Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

Who is it for?
If you can communicate with confidence in English for work or study purposes, this is the
exam for you. CAE is taken by more than 60,000 people each year in more than 60
countries.
CAE is one of the Cambridge exams.
What is the CAE test like?
The test has five sections:

1. Reading - 75 minutes

2. Writing - 2 or 3 tasks , 120 minutes

3. Use of English- 5 tasks with 50 questions - 60 minutes

4. Listening - 40 minutes, 30 questions

5. Speaking - interview, normally with another candidate, 15 minutes

Score
A, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)
CAE pass is accepted for entry to some universities.
The Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening & Speaking sections each count for 20% of
the marks.
You will receive a Statement of Results. If your performance ranges between CEFR Levels
B2 and C2, you will also receive a certificate.
Pass grades: 
Grade A (C2), Grade B (C1), Grade C (C1)
If you do not pass, but still do reasonably well you are issued a B2 certificate.
Level
Advanced. Click here to see a comparison of CAE with other exams.
Paper-based or computer-based exams
You can do the CAE exam on a computer or on paper.
When can I take the test?
Arrange with your closest test centre. The CAE test can be taken most months in either
paper-based or computer-based format. Not all test centres will administer both types of test.
How much does it cost to take CAE?
Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around €150 euros.

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Reading
Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Reading test like?

The test has four sections and takes 75 minutes:

1. Part 1 - three themed texts with multiple-choice questions 

2. Part 2 - text with 6 paragraphs mising

3. Part 3 - long text with multiple-choice questions

4. Part 4 - Multiple matching

Scoring
There are 34 questions in the CAE Reading Test. It makes up 20% of the entire exam.
How to prepare for the CAE Reading test

 Read widely. The texts used in the CAE reading can be: newspapers,
magazines, journals, non-literary books, leaflets, brochures, etc

 Read the instructions carefully before you start

 Read all the text before you answer any questions

 Remember that questions come in the same order as the answers in the text in
the multiple-choice part of the paper.

Cambridge English: CAE Reading 1

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
In this part, there are three themed texts followed by two 4-option multiple-choice questions
on each text.
You are going to read three extracts which are concerned in some way with music. For
questions 1-6, choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.
Extract from a brochure
Iford Manor Festival Season
Iford Manor has been described as one of the most stunning concert venues in the West
Country.  Throughout high summer, Iford Arts stages an internationally renowned festival in a
breathtakingly beautiful pastoral setting. Operatic performances are staged in-the-round in
the intimate surroundings of the Italianate Cloister, which could not be more perfect in terms
of scale and style. While the classical backdrop could hardly be more fitting, the real delight
for our audiences is that, as the sky turns purple overhead, the first stars appear and the first
heady notes resound across the countryside, no-one is seated less than twenty feet from the
performers. The opportunity for a relaxing pre-show picnic in our tranquil gardens
overlooking the meandering River Frome will complete an already magical experience.
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Iford Arts, a registered charity promoting the appreciation of performing arts in the west of
England, aims to benefit the local community by engaging young professional artists and
stimulating young people’s enjoyment of being involved in live performances.  We hope to
support young musicians in their career development by encouraging them to develop
repertoire and perform to a supportive audience and providing the exquisite environment in
which to do so. Iford Arts does not receive any public subsidies, relying on vital private
contributions. We offer various levels of private patronage and corporate sponsorship, each
providing a range of privileges such as priority booking.
1    What aspect of Iford Manor is emphasized in the first paragraph?

 the Italian-style architecture 

 the countryside location 
 the seating arrangements 
 the quality of the music 

2    What is the main purpose in the second paragraph?

 To describe the history of the performances 

 To encourage young musicians to perform at the Manor 
 To encourage people to donate to the charity 
 To inform people about how they can be involved in charity work 

 Cambridge English: CAE Reading 2

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
This page will let you practise for the Certificate in Advanced English exam (from Cambridge
ESOL). This is the format of the second part of the reading section.
You are going to read a magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the
extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one
extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

Renovating the Lymm Water Tower

After eight years of grit and determination, Russell and Jannette Harris have succeeded in
transforming a derelict water tower into a spacious family home, and in doing so, won the
2005 Homebuilding and renovation awards. However, the road to success was relentless, as
what began as a whim turned into an insurmountable challenge, and there were times when
they thought they might never move in. 
1 . 
Finding themselves the owners of the dilapidated structure, the couple then had to decide
what to do with it. Their early visions for the project were fairly modest; they originally
considered wrapping the structure in timber cladding and fitting a copper roof, or keeping the
tower as a folly and building a cottage in the grounds. As time progressed, the couple

