essay tips for cae

• How to write a C1 Advanced Essay

• Posted on 26/02/2020
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: C1 Advanced , Cambridge Exams , Writing

The Cambridge C1 Advanced is an excellent qualification to aim for if you’re thinking of studying or working abroad. It’s recognised by universities and governments all over the world and also helps you prove your language skills to future employers.

One of the most demanding parts of the exam is Part 1 of the Writing paper, which includes writing an essay. For many of you, this won’t come naturally… especially in another language.

So, to give you the best chance at success, we’ve created this in-depth guide full of Cambridge C1 Advanced Writing tips and useful language to get you producing excellent essays in no time.

So, pick up your pen, and let’s get started!

If you’d like to get more help with the C1 Advanced, consider our exam preparation class!

C1 Advanced Writing Requirements

The C1 Advanced Writing exam has two writing parts, which you must complete in 90 minutes. Both parts have a word limit of between 220-260 words. We recommend getting lots of writing practice under these conditions!

Part 1 is always a discursive essay . It requires you to think about arguments for and against a topic.

Part 2 is a situationally based writing task. This could be a letter , an email , a report , a proposal or a review and you have three options to choose from.

Today, we’ll be looking at how to do your best in part 1.

Before you begin

When you turn over the paper and begin Writing Part 1, take some time to read the task instructions. Identify all parts of the question, underlining which parts are obligatory and noting which parts are optional.

Let’s take a look at an example question!

Remember, you don’t have to use the opinions expressed in the box, but they may help you to get the ball rolling . Also, you only have to talk about two of the options given, not all three.

Make a plan

Take ten minutes to lay out your ideas. Make a pros and cons list for each of the three options and then decide which two you feel most confident with. Here’s some things you might come up with, can you think of any more?

Structure your essay

The essence of a good essay is a clear structure.

Introduction

Here you want to introduce the topic in your own words. Your first line should also grab the reader’s attention, then you should paraphrase the question. Finally, try using a statistic or a rhetorical question. This will make them want to read on, right?

Paragraph 1

Discuss the first option you’ve chosen. Include a good topic sentence and remember to give reasons for your answer. Describe some of the advantages, and even some of the disadvantages too. This will give a well-balanced argument.

Paragraph 2

Here’s where you introduce the second option. Again, try to present both sides of the argument and give reasons for your ideas. Gradually work towards the conclusion.

State your final opinion. This should be a summary of the rest of the essay and point clearly to which option you think is the most important. Do not introduce any new arguments at this stage. The conclusion is where you tie-up any loose ends .

This is an advanced piece of writing, so make sure your choice of language reflects it. You will get marked for accuracy, however, occasional errors can still be present as long as they do not impede understanding. So don’t play it too safe . This is your opportunity to show what you can do, so take some risks and have fun with it!

In the writing paper you should use a range of vocabulary, including less common lexis. Brainstorm some vocabulary related to the topic. Take your time to think of nouns and compound nouns that you know at C1 level. Really let your vocabulary sparkle .

No one likes a broken record . Find synonyms for simple words. You want to use a variety of language, and try not to repeat yourself too much. Check out these different ways of saying the same thing:

advantage = benefit, positive, upside

disadvantage = downside, drawback

effect = influence, impact, result, outcome

problem = issue, challenge, difficulty, obstacle, setback, complication

important = valuable, essential, beneficial

expensive = costly, dear, high-priced, extortionate

cheap = inexpensive, affordable, economical

big = great, large, sizeable, considerable, wide, vast

small = slight, tiny, little

Quick tip: Visit Thesaurus.com to study more synonyms!

Experiment with different grammatical forms. At this level you’re expected to have a good grasp on the grammar. You should use a range of simple and complex grammatical forms with control and flexibility. So challenge yourself with some of these…

• Participle clauses
• Conditionals
• Modal verbs
• Passive with reporting verbs
• Cleft sentences
• Comparatives
• Relative clauses

Useful expressions

To make your essay flow it’s best to use some key phrases. These will link all your ideas together, and help it sound semi-formal. Take a look at the expressions below. Why not use some in your next essay?

Introduction:

It is often said that…

Many people feel that…

We live in an age when..

More and more…

Introducing & Addition:

Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

On the one hand…

In addition…

What is more…

For example…

For instance…

As a case in point…

Contrasting:

In contrast…

On the other hand…

Alternatively…

However…

Conclusion:

All things considered…

As far as I’m concerned…

In light of the above…

What the examiners are looking for

When writing your essay, bear in mind what you’ll be marked on:

Have you answered all parts of the question? Is everything relevant to the question?

Communicative Achievement

Is the style and tone appropriate? Remember it should be semi-formal and neutral.

Organisation

Does it follow a logical order? Have you used paragraphs and linking devices?

Are you using a variety of grammar and vocabulary? Is it accurate?

Now your masterpiece has come together. Remember to take time to check your work. Here’s the official Writing Checklist from Cambridge Assessment English . And our list of the most common mistakes:

• subject + verb agreement
• singulars / plurals
• question formation
• variety of tenses
• dependent prepositions

Some final tips

Avoid contractions (I’m, they’re, we’re) as this is a formal writing.

Don’t use first person pronouns (I, my, our, us).

Practise under timed conditions.

Use model answers to practise fixed expressions.

——

Looking for more help with your Cambridge C1 Advanced exam? Here are our other guides from our blog:

C1 Advanced Reading and Use of English – Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3

And if you are not sure if you’re ready for the C1 Advanced, check out our article Am I ready for the C1 Advanced exam? to find out!

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Get the ball rolling (exp) : to start something.

Lay out (v): to explain something in detail.

Paraphrase (v): to say the same thing in a different way.

Tie-up any loose ends (exp): to resolve issues.

Play it safe (exp): to act cautiously.

A broken record (exp): when someone repeats themself.

Sparkle (v) : to shine.

Good grasp (exp): a good knowledge.

Bear in mind (exp) : to consider.

Masterpiece (n): an incredible work of art.

exp = expression

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How to Write an Essay for C1 Advanced (CAE)

Luis @ kse academy.

• diciembre 21, 2022

As I’m sure you already know, Cambridge exams have several papers (Reading, Writing, Use of English, Speaking and Listening), and each of these components is divided into different parts. In this post, I want to focus on Writing Part 1 of the C1 Advanced, that is, how to write an Essay for the CAE . Because, remember, C1 Writing Part 1 will always be an essay 🙂 

Sample C1 Essay

New C1 Writing Guide out now!

• 3 examples of every task type
• Essay, Review, Formal and Informal Email and Letter, Report & Proposal
• 500+ useful phrases ready to use in your writings
• 95 pages of exclusive and original writing content
• Description of the C1 Writing paper
• Detailed description of each part of the Writing paper
• Assessment criteria and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

See sample or Buy on Amazon

What are the parts of the C1 Advanced Writing?

The C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing, as we have already seen in another article, has 2 parts , and for each one you will have to write a text according to the exercise instructions. What you should know is that there is a limited range of text types that you may be asked to write in each part, so let’s see: 

• Writing Part 1: In this part you will always have to write an essay, and you will have no other options to choose from. That’s why it is really important that you pay attention to this article and learn how to write an essay for C1 Advanced to the best of your ability. 
• Formal letter/email
• Informal letter/email
• Review 
• Proposal 

Each writing task you do should be between 220 and 260 words long, approximately, and, as they are different types of writing, you should take into account the peculiarities of each one in terms of structure, register, grammar and vocabulary, etc. 

So let’s start with the one that concerns us in this article: Essays! 

What is an essay ?

An Essay is a text of opinion in which we analyse a topic, a situation or a problem from different points of view or by considering several points or solutions to the problem. In each of the paragraphs, we deal with each point and express different facts, considerations and opinions. 

Now that we know what an essay is, let’s look at how to write an essay and its characteristics. 

How to Write an Essay for CAE Writing

Here are the main characteristics of a C1-level essay so that you can keep them in mind when writing: 

• Purpose: With an essay, what we do is evaluate a topic, situation or problem that is of some interest or controversy (e.g. teenage mobile phone use ). Often, the Writing activity is set as a task that takes place after a class debate. In an exam, you will have to imagine the debate for yourself (duh!).
• Tone and register: As it is a text on a serious or controversial topic, the Essay is always written in a formal context, so we must use an objective tone. Furthermore, the linguistic register should always be formal, avoiding common words such as things , stuff , get , etc.; contractions ( can’t , don’t , won’t , etc.); or expressions that may sound informal. 
• Structure: Like all writing tasks, an essay has a fairly well-defined structure, although it is not 100% fixed and immovable. To begin with, we can choose to give it a title or not, but, personally, I find it more appropriate to write an Essay with a title. Have you ever seen a text published without a title? Probably not.  As for the body of the essay, it should be divided into the following paragraphs: introduction, point 1, point 2 and conclusion. In other words, in general, a Cambridge C1 Essay should have 4-5 paragraphs.
• Opinion: This is where we have the most leeway when writing an essay for C1. There are many ways of expressing your opinion in an Essay, so you should choose the one that best suits your Writing approach. What I usually recommend, however, is that you remain impartial throughout the whole text and only express your opinion at the end, in the last paragraph, as a conclusion. As always, the most important thing is that you justify everything you say in your writing and that your conclusion answers the main question of the assignment.
• Coherence and progression: Coherence is essential in all Writings, but especially in the essay. As it is a supporting and argumentative text, you cannot write unconnected sentences and paragraphs; the ideas must follow a logical and well-connected order, using connectors appropriate to C1 level, in this case. Furthermore, the reader must perceive a logical progression of paragraphs, without losing the thread of what you are trying to argue. Otherwise, when they get to the last paragraph, they won’t know what you are talking about and our writing will have failed catastrophically. 

