CAE (Cambridge English Advanced), also known as C1 Advanced, is a test of English proficiency administered by a department of Cambridge University. It can be taken in more than 2,800 test centers across the world, and is used by both educational institutions (to admit students) and governments / businesses (to test English fluency). It is the second highest English qualification awarded by Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Candidates choose CAE for its universal recognition: over 9,000 Universities, Governments, and Registered Corporations accept CAE scores to evaluate candidates’ abilities to communicate in high level English. The exam takes more than four hours to complete, and has four challenging sections: Reading & Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Candidates who successfully complete the CAE can be confident that they will be able to complete a course of study in the English language at any University in the world.
| Exam Name | CAE (Cambridge English Advanced) |
| Governing Organization | Cambridge University Press & Assessment |
| Official Website | https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/advanced/ |
| Registration Date | (for Exam Date November 7, 2023) November 1, 2023 |
| Registration Fee | INR 7,125 |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (pen/paper and computer-based) |
| Accepted in | 9,000 Universities and Companies worldwide |
| Exam Frequency | Once per week (varies by country) |
| Exam Duration | ~4 hours |
| Total Questions | 86 questions (English & Listening) + 6 parts (Writing & Speaking) |
Candidates may follow these steps to register for the C1 Advanced English Examination:
There are no restrictions that prohibit any candidates from taking the CAE. In practice, it is used mainly by undergraduate degree aspirants and job applicants, and test takers are usually between 16 and 30 years of age. Candidates of any nationality may take the test. However, in practice, countries that do not have at least one CAE test center see a very low number of applicants, as they would have to travel to another country to attempt the offline examination.
There are four sections in the CAE C1 English Advanced paper. There were five earlier, before the Reading and Use of English segments were combined based on user feedback and the push for greater standardization across tests. The entire examination lasts approximately four hours.
| Sections | Time (Minutes) | Questions/Tasks |
| Reading and Use of English | 90 | 56 |
| Writing | 90 | 2 |
| Listening | 40 | 30 |
| Speaking | 15 - 23 | 4 |
| Total | 235 - 243 | 92 |
The Speaking test is held in groups of either two or three candidates. It takes 15 minutes to complete if there are two, and 23 minutes if there are three, so that each test taker gets approximately eight minutes to speak. Candidates cannot choose whether they are part of a group of two or three; it is up to chance.
There is no fixed syllabus or word list for the CAE examination; candidates should ensure that they build up a healthy reading habit and work out as many sample papers as possible.
The CAE Reading Section is primarily a test of English grammar and vocabulary. There are several types of questions in this section, from reading comprehension to sentence correction. The short and long passages are drawn from newspapers, magazines, and stories. Even though there is no prescribed word list, candidates may go through other advanced vocabulary test databases and work out at least 5 sample papers in order to gain familiarity with the section format. This section has only Multiple Choice Questions, arranged into eight tasks.
The CAE Writing Section has two tasks within it, with each piece of writing to be completed within 45 minutes. The two assignments given will be drawn from frequently encountered professional communication templates, including essays, emails, research proposals, entertainment reviews, and event reports. Candidates will be judged on their ability to write simple, concise, error-free prose. It is more important to display a coherent thread of thought running through the essay than it is to use flowery language and advanced vocabulary.
The Listening Section of the CAE is similar to the reading section, with four long audio files replacing the written passages. Each long audio passage will have 7-8 multiple choice questions to be answered based on the material covered, and candidates may take notes to help them answer the questions better. The audio passages are drawn from frequently encountered situations - for example, podcasts, interviews, talks, and simulated conversations in academic and business contexts. The level of language used is not very high; the main skill tested is that of paying attention and making logical conclusions. Test takers must confine themselves to the material covered in the audio file, rather than bringing in their own biases or additional knowledge.
