All about CAE

What is it?
CAE stands for Certificate in Advanced English, and it is the fifth level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This means that CAE is at level C1.
CAE is not only recognised by the United Kingdom, it is widely recognised all over the world starting with the place in where you took it. Also, this examination is recognised by educational organisations, professional bodies, immigration authorities, government agencies, and in so more places you can imagine.
Don´t limitate yourself, get ready to take it and get a better job or further/higher education.

CAE's structure

Cae is made of five papers:

• Reading: (1 hour 15 minutes) it involves a wide understanding of texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.
  
• Writing: (1 hour 30 minutes) One of the productive skills where two different pieces of writing such as an article, a report, a proposal and a review will be requiered.
  
• English in Use: (1 hour) Grammar and vocabulary will take part in this paper, challenging you through many different tasks.
  
• Listening: (40 minutes) Your receptive skill in English language will be ranged with spoken speeches, lectures, radio broadcasts and talks.
  
• Speaking: (15 minutes) You will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidate and by yourself.

Taken from: Cambridge ESOL

'Can do' with CAE

Before taking this examination you must have a high and advanced level of English to perform well in CAE. By taking this examination you will prove yourself that you possess a wide range of skills.

With CAE you are expected to :

• read quickly enough to cope with an academic course
• understand complex opinions
• produce clear, well structured and detailed pieces of writing
• express yourself well with a good degree of fluency
• use English flexibly for social, professional and academic purposes

Why is it worthy making an effort on passing the exam?
Passing CAE is a major step towards taking the highest qualification, CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English). It is worth mentioning that with CAE the skills used 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.

Strategies for CAE

Here are some useful strategies which may be of help.
This strategies or suggestions are based on my own experience while taking this test.
-Before sitting for the exam, keep calm, do not panic, it's not a big deal, just an examination to prove how smart and good you are in English.
-When doing Speaking, try to pick someone you feel comfortable with, a partner you feel comfortable with will be better.
-Do not rush on saying a lot in few time. Thinking before speaking is totally important.
-Read all the instructions and every written part you see in the test.
-Do as you are told, not as you think.
-Answer every question, even if you don't know it.
-If you face up with a difficult item, skip it and do the easy ones. Then go back, and do it.
-When doing the Writing section do not write a complete and long draft on the separate sheet, just write some notes which may be of help for your composition. Remember you don´t have enough time.
-Try to write your answers on your separate answer sheet since the beginning.
- When time is over, it is over, no more seconds are given.
-Read fast, but analyze every line.
-Remember you have a limited time!
-Sleep well the previous night, CAE regularly starts with Writing very early in the morning!
-You'll make it through!!

Taboos on CAE

This reflects the results to some questions made to people who had and had not taken the test. The first part is for those who haven't taken it. It is about their thoughts and ideas. Some people were asked what they think about the exam.
Haven't taken the exam?
What do you think about CAE?

Before
1.I think that this exam is very difficullt, it requires a high level of knowledge and that's why I'm afraid of taking it. (participant 1)
2. I think it would be a good opportunity to take it, however we know that it is difficult because you need to have a high level of English. (participant 3)

The second and third part is for those who took it. How they felt during the test and the sections which seemed difficult for them. Also their expectations after taking it and their feelings when checking their grades.

During
1. After the Speaking part was done I felt some confidence, since I realized it followed the same paterns of previous examinations . The toughest part of the exam, was not Listening, as everyone believes, but Reading. There were like 4 texts in which a shallow analysis is not enough; it requieres a very profound thinking and time, which I didn't have due to limited time given. (participant 2)
2. I had not taken a Cambridge examination before, so I was a little nervous about the general system. The exam was very long -almost six hours- and fatigue might have contributed to lack of concentration. The toughest part for me was Writing for it was one of the last ones and demanded a creative and focused mindset that I couldn't have while sitting with an aching back and numb limbs. Results were not bad, so it was worth it.(participant 4)

After
1.I did it! I passed the exam! After a stressing moment at Reading, I accomplished to succed and obtain a passing mark.
After all, CAE is NOT diffucult. The anxiety diminish when I checked the results and saw my passing grade.(participant 2)
2. The general impression after taking the exam was an opptimistic feeling, but with this things you can never be sure. So the month and a half of waiting for the internet results were excruciating; at some times I was convinced I had nothing to worry about, and others I was biting at my nails. You can imagine the sigh of relief I let out the moment I looked at my grades and had got a B. I think I couldn't stop goofily grinning for quite a long time. (participant 5)

As it can be seen for the ideas people have before taking CAE, it is thougt to be very difficult and demanding, but we must bare in mind that this exam is for those who have had courses of English and definitely are not beginners.
Those who have taken the exam found some parts difficult; do not panic from this. It is common to find some parts more difficult and some others easier.
The reason for this blog is to facilite and make all the 5 sections easier for you.
Remember, do not stigmatize CAE. It is not difficult, if it were nobody would have taken it or it would not exist.
Don't you think?

To my visitors

First of all I want to thank all of you who visited this blog. I hope you find here a helpful and complete tool for your preparation on CAE. I know you will do great on the test and I hope for this blog to be a big contribution and part of that.
The idea of the blog came from the necessity to find a good and well site in where many links and sections were all together in order to give a pratical and easier way to prepare for a examination.
Many people are left alone on their preparation for these kind of test, so what I want from this blog is to give those people a small background before facing such an important test.
Thank you all for visiting this blog, I hope you find every link and section useful.
I will appreciate any comment or thought, as well as any suggestion for improving and making this blog a better and more useful one.