CAE Writing Essay Example

Now that we are familiar with the main features of an essay for Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Writing, let’s look at a sample essay at C1 level, both the sample instructions and a possible answer.

C1 Essay Instructions

In the picture below you can see an example from the Cambridge website. 

From these instructions, we must always extract the essentials: 

• Topic: facilities which should receive money from local authorities
• sports centres
• public gardens
• «Museums aren’t popular with everybody!»
• «Sports centres mean healthier people.»
• «A town needs green spaces – parks are great for everybody.»
• Address only 2 of the 3 points given. 
• Answer and justify the main question (« to which facility is it most important that local authorities give money «).
• Justify your answer (« giving reasons in support of your answer «)
• Use your own words (« use your own words as far as possible «)

According to the task model outlined above, we can approach out writing with the following structure: 

• Introduction
• Point 1 (museums)
• Point 2 (sports centres)

Although it is not set in stone, you will normally get 4 paragraphs. So now let’s look at an example Essay for CAE Writing: 

At first glance, we can see that this Essay for C1 has an introductory title and 4 paragraphs ( introduction , museums , sports , conclusion ). In addition, if we read the text carefully, we can see the following aspects: 

• Title: The title perfectly summarises for the reader the topic to be covered in the text. Sometimes, a title in the form of a question such as « Which facilities should receive funding from local authorities? » can be a good idea, although I always prefer more concise titles.
• Introduction : introduces the topic and mentions the two options we are going to discuss in the following paragraphs. 
• Museums : Discusses the benefits of museums and the benefits of investing money in them. 
• Sports centres : Discusses the benefits of sports centres and the consequences of investing money in them. 
• Conclusion : In a very clear way, museums are seen as the ones that should receive the investment for certain reasons that are well justified. 
• Connectors: Connectors are used that clearly define the coherence and progression of the text.: on the one/other hand, in addition, ultimately, however, while, etc. 
• We do not use contractions or catch-all words.
• When it comes to
• comes to mind
• valuable cultural resource
• heritage 
• generating income
• engage in physical activity
• positive outlet for energy
• Grammar is also advanced (E.g.: Not only can…, but they also… )

In short, this is a good example of an Essay for CAE Writing. It should be noted, however, that this writing is written to simulate a strong C1 level, perhaps without necessarily going into a C2 level.

Will I be penalised if I write less than 220 or more than 260 words?

This is the most typical question in this part of the exam and the answer is: yes and no. Let me explain. The assessors won’t count the words and penalise you according to the number of words only. There is a rumour going around among students and teachers that for every 10 words they take away X points, but this is not true. However, if you have gone over 260 words by 50 or 100 words, or more, there is probably some content that is not relevant to the assignment, and that is penalised. Likewise, if you write less than 220 words, you are probably missing important information or you are not covering it in the detail required by the task instructions.

For this reason, I always recommend going over 20 words at most. That way you won’t lose points if your assignment covers the required topics and points. 🙂

The best guide for C1 Advanced Writing with examples and useful expressions

Although I will be publishing more articles explaining how to do each type of task for C1 Advanced, the best thing you can do to get plenty of information and practice is to buy the official KSE Academy guide to CAE Writing. In this guide you will find the following:

I hope you found this post useful. If you did, don’t forget to share with your friends and family. 🙂

I’ll see you in the next post. Until then, don’t forget to keep smiling! 

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Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE): How to Write an Essay

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Introduction.

An essay in the C1 Advanced Writing paper is usually written for an academic tutor and may be written as a follow-up to a class activity, such as attending a seminar or watching a documentary. The main purpose of the task is to underline relevant salient issues on the stated topic, and to support an argument with subsidiary points and reasons. An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development and an appropriate conclusion. It should hold the target reader’s attention and communicate complex ideas using an appropriate range of vocabulary and structures. Source: Cambridge English C1 Advanced handbook for teachers

Essays are part of the first section of the CAE Writing paper. The task is mandatory, which means that you always have to write an essay unlike the other texts ( emails/letter , proposals , reviews , reports ) where you can choose which one you would like to tackle in the exam.

Essay writing is not that difficult…

Long story short, in this article I’m going to take you by the hand and guide you through all the different aspects of essay writing. We’re going to see what a typical essay task looks like, the structure and language and, of course, common problems and mistakes you should avoid on your way to mastering essays.

What a typical essay task looks like

Apart from that, you are also gifted a few ideas in the smaller of the two boxes . You can use these in your essay (You don’t have to.), but make sure that you don’t just copy them word for word. Instead, paraphrase them and make them your own, or simply come up with your own ideas.

Formal or informal language in an essay?

I’ll keep this short for you because this works in every single task: Keep your language formal , which means no contractions ( I’m , don’t , etc.), no colloquial expressions ( Hey, what’s up? , I liked it heaps ., etc.), and no slang or phrasal verbs that convey informality ( I’m bursting vs. I have had enough to eat; carry on vs. continue).

How to organise your essay

Plan before you start writing.

It took me 4 minutes to create this plan. I used the idea from the task for sports centres (“Sports centrs mean healthier people.”), but I paraphrased it (public health) while the idea for public parks seems too vague for me so I left it out. Remember that it is optional to include these thoughts in your essay. if you feel that you have better ones, go for it.

The different parts of an essay

In recent years, public funding for local facilities has become more problematic for many towns, which has become more obvious to me after listening to a panel on the financial needs of several different local facilities like sports centres and public parks. As these places battle for funds, the main question is which ones deserve the money more.

Let’s have a closer look at this intro. At the beginning the whole issue is put into the context of the financial problems many local authorities have experienced. Sports centres and public parks as our two topic points are included as well and, last but not least, a question is asked to create a little more interest in the reader.

It is widely known that sports centres provide many different benefits to the local community. Someone on the panel mentioned that, from a public-health standpoint, it is crucial to offer opportunities to exercise in order to keep everyone healthy physically as well as mentally due to the social character of sports. In addition to that, exercise comes in many different shapes and forms, from team sports to individual activities like swimming, so there is something for everyone to enjoy in a dedicated group of people. While green spaces in a town or city have their own benefits, it can be difficult to maintain such large areas in order to keep parks pleasant and inviting to everyone. Nevertheless, considered by many as the green lung of a city their use as a refuge from hectic city life cannot be debated, and groups of people as well as individuals can be seen following their favourite pastime or socialising with others, which makes the discussion about allocating funds even more difficult.

Last but not least, both parts are balanced in terms of their length, but I don’t want you to think that they have to be perfectly equal. If there is good reason to give one part a little bit more attention over the other, that’s fine. For example, you can say in your essay that one of the ideas is more complex than the other, which tells the examiner that you actually thought about this instead of just having messed up your text. Be clear about it and think it through before you even start writing.

Taking into account all the positions from above I come to the conclusion that funding should be allocated to both facilities as they provide essential resources to the local community. However, due to their more social character and possibly greater public health benefits I would give more funds to sports centres.

Time to start practising

Similar posts, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): reading and use of english part 8, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): how to write a review, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): how to write a proposal, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): reading and use of english part 3, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): reading and use of english part 5, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): reading and use of english part 6.

Breakout English

Advanced (CAE) Essay Questions and Sample Answers

The Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) essay is a formal, academic writing. You’ll find it in Part 1 of the CAE writing exam and, just like at other levels, Part 1 is mandatory. That means whether you like it or not, you’ll be writing an essay for your C1 Cambridge exam. Considering that, it’s probably a good idea to practise. The good news is, the CAE essay can be quite formulaic. Once you’ve done it a few times, you’ll notice the structure and style are always pretty similar. Before you know it, you’ll be writing them in your sleep! In this post, you’ll find some useful CAE writing tips and three essay questions with sample answers.

If you’re looking for a complete overview of the CAE writing exam, with CAE writing tips and much more, check out Advanced Writing Plus , our complete self-study course.

Topics for Advanced (CAE) essay questions

At C1 level, you are expected to be able to write about pretty much any topic you can imagine. However, CAE essay topics are generally going to be quite formal. You’re not going to be asked about your plans for the weekend!

These are some of the topics which are most likely to come up in an Advanced essay question:

• Environmental issues
• Public projects
• Science and nature
• Global issues

Make sure you’ve looked into these topics and studied relevant vocabulary. You can also read different articles and listen to radio broadcasts (or podcasts) related to the topics. Don’t forget to note down important vocabulary so you can remember it for your writings!

C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay Tips

You’ve probably got plenty of experience writing in English if you’ve reached a C1 level. Students who prepare for this exam often need their skills focused in the right way rather than being taught brand new ideas.

Here are my top tips for preparing the CAE essay task.