The CAE Speaking Section tests the ability of candidates to complete conversations with multiple strangers or colleagues. Two or three test takers are part of each test group, along with two examiners, one of which speaks to the candidates, and the other observes their ability to communicate with the others. It is as important to give others space and listen as it is to speak; candidates will get high points if they are able to communicate respectfully, and make reasoned logical arguments, rather than monopolizing the flow of conversation. There are several common questions covered in the Speaking test, from basic candidate introductions to segments where test takers have to describe pictures or other visual stimuli provided to them.
The availability of CAE exam dates depends heavily on the country. In India, C1 Advanced test dates are available in most centers at least once a month, with a higher frequency during the early part of the year, when the number of test takers is at its highest.
Candidates must use the “Find a Test Center” tool on the CAE website before registering for the exam. There are more than 20 test centers in over 10 cities in India, with at least two venues in each major city.
The exam fees for the CAE test vary widely from country to country. Even within a country, there may be variance between exam fees in different centers if the conducting organizations are different. The fees below are for CAE centers administered by the British Council, which form a majority of those in India. Refunds are allowed only if the candidate is able to submit a valid medical certificate. However, transferring to a different test date is possible on request, if seats are available on the desired day.
| Service | CAE Exam Fees (INR) |
| Registration Fee | 7,125 |
| Refund / Transfer Fee (Within deadline) | 1,000 |
| Refund / Transfer Fee (After deadline) | 3,825 |
All Cambridge C1 Advanced candidates should first access the model answers for each section of the test, from the Cambridge University Press website. These provide a fair idea of the format of all questions, as well as suggested solution methods. Sample papers can also be downloaded from the same webpage; even if the test taker is taking the computer-based exam, he/she can print out and solve the papers in pen and paper mode, in order to improve both speed and accuracy.
If a candidate is not able to achieve a good score in the practice tests, he/she should consider purchasing CAE mock test packages to get more practice and improve the final score. CAE is not an exam where studying word lists will have sustained impact, and the only reliable way is to work out as many questions as possible. The CAE authorities provide paid test packages, and additional sample tests can be bought from private vendors.
The CAE score is an aggregate of the four individual segments. There are no cutoffs for the four sections, though a few universities may mandate minimum marks in each. Therefore, in most cases, candidates may cover up poor performance in one of the four CAE sections by submitting very strong answers for the other three segments. The only score that most institutions consider is the overall number between 180 and 210 that appears on the CAE scorecard.
Many of the top ranked universities in each country mandate overall IELTS band scores of 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in any individual paper. This corresponds to an overall CAE score of 176, with no paper having a score less than 169. This is not an exact equivalence, as most universities look only at the overall C! Advanced score. Cambridge English publishes charts of IELTS and C1 English score equivalents.
A minimum score of 180 is required to obtain the C1 English qualification on the CAE test. This is required for most universities which allow CAE scores. If the candidate scores between 160 and 179, he/she is given the B2 English qualification. If this is not sufficient for the colleges of interest, the candidate must retake the CAE, after a period of preparation to improve the score in those sections which fell below 169.
In both Reading and Listening sections, candidates must only use the information given in the relevant passages to decide their final answers. They should not use their general knowledge or previous information about the topic; the scope of facts is limited to those given in the question. In the Listening section, candidates are allowed to write on the question paper (or on the rough paper provided if they are appearing for the computer-based test). They should use this to make detailed notes of the key points mentioned in each passage, so that they can correctly identify the answer to each of the questions given.
The availability of English word lists depends on the level of CAE certificate for which the candidate is applying. There are different word lists for levels A1 to B1, and they can be accessed via the CAE website. From level B2 upwards, there is no fixed word list, and candidates can either use the vocabulary database of another advanced English examination like the GRE, or go through a large number of sample tests to ensure that they are comfortable with the level of English proficiency required.
The passages in the CAE Reading Section are chosen from among newspaper reports, magazine articles, informative leaflets, and journals. Therefore, they are all serious in tone. Two major skills are required to perform well in this section: the ability to read and assimilate information quickly, and the reasoning aptitude to draw logical conclusions from long passages. Candidates should prepare by reading editorials in newspapers and magazines and writing down summaries in their own words.
