3
Most of the content is relevant and the target reader is informed.
There should be more of a balance of the arguments with a bit more focus on the nursery.
You are also over the word limit so I would suggest writing fewer points with more backing up. Perhaps you could shorten the introduction.
The target reader would be able to reach a decision following as a result of your arguments.
3
The conventions of essay writing have been used.
Some of your points could be strengthened with further examples and evidence. Fewer points with more justification would be good.
The tone of the essay is generally appropriate and the use of a title is also appropriate.
Although the essay is quite easy to follow, some of the language could be tailored more precisely towards the wording of the question. This would help to communicate your ideas more clearly.
4
The essay is well organised and quite coherent.
Each paragraph focusses on a separate argument. Within the paragraphs there are good organisational patterns used to emphasise certain points 'but, above all...' or to show contrast 'Unfortunately, on the other hand...'
2
There is a good range of vocabulary and grammatical structures used appropriately, 'Usually, it was the mother, who had to leave her job...'
However there are also quite a few errors where a more appropriate word could have been used. The choice of words at times detracts from how closely your answer ties to the question.
There are a range of linking devices used appropriately, 'furthermore', 'another solution could be', 'on the other hand'. There are also some errors 'advantages in this approach' but these do not impede communication.
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.
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
If you haven't done it yet, download this assessment template here , or complete it online here with your thoughts on the writing above.
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 donât think these words add any extra to the sentence) . It is said that â itâ ( after using the phrase âit is said/thought thatâ you should repeat the subject) is worth y (you should use âworthâ 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 â havingâ healthy lifestyles? (Personally, I wouldnât ask questions in an essay). Not only â doesâ physical condition ha ve a very important role to play, but also mental condition might be affected â as a resultâ . 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 âthisâ?) should not only be aimed at sport s competition s . They need to have continuous âwin nings and los ses ings â 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 â hisâ 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 âtoâ . If cooperation is not performed (we donât normally âperform cooperationâ, it would be more common to say âif cooperation does not existâ , 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 (âdeveloping the rightâ) 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 donât think I understand this final sentence. Do you mean attitude will teach a person? I probably wouldnât introduce a new idea into the final sentence of an essay).
Below, you can read my critique on the examiner assessment scale...
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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 .
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 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.
We live in a wor âlâ 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 examinerâs 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 âcausesâ and âcausingâ 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 ârâ range of âpeopleâ public . (We donât often say âa range of public.â) 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 âacrossâ 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 (âdispatchâ 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 âour societyâ) .
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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 itâs possible that some of the marking criteria could be awarded a 3, but itâs also possible some could be awarded a 5. It depends a little bit on the individual examiner. Well done!
This came from the book ' Cambridge English Advanced 2 ' which you can buy here >>
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 .
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 todayâs society and they could be described as peculiar behaviours that become âaâ fundamental characteristic of a society. In the last few years there have been many changes such as the development of âtheâ internet, mobile phones and cheaper flights that have had an important influence in âonâ social trends.
As far as Iâm concerned, the factor which influence âsâ the most social trends âthe mostâ is the communication and especially the new communication via social network âsâ . As a matter of fact s , the way we communicate has been influenced a lot by the development of âtheâ 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 âspecificâ social trend by imitat âingâ e the trends of other countries.
Other people may say that advertising is shaping social trends because of its u âiâ 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 donât â do notâ have such a big influence on social trends.
In conclusion , it âs âi s evident that what influence âsâ âsocial trendsâ the most social trends are the ways of communicating used by the people of today. They have the âabilityâ peculiarity to make the world smaller and spread a new trend amazingly rapidly with the feature that it will affect a big amount ânumberâ of people in a small amount of time.