• Don’t do anything too strange – The essay question is likely to be on quite an interesting topic. It could even be on something you feel strongly about or specialise in. But be careful! When essays start to ramble too much or go too far, they lose their strength. This essay isn’t going to change the world, so don’t go overboard!
• Use advanced language – Remember that to get top points, you must use advanced structures in your writing. Take some time to practise inversion, cleft sentences and participle clauses, then use them in your essay.
• Don’t be stingy with linking words – Linking words (and expressions) are the glue of a writing. Without them, everything falls apart. This doesn’t mean you have to use ridiculous uncommon linking words, but you should use them frequently, probably more than you expect. Take a look at our post about linking words for some ideas.
• Be stylish! – An essay needs to read like an essay, just like a report needs to read like a report. This means it is a formal, academic text. Formal means no contractions, few phrasal verbs, complex sentences and an impersonal style. The essay needs to include your opinion, so you need to express that opinion through style and substance, supported by facts.
• Focus on argument and coherence – To score high in the CAE essay, it’s important to have a clear argument and structure. Plan your essay and stick to the plan, making sure each paragraph has a clear purpose. Ensure that your points are logically connected and that your writing is coherent.
• Use a variety of sentence types – Varying sentence types and lengths keep the reader engaged and demonstrate your writing skills. Mix simple and complex sentences to add interest to your writing.
• Check your writing! – Proofreading is critical for writing a top-scoring CAE essay. Check for grammatical and spelling errors and make sure the writing flows well. Also, don’t forget to check your writing style and tone to make sure you sound professional and academic.
• Practice, practice, practice – Finally, practise writing essays under timed conditions. This will help you to improve your time management and build confidence for the actual exam.

The materials

Here are three Advanced (CAE) essay questions. They each use different CAE essay topics. Use them to practise and improve in preparation for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam. After completing your own essay, check the example answer and compare.

• B1 Preliminary (PET)
• B2 First (FCE)
• C1 Advanced (CAE)
• C2 Proficient (CPE)

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Write an  essay  discussing only two points . You should explain which point is more important , giving reasons in support of your answer.

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Exam English ✓

• C1 Advanced (CAE)
• Reading / Use of English
• Cambridge exams

Free Practice Tests for learners of English

Cambridge english: c1 advanced (cae) writing.

Difficulty level : C1 / advanced What is the Advanced (CAE) Writing test like? The test has two sections and takes 90 minutes:

• 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. 220–260 words.
• 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 . 220–260 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.

CAE Writing tests

• Writing part 1 (essay)
• Writing part 2 (email)
• Writing part 2 (brochure)
• Writing part 2 (letter of application)
• Writing part 2 (review)
• Writing part 2 (letter to a newspaper)

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CAE Writing

Writing will be the second part of your Certificate in Advanced English exam. CAE Writing is 90 minutes long and it consists of two separate tasks:

In CAE Writing Part 1 you have to read three points on a topic and then write an essay based on two of them. In your answer you have to point out which of the two points are more important. Your essay has to be 220-260 words long.

For CAE Writing Part 2 you get three different assignments to choose from. There are four possible types of assignments: a proposal, a review, a report and a letter. Again, it must be 220-260 words long.

CAE Writing Assessment Criteria Writing Part 1 Writing Part 2 — Review — Report — Letter — Proposal

You might want to read advice on  basics of essay composition before moving to the exam tasks.

CAE Writing Assessment Criteria

Your Writing score depends on four different aspects:

• Content.  How well you is your writing at achieving the task. Have you developed all the points required by the task?
• Communicative Achievement.  How appropriate is your writing in terms of style. Have you used the right register ( formal or informal )? Does your writing fill the style requirements of your text type (report, review, essay, letter)? Do you understand the purpose of the text you’re writing?
• Organisation. How logically you structure your text (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion). How well you connect your ideas in the text ( cohesion ).
• Language. Your grammar and vocabulary. How diverse is your choice of grammar structure?  Is the vocabulary you use fairly varied? Do you make any mistakes in both and how much do they affect understanding the idea you convey?

Writing Part 1

We will use an example task as an illustration:

You have watched a TV programme about scholarship and who should get in in your country. You have made the following notes:

Who should receive scholarship?

• People with exceptional academic performance
• Foreign exchange students
• Members of low-income families

Some of the opinions expressed in the programme:

“Students have to earn their right for free education.” “Children of parents with low income are usually more diligent learners.” “Students from abroad should feel welcomed in our country.”

You should write an essay for your tutor discussing two groups of people that should get scholarship. You are free to use any of the opinions from the programme if you like, but you should use your own words whenever possible.

Your introductory paragraph should state the topic of your essay and its purpose. It is recommended to make it clear which two points (out of three) you will be writing about. Alternatively you may choose to state that in the first sentence of each body paragraph. It is possible to use both approaches together — then you will have to make sure to paraphrase these statements. Avoid making your introduction too long — 3-5 sentences is an optimal length for your opening paragraph.

Body paragraphs are the tools which you use to deliver the key message of your essay. As you will be writing about two different points it is natural to dedicate one paragraph to each point. You are advised to keep body paragraphs approximately the same size — both points should be developed equally well. Some of the tasks require you to choose which of the two aspects is more important, and to state the reason for it being more important. In that case it is acceptable to make one of the paragraphs slightly bigger. This can be done both in the body paragraph and conclusion.

Your conclusion is commonly the shortest of all paragraphs. Most students tend to write a slightly paraphrased version of ideas already mentioned in introduction or body paragraphs. This is a valid technique and there is nothing wrong about it. It is especially useful when you have exhausted the topic and therefore you have nothing else to contribute to the text. Another possible approach is to introduce extra ideas as shown in the example essay below.

CAE Writing Part 1 Sample Essay

Tuition fees have never been low — on the contrary, only the chosen few can comfortably afford paying their studying costs. To participate in a scholarship programme has always been every student’s aspiration. Not only does the scholarship spare serious expenses, it also looks good on one’s CV. In the paragraphs below I will explain my opinion on why members of poor families and students with outstanding marks should be getting preferences for scholarship programme participation. Young people from families with insufficient means are generally unable to to pay for their education. Conversely, children of financially-sound households are more likely to get into scholarship, as they usually have much better secondary education — not to mention their parents being well able to cover tuition fees. These facts eventually lead to further widening of the wealth gap between the rich and the poor, entailing a number of social and economic issues. Such opportunity inequality could be mitigated by lowering the scholarship requirements for the less wealthy. Prospective students with impressive academic records should not be discouraged from continuing their education by charging for it. Considering their mental aptitude and zeal, these young people are very likely to become highly-qualified professionals, potentially making an appreciable contribution to society. Therefore they ought to be eligible for scholarship participation even if they do not meet other, non-academic requirements. Provision of scholarship grants is not an easy task. The decision-making system should be fair and impartial, ensuring that only the most worthy and needy have their academic expenses taken care of by the government. It is only then we can ensure that the programme serves its initial purpose. (272 words)

Writing Part 2

The second part of CAE Writing gives you a choice of three different tasks to choose from. It is recommended to practice at least two out of four possible tasks (Review, Report, Letter and Proposal).

Your paper should be between 220-260 words long. Going over the limit is not penalized, but potentially leads to more mistakes. However if your text is under 220 you will have points deducted from your overall score.

CAE Review is about providing details on the task subject, giving your opinion and recommending (or not recommending) to see/watch/read it. Your review can be on a variety of things such as books, movies, plays, events and much more.

Your writing can be either formal or informal . It is clear from the task which register you are supposed to use. Whichever you use, you should be consistent and stick to one register throughout the whole essay.

Suggested CAE Review Structure

Use the introductory paragraph to name what you are going to be reviewing, state its genre (i.e. a science fiction novel, a horror movie, a vaudeville performance and so on). It is possible to write about author’s other notable works if there are any. To make your introduction more engaging, you may briefly state your general impression on it. Make your introduction at least three sentences long.

Your first body paragraph should give a short summary of the reviewed material. Give a brief overview — plot, setting, actors, general idea. Avoid giving your opinion in this paragraph — you will do this in the following passages.

Second and third body paragraphs can be used to describe good and bad points respectively. Unlike CAE Writing Part 1 your paragraphs don’t have to be of same length — if you liked the described thing then your paragraph with good points will be naturally bigger than the other one. In the negative points paragraph you can name things that could be changed to improve the quality of the product.

Conclusion will contain your general impression and your verdict. Use this paragraph to sum up the good and bad points to make an objective assessment of the reviewed material. You may then recommend or dissuade your readers from seeing/attending it.

An example CAE Review task to illustrate these points:

CAE Writing Part 2 Review Sample

The title I am going to review is a rare example when the movie manages to trump the book it is based on. Today I am reviewing Fight Club by an infamous American novelist Charles Palahniuk — his most widely-known, universally acclaimed work. It is a daunting task to find a person unfamiliar with the movie. The plot engages you from the very start — a young professional finds his apartment destroyed by an explosion of unknown origin. Agitated, he phones his newfound acquaintance Tyler whom he had met on the plane. They see each other at a bar and the story becomes increasingly complex, yet pleasantly effortless to follow. Through its narrative a number of problems are tackled – self-identity, peer pressure, middle-life crises and some other. The characters are likeable and easy to relate to. Both acting and directing are superb. But what makes it better than the book? The only objective fault I could find in the book was the order of events. It goes back and forth, which at times proves to be confusing. The movie manages the sequencing much better. Other than that the book is brilliant — vigorous prose that manages to evoke strong images. The movie however is so good that the book tends to slightly fade in all its glory. People tend to read the book after seeing the adaptation, thus coming with high expectations that can be hard to meet. To sum this up, I would recommend reading the book nonetheless. It may seem inferior in some respects, but it does help to understand the main theme of “Fight Club” better. (266 words)

CAE Review tips

• The task clearly stated that you will be writing to your tutor, which implies use of formal register.
• As you write review you will inevitably use words meaning “good, bad, very” and so forth. It is important to know as many synonyms to very and other general words .
• To get more idea of what a review should look like check some user reviews: For movies go to www.imdb.com and click on any movie. Then scroll down to see the user reviews. Click to see the full list of reviews like this one. Please note that these reviews do not follow the required CAE Review format — they are to give you some ideas and vocabulary examples. For book reviews try  www.goodreads.com . Just like the previous site you have to choose a book and read other people’s thoughts on it. The top-rated  reviews are at the top of the main page.

