Mastering CAE Exam: Your Guide to Cambridge C1 Advanced Success

CAE Exam, aka C1 Advanced, is a high-level English language proficiency exam designed to test the English skills of international students. Candidates who want to prove that they have a high level of English proficiency (for academic and professional life) can take the C1 Advanced exam.

Get Study Abroad Support!

What is the CAE Exam?

Educational institutions, businesses, and government departments worldwide widely recognize CAE aka C1 exam. The details for the CAE exam are as follows:

CAE Exam Full Form	Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
Exam Format	Reading (1 hour 30 minutes) Writing (1 hour 30 minutes) Listening (40 minutes) Speaking (15 minutes)
Exam Type	Digital and Paper-Based
Scoring & Levels	200 – 210 Score: Grade A (C2) 193 – 199 Score: Grade B (C1) 180 – 192 Score: Grade C (C1) 160 – 179 Score: Level B2 (B2)
Results	5 – 10 Working Days (Digital Exam) 4 – 6 Weeks (Paper-Based Exam)

CAE Exam Pattern

CAE – Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) exam pattern is as follows:

Paper	Content	Purpose
Reading and Use of English	8 parts / 56 questions (3,000 – 3,500 words to read in total)	Shows how well you can deal with different types of texts and how well you can control your grammar & vocabulary
Writing	2 parts (write 220 – 260 words for each part)	2 different pieces of writing – essays, letters/emails, proposals, reports, and reviews
Listening	4 parts / 30 questions	Tests your ability to understand spoken materials – interviews, radio broadcasts, presentations, talks, and everyday conversations
Speaking	4 parts	Shows you can answer & ask simple questions in a conversation

How to Calculate CAE Score?

The CAE exam is divided into four sections. Understanding how to calculate the score is essential to determine important parts. Here’s how you can calculate the score:

Reading and Use of English

The Reading section consists of parts 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8. There are 50 possible marks in the section. The Use of the English section consists of parts 2, 3, and 4 and includes 28 possible marks.

Reading: 34 items = 50 points (Minimum score to pass is 32 points)

• Part 1: 8 questions (1 answer = 1 point)
• Part 5: 6 questions (1 answer = 2 points)
• Part 6: 4 questions (1 answer = 2 points)
• Part 7: 6 questions (1 answer = 2 points)
• Part 8: 10 questions (1 answer = 1 point)

Test score compared to Cambridge English scale score:

Test Score	Cambridge English Scale Score	CEFR Level
43	200	C2
32	180	C1
23	160	B2
17	142*	–

Use of English: 22 items = 28 points (Minimum score to pass is 16 points)

• Part 2: 8 questions (1 answer = 1 point)
• Part 3: 8 questions (1 answer = 1 point)
• Part 4: 6 questions (1 answer = up to 2 points)

Test score compared to Cambridge English scale score:

Test Score	Cambridge English Scale Score	CEFR Level
23	200	C2
16	180	C1
11	160	B2
8	142*	–

Writing

Whole marks are awarded. No half marks are given in this section. 0-5 marks are given for each criterion: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organization, and Language. Marks for each criterion are combined to provide 20 possible marks. There are 40 possible marks for the Writing section. The minimum score to pass is 24 points.

Test score compared to Cambridge English scale score:

Test Score	Cambridge English Scale Score	CEFR Level
34	200	C2
24	180	C1
16	160	B2
10	142*	–

Listening

Correct answers are worth 1 mark each. There are a total of 30 possible marks in the Listening section.

Test score compared to Cambridge English scale score:

Test Score	Cambridge English Scale Score	CEFR Level
26	200	C2
18	180	C1
13	160	B2
11	142*	–

Start Your Application Today!

Speaking

The Speaking section is evaluated by trained examiners and is conducted in pairs or groups. The candidates receive 0-5 marks for each criterion: Grammatical Resource, Lexical Resource, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication.

Speaking: 75 points (not divided into parts) (Minimum score to pass is 45 points)

• Grammar: 5 points (up to 5 points, multiplied by 2)
• Lexis: 5 points (up to 5 points, multiplied by 2)
• Discourse: 5 points (up to 5 points, multiplied by 2)
• Pronunciation: 5 points (up to 5 points, multiplied by 2)
• Interaction: 5 points (up to 5 points, multiplied by 2)
• Global: 25 points (up to 5 points, multiplied by 5)

Test score compared to Cambridge English scale score:

Test Score	Cambridge English Scale Score	CEFR Level
66	200	C2
45	180	C1
30	160	B2
17	142*	–

How to Register for the CAE Exam?

You can register for the CAE exam in three easy steps. The steps are:

Step 1: More than 2,800 centers in 130 countries offer the CAE exam. Find an exam center near you.

Step 2: Contact your nearest exam center, as they will assist you with how to register, cost, and preparation courses.

Step 3: Exam dates are available throughout the year. Choose when and how you want to take your exam (computer or on paper).

CAE Exam for Australia PR

CAE aka Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) exam is recognized in Australia for visa applications by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). The highlights are as follows:

• C1 paper-based is accepted as proof of English proficiency for Australian visa & migration purposes.
• C1 Advanced in Australia is accepted for Student, Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident, and Work and Holiday visa programs.
• C1 Advanced Digital Test taken from February 12, 2024, will not be accepted.
• C1 Advanced score of 147 & higher is accepted and should be taken up to 2 years before the Candidate’s application.
• Most Australian universities accept the C1 exam as proof of English proficiency, which means that you only need to prepare for one exam (for university & visa).