CAE
The CAE exam requires a high level of English, sufficient for admission to certain British universities and for professional use.
If you want to work or study abroad, or dream of a career at an international company or organisation, CAE will help you reach your goal. The CAE certificate is recognised by more than 3,000 universities, colleges, and public and private organisations worldwide. It's taken by candidates planning to study at universities in the UK and Australia, TAFE colleges, and universities and colleges in the USA and Canada, as well as for visa purposes.
The main benefit of the CAE exam is that the CAE certificate is recognised by many institutions worldwide. The exam will also build your confidence and provide good motivation to move up to the next level - preparing for and taking the next Cambridge exam, Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE).
On the international scale the CAE exam level is C1 (Upper-Intermediate). Taking the exam requires advanced English knowledge, the ability to understand linguistically challenging texts, including their implied meaning, and to communicate with ease, using a range of language resources effectively.
| CAE | Reading | Writing | Use of English | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 h 15 min | 1 h 30 min | 1 h | 40 min | 15 min |
| Weighting % | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% |
- Reading consists of 4 parts and 34 questions. Tasks include matching against possible options, multiple choice, and filling gaps in a text.
- Writing consists of 2 parts. The writing section includes 2 tasks of 250 words each: the first task - writing a letter, description or report; the second - one task chosen from four options: an article, essay, letter, story, review, or a task based on a set text. The second part includes a task requiring prior reading of so-called "set text options" books. This essay must reflect details of the book the candidate has read beforehand: e.g. character names, plot, etc. The book list is the same for all countries and changes every two years. From January 2014 to December 2014, the following texts could be used: William Golding: Lord of the Flies (any edition), and P.D. James: The Lighthouse (any edition).
- Use of English consists of 5 parts and 50 questions. Tasks include filling gaps in a text with no answer options, multiple choice, changing text style, and word transformation and word-building.
- Listening consists of 4 parts and 30 questions. Possible tasks: multiple choice, sentence completion, matching against options, etc.
- Speaking consists of 4 parts. This part of the exam takes the form of a conversation between two examiners and two candidates at once. Tasks in this section include: an interview with the examiner about free time, studies, career, etc.; a 1-minute individual monologue based on a prompt card; a joint task with the other candidate and discussion.
Each part of the exam counts for 20% of the total score. Candidates who pass receive the following grades:
- A (80-100%). Level C2
- B (75-79%). Level C1
- C (60-74%). Level C1
- D (55-59%)
- E (0-54%)
Results can be checked online.
More information: CAE website.