess what word or type of word will
fill each gap. Even general guesses like a place, a person, a length of time like 2 weeks or 4
months, a date, a title, a job, some sort of hobby, etc. will help you identify the answer when you
hear it.
3. The questions will be answered in order by the recording, always try to anticipate the next
question.
4. The text on the question sheet will be paraphrased in the recording, but the answers will be the
words actually used by the speaker.
5. Make sure your answers are gramatically correct in the context of the sentences on the
question sheet (Does this answer need to be plural? Does it need an article? What tense does
this verb have to be in?).

CAE Listening Part 3

1. Quickly read the task introduction to learn the context of the recording.
2. Read the question stems carefully (not the answers yet) and underline the most important
information. The recording will answer the questions in order, so it is important that you know
when the questions are being discussed.
3. Skim the answers as quickly as you can, but it is quite likely you wont have enough time to read
them carefully.
4. As you listen, identify the question you are waiting to answer and the part of the conversation
that contains the information you need.
5. Mark possible correct answers as you hear the recording for the first time then listen closely to
the relevant sections to confirm your answers the second time.

CAE Listening Part 4

1. Remember that there are two tasks you must complete as you listen to the recording. All five
speakers will be heard once before the recording is repeated.

2. Quickly read the introduction and the headings of the columns. Context is extremely important
in this part so you must clearly understand the situation and the nature of the two
tasks. Underline the important expressions in the headings for tasks one and two.
3. As you read through the possible answers,dont focus on those words but try to think of words
or expressions which are related to the ones in the columns. It is highly unlikely that you will
hear the exact words that are written on the question sheet in the recording. So you should try
to think of how those words might be described.
4. Dont be afraid to choose more than one possible answer as you listen to the speakers the first
time. Decide between them as you listen again.

Copying your answers to the answer sheet

1. Answer every question! No answer gets the same score as an incorrect answer, but with
multiple choice questions you can sometimes guess correctly.
2. Be careful in Part 2 to check your answers for correct grammar. If your answers are not
gramatically correct or are misspelled, they will be marked wrong. Dont lose points because
you are in a hurry. This is the last part of the test, you can relax once the answer sheets are
collected.

Speaking
DOs and DONTs
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.
Remember the instructions and focus on the task set.
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.

DONT
Dont panic if you cannot remember, or do not know, a particular word. Just keep
going and paraphrase instead.
Dont merely describe the visuals.
Dont speak during your partners long turn.
Dont let your partner always take the lead. You also must initiate at times.
Dont waste your opportunities to show the examiners what you can do.
Dont speak too quietly. Remember, the examiners need to hear what you are
saying.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

My speaking is much weaker than my writing. Do I have to pass the Speaking test to
pass the exam?
No. The final mark on which the grade is awarded is based on the combined score of all of
the papers. If you perform poorly on one paper, you can compensate by performing well on
the other papers.
Can I be examined by my own teacher?
No. Examiners go through a rigorous process of training and are not allowed to examine
their own students or anybody they know socially.
Can I take the test alone?
No. The standard format is two candidates and two examiners. If at the end of the session
there is an odd number of candidates, the final group will be a three. Only in exceptional
circumstances can a person take the test by themselves.
Why are there two examiners?
Having two examiners ensures fairness as it allows for two independent assessments.
Each examiner has a different role. One examiner, the interlocutor, conducts the test and
gives a global assessment of your performance. The other, the assessor, does not take
part in the interaction, but focuses solely on listening to, and making an assessment of,
your oral proficiency.
What happens if the other candidate wont let me speak?
Examiners are trained to deal with such situations and to provide both of you with equal
opportunities to speak. They will ensure that neither of you is disadvantaged by the other.
There are also opportunities in the test for you to speak on your own.
What should I do if I do not understand the instructions?
You should ask the examiner to repeat the instructions. You will not be penalised for this.
The examiner will be happy to repeat instructions but, for reasons of fairness, they cannot
change the way in which they are worded.