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decided that they could use this opportunity to create something far more ambitious. 
2 . 
Julian's masterplan involved wrapping a glass-and-steel extension around the tower, creating
living spaces on various levels. Massive windows would give floor-to -ceiling views of the
countryside, strategically placed so that the morning sun would shine into the kitchen and set
on the dining area. The summer lounge, facing due south, would catch the daytime rays. 
3 . 
Work also had to be done to hide the unsightly selection of antennae on the roof of the old
tower. These could not be removed, as they were essential part of funding the conversion.
So they were rehoused in an extension to the existing stone turret, concealing them from
sight.
4 . 
Thankfully, they were able to reclaim something towards these costs from the income
generated by the radio masts. They also reaped some money by making a television
programme about the project. But with costs soaring to £450,000 and beyond, the family was
forced to cut down on personal spending. They stopped taking family holidays, traded in their
car and lived in cheap rented accommodation. 
5 . 
The extension meanwhile, which accommodates the main living space, is a tribute to
minimalism. There are no pictures. The house is like a work of art in itself, with its sweeping
views of the countryside. White is the dominant colour, and everywhere there are sleek,
curved lines. Even the light switches and plug sockets are discreetly hidden.
6 . 
With a total cost of over £500,000, plus eight years of hard slog, Russell is unsure whether
he would advise other self-builders to put themselves through the trouble. At times, he
wished he had never bought the tower. But when he sits in the roof-top hot tub with 360
degree views over the countryside, he admits that it was worth the effort. And now that the
Lymm Water Tower has been valued at £1.75m by a local agent, the Harrises can surely feel
satisfied with their achievement.

Paragraphs
A  Russell and his wife had lived for several years in the picturesque village of Lymm where
the crumbling 130-year old tower stood. The grade II listed building was one of several
hundred surviving water towers which were built in the 1800s to improve public health across
Britain. This particular tower was currently being used by three mobile phone companies to
anchor their telephone masts. Russell regularly walked along the footpath beside the tower,
and when it went up for auction in 1997, he impulsively put in a bid for £138,000.

B  But finally it all paid off. The end result is both contemporary and luxurious. The original
tower houses a ‘winter' living room on the ground floor. Above it is a master bedroom with an
en suite bathroom on a mezzanine. Above that, there is an office, guest room and a room for
the telecom equipment. Atop it all is a roof garden with views stretching as far as Manchester
and Liverpool.

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C  Work finally began when planning permission was granted in 2002. But before the new
structure could be built, substantial work had to be done to the existing tower. The stonework
was cracked and the turret was damaged. Two skilled stonemasons worked for six months
on its restoration. It was then sandblasted, the water tank was removed, and huge steel
frames were put into place to support the new floors. Only then could foundations be laid for
the extension.

D  Over 60 companies were involved in the construction, and Russell gave up work to act as
project manager. There were problems at almost every stage. If something could go wrong, it
inevitably would. Spirits plummeted and costs spiralled, and Russell and Jannette could do
little but look on as their savings dwindled.

E  Russell and Jannette had just finished renovating a 1920s farmhouse nearby. This was
done in a much more traditional style. By the time they'd finished with it, the once-roofless
property had the typical Aga, log-burning stove, rugs, country pine furniture, dried flowers
and knick-knacks. Chintzy in comparison to the modernist design they attached to the water
tower. Since the work on the tower, they have become a real converts to minimalism.

F  Colour is added to this stark interior by the creative use of lighting, which was designed by
Kate Wilkins, responsible for the lighting scheme at the Tate Modern Art Gallery. The lighting
is subtle, mostly made up of simply concealed fluorescent strips or cold-cathode tubes. The
innovative approach to lighting design won them the prestigious Lighting Design Award.

G  Fate, however, had other ideas. Russell and Jannette had to battle town planners and
local opposition to get their dream on the road. Five years along, work still hadn't started and
the couple were losing heart. All this changed, however, when they met the architect Julian
Baker, who drew up plans for a contemporary design blending old and new. His inspirational
ideas gave them the impetus they needed to kick-start their project.

 Cambridge English: CAE Reading 3

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 
In this part, there is an emphasis on the understanding of a long text, including detail,
opinion, tone, purpose, main idea, implication, attitude, and also text organisation features
such as exemplification, comparison and reference.
You are going to read a magazine article about an African film festival. For questions 1-7,
choose the answer which you think best fits according to the text.
The Sahara Film Festival
After a bumpy 225km drive from a meagre airstrip in Tindouf, south western Algeria, a sprawling
single-story town begins to emerge from the desert’s dust.  As the sun climbs in the cloudless sky,
visitors are rewarded with their first glimpse of Dakhla refugee camp.  It isn’t the most obvious setting
for a film festival, but for seven years, just before the glitz and glamour of Cannes, the Sahrawi people
of Dakhla have hosted actors and film-makers from around the world for this six-day event.  This year,
for the first time, direct flights were laid on from London, giving the opportunity for overseas visitors
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to play a part in this extraordinary occasion.  But despite the energy and excitement, the background to
the film festival is a serious one, as the Sahrawi people have been living for thirty years in this isolated
desert outpost, having been forced to flee their native Western Sahara.

