What is the C1 Advanced?
C1 Advanced, also known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), is an in-depth, high-level qualification. It shows you have the language skills that employers and universities worldwide are looking for. It is also accepted for certain VISA applications, and is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference.
At C1, you should be able to:
- contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within own area of work or keep up a casual conversation with a good degree of fluency coping with abstract expressions
- read quickly enough to cope with an academic course, and can take reasonably accurate notes in meetings or write a piece of work which shows an ability to communicate effectively at a managerial and professional level
- write complex reports and emails, and take notes in meetings or lectures
- give presentations on complicated ideas in English
- understand a variety of texts, from fiction to newspaper opinion pieces
C1 Advanced proves that students have a high level of English
Q&A: C1 Advanced
Is C1 Advanced for me?
More than 9,000 educational institutions, businesses and government departments around the world accept C1 Advanced as proof of high-level achievement in learning English. It can be used for things such as admission to nearly every university and college in the UK, up to 70 additional UCAS Tariff points towards your UK college or university application, admission to Australian universities, an Australian student visa, and admission to universities and colleges in the USA and Canada.
It proves that you can communicate confidently in English in professional and high-level academic situations and is the logical step in your language learning journey between B2 First and C2 Proficiency.
Are not sure if this exam is for you? Test current English level.
What is the structure of the exam?
There are four papers, but five parts:
Reading and Use of English
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Content: 8 parts with 56 questions
- Percentage of total marks: 40%
- Purpose: Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction, newspapers and magazines. Tests your use of English with different types of exercise that show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.
Writing
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Content: 2 parts
- Percentage of total marks: 20%
- Purpose: You create two different pieces of writing, such as essays, letters/emails, proposals, reports and reviews.
Listening
- Duration: +/- 40 minutes
- Content: 4 parts with 30 questions
- Percentage of total marks: 20%
- Purpose: Tests your ability to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as interviews, radio broadcasts, presentations, talks and everyday conversations.
Speaking
- Duration: 15 minutes per pair of candidates (23 minutes per group of three)
- Content: 4 parts
- Percentage of total marks: 20%
- Purpose: Shows how good your spoken English is as you take part in the conversation by asking/answering questions and discussing topics. Your Speaking test will be face-to-face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. One of the examiners talks to you and the other examiner listens. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable.
This last part is done with two examiners and another candidate.
Depending on the date and format you choose it may be on a computer or on paper.
Preparation material
Feel free to browse our range of official preparation materials and also the Cambridge English free resources and samples.
More information
Computer Vs Paper. What’s the difference?
Computer based testing
C1 Advanced | Cambridge English