CAE Report task is giving your opinion on a subject or assessment of a situation. The difference between CAE Review and Report tasks is that your report should be as objective as possible. Another important difference is that CAE Report should have clear headings for each paragraph.

CAE Report has to be written in formal English. Check this page on formal vocabulary to avoid making any mistakes or inconsistencies.

Suggested CAE Report structure

In your introductory paragraph you state the subject your report will be about. It is usually done by paraphrasing the information you are given in the task (see example report below). You may also state the main points of your report to make it easier for your reader to navigate through it.

As it was mentioned before, each of your paragraphs should have a separate heading. For body paragraphs each heading will be an aspect of the thing your report is about. For example, if your report is on a local school, your headings could be:

• Staff . This paragraph will be about the school’s teachers and other personnel
• Classrooms . Description of school premises and facilities
• Curriculum . How the teaching process is organised.

The names of your headings don’t have to be that straightforward — you can show some creativity there. Make sure that the meaning of your headings is clear — your reader should understand the content of the paragraph from the heading.

Your conclusion sums up the points mentioned above and provides a general assessment. You can voice your recommendations and suggestions if the task says you to do so.

To help you structure your report you can write out possible headings. A properly structured text is much easier to write and more pleasant to follow. Use your draft paper to write up an outline plan, but do not spend too much time on it — 2-4 minutes are usually enough to come up with a solid heading structure.

CAE Writing Part 2 Report Sample

You have completed your internship at a big company. As a part of your job placement programme you should write a report to your employment counsellor. In your report you should describe the company you worked at, the problems you encountered and propose any additional training you feel is necessary.

Introduction For the past three months I had been working for Escom Limited, the biggest law firm in our town. I have participated in real working environment, gained new skills and made acquaintances with people from the industry. In this report I will sum up my experience in this company. Escom Structure The company has a well-defined tier system. Being an intern I started at the first tier with everybody except other interns being my superiors. To get used to this strict hierarchy proved to be a serious challenge but eventually I adapted to it. Such system has its merits — as you move up the ranks you get access to more documents, legal tools and get to interact with senior staff. Even though the system has its downsides it is nevertheless very effective and efficient. The Challenges As an intern I had to perform a wide array of tasks. I had to interact with the company’s clients, fill in various forms, go through tomes of legal data and sort the mail. Unfortunately some of them had no relation to my field of study whatsoever — oftentimes I would get asked to bring in some take-away food or fix a malfunctioning computer. Some of the tasks proved to be too daunting for me, but overall I think I did just fine. Improving Myself Having completed my internship I could finally see my professional shortcomings. There are many things to improve on — first and foremost I have to work on my social skills. I found it difficult to talk to clients that I see for the first time and it is a must to make them feel comfortable. I should also study up on the recent law amendments — at times I found myself unaware of the latest developments in legal proceedings. Conclusion I have thoroughly enjoyed my brief stay with the company. Even though the system has its downsides it is nevertheless very effective and efficient. (274 words)

CAE Letter/E-mail

This type of task presents a certain situation that you have to write a reply to. CAE Letter is one of the more diverse type of tasks, as it can vary greatly in content of the letter as well as the required style and register. For example, a letter to your friend is going to be rather informal and its content will be narrative. Conversely, a letter to a manager of a restaurant should stay stylistically formal as well as factual.

Narrative or factual?

The terms “narrative” and “factual” can be a bit confusing – after all, when we talk or write about something, we tell a story (we narrate) and we include facts. That is true indeed, and both styles include elements of one another. In fact, they overlap considerably. However, there is a difference.

Narrative style (Informal letters/e-mails)

Narrative style focuses on the subjective aspect of your writing. It is about making your writing piece more emotionally engaging. It is more appropriate when you want to make the reader interested in what you are writing.

You can use a number of devices to engage your reader. The two most used ones in informal types of CAE Writing are exclamation and question marks. The former makes your message stronger and more emphatic. The latter can be used for a rhetoric question (one that requires no answer) or to make the reader more included in the narrative:

Hey, how have you been? I heard that your last music album was an immediate success. Really great to hear that!

16 thoughts on “CAE Writing”

I appeared on CAE exam last month in part 2 of writing I forget to mention part number in the answer box and I did e-mail part one with full format etc .it will create any problem??

Hello Waqas! I believe you shouldn’t feel too worried about it, unless it is not clear from the context of your answer!

There is clearly a mistake on the report section. Instead of the example of the report there are two reviews. Would it be possible to fix it? Thank you very much!

Thanks you, fixed that. We seem to have some text missing here, we will have to look into this at some point 🙂

Hello, in the writing part of the exam, I did not finish my review (I only managed to write an introduction and one paragraph, but my essay was complete). Although, I am confident about other parts of the CAE exam. How does this issue affect my overall score. Does it prevent me from getting the certificate?

Hello, Jessica. You get a choice of 3 different types of writing in Part 2, you can just choose something else. In fact, you might not get a review in the three offered tasks at all. Usually students struggle with reviews as it requires a more specific set of vocabulary, so many choose to skip it and not spend their time on it.

Hello I have realized that both my essay and my letter consist of approximately 310 words each. Could it affect my score drastically? Or is it appropriate to put down more than 260 words (310 in my case) if I would like to cover all the points of the task?

Hello, Julia! As per Cambridge CAE Handbook: “Guidelines on length are provided for each task; responses which are too short may not have an adequate range of language and may not provide all the information that is required, while responses which are too long may contain irrelevant content and have a negative effect on the reader. These may affect candidates’ marks on the relevant subscales.”

In other words, the examiners might see excessive length as poor ability to organise your writing. I would recommend against going over 280 words. Your ability to write concisely and convey a message through fewer words is a skill they expect you to have at CEFR C1 level. I hope this answers your question 🙂

Hello I would like to ask you if you think writing an email to a club organiser at your college is supposed to be an informal or a formal email? You know the whole name of the organiser and the note said something like: “You can choose the next 2 movies that we will watch next Tuesday. Tell us your ideas!” I wrote an informal letter but I’m not sure if it’s right. Thank you for any answers!

Hey Barbora! Generally, exclamation marks like in “Tell us your ideas!” indicate that it would be informal. Moreover, the general context of the text hint at a more relaxed style, so sticking to informal register is the way to go. Therefore, you have made the right call!

Hello. Unfortunately, I have exceeded the word limit of the writing (a lot). I am worried that they will deduct points. Do you perhaps know how many points or what impact it has? please be detailed. Thank you very much.

Hello Hosi, I am sorry I missed your message at first. Exceeding your word limit considerably can be punished both directly and indirectly. The former way is to see it as inability to express your ideas in a structured and compact way. Indirectly you might get a penalty for all the possible mistakes that come with those extra sentences. It is a part of the four assessment aspects, so at best it accounts for 1/8th of your mark. So unless your general planning and structuring was absolutely terrible (I hope it’s not!) you should not be too worried about this.

Hi, I attended the CAE exam just last week. I made a silly mistake in Writing part 2 when I jotted down the wrong number of the assignment (I chose letter and wrote down the number for proposal). Will this somehow affect my scores? Also, I’d like to ask, I was supposed to write a letter to all of my customers telling them about my company (what does it do, what makes it different, benefits for new customers) etc. is formal letter appropriate in this context? Thanks a lot for your answer!

Hey Dionne, hope you’re doing great! To answer the first part of your question – no, it probably won’t affect your mark as it should be evident from the context of your answer which task you chose for the second part. As for using formal register when writing to your customers – yes, you definitely made the right call! Please let me know how it went as soon as you get the results.

Hi! I attended CAE writing exam today and in Part 2 I chose to write a review BUT instead used the report structure, using subtitles ☹️. Also, I didn’t have the time to write a conclusion. Will I receive any points for Part 2? Thank you!

Hello Monica! Using titles is not punished directly. You should be fine, provided these titles add cohesion rather than confusion to your writing. You will probably get slightly lower mark for failing to include a conclusion on the grounds that the potential reader will not be “fully informed” (Content criteria). It might also affect your Organisation score. I wouldn’t worry too much about getting zero points as it is never the case with Cambridge exams. Please let us know how it goes when you get your score!

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C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing: Great Tips to Increase Your Score!

The Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), now C1 Advanced, is a high-level, in-depth aptitude exam for individuals who want to promote their language skills to universities and employers. It demonstrates your competence to finish a university-level academic course, communicate effectively at the professional and managerial level, participate confidently in scholarly seminars, classes, and workplace meetings, and express yourself fluently. In this article, we will discuss CAE Writing and how to do well in this section!

Overview of C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing Test

If you want to take the Cambridge English: Advanced Writing exam, you must finish it within 90 minutes. The written test has two sections. For the first part, you need to read material from emails, diaries, advertisements, short articles, letter extracts, and the like. Then, you must write between 220 and 260 words of essay about it. You must choose one of four questions for the second part and read some materials about it. Afterward, you must write between 220 and 260 words, depending on the requirement. The content may be a letter, email, proposal, review, or report.