Western Sahara, Africa’s last colony, was taken over by Morocco when the Spanish withdrew in 1976,
despite a ruling from the International Court of Justice.  This was followed by a brutal 16-year war,
during which time tens of thousands of Sahrawis fled across the Algerian border to refugee camps. In
1991, a ceasefire agreement was drawn up, in which a referendum on self-determination was promised
to decide the fate of the country and its people.  However, almost twenty years later, the gears of
diplomacy have turned slowly and nothing has happened.  Meanwhile the refugees have been left
stranded in five refugee camps dotted around the vast, inhospitable desert. 

Dakhla, home to nearly 30,000 of these refugees, is the most remote of these camps, being located 175
km from the nearest city.  Unlike its namesake, the beautiful coastal city in Western Sahara, this
Dakhla has no paved roads and is entirely dependent on outside supplies for food and water.
Temperatures regularly top 120 degrees, there is minimal vegetation and there are frequent
sandstorms.  Locally it is known as the Devil’s Garden.  Despite these obvious setbacks, the town is
clean and well organised, with wide sandy streets.  Houses and tents are grouped in neat family
compounds.  There are hospitals, funded by aid agencies, and a good standard of education.  For the
duration of the festival, an articulated lorry is parked in the central compound, and a multiplex-sized
screen is mounted on its side.  Around it are stalls and tents housing workshops and exhibitions.

The aim of the festival is to raise international awareness on the plight of the refugees.  However, it
also offers a rare chance for the refugees to go to the movies and experience some educational
opportunities.  It is hoped that it might foster a new generation of Sahrawi film-makers, especially as
this year, the festival also celebrated the opening of a permanent film, radio and television school in a
neighbouring camp.

The program of films for this year included over forty films from around the world.  Films range from
international blockbusters to various works on and by the Sahrawi people.  The themes mostly centre
on experiences of struggle and hope, but there were lighter moments, such as an animated film for the
children and a flash of Rachel Weisz’s naked bottom during the ancient Egyptian epic Agora which
proved to be a highlight for many older boys. However, the runaway favourite was ‘a Victime’, a
documentary about Ibrahim Leibeit, a 19-year-old Sahrawi who lost his leg to a land mine last year.

Films are screened at night, so the daytime is taken up with exhibitions, camel races and football
matches.  One afternoon the London-based charity ‘Sandblast’ put on a joint workshop with a film-
maker, giving refugees the opportunity to learn about filmmaking and create their own video
messages.  These were put online so that their extended families in Western Sahara, from whom they
have been separated for more than 33 years, could watch them. Helen Whitehead, a film-maker from
London said, ‘Working together really broke down language and cultural barriers.  It was very
rewarding, and we came across some real talent.’

More than 500 visitors flew into Tindouf on charter planes and braved the rough drive to the
settlement. All the visitors to the festival stay with Sahrawi families, sharing their homes and partaking
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of their food. Living with these displaced people gives overseas participants an invaluable insight into
the conditions in which the refugees live.  Alongside the film buffs there are real celebrities such as
actors Victoria Demayo and Helena Olano.  They are mostly B and C listers from the Spanish film
industry, although the real stars do take an interest.  Director Javier Cardozo was a visitor last year,
and Penelope Cruz is a long-term supporter, but pulled out of attending the festival this year at the last
minute.    Will the celebrity backing make a difference to the plight of the refugees?  Possibly. 
Cardozo’s suggestion that the Spanish, as the ex-colonial masters of Western Sahara, were responsible
for the situation received significant coverage in the Spanish Media and put some pressure on the
government to take some action.  However, although the campaign in Spain is growing steadily, the
focus of attention cannot only be on the Spanish government.

On the final day of the gathering, there is a dusty red-carpet ceremony in which the White Camel
award for best picture is presented to Jordi Ferrer and Paul Vidal for ‘El Problema’, their 2009 film
about Western Sahara.  Actors, activists and festival organisers gather on stage in high spirits to show
their solidarity with the refugees.  But as the stalls are dismantled and the trucks are driven away, the
thoughts of the visitors turn to the people they are leaving behind.  They may never get the chance to
see the world or fulfil their dreams of becoming actors or film-makers.  For them, there is nowhere to
go.  Dakhla is essentially a desert prison.
1    In the first paragraph, the writer emphasises:

 the enthusiasm that the festival instils 

 the sensational nature of the festival 
 the festival’s increasing media attention 
 the festival’s unlikely location 

Cambridge English: CAE Reading 4

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 
This page will let you practise for the Certificate in Advanced English exam (from Cambridge
ESOL). This is the format of the 4th part of the reading section. This is a Multiple matching
exercise. The questions focus on specific information, detail, opinion and attitude.
You are going to read four different opinions from leading scientists about the future of fuel.
For questions 1-15, choose from the writers A-D. The writers may be chosen more than
once.
A Howard Bloom, Author:

Even though most people are convinced that peak oil has already passed, to me, peak oil is
just a hypothesis. There is a theory that carbon molecules can be found in interstellar gas
clouds, comets and in space ice, and if this is the case, our planet could ooze oil for ever.
And even if we stay earthbound, those who say we have raped the planet of all its resources
are wrong. There's a huge stock of raw materials we haven't yet learned to use. There are
bacteria two miles beneath our feet which can turn solid granite into food. If bacteria can do
it, surely we creatures with brains can do it better. As far as the near future of energy is

7
concerned, I believe the most promising alternative fuels are biofuels, such as ethanol. It's an
alcohol made from waste products such as the bark of trees, woodchips, and other 'waste
materials'. And that's not the only waste that can create energy. My friend in the biomass
industry is perfecting an energy-generation plant which can run on human waste. We
produce that in vast quantities, and it's already gathered in centralised locations. 

B Michael Lardelli, Lecturer in Genetics at The University of Adelaide 

Nothing exists on this planet without energy. It enables flowers and people to grow and we
need it to mine minerals, extract oil or cut wood and then to process these into finished
goods. So the most fundamental definition of money is as a mechanism to allow the
exchange and allocation of different forms of energy. Recently, people have been using more
energy than ever before. Until 2005 it was possible to expand our energy use to meet this
demand. However, since 2005 oil supply has been in decline, and at the same time, and as a
direct result of this, the world's economy has been unable to expand, leading to global
recession. With the world's energy and the profitability of energy production in decline at the
same time, the net energy available to support activities other than energy procurement will
decrease. We could increase energy production by diverting a large proportion of our
remaining oil energy into building nuclear power stations and investing in renewable forms of
energy. However, this is very unlikely to happen in democratic nations, because it would
require huge, voluntary reductions in living standards. Consequently, the world economy will
continue to contract as oil production declines. With energy in decline, it will be impossible for
everyone in the world to become wealthier. One person's increased wealth can only come at
the expense of another person's worsened poverty. 

C Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell 

People are understandably worried about a future of growing energy shortages, rising prices
and international conflict for supplies. These fears are not without foundation. With continued
economic growth, the world's energy needs could increase by 50% in the next 25 years.
However, I do not believe that the world is running out of energy. Fossil fuels will be able to
meet growing demand for a long time in the future. Taking unconventional resources into
account, we are not even close to peak oil. The priority for oil companies is to improve
efficiency, by increasing the amount of oil recovered from reservoirs. At present, just over a
third is recovered. We can also improve the technology to control reservoir processes and
improve oil flow. However, these projects are costly, complex and technically demanding,
and they depend on experienced people, so it is essential to encourage young people to take
up a technical career in the energy industry. Meanwhile, alternative forms of energy need to
be made economically viable. International energy companies have the capability, the
experience and the commercial drive to work towards solving the energy problem so they will
play a key role. But it is not as simple as merely making scientific advances and developing
new tools; the challenge is to deliver the technology to people worldwide. Companies will
need to share knowledge and use their ideas effectively. 

D Craig Severance, blogger 

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What will it take to end our oil addiction? It's time we moved on to something else. Not only
are world oil supplies running out, but what oil is still left is proving very dirty to obtain. The
Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred precisely because the easy-to-obtain oil is already
tapped. If we don't kick oil now, we will see more disasters as oil companies move to the
Arctic offshore and clear more forests. The cheap petroleum is gone; from now on, we will
pay steadily more and more for our oil — not just in dollars, but in the biological systems that
sustain life on this planet. The only solution is to get on with what we will have to do anyway -
end our dependence on it! There are many instances in which oil need not be used at all.
Heat and electricity can be produced in a multitude of other ways, such as solar power or
natural gas. The biggest challenge is the oil that is used in transportation. That doesn't mean
the transportation of goods worldwide, it's the day-to-day moving around of people. It means
we have to change what we drive. The good news is that it's possible. There are a wide
range of fuel efficient cars on offer, and the number of all-electric plug-in cars is set to
increase. For long distance travel and freight, the solution to this is to look to rail. An
electrified railway would not be reliant upon oil, but could be powered by solar, geothermal,
hydro, and wind sources. There is a long way to go, but actions we take now to kick our oil
addiction can help us adapt to a world of shrinking oil supplies. 