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| 3 | All parts of the question have been adequately addressed. The target reader can see which of the two points the writer is discussing in the essay. It is also clear which point the writer thinks has the biggest influence on social trends. The first main point about communication could be made slightly stronger. |
| 3 | The writing could be slightly easier to follow at times, for example in the conclusion. This would also help keep the target reader engaged. There are one or two places in the essay where the arguments could be expanded and strengthened to help the target reader follow and understand the main points. |
| 4 | Some words and phrases have been used to start new paragraphs but also to connect ideas within a paragraph, helping maintain a good structure and also to express your ideas and opinions, for example: âThereforeâ The whole essay has a good structure. |
| 2 | There is evidence of different and a variety of grammatical structures, for example, the present perfect. It would be good to see you attempting some more complex grammatical structures. There are some less common words and phrases used, for example: âPeculiarâ âFundamental characteristicâ However, there is some repetition of certain words where there is opportunity to show more variety and a wider knowledge of the English language. There are a few small errors, for example, using an incorrect preposition or missing articles. Some of the language is slightly too informal for an essay. |
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 >>
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:
Take a look inside >>
Register to start the course below >>
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Format: cae writing paper contains two parts. Timing: Â 1 hour 30 minutes
Parts: 2 Task: candidates are required to complete two tasks:
A range from the following: email/letter; essay; report; review; proposal
Your essay should be organised well, including an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a compelling conclusion. The composition should capture the reader’s attention and express sophisticated ideas using a range of stylistic structures and vocabulary.
You will be asked to explain which of the two points is more important and to express reasons for your viewpoint. Your essay should include a well-organised introduction, supporting paragraphs and an appropriate conclusion.
 How much do I have to write? 220â260 words.
C1 advanced (cae) writing: part 2 – one task from three.
You write a text from a choice of text types â letter/email, proposal, report or review. To guide your writing, youâll be given information about context, topic purpose and target reader  How much do I have to write?    220â260 words.
Practice, write & improve, c1 advanced (cae) writing: part 2 – types of writing.
The different types of tasks that may appear on the CAE writing exam endeavour to establish frameworks for candidates to develop their ideas on a topic with a purpose for writing and a target reader in mind.
is written for a group of contemporaries like club members or colleagues. Candidates will be expected to make suggestions backed by facts to persuade their readers.
How to write a proposal? | C1 Advanced (CAE)
is written to respond to a situation outlined in the question reflecting the appropriate register and tone for the specified target reader. Candidates are asked to develop correspondence to, for example, an English-speaking friend or colleague, a potential employer, a college principal or a magazine editor.
is always written for a teacher. lt should address the prompt provided in terms of addressing both content points and providing a new viewpoint of the writer’s own. The essay should be well developed with an introduction, appropriate conclusion as well as w ritten in an appropriate register and tone.
How to write an essay? | C1 Advanced (CAE)
is usually developed for a superior (e.g. a teacher) or a peer group (e.g. members of an English club). The question identifies the subject of the composition and the areas to be covered. Candidates must provide some factual information and make recommendations, but there is space for them to incorporate their own ideas and experiences.
How to write a report? | C1 Advanced (CAE)
is written traditionally for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website. The main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday. a product, a website etc.) and to give the reader a clear impression of what the item discussed is like. Description and explanation are key functions for this task and a review will normally include a recommendation to the reader.
How to write a review? | C1 Advanced (CAE)
As you can see, C1 writing is not that easy at all. See what are the most common mistakes  you should avoid.
Home / CAE / 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 â Review â Report â Letter â Proposal
You might want to read advice on basics of essay composition before moving to the exam tasks.
Your Writing score depends on four different aspects:
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?
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 â then you will have to make sure to paraphrase these statements. Avoid making your introduction too long â 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 â 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.
Tuition fees have never been low â 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 â 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)
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.
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 â plot, setting, actors, general idea. Avoid giving your opinion in this paragraph â 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 â 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:
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 â 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 â 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 â 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 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.
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:
The names of your headings don’t have to be that straightforward â you can show some creativity there. Make sure that the meaning of your headings is clear â 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 â 2-4 minutes are usually enough to come up with a solid heading structure.
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 â 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 â 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 â 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 â 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)
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.
The terms ânarrativeâ and âfactualâ can be a bit confusing â 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 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!
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 đ
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 candidatesâ 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 đ
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, Iâd 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 âčïž. Also, I didnât 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 preparation, resources for teachers and learners.
Here you can find links to all of our free resources to help prepare for C1 Advanced exams, whether you are a teacher or a learner.
On this page:
Essential reading for teachers and learners wanting to find out about the exam.
Resources to help you prepare learners for C1 Advanced.
Information for candidates and resources that can be used at home or in the classroom for self-study.
You can find a wide range of materials in both print and digital formats .
Free: digital sample tests.
Cambridge English Qualifications Digital have now replaced our old computer-based exams and offer you even more benefits. Watch this video tutorial for help on how to complete an C1 Advanced digital exam. Please also review this document which covers minor differences between the sample tests and the live exam .