For Part 1 of CAE Writing, you must discuss a point in the passage. Your essay must include essential ideas and your reasoning in your assertions. The exam tests your abilities and skills. If you want to pass the written test, you must demonstrate your mastery of the English language by expounding your ideas and expressing your opinions. You must justify your argument and persuade your readers.

For Part 2, you have flexibility in selecting a task you want to complete. Also, you have an option on the type of text you wish to use, such as writing a review, proposal, email, letter, or report. Before you write your essay, you must know your topic, target audience, and context. Your response must be on point to receive a high score.

The writing test constitutes 20% of the CAE exam. The examiner will evaluate your essay based on how well you answered the question, how you used the appropriate words, and how you structured your content. Lastly, he will note the vocabulary and grammar you used.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

Tips & Techniques to Increase Your C1 Advanced Writing Exam Score

Tip 1: know your target audience.

Your essay is your direct conversation with your readers. In general, the exam includes the target audience so you already know for whom you must write. For instance, it may tell you to write an essay for the residents of a particular town, students in a school, or enthusiasts of a prominent sport. You must write your article as if you’re talking to your readers and engage them already in your first sentence.

Tip 2: Write an Attention-Getting and Interesting Essay

The article must be attention-getting in CAE Writing. The headline must be able to pique the interest of your readers. The internet calls it “click-baiting.” Your content must be entertaining so that the examiner will finish reading it. You can include a joke or real-life examples to make it entertaining.

Tip 3: Improve Your Writing Style and Grammar

One of the quickest ways to increase your score is to improve your writing style. This includes practicing good flow in your sentences and improving your grammar.

A grammar-checking tool is one of the best ways to improve this. I highly recommend ProWritingAid Grammar Checker , a free tool you can download to check your writing style, including your grammar! While you write on your computer, this tool consistently checks your grammar to ensure everything is correct. By installing this tool, you can improve your grammar significantly since you will know which grammar is correct and which is not.

Tip 4: Plan How to Write Your Essay

Your essay must be easy to read, so you must ensure that you write using clear paragraphs. Before writing it, you must plan how you will present your ideas. Since you have 90 minutes to write both parts, you can spend at most 10 minutes brainstorming ideas. Then, think of your subheadings and short introduction so your readers can manage their expectations. Lastly, you write an excellent ending by summarizing your points and writing a conclusion.  You can also leave a hanging thought so that your readers will think about it even after reading it. An excellent ending links back to your introduction.

You have one hour and 30 minutes to finish writing two essays that are of similar length. The Scoring system is also almost the same. Since it is an exam, you can’t write your texts haphazardly. You must spend time thinking about the topic. Planning is significant if you want to get a high score. You can spend 10 minutes arranging your thoughts and another 25 minutes writing them. Then, you can spend another 10 minutes checking and editing your work.

Tip 5: Follow Instructions Strictly

The examiner will grade your content; therefore, you must read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter in the CAE Writing Exam. For Part 1, the exam sheet will consist of three bullet points, but you only need to consider two. In writing about the two points, you must include a paragraph telling your readers which is more effective.

Tip 6: Use the Right Tone

The tone of your essay is also essential, and it depends on your target audience. If you write a report, you must use a formal tone because you’re writing to a genuine organization. However, if you write an article for a teen magazine, you must use a conversational or informal tone. Consistency is the key. If you write using a formal tone, you must use it throughout your essay. The examiner will easily recognize your inconsistency and probably give you a low score because you can’t control your tone.

Tip 7: Learn How to Write Proposals, Reports, Letters, and Essays

Before taking the CAE Writing test, you must learn about essays, letters, reports, and proposals. If the exam requires that you write an essay, you must interestingly express your opinion. Often, the examiner will demand an academic or formal tone; you must practice writing using it. On the other hand, if the exam requires a letter or email, you must write with a purpose. You can include your personal experiences.

A report or proposal has headings requiring you to put your imagination to excellent use. The exam may require you to write a paper to evaluate alternatives. A proposal, however, requires additional scope because you need to make a suggestion and use polite yet persuasive language.

Tip 8: Use Linking Words and Cohesive Devices

The use of cohesive devices and linking words make your writing flow magnificently. Moreover, your essay becomes easy to read. If you want to perform well in the CAE Writing exams, use these phrases. Aside from using linking words, you have an assurance of getting an excellent mark if you use complex sentence structures and advanced vocabulary. You need to use high-level words appropriate for the topic.

FAQS About Taking C1 Advanced (CAE)

How can i receive a high score at c1 advanced (cae).

Suppose you want to get a superb score on your Cambridge Assessment Exams. In that case, the best way is to go to the website of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which publishes the exam questions each year. Take a look at their practice tests, and try to take the test in an isolated environment to see which skills you lack most.

If you have the money to buy study guides for CAE, you can go ahead with your plan, but if you don’t want to spend money other than applying to take a CAE exam, try to look at the tips we have prepared for you below. As always, the best way to improve your skills is through practice, so practice more, and if you have time left, practice even harder!

What Methods Can I Use to Improve My C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing?

To improve your CAE writing skills, you need first to know what they want from you. After figuring out the basic intent behind the writing section, you need to develop your writing skills by practicing writing essays on your own and looking at other articles for inspiration.

Not only that, your grasp of the English language is essential when you want to improve your scores for CAE writing since you will use your arsenal of vocabulary to persuade the audience of your point. Make sure to get the basics down first, and try to improve your skills when you have left.

Cambridge English: Advanced (now C1 Advanced) is an excellent certification for students and employees. It is a viable tool for people to highlight their English speaking and writing skills. Preparing for the written exam isn’t difficult because we have provided some of the sought-after tips for you to pass it.

We hope that this article on CAE Writing Exam was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students !

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The Ultimate Guide to CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced)

Are you ready to take your English language skills to the next level? Look no further than the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) certification. Regarded as one of the most prestigious English language proficiency exams, CAE offers individuals the opportunity to showcase their advanced language abilities and unlock a world of possibilities. In this ultimate guide, we will explore the ins and outs of the CAE exam, providing you with valuable insights, expert tips, and effective strategies to excel. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an aspiring globetrotter, this article will serve as your go-to resource for conquering the CAE and achieving your language goals. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey towards English language excellence ( find out other important exams here !).

CAE: Reading and Use of English

The Reading and Use of English component is a crucial part of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam, designed to assess your proficiency in reading comprehension and language use. This section evaluates your ability to understand a variety of written texts, ranging from articles and reports to fiction and non-fiction extracts, while also testing your knowledge of advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary. Mastering this section requires a combination of strong reading skills, linguistic knowledge, and strategic approach. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect and how to excel in the CAE Reading and Use of English component.

c. Word formation : This part tests your knowledge of word formation, requiring you to create new words using a given root word.

d. Key word transformation : You are given a sentence with a key word and need to rewrite the sentence using the key word, while maintaining the same meaning.

e. Multiple-choice reading : In this section, you read a text and answer multiple-choice questions related to the content, main ideas, and specific details.

f. Gapped text : A text is presented with gaps, and you need to choose the correct sentence from a set of options to complete the text.

• Build a strong vocabulary: Enhance your vocabulary by reading extensively, focusing on a wide range of topics. Make a habit of noting down new words, understanding their meanings, and practicing their usage in different contexts.
• Improve reading speed and comprehension: Regularly practice reading various types of texts, such as newspaper articles, academic papers, and novels. Pay attention to the main ideas, supporting details, and the author’s tone and purpose. Work on increasing your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension.
• Develop skimming and scanning techniques: Skimming involves quickly going through a text to get a general idea of its content, while scanning involves searching for specific information. Mastering these techniques will help you locate relevant details efficiently during the exam.
• Familiarize yourself with different text types: The CAE exam includes a wide range of text genres, such as informative articles, opinion pieces, and literary extracts. Practice reading and analyzing various types of texts to become comfortable with different writing styles and adapt your reading strategies accordingly.
• Practice grammar and vocabulary exercises: Regularly engage in grammar and vocabulary exercises specific to the CAE exam format. Focus on advanced grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, and collocations. This will help you tackle the multiple-choice cloze and open cloze questions effectively.
• Time management : Allocate time for each part based on the number of questions and their difficulty level. Practice under timed conditions to improve your speed and accuracy. Be mindful of spending too much time on a single question, as it can affect your overall performance.
• Read instructions carefully: Pay close attention to the instructions for each part, as they may specify word limits, require you to use certain grammatical structures, or provide specific guidelines for answering questions. Following instructions accurately is crucial for maximizing your score.
• Guess intelligently: If you are unsure about an answer, make an educated guess by eliminating obviously incorrect options. Remember that there are no penalties for wrong answers, so it’s better to take a chance than leave a question unanswered.
• Practice past papers and sample tests: Familiarize yourself with the CAE exam format by practicing past papers and sample tests. This will give you a better understanding of the question types, time constraints, and overall difficulty level, allowing you to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

By implementing these strategies and investing time in targeted practice, you can significantly improve your performance in the Reading and Use of English section of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam. Remember to stay focused, manage your time wisely, and approach each question with a clear understanding of what is being assessed. With dedication and practice, you’ll be well on your way to achieving an excellent score in this critical component of the CAE exam.