Which writer:

1. believes oil will be available for many more years 

2. believes that from now on, less oil is available

3. believes there are ways to obtain energy that we have not yet discovered

4. sees a great potential in natural fuels

5. believes the fuel crisis will cause the poor to become poorer

6. sees energy and the economy as intrinsically linked

7. believes we should reduce our dependance on oil immediately

8. believes that people need to be attracted to working in the energy industry

9. believes that it is unlikely that governments will invest a lot of money into

alternative energy

10. believes that future oil recovery will lead to more environmental disasters
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11. believes that better technology can help to maintain oil production levels

12. believes there may be sources of oil outside our planet

13. thinks that oil companies are responsible for developing other types of energy

14. recognises that inventions that can help to prevent an energy crisis are already

available

15. believes we can use our rubbish to create energy

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Writing

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Writing test like?

The test has two sections and takes 90 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Write an article, report or letter

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, you may have to write an article, a report, a proposal or a
letter. 
180–220 words. 

2. Part 2 - Situationally based writing task

Choose one of four questions. You have to read some input material of no more than
80 words which describes a situation, and write one of the following: an article, a
competition entry, a contribution to a longer piece, an essay, an information sheet, a
letter, a proposal, a report or a review. 
220–260 words.
Set Texts
Instead of answering part 2 above, you can choose to write about one of the set texts. The
set text titles for 2014 are:
William Golding: Lord of the Flies 
Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying a film
version as well as, or instead of, the novel.
P D James: The Lighthouse
There is currently no film version of this book.
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The set texts will be discontinued from 2015.
Scoring
The 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 CAE Writing test

 Choose a question that you are interested in. You will write better if you know the
subject.

 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.

Cambridge English: CAE Writing 1

Difficulty level: C1 /Upper Intermediate
Write your answer in 180-220 words in an appropriate style.

You are organising a weekend away with a group of friends. You receive an email from a
friend, Louisa, asking whether her sister and niece can come too.
Read the extract from Louisa’s email and read the other information. Write a reply to Louisa,
answering her questions and giving reasons.
You said you have places left for the weekend away, and I was wondering, can my sister
come too? I think you met her when you stayed with us. The thing is, she has a three-year-
old daughter, Maddy, and my sister wants to bring her as well.  Do you think it’s possible?
Louisa
Plan for the weekend: Saturday
Morning:     Theme Park – Looking forward to going on some wild rides!

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 Check in at our holiday cottage. Beautiful Lake! Bring a torch and boots – it will be
Afternoon: 
muddy!
Evening:  Great curry restaurant, followed by dancing at a night club!
Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct
word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
Email about a weekend away
Hi Louisa , 
Thanks for your email . I’m glad you can join us for the weekend away . There are indeed still
free places , so your sister can come if she wants . I think the theme park has some rides for
children , but my friends and I are definitely going to spend the day on the big rides , so your
sister might have to spend time alone with Maddy , and so she might feel a bit left out . There
is a twin room free that your sister and Maddy can have . Your sister will have to be careful
with Maddy because there’s a lake on the site and we wouldn’t want Maddy to fall in .  It gets
quite muddy there and it will be getting dark when we arrive , so your sister had better not let
Maddy run off . As you know , I’ve booked a night out at a curry restaurant and a bar in the
evening , and I don’t think that’ll be suitable for Maddy . She’ll probably need to be tucked up
in bed by that time . Your sister will have to stay at the cottage alone to look after her , unless
you’re happy to stay in and keep her company . So , in short , your sister is welcome to come
, but it might be a bit boring for her at times . 
love
 Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (brochure)
Difficulty level: C1 /Upper Intermediate
Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. 
Your college is hosting some visitors from England. Your teacher wants to create a brochure
about things to do in your town, and asks the students to write about a place they like to go.
Write about a place you like to visit in or near your town. Describe it and state what young
people can do there. State what type of person would enjoy this place. Indicate how to get
there and give details of any costs and prices.
Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct
word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
A tourist brochure
While you are in Westbury , you must visit the White Horse Country Park . The park is
situated on the top of a hill overlooking the town , and has magnificent views across the
countryside . The famous white horse , a chalk symbol which can be seen from many miles
away , lies on the side of the hillside . The park is also the site of an Iron Age fort , and
everyone , from young children to adults , can enjoy climbing on the banks and can even roll
down some of the gentle slopes . If you have a kite , bring it along because there is often a
strong breeze on the hill . There are a number of paths around the park where you can take
in the view . These may not be suitable for people with pushchairs , wheel chair users and
people who are unsure of their footing . After your exertions , you can enjoy an ice cream
12
from the ice cream van which is always present . The easiest way to get there is by car . Just
leave the town along the Bratton road and take the road on the right next to the pottery
shop . The road is well signposted . If you don’t have a car , you can get a taxi . A trip will
cost about £5 from the town centre . Otherwise it’s a steep , 45-minute walk . Entrance to the
park is free of charge .

  Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (letter)

Difficulty level: C1 /Upper Intermediate
Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. 
You see this advertisement in an international student magazine.

