The Certificate in Advanced English exam (CAE) has followed new specifications since December 2008. This means it is a little different from the previous exam. In the table below, we describe the CAE exam as used since December 2008.
For more information about the Certificate in Advanced English exam, click on the Cambridge ESOL website link on the left.
|
Certificate in Advanced English |
| Paper 1: Reading |
4 parts to complete in 1 hour 15 minutes.
34 questions in total. |
| Part 1 |
Multiple choice (6 questions)
Candidates read 3 short texts and answer the 2 multiple choice questions per text. |
| Part 2 |
Gapped text (6 questions)
Candidates complete a text by choosing the correct paragraph from a list of 7 options. |
| Part 3 |
Multiple choice (7 questions)
Candidates read a text and answer 7 multiple choice questions. |
| Part 4 |
Multiple matching (15 questions)
Candidates match a prompt to the relevant section of the text or texts. |
|
|
| Paper 2: Writing |
2 tasks to complete in 1 hour 30 minutes. |
| Part 1 |
Question 1 - Compulsory task
Candidates write a 180-220 word article, report, proposal or letter based on input material. |
| Part 2 |
Questions 2-5
Candidates write a 220-260 word text from a choice of 4. Question 5 is on the set books. |
|
|
| Paper 3: Use of English |
5 parts to complete in 1 hour.
50 questions in total. |
| Part 1 |
Multiple choice cloze (12 questions)
Candidates complete a gapped text by choosing the correct answer from 4 options. |
| Part 2 |
Open cloze (15 questions)
Candidates fill in missing words from a text. |
| Part 3 |
Word formation (10 questions)
Candidates form the missing words from a text by changing the stem words given. |
| Part 4 |
Gapped sentences (5 questions)
Candidates complete 3 separate sentences with one word which is appropriate for the 3 sentences. |
| Part 5 |
Key word transformations (8 questions)
Candidates complete a sentence using a key word so that it means the same as the lead-in sentence. |
|
|
| Paper 4: Listening |
4 parts to complete in approximately 40 minutes.
30 questions in total. |
| Part 1 |
Multiple choice (6 questions)
Candidates answer 3 multiple choice questions on 3 short recordings. |
| Part 2 |
Sentence completion (8 questions)
Candidates listen to a monologue and complete 8 sentences. |
| Part 3 |
Multiple choice (6 questions)
Candidates listen to a conversation between 2 or more speakers and complete 6 multiple choice questions. |
| Part 4 |
Multiple matching (10 questions)
Candidates listen to 5 monologues on a similar theme and complete 2 tasks requiring the selection of 5 correct options out of a choice of 8. |
|
|
| Paper 5: Speaking |
4 parts in 15 minutes per pair of candidates. |
| Part 1 |
Interview
Each candidate answers the interlocuter's questions about themselves and their opinions. |
| Part 2 |
Individual long turn
Candidate A talks for a minute about a set of pictures, after which Candidate B is invited to make a brief comment. Then Candidate B is given a different set of pictures and talks about them for a minute, after which, Candidate A is invited to make a brief comment. |
| Part 3 |
Collaborative task
Candidates work together to carry out a task based on some pictures. This part lasts 4 minutes. |
| Part 4 |
Discussion
The interlocuter will ask both candidates some questions which are related to the topic in part 3. |
| 