CAE: Writing

The Writing component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam is designed to evaluate your ability to produce coherent, well-structured, and accurate pieces of writing in English. This section assesses your skills in different writing genres, such as essays, reports, letters, proposals, and reviews. Mastering the CAE Writing section requires a combination of language proficiency, critical thinking, and effective writing techniques. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to excel in the CAE Writing component.

• Structure of the Writing Section: The Writing section consists of two parts: a. Part 1: Essay: In this part, you are required to write an essay on a given topic. The essay should be a formal piece of writing, expressing your ideas, opinions, and arguments in a logical and coherent manner. You should demonstrate your ability to analyze the topic, provide relevant examples, and support your arguments with appropriate evidence. b. Part 2: Situational Writing: This part consists of various tasks, such as writing a letter, proposal, report, or review, based on a given context or situation. You need to demonstrate your ability to adapt your writing style, tone, and register to suit the specific task and audience. Clear organization, effective use of language, and accurate grammar and vocabulary are essential in this section.
• Understand the task requirements: Read the instructions carefully and ensure you understand the task requirements for each part. Pay attention to the word count, format, and specific guidelines provided. Plan your writing accordingly to meet the task objectives.
• Brainstorm and plan your ideas: Before starting the actual writing, spend some time brainstorming ideas, arguments, and examples relevant to the given topic. Create an outline or a mind map to organize your thoughts and ensure a coherent and well-structured essay or piece of writing.
• Develop a clear thesis statement: In the essay part, establish a clear thesis statement that reflects your main argument or position on the given topic. This statement should guide your essay’s structure and content, providing a strong focus for your writing.
• Use a variety of sentence structures: Demonstrate your language proficiency by using a range of sentence structures, including complex and compound sentences. Vary the length and structure of your sentences to create a more engaging and sophisticated piece of writing.
• Support your arguments with evidence: In both the essay and situational writing tasks, support your arguments and claims with relevant examples, facts, statistics, or personal experiences. This will strengthen your writing and demonstrate critical thinking skills.
• Pay attention to coherence and cohesion: Ensure that your writing flows smoothly, with clear connections between sentences and paragraphs. Use appropriate linking words and cohesive devices to create a cohesive and coherent piece of writing. Organize your ideas logically and provide clear transitions between paragraphs.
• Use formal language and appropriate register: Maintain a formal tone and use appropriate language and vocabulary suitable for the given task. Avoid slang, colloquial expressions, and overly informal language. Adapting your writing style to the specific task and audience is crucial.
• Revise and edit your writing: Set aside time to revise and edit your writing before submitting it. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors. Ensure that your sentences are clear and concise, and that your ideas are effectively conveyed. Make sure your writing adheres to the word count requirements.
• Practice timed writing: Practice writing under timed conditions to improve your ability to complete the tasks within the allocated time. Develop a writing routine and practice different types of writing tasks to build confidence and familiarity with the exam format.
• Seek feedback and practice writing samples: Ask for feedback from teachers, tutors, or native English speakers on your writing samples. Incorporate their suggestions for improvement and identify areas where you can enhance your writing skills.

By implementing these strategies and consistently practicing your writing skills, you can enhance your performance in the CAE Writing section. Remember to focus on task requirements, develop strong arguments, and maintain a coherent and well-structured piece of writing. With dedicated practice and attention to detail, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a high score in the Writing component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam.

CAE: Listening

The Listening component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam evaluates your ability to comprehend spoken English in various contexts and accents. This section tests your listening skills by presenting a range of audio materials, such as interviews, discussions, lectures, and monologues. Mastering the CAE Listening section requires active listening, effective note-taking, and the ability to extract key information while understanding the overall message. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to excel in the CAE Listening component.

c. Part 3: Multiple matching: You listen to several short recordings and match them to a set of statements or questions.

• Develop active listening skills: Actively engage with the audio materials by focusing on the speaker’s tone, emphasis, and intonation. Train your ears to catch important details, such as key words, supporting examples, and specific information.
• Practice listening to a variety of accents: Expose yourself to different accents and speech patterns to improve your listening comprehension. Listen to podcasts, news broadcasts, and movies featuring native speakers from various English-speaking countries.
• Familiarize yourself with different listening genres: Practice listening to a wide range of genres, including conversations, interviews, lectures, and discussions. Pay attention to the specific vocabulary and structures used in each genre, as they may help you anticipate the content and understand the context.
• Predict and anticipate: Before listening to each recording, read the questions or statements related to it. Predict possible answers or information based on the context or keywords provided. This will help you focus your listening and be more prepared to grasp the relevant details.
• Take effective notes: Develop a shorthand or symbols system to take concise notes while listening. Jot down keywords, key ideas, numbers, and any other information that can assist you in answering the questions. Practice summarizing the main points of the recordings using your notes.
• Pay attention to distractors: Be aware that the recordings may include distractors, which are pieces of information that are mentioned but not directly relevant to the questions. Stay focused on the main points and avoid getting distracted by irrelevant details.
• Improve your listening speed: Practice listening to audio materials at a slightly faster pace than you’re comfortable with. This will help improve your listening speed and ability to process information quickly, which is crucial during the exam.
• Use context and clues: Utilize the context and information provided in the questions to guide your listening. Look for clues in the question itself that may direct you to the relevant part of the recording.
• Be aware of different question types: Familiarize yourself with the different question types in each part of the Listening section. Understand the specific requirements for each question type, such as identifying the main idea, making inferences, or matching information.
• Practice with authentic listening materials: Use a variety of authentic listening materials, such as TED Talks, podcasts, and news broadcasts, to practice your listening skills. Pay attention to the content, structure, and vocabulary used in these materials to prepare yourself for the range of topics and styles in the exam.
• Practice under timed conditions: Simulate exam conditions by practicing listening exercises under timed conditions. This will help you improve your time management skills and build your confidence in completing the section within the allocated time.

By implementing these strategies and regularly practicing your listening skills, you can significantly improve your performance in the CAE Listening section. Remember to actively listen, anticipate information, take effective notes, and focus on the main points. With consistent practice and exposure to various listening materials, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the Listening component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam with confidence.

CAE: Speaking

The Speaking component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English in various situations and contexts. It evaluates your speaking skills in terms of fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and interaction with other speakers. Mastering the CAE Speaking section requires not only linguistic proficiency but also the ability to express opinions, engage in discussions, and respond appropriately to different prompts. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to excel in the CAE Speaking component.

c. Part 3: Collaborative Task: You engage in a discussion with the other candidate(s) based on a set of visual prompts or written prompts. You need to exchange opinions, express agreement or disagreement, provide reasons and examples, and work collaboratively to reach a conclusion.

• Practice speaking regularly: Engage in regular conversation practice with native or fluent English speakers. This will help you improve your fluency, confidence, and ability to express your thoughts clearly.
• Expand your vocabulary: Enhance your vocabulary by reading extensively, listening to podcasts or lectures, and using vocabulary-building exercises. Focus on learning idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, and collocations to enrich your spoken language.
• Develop critical thinking skills: Cultivate the ability to analyze different viewpoints, form opinions, and provide supporting arguments. Practice expressing your thoughts coherently and persuasively, with a focus on providing examples, evidence, and reasoning to support your ideas.
• Work on pronunciation and intonation: Pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation to ensure clarity and effective communication. Practice speaking at a natural pace, using appropriate stress and rhythm. Work on difficult sounds and practice word and sentence stress patterns.
• Use a range of grammatical structures: Demonstrate your language proficiency by utilizing a variety of grammatical structures. Practice using complex sentences, conditionals, reported speech, and other advanced grammar forms. However, prioritize accuracy and clarity over complexity.
• Be an active listener and responder: Actively listen to the prompts and questions posed by the examiner or the other candidate(s). Respond appropriately by addressing the specific points raised, asking for clarification if needed, and engaging in a meaningful conversation.
• Take advantage of the preparation time: Use the one-minute preparation time in Part 2 to plan your response. Quickly brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts, and structure your answer. Jot down a brief outline to help you stay focused during your speaking turn.
• Engage in meaningful interactions: In the collaborative tasks (Parts 3 and 4), actively participate in the discussion with the other candidate(s). Offer your opinion, ask for their views, and build on each other’s ideas. Practice using phrases to agree, disagree, interrupt, and politely express your opinion.
• Develop coherence and cohesion: Ensure that your responses are well-organized and coherent. Use appropriate linking words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a logical flow in your speech. Make sure your answers are relevant to the prompt and directly address the task requirements.
• Practice in a simulated environment: Simulate the speaking test conditions by practicing with a partner or a tutor. Time your responses and receive feedback on your performance. Focus on areas for improvement, such as clarity of expression, grammatical accuracy, and effective communication.
• Be confident and natural: Approach the speaking test with confidence and aim to be as natural as possible. Use appropriate body language, maintain eye contact with the examiner and other candidate(s), and try to relax and enjoy the conversation.

By implementing these strategies and practicing regularly, you can enhance your performance in the CAE Speaking section. Remember to speak clearly, express your ideas effectively, engage in meaningful discussions, and demonstrate your language proficiency. With consistent practice and a confident approach, you’ll be well-prepared to showcase your speaking skills in the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam.

CAE: Scoring

Understanding the scoring system of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam is essential for setting goals, tracking progress, and evaluating your performance. The CAE exam is scored using a standardized scale that provides an objective assessment of your language proficiency. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the scoring system and what it means for your CAE results.