Volunteers needed
We are looking for volunteers to help out at a famous, international sporting event.
We’re looking for friendly, respectful people with good language skills, good team
skills and a ‘can-do’ attitude. We need people to welcome delegates, provide customer
service and solve problems.
If you think you have what it takes, apply now.
Write an application to become a volunteer. Mention:

 your language skills

 your personal qualities

 examples of times when you have demonstrated team skills

 any relevant work experience

Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct
word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
A letter of application
Dear Sir / Madam , 
I read your advertisement in Students International and I would be very interested in
volunteering in the sporting event you are organising . I am a French student and I have
been studying English for eight years . I have taken part in several language exchange visits
to the United Kingdom , so I can communicate confidently and quite fluently in English in
social situations . I also speak a little Italian and German . 
I believe that I have good personal qualities which make me an effective volunteer for your
event . I am outgoing and enjoy meeting people from different cultures . I have played in the
college volleyball and football teams for over four years , so I am used to working with other
people and encouraging them in our shared endeavours . I also have work experience in
working on the front line with customers . I work at weekends in our local supermarket ,
which requires me to deal with customers with a pleasant attitude and liaise with other staff . I
have also worked as a receptionist in a hotel in the south of France as a summer job . Here ,
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I had to welcome guests and deal with any problems which arose . I can send you references
from these employers if you need them.
Thank you for your interest in my application . I look forward to hearing from you .

 Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (review)

Difficulty level: C1 /Upper Intermediate

Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. 

A college which you attended in the past has written to you asking to what extent its facilities
met the needs of the students academically and socially. 
Write a letter to the college answering these questions. Suggest areas where the college could
improve facilities.

Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
A review
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give feedback about my experiences at Brightwell
College . Firstly , I’d like to talk about the teachers , who were excellent . They prepared us
very well for examinations , and it’s down to them that so many of us obtained good grades .
We always had the opportunity to discuss our ideas in class and the teachers never
dismissed our ideas , no matter how strange they were ! Having said that , the homework
workload was very high . The teachers were very strict about handing it in and rarely gave us
extensions . Although I realise that homework is important , I do feel they could have been
given less homework and been less strict about deadlines , as this often prevented us from
getting involved in sports and clubs and having evening jobs . Furthermore , although the
teaching was excellent , the facilities were not . The text books we used were very outdated ,
the library did not have enough desks , and there were not enough copies of important books
. There were also not enough computers for the whole class to use at the same time .
Socially , there were a lot of sports and music clubs to join , but very few others . I would
have been interested in taking extracurricular classes in drama , woodwork and cookery but
these classes were not available , which was disappointing . Secondly , the school organised
very few outings except for a few geography and biology field trips , and I would have liked
the opportunity to go on activity holidays with my classmates , such as ski trips or adventure
sport weekends .

 Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (letter to a newspaper)

Difficulty level: C1 /Upper Intermediate
Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. 
You recently read an article in an English newspaper asking for money-saving tips for young
people who are just starting college. Write a letter to the newspaper, outlining ways that
students can look after their money.

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Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct
word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
A letter to a newspaper
I would like to respond to your request for money-saving tips for students . As I see it , there
are two main things that a student needs to think about : how increase your income , and
how to reduce your outgoings . 
Getting a part time job is really worthwhile when you’re young . Not only does it bring money
in , but it will impress future employers . Find a job which fits into your schedule . Many shops
offer Saturday jobs , while you can get jobs at bars and restaurants in the evening . There
are also lots of holiday jobs available in hotels , holiday camps or on farms . 
Secondly , you need to decrease what you spent . If you cook for yourself , buy value
products and avoid ready-made meals . Share cheap recipes with friends . You will save
money on food and energy bills if you buy food and cook it in bulk , so get together with
friends and share the cooking . When shopping for clothes and utensils , buy second hand
from markets or from online auction sites . Just don’t get carried away ! It’s easy to spend a
lot when things are cheap ! 
Of course , you don’t want to stop spending altogether , or you will never have any fun ! So
it’s important to prioritise . Decide what’s important to you , whether it’s sports , travel , good
food , nights out or nice clothes , and put enough money aside for that . Then you can scrimp
and save on the things that you consider less important .

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Use of English

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Use of English test like?

The test has five sections and takes 60 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Multiple-choice cloze 

2. Part 2 - Open cloze

3. Part 3 - Word formation

4. Part 4 - Gapped sentences

5. Part 5 - Key word transformations

Scoring
There are 50 questions in the CAE Use of English Test. It makes up 20% of the entire exam.
How to prepare for the CAE Use of English test

 The Use of English paper tests your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

 Read as much as possible, and use a dictionary to help you learn new words
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  Use a grammar book to help you understand sentence structure

 Read the instructions carefully before you start each section

 Look at the example question at the beginning of each section

 Correct spelling is necessary. Get into the habit of checking the spelling of words

 Read the surrounding context before giving an answer

 Don’t give alternative answers for any questions

 Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

This activity helps with part 1 of the Use of English paper. You should complete this activity in 15
minutes.

