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Cae Exam Format

CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXAM FORMAT

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Celina Tobarez
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62 views4 pages

Cae Exam Format

CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXAM FORMAT

Uploaded by

Celina Tobarez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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openbook What’s in the Reading and Use of English paper?

The C1 Advanced Reading and Use of English paper is in eight parts and has a mix of text types
and questions.
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Number of parts: 8
Number of questions: 56
Lengths of texts: 3,000–3,500 words to read in total.
Texts may be from: Newspapers and magazines, journals, books (fiction and non-fiction),
promotional and informational materials.
Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze)
What's in Part 1? A text in which there are some numbered gaps, each of which represents a
word or phrase. After the text there are four possible answers for each gap and you have to
choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). You need to practice vocabulary – idioms,
collocations, shades of meaning, phrasal verbs, fixed phrases to complete 8 gaps. Each correct
answer is worth 1 mark.
Part 2 (Open cloze)
What's in Part 2? A text in which there are some gaps, each of which represents one missing
word. You have to find the correct word for each of the 8 gaps. You need to practice grammar
and vocabulary. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
Part 3 (Word formation)
What's in Part 3? A text containing eight gaps. Each gap represents a word. At the end of the
line there is a ‘prompt’ word which you have to change in some way to complete the sentence
correctly.
Part 4 (Key word transformations)
What's in Part 4? Each question consists of a sentence followed by a ‘key’ word and a second
sentence with a gap in the middle. You have to use this key word to complete the second
sentence, in three to six words, so that it means the same as the first sentence. You need to
practice grammar, vocabulary and collocations. There are 6 sentences and you will be given up
to 2 marks for each correct answer.
Part 5 (Multiple choice)
What's in Part 5? A text with 6 multiple-choice questions. For each question, there are four
options and you have to choose A, B, C or D. You need to practice reading for detail, opinion,
tone, purpose, main idea, implication, attitude. 2 marks for each correct answer.
Part 6 (Cross-text multiple matching)
What's in Part 6? Four short texts with multiple-matching questions. You must read across all
of the texts to match a prompt to elements in the texts. You need to practice understanding
and comparing opinions and attitudes across texts. 2 marks for each correct answer.
Part 7 (Gapped text)
What's in Part 7? A single page of text with 6 numbered gaps which represent missing
paragraphs. After the text there are some paragraphs which are not in the right order. You
have to read the text and the paragraphs and decide which paragraph best fits each gap. You
need to practice how to understand the structure and development of a text. 2 marks for each
correct answer.
Part 8 (Multiple matching)
What's in Part 8? A series 10 of multiple-matching questions followed by a text or several
short texts. You have to match a prompt to elements in the text. You need to practice reading
for specific information, detail, opinion and attitude. 1 mark for each correct answer.
What’s in the Writing paper?
In the two parts of the C1 Advanced Writing paper, you have to show that you can write
different types of text in English.
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes Number of parts: 2
Number of questions: Part 1: one compulsory question
Part 2: one question from a choice of three
Task types: A range from: essay, letter/email, proposal, report, review.
Part 1 (Compulsory question)
What's in Part 1? You read a text, then write an essay based on points included in the text.
You’ll be asked to explain which of the two points is more important, and to give reasons for
your opinion.
What do I have to practise? Developing points as fully as possible in order to demonstrate a
range of structures, vocabulary and language functions, such as evaluating, expressing
opinions, hypothesising, justifying, persuading. 220–260 words.
Part 2 (Situationally based writing task)
What's in Part 2? You write a text from a choice of text types – letter/email, proposal, report
or review. To guide your writing, you’ll be given information about context, topic purpose and
target reader.
What do I have to practise? Writing the different types of text that could be included in the
exam. Three tasks, from which you must choose one. 220–260 words.
What’s in the Listening paper?
The C1 Advanced Listening paper has four parts. For each part you have to listen to a recorded
text or texts and answer some questions. You hear each recording twice.
Time allowed: About 40 minutes Number of parts: 4 Number of questions: 30
Recordings may be from: Monologues: radio broadcasts, speeches, talks, lectures, anecdotes,
etc.; or interacting speakers: radio broadcasts, interviews, discussions, conversations, etc.
Part 1 (Multiple choice)
Three short extracts from conversations between interacting speakers. There are two multiple-
choice questions for each extract and you have to choose A, B or C. You should practice
listening for feeling, attitude, opinion, purpose, function, agreement, course of action, gist,
detail, etc. 1 mark for each correct answer.
Part 2 (Sentence completion)
A monologue lasting approximately 3 minutes. You have to complete the sentences on the
question paper with the missing information which you hear on the recording. You need to
practice listening for specific information, stated opinion. There are 8 questions and each is
worth 1 mark.
Part 3 (Multiple choice)
A conversation between two or more speakers of approximately 4 minutes. You have to answer
6 multiple-choice questions by choosing the correct answer from four options (A, B C or D). You
need to practice listening for attitude, opinion, agreement, gist, feeling, speaker purpose,
function and detail. 1 mark for each correct answer.
Part 4 (Multiple matching)
A series of five themed monologues of approximately 30 seconds each. On the question paper,
there are two tasks and for each task you have to match each of the five speakers to one of
eight possible answers. You need to practice listening for gist, attitude, opinion, main points,
speaker purpose and feeling; interpreting context. 1 mark for each correct answer.

What’s in the Speaking paper?


The C1 Advanced Speaking test has four parts and you take it together with another candidate.
There are two examiners. One of the examiners conducts the test (asks you questions, gives
you the paper with things to talk about, and so on). The other examiner listens to what you say
and takes notes.
Time allowed: 15 minutes per pair of candidates Number of parts: 4
You have to talk: with the examiner- with the other candidate- on your own
Part 1 (Interview)
Conversation between the candidates and the interlocutor. The examiner asks questions and
you may have to give information about your interests, studies, careers, etc. What do I have to
practise? Giving information about yourself and expressing your opinion about various
topics. How long do we have to speak? 2 minutes
Part 2 (Long turn)
The interlocutor gives you three pictures and asks you to talk about two of 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. The
questions you have to answer about your photographs are written at the top of the page to
remind you what you should talk about.
What do I have to practise? Talking on your own about something: comparing, describing,
expressing opinions, speculating. How long do we have to speak? 1 minute per candidate,
plus a 30-second response from the second candidate.
Part 3 (Collaborative task)
Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner gives you spoken instructions with
written prompts which are used in a discussion. You have to talk with the other candidate for
about 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of three) about the written prompts. After the discussion
time, the examiner will ask you another question which requires you to make a decision. You
have 1 minute to talk together and make the decision (2 minutes for groups of three). What do
I have to practise? Exchanging ideas, expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or
disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating, reaching a decision through negotiation, etc.
How long do we have to speak? 3 minutes (a 2-minute discussion followed by a 1-minute
decision-making task)
Part 4 (Discussion)
Further discussion with the other candidate based on the topics or issues raised in the task in
Part 3. The interlocutor asks each of you some questions and you discuss them with the other
candidate. What do I have to practise? Expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or
disagreeing. How long do we have to speak? 5 minutes

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