Time: approximately 40 minutes
C1 Advanced Digital Listening Sample Test
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
C1 Advanced Digital Reading and Use of English Sample Test
C1 Advanced Digital Writing Sample Test
C1 Advanced Listening Sample 1 answer key
C1 Advanced Listening Sample 1 tapescript
C1 Advanced Reading & Use of English Test Sample 1 Answer key
Speaking test samples are the same as those provided for the paper-based sample test. Please find these in the folder in the paper-based sample test section below.
Sample paper 1 for C1 Advanced
Sample paper 2 for C1 Advanced
The Cambridge English Scale is used to report results for our qualifications and tests. The scores provide a detailed understanding of the candidateâs level. They are also consistent across the different exams, making it easy to compare results and understand progress from one level to the next.
For guidance on converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores, download our guide for teachers.Â
Converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores
Have you thought about taking digital exams? Find out more about the benefits of digital exams .
Watch this short video to see what itâs like to take a digital exam.
Watch the video tutorial  for help on how to complete an C1 Advanced digital exam.
For teachers, we have a teaching tips booklet . If your candidates have questions, you can find the answers in our frequently asked questions (FAQs) .
Watch Sofia on the day of her exam, and learn what itâs like to take a Cambridge English Qualification, from B1 Preliminary for Schools to C2 Proficiency.
Explore useful information about the exam day , including exam day tips and FAQs to help you prepare.
This video will help your students understand what happens during a C1 Advanced speaking test. You can also download examiner comments.
Read the examiner comments for Marta, Giovanna and Annaâs speaking test
Read the examiner comments for Pedro and Isabelaâs speaking test
Read the examiner comments for Teresa and Antonioâs speaking test
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The Exam Preparation Journey is a central online hub with teaching tips, classroom activities and more to support teachers preparing students for Cambridge English Qualifications.
Whatever stage you are at â starting out, considering a mock test or exploring your digital options â we offer timely support when you need it. Find advice such as how to create a positive learning environment, structure exam readiness and save time with lots of practical ideas ready to use in class.
Go to the Exam Preparation Journey
The C1 Advanced handbook gives an overview of the exam and its place within Cambridge English examinations. This is followed by a focus on each paper and includes content, advice on preparation, and example papers.
C1 Advanced Handbook for teachers
C1 Advanced: Handbook for Teachers Listening Audio Files (ZIP, 58MB)
These are the listening files related to the Sample Paper from the Teacher's Handbook.
Our lesson plans include everything you need to deliver a 45-minute lesson in the classroom or online, including activity sheets, homework, and more.
C1 Advanced lesson plans
Developing listening skills for C1 Advanced: A guide for teachers
Developing reading skills for C1 Advanced: A guide for teachers
Assessing writing for C1 Advanced: A guide for teachers
C1 Advanced Teaching Tips from Cambridge English examiners.
Running a mock test gives your learners a true exam day experience, helps you understand their progress and decide if they are ready for their exam. Our interactive mock test toolkits are full of tips, strategies and materials to help you ensure your students are confident and fully prepared for their exam.
Mock test toolkit for older learners
Classroom warmers activity booklet
This booklet includes seven exercises each for primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary students.
Cambridge English webinars and Facebook Live sessions are a great way for teachers to stay up to date with the latest developments and to interact with our experts.
Our webinars provide you with invaluable information about our exams, and cover a wide spectrum of subjects, including effective teaching methods, tips to improve student engagement and online professional development to help you develop your career.
Webinars for teachers
You can connect with a lively community of teachers on our Teaching English with Cambridge Facebook page . We regularly post teaching tips, answer your questions, and host regular Live events to give you a chance to engage with the community.
We have hundreds of free English learning activities to help you prepare for your C1 Advanced exam.
Find out more
Download our guide to the C1 Advanced exam, with advice on preparing for the exam, tips for exam day, and useful links.
C1 Advanced: Information for candidates
Practice your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills using these free online resources. These materials are designed to help you to develop reading for gist and detail, managing unfamiliar vocabulary, as well as planning, drafting, editing, and writing for the exam.
Reading and Use of English Part 5
Reading and Use of English Part 6
Writing Part 1
Speaking Part 2
Listening Part 1
C1 Advanced Writing checklist
This checklist is designed to help you assess your writing. It includes a summary of the assessment criteria, and useful questions about each writing type in the C1 Advanced Writing paper.
Join our lively Facebook community and take part in quizzes, talk to other English language learners and learn on-the-go.
