C1 Advanced

C1 Advanced (Formerly known as CAE – Cambridge English Advanced)

The C1 Proficiency exam tests students for a very high level of English, for academic and professional settings.

Paper 1: Reading and Use of English (40% of final grade)

Paper 2: Writing (20% of final grade)

Paper 3: Listening (20% of final grade)

Paper 4: Speaking* (20% of final grade)

The Speaking* paper may be set before or after the other 3 papers.

Results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale.

Scores are between 160 and 210.

200 to 210: Grade A (C2 level)

193 to 199: Grade B (C1 level)

180 to 192: Grade C (C1 level)

160 to 179: B2 level

(If students score 160 to 179, a Certificate of Advanced English is not awarded, but a B2 level certificate will be.)

Paper 1: Reading and Use of English 📖

There are 8 parts.

Part 1: Multiple-choice cloze, 8 questions. Focus on vocabulary and grammar.

Part 2: Open cloze, 8 questions. Focus on vocabulary and grammar.

Part 3: Word formation, 8 questions. Focus on knowledge of word families.

Part 4: Key word transformations, 6 questions. Focus on reading a text and answering questions.

Part 5: Multiple-choice, 6 questions. Focus on reading a text and answering questions.

Part 6: Cross-text multiple matching, 4 questions. Focus on reading a text with gaps and matching information.

Part 7: Gapped text, 6 questions. Focus on reading a text with gaps and matching sentences.

Part 8: Multiple matching, 10 questions. Focus on reading several short texts and matching questions.

(The reading and use of English exam lasts 90 minutes.)

Paper 2: Writing ✍️

There are 2 parts.

Part 1: Compulsory Essay.

A title and question will be given.

Write 220 to 260 words.

Part 2: Choice of tasks.

Options may include writing a review, report, letter, article or essay.

Write 220 to 260 words.

(The writing exam lasts 90 minutes.)

Paper 3: Listening 🔊

There are 4 parts.

Part 1: Multiple-choice, 6 questions. Several short texts with a choice of answers.

Part 2: Sentence completion, 8 questions. A monologue or text with gaps to fill in.

Part 3: Multiple-choice, 6 questions. A long text or interview with questions.

Part 4: Multiple matching, 10 questions. Several short texts with a choice of answers.

(The listening exam lasts 40 minutes.)

Paper 4: Speaking 💬

There are 4 parts.

Part 1: Interview. Personal questions between each student and examiner. (2 minutes)

Part 2: Long turn and discussion. Each student speaks for about one minute on a set of pictures, then comments on the pictures of the other student. (4 minutes)

Part 3: Collaborative task. 2 students discuss a set of prompts and work on a task together. (4 minutes)

Part 4: Discussion. Students and the examiner discuss topics related to the collaborative task. (5 minutes)

(The speaking exam lasts 15 minutes.)