Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

CAE is an exam for advanced users of English. This exam is intended to show that you can use written and spoken English for most professional and social purposes.

Is CAE for you?

Can you...

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

If you are working towards acquiring those skills and your level of English currently permits you to do approximately those things, then CAE is probably the right exam for you.

What level is CAE?

CAE is at Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

At C1 level, typical users can be expected to:

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

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

What is on the CAE exam?

There are five papers on the CAE exam:

Reading 1 hour 15 minutes
You will need to be able to understand texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing 1 hour 30 minutes
You will have to show you can produce two different pieces of writing such as an article, a report, a proposal and a review.

Use of English 1 hour
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening 40 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, radio broadcasts, speeches and talks.

Speaking 15 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidate and by yourself.

Find out more

Past papers, etc | FAQs about CAE | CAE resources for teachers