Subscribe to our Learn English with Cambridge YouTube channel to get helpful tips for exam preparation, and lots of English language advice.
Test & Train is an easy-to-use practice tool to help you get ready for your C1 Advanced exam through short, sharp workouts. With over 500 practice questions, you can use it anytime, anywhere and as many times as your like!
Get started today
Write & Improve is a free online tool to help you practise and improve your writing. Just choose a task, write or upload your answer and use the feedback to quickly improve.
Cambridge english advanced: cae writing part 1.
Which subjects may no longer be taught at secondary school? | |
---|---|
Music | |
Geography | |
History | |
Art |
Write an essay discussing TWO of the subjects mentioned above. You should explain why you think these subjects should continue to be taught at secondary schools, giving reasons to support your answer.
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed by other readers, but you should use your own words as far as possible.
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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 readerâs 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?
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.
For information on the CISL CAE and FCE programs, click here .
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COMMENTS
Writing an essay is the first part of the C1 Advanced (CAE) Cambridge writing paper and it is obligatory. You need to answer the question with between 220-260 words. In the text, you need to analyse a question using different points of view. It is a semi-formal/formal text and should be impartial until the conclusion.
The essay has a neutral tone and uses appropriate phrases to introduce and connect ideas through the text (On theone hand; On the other hand; In my opinion). The essay topic is clearly communicated in the first paragraph and the main points are developed in separate paragraphs.
and write a coherent and cohesive essay. 1. Make a paragraph plan in your notebook using your ideas from Step 1 and the suggestions below. Introduction Essay title: The impact of [your topic] on society today. Reflect on the essay title and the topic . Briefly describe the topic you have chosen to write about
C1 Advanced Essay (CAE) Examples. December 16, 2019. This is a collection of CAE (Cambridge C1) essays written by my students, with my thoughts about them. There's also a video I made of me writing an essay. If you want CAE writing tips, there are lots in the writing section of this site. Special pandemic offer: For a limited time I am giving ...
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.
C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay: Download (PDF) An essay is the first part of the C1 advanced writing and it is obligatory. You need to answer the question with between 220-260 words. In the text, you need to analyse a question using different points of view. It is a semi-formal/formal text and should be impartial until the conclusion.
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.
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.
Click here for C1 essay examples. If you don't want to watch the video, here's the brief version! Writing a CAE Essay Basics. You must write an essay. (In part 2 you get a choice, but the essay is always mandatory.) You have about 45 minutes. The tasks always look the same. Don't 'lift' too much from the question - use your own words ...
Let me show you all the little tips and tricks that will take your essay writing skills to the next level. We discuss how to analyse a task as well as the ty...
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:
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.
Help for students needing practice in Writing skills for CAE including help with essays, letters, reports and proposals. Weekly Writing tasks, sample answers, video lessons and more! Support for Cambridge English Advanced Writing skills
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 ...
Before you write your C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay, you must plan! But before you plan, you need to understand what type of essay structure to use. If you don't k...
C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing: Format. Format: cae writing paper contains two parts. Timing: 1 hour 30 minutes. Parts: 2. Task: candidates are required to complete two tasks: a compulsory task in Part 1. one task from a choice of three in Part 2. A range from the following: email/letter; essay; report; review; proposal.
In the two parts of the C1 Advanced Writing paper, you have to show that you can write different types of text in English. Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes. Number of parts: 2. Number of questions: Part 1: one compulsory question. Part 2: one question from a choice of three.
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 ...
Free: Digital sample tests. Cambridge English Qualifications Digital have now replaced our old computer-based exams and offer you even more benefits. Watch this video tutorial for help on how to complete an C1 Advanced digital exam. Please also review this document which covers minor differences between the sample tests and the live exam.. Listening. Time: approximately 40 minutes
Difficulty level: C1 /Advanced. Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. You have read an online article about changes in the types of subject taught at secondary schools. The article says that some traditional subjects may no longer be taught at school. Four of the subjects discussed are mentioned below, along with some of ...
đšâđđ©âđ Need more help? Check out my B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency online preparation courses here: https://ttp-exam-academy-ben.thinkific ...
To prepare for the C1 Advanced exam, learners should: Read widely to familiarise themselves with the conventions and styles of different types of writing (i.e. reports, proposals, reviews, letters and essays). Write 10-minute plans for a variety of questions in past papers, so that planning becomes automatic and quick.
Cambridge CAE tips: Writing an Essay. 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 ...