• Grade A: 200-210 (Exceptional level of English)
• Grade B: 193-199 (Good level of English)
• Grade C: 180-192 (Effective operational command of English)
• Level B2: 160-179 (Limited operational command of English)
• Level B1: Below 160 (Basic competence in English)
• Reading and Use of English: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Writing: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Listening: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Speaking: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Reading and Use of English: This component assesses your reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and language use. The scoring criteria include accuracy, range of vocabulary and grammar, understanding of different text types, and ability to complete tasks.
• Writing: The writing component evaluates your ability to produce coherent, well-structured, and accurate written responses. The scoring criteria consider organization and development of ideas, range and accuracy of language use, cohesion and coherence, and the ability to fulfill the task requirements.
• Listening: The listening component assesses your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. The scoring criteria include comprehension of main ideas and supporting details, understanding of different accents and speech patterns, ability to follow a conversation or lecture, and accurate interpretation of information.
• Speaking: The speaking component evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. The scoring criteria include fluency, coherence, grammatical accuracy, range of vocabulary, pronunciation, interactive communication, and ability to express opinions and engage in discussions.
• Pass/Fail: The CAE exam does not have a pass or fail outcome. Instead, it provides an overall score and a certificate that indicates your level of English proficiency based on the CEFR. Achieving a Grade A, B, or C indicates successful completion of the exam and demonstrates a certain level of language proficiency.
• Score Validity: It’s important to note that the CAE certificate does not have an expiration date. However, some educational institutions, employers, or organizations may have their own policies regarding the validity of English language certificates. Always check the specific requirements of the institution or organization you are applying to.

Understanding the scoring system of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam allows you to set realistic goals, focus your preparation efforts, and assess your progress accurately. By familiarizing yourself with the scoring criteria and striving for a balanced performance across all components, you can work towards achieving your desired level of English proficiency as reflected in your CAE results.

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Home » C1 Advanced » CAE Writing Examples » CAE Essay Topics » CAE Essay Examples | 1 Great Way To Learn

CAE Essay Examples | 1 Great Way To Learn

Table of Contents

CAE Essay Examples Introduction

Before looking at some CAE essay examples, we should quickly answer this question: "What is a CAE essay?"

A CAE essay  is an obligatory task in the C1 Advanced (CAE) Cambridge English exam. There are 4 CAE exam papers: Speaking, Listening, Reading & Use of English and Writing. The CAE essay forms part 1 of the 2 part writing paper. Students need to answer a question and write between 220-260 words.

On the rest of this page I have put some CAE essay examples which my students have sent to me. If you keep reading, you will find tasks to complete and either a video or written feedback which I provided to the student. The feedback is based on the Cambridge English Assessment Scale from the C1 Advanced handbook for teachers. It is very important to understand this marking criteria if you want to pass this part of the exam.

If you don't know how to write a good essay, or if you want to know how examiners mark your essay, check out my C1 Advanced Essay page.

CAE Essay Example 1 - Question, Critique etc.

Cae essay question.

WAYS OF LOOKING AFTER YOUNG CHILDREN:

At home with parents or other family members In nurseries or pre-school With a professional nanny

Write an essay for your tutor in 220-260 words. You should discuss two of the ways of looking after young children in your notes. You should explain which way is more beneficial and provide reasons to support your opinion.

CAE Examiners Assessment Template

Download this assessment template here or complete the online version here with your thoughts on the writing below.

CAE Essay Example 1 - Answer

C1 Essay Example Answer & My Comments

I have highlighted the mistakes and written comments showing you how to correct them in ( bold and italics).

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUNG CHILDREN

There is no doubt that one of the problems of (the word ‘problem’ collocates with ‘with’ before a person/people) modern families is how to take care of young children. Some years ago, the most common solution was to leave the new-borns with a family member. Usually, it was the mother, who had to leave her job and sacrifice her career for the new arrival. Today, the situation is slightly different, because, often, both parents have to work and no relatives are available to come into (‘into’ is not the right word to use here - you could say - ‘come and support’) support of (don’t write ‘of’ here. We say ‘support somebody’ in English, not ‘support of somebody’) the family. In this essay, I will discuss two possible solutions (‘solution’ is not the right word here. ‘Solution’ implies that leaving the children with a family member is not an option, and that you will therefore discuss two alternative methods. The problem is the next paragraph then talks about leaving the children with a family member)  and their advantages and disadvantages.

One of the advantages of leaving your children with a family member is that you trust this person (I would say ‘this person will usually have your trust’ - because it is better to try and use the passive voice in an essay. We also tend to use more nouns and fewer verbs in formal writing) and you know (do you know that?) that they will certainly take care of them in the best way. Furthermore, when the children are sick, you can leave them in bed and check their temperature frequently, preventing complications. (I think you could develop this last sentence more and state that you cannot do this if the children go to nursery) . On the other hand, though, your children could (you should use ‘may’ or ‘might’ rather than ‘could’ here. ‘Could not’ in this sentence means they were not able to. It is a definitive statement and it does not imply possibility) not develop some important social skills such as team playing (‘teamwork’ might be a better word to use here) and sharing (‘connecting’ might be a better word to use. We tend to say ‘sharing’ + something) with peers, but they could be left (for) some time in front of a screen (you could explain why this wouldn’t be beneficial) .

Another solution could be to make them attend a nursery. There are numerous advantages in (‘advantages’ collocates with ‘to’) this approach as well, but, above all, I would enlighten (‘enlighten’ is usually followed by an object) that children are taught to stay together, to help each other and to have fun. Unfortunately, on the other hand, they run the risk of getting ill more frequently and this could be a problem for parents who have to take maternity leave to cure (‘look after’ or ‘take care of’ are better phrases to use here. ‘Cure’ is stronger and implies the parents will heal them from a serious illness or disease) them.

To sum up (this expression is a little too informal for an essay) , I think that I would choose a mixed solution for my children: a family member during the first years but then a nursery as soon as they start speaking and relating (‘building relationships’) with others, so that to (remove the word 'to' and replace it with 'they') improve their abilities (‘ability’ should be countable singular here) to be part of a group.

CAE Essay Sample Marks

CAE Essay Sample - Pass or Fail

Adding the marks together, the student has scored:

Content: 3/5

Communicative Achievement: 3/5

Organisation: 4/5

Language: 2/5

Total: 12/20.

If you can't remember what these scores mean, watch my CAE writing marking criteria video .

If this student got 12/20 for their part 2 writing in the exam, they would have 24/40 for the C1 Advanced writing paper.

The student would therefore pass this exam paper.

To understand how these marks are calculated, check out this page . I suggest using a table like this to mark your scores when you are practising for all the different exam papers.

CAE Essay Examples - Question 2 Critique etc.

This question has come from ' Cambridge English Advanced Practice Tests - Plus 2 ' by Nick Kenny and Jacky Newbrook.

While you read this example answer, you should write down any mistakes you find on this document , then complete the examiner assessment template below:

Online template

Hard copy Assessment Scale Template

Example Answer Download

C1 Writing Exam Assessment Template

If you haven't done it yet, download this assessment template here , or complete it online here with your thoughts on the writing above.

C1 Essay Sample Answer 2 & My Comments

Here is the student's answer with my corrections and comments written in ( bold and italics).

Nowadays , many young people tend to ask themselves how valuable is the benefit of taking part in sport competitions in which they participate ( I don’t think these words add any extra to the sentence) . It is said that ‘ it’ ( after using the phrase ‘it is said/thought that’ you should repeat the subject) is worth y (you should use ‘worth’ here) for healthy people to hav ing a positive attitude and th is (the attitude) are also usually able to contribute s more to a the healthy mind. 

But which point s can be highlighted as valuable from ‘ having’ healthy lifestyles? (Personally, I wouldn’t ask questions in an essay). Not only ‘ does’ physical condition ha ve a very important role to play, but also mental condition might be affected ‘ as a result’ .  This (what starts at the beginning?) starts at the beginning (the beginning of what?) when the young child can learn about the value of exercise. Despite having a fit ness body, this (what is ‘this’?) should not only be aimed at sport s competition s . They need to have continuous ‘win nings and los ses ings ’ in order to understand the importance of being trained mentally ( I think the argument of the essay disappears a bit here). For instance, Usain Bolt is an excellent athlete thanks to ‘ his’ capability to accept to los s e s and train hard for the next sport competition.

Attitude alone, however, is not enough. Young athletes need to have easy access to resources which will enable them to learn in a better way. There is no point in having a great attitude to learn if they cannot find materials that other athletes can share as tips in order to make the difference. In this case, these materials refer s to personal experiences and train ing methods ed abilities which youngsters need to pay more attention ‘to’ . If cooperation is not performed (we don’t normally ‘perform cooperation’, it would be more common to say ‘if cooperation does not exist’ , young people are all too likely to slip into bad habits (this  paragraph is well written) .

To sum up, of the two values outlined above, healthy lifestyles is the more effective one. lt is more far reaching in that it relates to all aspects of living healthily. In addition to this, after all, through (‘developing the right’) attitude , that a person will learn why it is better to go to a sport competition than to lie on a couch in front of the television. (I don’t think I understand this final sentence. Do you mean attitude will teach a person? I probably wouldn’t introduce a new idea into the final sentence of an essay).

CAE Essay Sample 2 Marks

Below, you can read my critique on the examiner assessment scale...