Click on the gaps, then choose the best word to fill the spaces.

Legal fight hits music pirates

The global recording industry has launched its largest wave of legal  against
people suspected of   music files on the internet. The latest move by the
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)   2,100 alleged
uploaders   peer-to-peer (P2P) networks in 16 nations   the UK,
France, Germany and Italy. Thousands of people have agreed to pay compensation since
the campaign  . In the US, civil lawsuits have been   against
more than 15,597 people  September 2003 and there have been 3,590
settlements. 'This is a significant   of our enforcement actions against people
who are uploading and distributing   music on p2p networks,' said IFPI chief
John Kennedy. 'Thousands of people - mostly internet-savvy men in their 20s or 30s - have
learnt to their   the legal and financial risks involved in file-sharing copyrighted
music in large quantities.' Individual cases are generally brought by the national
associations   the recording industry, and in some cases by the
labels,   civil complaints. The UK record industry has so far brought 97 cases,
with a   65 covered by the latest action. More than 140,000 in compensation
has been paid to the British Phonographic Industry by 71 individuals. Those who 
 to resolve cases face civil court action.
This activity helps with part 2 of the Use of English paper. You should complete this
activity in 15 minutes.
Click in the gaps and type one word in each gap.
US publication Rolling Stone magazine is   launch in China. The
magazine,   should hit shelves early next year, will focus on China's emerging
youth culture as well   foreign arts and entertainment. Rolling Stone   
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first published in San Francisco in 1967 to chronicle cultural changes in the US. "We feel
Chinese music and arts   maturing rapidly and that a Chinese edition   
be viable," said Jimmy Jung, of One World Publishing. Rolling Stone   licensed
Hong Kong-based One World to publish the Chinese-language edition. Mr Jung said the
magazine, to be printed in simplified Chinese characters, will   a mix of local
content   primarily by Beijing-based staff and translations of articles from the
US  . "We want to make   that we're faithful to the spirit of the brand,"
said Jung. He added that   Hong Kong and Taiwan had more developed pop
cultures, mainland China   more important. "We feel China offers greater potential
and we want to be there from the  ," said Jung, whose company also   
Chinese editions of British car magazine, Top Gear and gadget magazine T3.

This free CAE Use of English Practice Test helps with the word formation and vocabulary
that you need to master for the CAE.
Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a
word that fits in the gap in the same line.

Second Language Learning

There has been much debate in recent times about when young people should take up a
second language. This has been especially fuelled in recent times by the
increasing   placed on the English
IMPORTANT language. It is now commonplace to see parents providing a substantial
amount of  on additional tuition on language FUNDING lessons to give their
children every   edge. In the past
COMPETITION
decade, language institutes have sprung up in urban NUMBER
centres, all claiming to provide rapid   in English. ADVANCED
There has been a push by many parents to expose their children to English in their 
years. This, many claim, will make the FORMATION language more  and
ensure that all pronunciation errors INSTINCT can be avoided. There is some evidence
which points to youngsters who have been raised in   families, where the
language LANGUAGE
spoken at home is different to the one that they  with CONVERSATION
in their external environment. While these children can switch between two languages with
greater  , it remains to be seen EASYwhether this is  when learning
additional languages. ADVANTAGE

This activity helps with part 4 of the Use of English paper.

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There are 21 questions in this test. 
Think of one word only which can be used appropriately in all three sentences.

Question 1  

The factory was on the ________ of the valley

A river runs through the centre of the village with the church on one ________ and the
market place on the other.
Julia was lying on her ________ on the bed.

Type the word here: 

This activity helps with the key word transformations section of the Use of English paper.
There are 9 questions in this quiz. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar
meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You
must use between two and five words, including the word given.

1.   Brian was really interested in North American history in his school days. INTEREST

Brian    North American history in his school days.

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Listening

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Listening test like?

The test has four sections and takes about 40 minutes:

1. Part 1 - three short extracts from conversations with multiple-choice questions 

2. Part 2 - Sentence completion

3. Part 3 - conversation with multiple-choice questions

4. Part 4 - Multiple matching

Scoring
There are 30 questions in the CAE Listening Test. It makes up 20% of the entire exam.
 
How to prepare for the CAE Listening test

 Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will do. Listen to the radio,
English language TV, podcasts...

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  Recordings may be: monologues: announcements, radio broadcasts, speeches, talks,
lectures, anecdotes, etc.; or interacting speakers: radio broadcasts, interviews,
discussions, etc.

 You will hear the audio twice

 Read the instructions carefully before you start

 You have time to read the questions before you hear the audio

 Think about the topic, the speaker(s) and the context as you read the questions.

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

In this part, you will hear short extracts from exchanges between interacting speakers with
two multiple-choice questions on each extract.
You’ll hear two different extracts. For questions 1-4, choose the answer which fits best
according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract. You can listen to the
audio twice.
ou hear two people talking about World Cup Football.
1    What do the two people agree about?