Part 5: Speaking
The speaking test is a test of communication. You dont have to speak quickly, you dont have
to hurry your answers, and you dont have to worry about your accent. To get a good mark on
the speaking test you need to produce relevant, informative answers to the examiners
questions. It is very important that you listen carefully to the examiner and read any material
you are given carefully as well.
Test format and marking: two candidates take the speaking test together, in most cases the
candidates do not know each other. There are also two Cambridge representatives in the
exam, the interlocutor and the assessor. The interlocutor will ask questions and interact with
the candidates while the assessor will not interact or say anything, he or she will be giving
marks in the following categories:

Grammatical Resource: measures the range and accuracy of simple and complex grammatical
structures

Lexical Resource: measures the range and appropriacy of vocabulary

Discourse Management: measures the ability to logically connect phrases to form coherent and
relevant answers to the tasks

Pronunciation: measures the ability to form intelligible speech, includes stress and intonation as
well as individual sounds

Interactive Communication: measures the ability to take an active role in the development of
discussions by taking time to speak and also inviting others to speak
One final mark will be given by the interlocutor:

Global Achievement: measures the overall effectiveness in responding to the tasks in the
different sections of the speaking test

Parts of the CAE speaking test:

Part 1: Candidates will each be asked questions about themselves. Topics will be home, work,
school, hobbies, habits, interests and future plans.

Be relaxed and natural. Smile. Be the kind of person who is nice to have a conversation with!

Give honest answers even if you think they are not good. Your opinions and lifestyle are not
part of the marking criteria.

Dont give one-word answers! The examiner will not ask you follow-up questions.

Give complete answers. Because should be your favourite word in this part of the test.

Listen to your partner, you may be asked the same question and you dont want to repeat their
answer.
Part 2: Candidates will have to speak for one minute about two pictures. They will compare the
pictures and answer two questions about each one within the time limit. Candidates will also
have to answer a short question about their partners pictures

Time management is very important for this task. You must answer two questions about two
photographs in one minute,which is 15 seconds per answer, and you must compare the pictures
as you do this.

Choose which two of the three pictures you will talk about and tell the interlocutor which pictures
you will be talking about at the start of your turn.

Dont simply describe the pictures, this is not part of the task!

Answer the first question about the first picture. Give a good, complete response. Answer the
same question about the second picture, but connect the two answers with a simple
comparative word or phrase: and, but, while, whereas, although, on the other hand, compared
to, just like, or contrary to. Now repeat the process with the other question.

Pay attention as your partner completes their task and listen carefully to the question you are
asked about their pictures so you are able to give an original, informative and relevant answer
Part 3: Candidates have a task to complete together without any input from the interloctor. A
number of pictures related to a theme will be provided and candidates will have to discuss the
pictures, give their opinion, and make a decision about the pictures.

Turn your chair to face your partner. This will provide a physical reminder of what is important
in this task, which is to interact with your partner.

Start the task with a question about one of the pictures to your partner, you should be trying to
involve your partner and respond to what he or she is saying during this task.

Discuss all of the pictures before discussing the decision. You are not required to actually
agree about the decision. In fact, if you reach agreement before the time limit, it makes it
difficult to continue the discussion.

If your partner talks too much: you can still receive a good mark if you use appropriate
phrases to interrupt them. Can I make a point? Id just like to say Excuse me, but I have to
disagree

If your partner doesnt talk at all: you can still receive a good mark if you encourage them to
speak and give them time to answer.

Remember, this is an interactive task and you must demonstrate your awareness of how to
participate in a discussion
Part 4: The interlocutor will join in the discussion on the general theme of the pictures from part
3. The interlocutor will ask the candidates questions and encourage them to share their
opinions about the questions and each others answers.

Relax! The hard parts of the test are over, now you can just have a normal conversation with
the people sitting at the table with you.

Give your honest opinion and dont hesitate to react to what the other candidate says.

Dont dominate the conversation, the other candidate deserves a turn to speak as well.
The end of the test: The interlocutor will say, Thank you. That is the end of the test.

Thank the interlocutor and the assessor and leave.

Dont ask your score.

Dont say, Oh my god, Im so glad thats over!

Behave like you are at a job interview, go outside before you stop taking the test.

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