Sorry, you'll need to register or upgrade your membership in order to access the content below.

CAE Essay Sample 2 - Pass or Fail

This student has scored:

Communicative Achievement: 2/5

Organisation: 3/5

Language: 3/5

Total: 11/20.

If this student got 11/20 for their part 2 writing in the exam, they would score 22 out of 40 and they would not pass the CAE writing exam at a C1 level.

The student might still pass the exam if he/she gets higher marks in the other exam papers, Reading , Use of English , Speaking and Listening .

CAE Essay Examples - Question 3

Let's have a look at another example essay that a student sent to me. Similar to the first two, we'll have a look at the question, answer and my feedback.

Fantastic work if you've made it this far...you're really going to be helping yourself prepare for this tricky part of the exam. High five!

The following question can be found on this website .

While reading the next answer, you should complete the assessment scale. You can download the assessment template here or complete this online version .

CAE Essay Examples - Answer 3

CAE Essay Examples - Answer 3 pdf

Okay, so hopefully you've completed the hard copy or the online examiner assessment template with your marks and comments. Before reading my corrections below, you should now write down any mistakes you find on this document.

CAE Essay Examples - Answer 3 + My Comments

We live in a wor ’l’ d where there are so many options for travelling (Spelling mistakes are not a huge issue, but they are important if they disrupt the flow/meaning of your writing. This spelling mistake is in the first sentence and therefore might put negative thinking in the examiner’s mind) . According to a recent article, there has been an increase in international travelling. Since the article did not find the major causes of what is causing this new trend (can you think of a way to avoid saying ‘causes’ and ‘causing’ in the same sentence?) , I decided to raise two crucially important factors which could presumably contribute to this. 

It cannot be denied that we take most means of transport for granted and flying on a plane is becoming more prevalent (Good sentence) . In comparison to the previous century, the cost of airline tickets has noticeably decreased. In other words, most airlines are now aiming at a wide ’r’ range of ‘people’ public . (We don’t often say ‘a range of public.’) Not only do they want to attract the affluent, but they also want to ensure that even the poorest citizens can afford to buy a ticket. Moreover, the convenience of aircraft also plays a vital role as flying is not so time-consuming. (Good paragraph).

Another potential factor is global business and trade. The majority of successful companies, such as Foxconn and Apple, are spread out into ‘across’ the whole world. If they did not do this, they would not be able to satisfy their customers. Therefore, they often have no other option, but to dispatch (‘dispatch’ is not often a word used for people but more for inanimate objects) their representatives , (remember the comma as this is a non-definite relative clause because the next part of the sentence is extra information) who always travel by plane. Secondly, the world economy has reached its peak, that is to say, our population is buying more cars. (I think this point would be made stronger by adding another sentence.)

To sum up, as far as I am concerned, global business plays a bigger role when it comes to the increase in travelling. Despite the fact that means of transport have changed, companies have a major impact. To make it clear, companies have the power to shape our society. We are under the influence of them. They set down the rules in terms of new trends in our society (I think you could combine the final two sentences and avoid repeating the words ‘our society’) .

CAE Essay Examples - Question 3 Marks

Upgrade here to access my marks and comments >>

CAE Essay Examples - Question 3 - Pass or Fail

I have awarded the essay the following marks:

Content - 3 Communicative Achievement - 4 Organisation - 4 Language - 4

Total: 15/20

In my opinion, this is a good essay. Remember you only have 90 minutes to complete 2 writing tasks in the exam, but if you could write this and a similar part 2 answer in 35 minutes each, leaving time for planning and checking, I think you will stand a good chance of passing at a C1 level. The examiners tend to mark the writing paper quite strictly in my experience and so it’s possible that some of the marking criteria could be awarded a 3, but it’s also possible some could be awarded a 5. It depends a little bit on the individual examiner. Well done!

CAE Essay Examples - Question 4

This came from the book ' Cambridge English Advanced 2 ' which you can buy here >>

CAE Essay Answer

You should print off a copy of the answer below here and write down any mistakes you find.

Alternatively, you can write the mistakes on a separate sheet of paper or on this online template .

You should also complete the examiner assessment scale template in hardcopy or online .

CAE Essay Answer With My Corrections

Here is a video of me critiquing this answer:

If you would like to receive a similar video critiquing one of your answers, check out my CAE writing assessment service >>

Below, you can read the answer with my corrections and what I wrote on the examiner assessment scale...

Social trends are part of today’s society and they could be described as peculiar behaviours that become ‘a’ fundamental characteristic of a society. In the last few years there have been many changes such as the development of ‘the’ internet, mobile phones and cheaper flights that have had an important influence in ‘on’ social trends.

As far as I’m concerned, the factor which influence ‘s’ the most social trends ‘the most’ is the communication and especially the new communication via social network ‘s’ . As a matter of fact s , the way we communicate has been influenced a lot by the development of ‘the’ internet and technology. Therefore, internationally widespread social networks such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok have created ways of communicating that make it very easy to spread a peculiar ‘specific’ social trend by imitat ‘ing’ e the trends of other countries.

Other people may say that advertising is shaping social trends because of its u ‘i’ nescapable influence on consumers. Although it surely plays an important role and everywhere we go we are surrounded by advertising, in my humble opinion , we are totally used to them and we know how to ignore them, so they don’t ‘ do not’ have such a big influence on social trends.

In conclusion , it ’s ‘i s evident that what influence ‘s’ ‘social trends’ the most social trends are the ways of communicating used by the people of today. They have the ‘ability’ peculiarity to make the world smaller and spread a new trend amazingly rapidly with the feature that it will affect a big amount ‘number’ of people in a small amount of time.

CAE Essay Marks

C1 Advanced Writing - Pass or Fail?

Content - 3

Communicative Achievement - 3

Organisation - 4

Language - 2

Total: 12/20

You need a minimum of 24 out of 40 possible marks to pass the CAE writing paper. Remember, there are 2 different writings to complete, so you need to average 12 out of 20 for each writing task.

Remember, you do not need to pass every exam paper in order to pass the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam and get a certificate.

If you want to find out more about what marks you need in order to pass the exam, have a look at this page >>

More CAE Essay Examples + Feedback

I recently published a book with 6 CAE essay examples and 15 other CAE sample writings. They all have my mistakes and suggestions highlighted, as well as critique based on official writing marking criteria.

Some of you can read it for free with Kindle Unlimited:

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2 thoughts on “ CAE Essay Examples | 1 Great Way To Learn ”

I learnt a lot from your essays samples and corrections. Please send more of your lesson I need it for studies. Thanks

Thank you Evelyn, I’m glad they helped you. When you become a member of my website you get access to more of my materials: https://studentlanguages.com/membership-checkout/?level=4

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Cambridge CAE tips: Writing an Essay

For over 20 years, CISL has provided intensive classes to prepare our students for the Cambridge exams. We can’t think of a better place than California to study for (and take) the Cambridge tests! If you are taking the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English exam, you must write an essay for the first part of the writing exam. (It is also a possible prompt for the  First Certificate of English  Writing Module.) Learn all about the format and the requirements of an essay here.

Essay Guidelines

What is an essay? An essay is a piece of writing where you, the author, explain your position on a topic . Like all writing, it must be well-organized (into paragraphs), use proper tone (formal vs. informal), and have correct grammar and vocabulary. You must clearly explain your point of view (using examples to support your argument), but you must also take into consideration the other opinion on this issue, usually acknowledging the opposing opinion and/or explaining why the opposing opinion is incorrect.

Know your Reader

According to Cambridge , an essay is typically written for an academic reader ; often, the “writing task is similar to a follow-up to a class activity, such as attending a seminar or watching a documentary. The main purpose of the task is to underline relevant salient issues on the stated topic, and to support an argument with subsidiary points and reasons . An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development and an appropriate conclusion. It should hold the target reader’s attention and communicate complex ideas using an appropriate range of vocabulary and structures.”

Essay Prompt

As published in the 2015 guidelines by Cambridge , the essay is now the only prompt for the first section of the Writing Module  (there are two parts in total). In both Part 1 and Part 2, students are expected to write between 220 and 260 words: this is a change from the previous years, when Part 1 was shorter in length.

In Part 1, the student is given bullet points . The student must make a choice from these two bullet points and then write an essay explaining why one of the bullet points is more important than the other.

Take a look at some sample prompts below. For sample prompts and sample responses, visit the Cambridge website (or speak with a CISL instructor, who will have plenty of resources).

Sample Prompts

Prompt 1: Over the past century, which of the following jobs has increased in difficulty the most?

Write an essay discussing two of the professions. You should explain which profession has increased in difficulty the most, giving reasons in support of your answer.

Prompt 2: Which of the following has technology helped the most?

• Communication

Write an essay discussing two of the ideas presented above. You should explain which has been helped the most by technology, giving reasons in support of your answer.

• Read the entire prompt before you begin writing. You must answer all parts of the prompt: make sure that you fully understand it before proceeding!
• Organize and outline before writing. Always.
• Don’t be afraid to agree or disagree. Just explain WHY you feel the way you do, and always support your opinions.
• Do not write about things which the prompt does not mention. This will cause you to develop ideas that the prompt does not discuss, which will take away from your ability to develop the topic.
• Avoid using the exact words from the prompt. Use synonyms.
• Use linking words and phrases within paragraphs and to link paragraphs.

For information on the CISL CAE and FCE programs, click here .