 They believe the standard of the football is good. 

 They think it is a good opportunity to socialise. 
 They agree that it gives a sense of global unity. 

2    What, in the man’s opinion, is the best thing about this year’s tournament?

 It takes place in a similar time zone. 

 His team are expected to do well. 
 The tournament coincides with his time off from work. 

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

In this part, you will hear a monologue (which may be introduced by a presenter). You then
have to complete 8 sentences with information heard on the recording. You can listen to the
audio twice.
You will hear a radio programme about the life of the singer, Lena Horne. For questions 1-8,
complete the sentences.
The 'talented tenth' was a label given to those African Americans who had good social
positions and were  .She left school and began her singing career at the well-
known  .Her mother was keen that Lena's singing career would bring about the

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collapse of  .Lena refused to sing for audiences of servicemen and prisoners
which were  .When Lena entered Hollywood, black actors were generally only
hired to act in the roles of  .While she was working for Hollywood, Lena found
that, during the  , much of her spoken work was removed from the film.
Lena spent a lot of the 1950s working in   due to her being considered a
Communist. Most people will remember Lena for her  .
in this part, you will hear a conversation between two or more speakers. You then have to
answer 6 multiple choice questions which test your understanding of the speakers' attitudes
and opnions. You can listen to the audio twice. 
You will hear a radio interview with the comedian Brain Conley, who does a considerable
amount of work in panto, a type of family-friendly show which is popular at Christmas. For
questions 1-6, choose the answer which fits best according to what you hear.

1    Brian likes Birmingham because:

 It has provided him with a steady income 

 It is where he grew up 
 It was where he first became famous 

2    When they discuss children’s participation in panto, Brian says that

 he prefers children not to come up on stage 

 it’s important to get the parents’ permission if a child wants to participate 
 he thinks that children’s participation adds a certain quality to the show 

3    According to Brian, the advantage of panto is that

 All the actors can change their lines to reflect current events. 
 The qualities required in panto match his talents. 
 It gives him the chance to play a comedy character. 

4    Brian became involved in comedy because

 He had wanted to do it since he was a child. 

 His friends at school encouraged him to do it. 
 He found he could earn more by doing comedy. 

5    What does Brian say about providing comedy for corporate events?

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  It is easy because the audience has had a lot to drink. 
 He has learnt how to respond to comments from the audience. 
 It’s the only way for many comedians to find work. 

6    What does Brian feel with regards to nerves?

 He agrees with a comment someone made early in his career 

 He no longer feels nervous because he is more experienced 
 The extent of his nerves has changed over the years 

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

In this part, you will hear five speakers. Each speaker talks about a related topic. In this
example all the speakers are talking about holidays. There are two blocks of five matching
questions. Read the questions carefully before you listen. You can listen to the audio twice.
Click on the 'See script' button to review your answers.
You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their recent holidays or
breaks.

For questions 1-5, choose from the list the type of holiday the person had.

1. Speaker 1: 
2. Speaker 2: 
3. Speaker 3: 
4. Speaker 4: 
5. Speaker 5: 

For questions 6-10, choose from the list what each speaker is expressing.

6. Speaker 1: 
7. Speaker 2: 
8. Speaker 3: 
9. Speaker 4: 
10. Speaker 5: 

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Speaking

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Speaking test like?

The test has four sections and takes 15 minutes:
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Normally you will do the speaking test with another candidate. The two of you will meet two
examiners. One of the examiners will talk to you, the other does not particpate in the
conversations.

 Speaking part 1: short questions and answers between you and the examiner

 Speaking part 2: 'Long turn' .The examiner gives you between two and five
photographs and asks you to talk about them. You have to speak for 1 minute without
interruption and the interlocutor then asks the other candidate to comment on what
you have said for about 30 seconds. The other candidate receives a different set of
photographs and you have to listen and comment when they have finished speaking.

 Speaking part 3: Collaborative task. Conversation with the other candidate. The
examiner gives you some pictures and a task to do. You have to talk with the other
candidate and make a decision.

 Speaking part 4: Discussion. Further discussion with the other candidate based on
the topics or issues raised in the task in Part 3.
Scoring
The Speaking section is worth 25% of the total score for the exam.
Your speaking is assessed using five criteria:

 Grammar - have you used a range of grammar structures

 Lexical resource - have you used a range of vocabulary

 Discourse management - have you participated effectively in the conversations and

discussions?

 Proununciation

 Interactive Communication - have you completed the tasks effectively?

How to prepare for CAE Speaking

 Listen carefully to what the examiner has asked you to do.

 Speak as much as you can, with your friends

 Practise looking at photographs and speaking about them
 Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will do. Listen to the radio,
English language TV, podcasts...

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