Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
CAE is an exam for advanced users of English. This exam is aimed at people who can use written and spoken English for most professional and social purposes. It is widely recognised for work or study purposes.
Updated FCE and CAE from December 2008
In order to ensure our exams meet the needs of users, FCE and CAE have recently undergone a review and the examinations have been updated. The first session of the updated FCE and CAE exams will take place in December 2008.
Download the Handbook for Teachers for the updated CAE.
Bulletin 5, (PDF 134Kb) contains a summary of the updated FCE and CAE specifications together with an overview of the review process.
Bulletin 6, (PDF 117Kb) provides a more detailed description of the Reading papers, along with a rationale for the changes and advice on preparing students for the exams.
Bulletin 7, (PDF 121Kb) provides a more detailed description of the Writing papers, along with a rationale for the changes and advice on preparing students for the exams.
Bulletin 8, (PDF 121Kb) provides a more detailed description of the English in Use papers, along with a rationale for the changes, and advice on preparing students for the exams.
Bulletin 9, (PDF 934Kb) provides a more detailed description of the Listening papers, along with a rationale for the changes and advice on preparing students for the exams.
Bulletin 10, (PDF 938Kb) provides a more detailed description of the Speaking papers, along with a rationale for the changes and advice on preparing students for the exams.
Is CAE for you?
Can you...
- use English in an effective way for business or study purposes?
- use English confidently and flexibly?
- produce well-structured, clear pieces of writing on complex issues?
If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then CAE is the right exam for you.
What will CAE do for you?
Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking CAE:
- a CAE certificate is valid for life, you never need to take the exam again
- CAE is truly international, recognised around the world for business and study purposes
- hundreds of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise CAE as a qualification in advanced English
- passing CAE gives you the confidence to take on the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
- CAE's 'Can Do' skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.
'For a diplomat, the English Language is an indispensable tool in everyday work. The CAE courses helped me to correct the mistakes I used to make in conversation, to improve my writing skills and to enrich my vocabulary. I am now looking forward to taking the following step: the Certificate of Proficiency in English.'
CAE candidate
What will taking CAE help you do?
CAE is at Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. 'Can Do' statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language.
For example, 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 does CAE involve?
CAE has five papers:
Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes
You will need to understand texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.
Writing 2 hours
You will have to show you can process information from different types of input to produce a number of different types of writing such as letters, articles, reports and reviews. The pieces of writing will be aimed at specific types of readers, each of about 250 words.
Use of English Paper 1 hour 30 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.
Listening: 45 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.
Speaking: 15 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in groups of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.
Supporting you
As with all of Cambridge ESOL's certificates, there is a lot of support to help you prepare for your exam.
Most candidates prefer to take the preparation courses run by language schools and universities.
You can access a variety of support materials from the Resources area of our website. These include a short booklet, Information for Candidates, and sample exam papers, which include sound files for the Listening test materials.
Many publishers have produced a wide choice of books and other aids to help you prepare for taking CAE. Ask your local bookshop for details.
To help you prepare for CAE, we provide teachers with their own website so they can download sample exam papers, handbooks, and other teaching support material.
Resources available
- CAE sample papers, (ZIP 23Mb)
- CAE Information for Candidates, (PDF 1.7Mb)
- Handbook for Teachers from December 2008, (PDF 3Mb)
- Order past papers
- Books for study
- Exam details and timetables for 2008 (PDF 290Kb)
- Exam details and timetables for 2009 (PDF 298Kb)
- Summary regulations for candidates (PDF 54Kb)
- Exam FAQs
- CAE Teaching Resource and CAE teacher downloads (including exam handbook and exam reports)
A world of opportunities — worldwide recognition
- CAE is a truly international exam, recognised by hundreds of employers as proof of advanced ability in English and also by universities and colleges as proof of ability to study in English to undergraduate level.
- Companies such as Microsoft, Airbus, IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers recognise the value of CAE in their overseas offices.
Find more details on the organisations and universities that recognise CAE.
English for your future
- Passing CAE is a major step towards taking our highest qualification, CPE.
- CAE's 'Can Do' skills enable you to use English in real situations with confidence. CAE exams use real-life situations and are especially designed to help you communicate more effectively in your own life and to focus your language learning on the skills you will actually need.
- Because CAE exams focus on all four communication skills - Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking — you increase your confidence in using English in everyday situations.
Marking
Exam scripts are sent to Cambridge ESOL for marking and grading and the results are sent back to the test centres.
Your results
Each component of the exam carries 20% of the total marks.
Candidates can access their results through the Cambridge ESOL Results Online website.
There are three Pass grades, A, B and C — candidates reaching these grades are awarded a certificate. Candidates achieving grades D or E do not receive a certificate.
If you have any questions about your results, you should contact the centre where you took the exam.
Exam dates
CAE can be taken in March, June and December.
| Reading (Paper 1) | |
|---|---|
| 1 hour 15 minutes |
|
| Writing (Paper 2) | |
| 2 hours |
|
| Updated CAE from December 2008: 1 hour 30 minutes |
|
| English in Use (Paper 3) | |
| 1 hour 30 minutes |
|
| Updated CAE from December 2008: 1 hour |
|
| Papers 4 and 5 are held by separate arrangement, within specified periods — contact your centre for more details. | |
| Listening (Paper 4) | |
| 45 minutes |
|
| Updated CAE from December 2008: 40 minutes |
|
| Speaking (Paper 5) | |
| 15 minutes |
|
| Please note that special timetable arrangements will apply for CAE candidates at centres in Greece. | |
Set texts
From December 2008, when the updated CAE exam is introduced, questions on two set texts will be included on the writing paper with one text specific question on each.
December 2008 — December 2009
Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim
John Grisham, The Pelican Brief
Next steps
Register
If you are studying English at the moment, speak to your teacher about how to enrol.
If you are not studying at the moment, your nearest Cambridge ESOL exam centre will be able to advise you about how to register, fees, the dates of the exam and other arrangements. We have more than 2,000 centres in 130 countries.
Entries cannot be made directly to Cambridge ESOL.
Already registered? Visit the Candidate Support site for exam preparation help.
If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) it may be possible to ask for Special Arrangements to be made when taking the exam.
