Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

CAE is an exam for advanced users of English. This exam is aimed at people who can use written and spoken English for most professional and social purposes. It is widely recognised for work or study purposes.

Is CAE for you?

Can you...

• use English in an effective way for business or study purposes?
• use English confidently and flexibly?
• produce well-structured, clear pieces of writing on complex issues?

If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then CAE is the right exam for you.

What will CAE do for you?

Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking CAE:

• a CAE certificate is valid for life, you never need to take the exam again
• CAE is truly international, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
• hundreds of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise CAE as a qualification in advanced English
• passing CAE gives you the confidence to take on the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
• CAE's 'Can Do' skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.

'For a diplomat, the English Language is an indispensable tool in everyday work. The CAE courses helped me to correct the mistakes I used to make in conversation, to improve my writing skills and to enrich my vocabulary. I am now looking forward to taking the following step: the Certificate of Proficiency in English.' CAE candidate

What will taking CAE help you do?

CAE is at Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. 'Can Do' statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language.

For example, at C1 level, typical users can be expected to:

• read quickly enough to cope with an academic course
• understand complex opinions
• produce clear, well structured and detailed pieces of writing
• express themselves well with a good degree of fluency
• use English flexibly for social, professional and academic purposes.

Your preparation for CAE will give you these kinds of practical language skills.

What does CAE involve?

CAE has five papers:

Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes

You will need to understand texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing 2 hours

You will have to show you can process information from different types of input to produce a number of different types of writing such as letters, articles, reports and reviews. The pieces of writing will be aimed at specific types of readers, each of about 250 words.

Use of English Paper 1 hour 30 minutes

Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening: 45 minutes

You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.

Speaking: 15 minutes

You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in groups of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.