Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

Who is it for?If you can communicate with confidence in English for work or study purposes, this is the exam for you. CAE is taken by more than 60,000people each year in more than 60 countries.CAE is one of the Cambridge exams.What is the CAE test like?The test has five sections:

1. Reading  - 75 minutes

2. Writing  - 2 or 3 tasks , 120 minutes

3. Use  of   English - 5 tasks with 50 questions - 60 minutes

4. Listening  - 40 minutes, 30 questions

5. Speaking  - interview, normally with another candidate, 15 minutes

ScoreA, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)CAE pass is accepted for entry to some universities.The Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening & Speaking sections each count for 20% of the marks.You will receive a Statement of Results. If your performance ranges between CEFR Levels B2 and C2, you will also receive a certificate.Pass grades: Grade A (C2), Grade B (C1), Grade C (C1)If you do not pass, but still do reasonably well you are issued a B2certificate.LevelAdvanced. Click here to see a comparison of CAE with other exams.Paper-based or computer-based examsYou can do the CAE exam on a computer or on paper.When can I take the test?Arrange with your closest test centre. The CAE test can be taken

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most months in either paper-based or computer-based format. Not all test centres will administer both types of test.How much does it cost to take CAE?Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around €150 euros.

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) ReadingDifficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Reading test like?The test has four sections and takes 75 minutes:

1. Part 1 - three themed texts with multiple-choice questions  

2. Part 2 - text with 6 paragraphs mising

3. Part 3 - long text with multiple-choice questions

4. Part 4 - Multiple matchingScoringThere are 34 questions in the CAE Reading Test. It makes up 20% of the entire exam.How to prepare for the CAE Reading test

Read widely. The texts used in the CAE reading can be: newspapers, magazines, journals, non-literary books, leaflets, brochures, etc

Read the instructions carefully before you start

Read all the text before you answer any questions

Remember that questions come in the same order as the answers in the text in the multiple-choice part of the paper.

Cambridge English: CAE Reading 1Difficulty level: C1 / advancedIn this part, there are three themed texts followed by two 4-option multiple-choice questions on each text.You are going to read three extracts which are concerned in some way with music. For questions 1-6, choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.Extract from a brochure

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Iford Manor Festival SeasonIford Manor has been described as one of the most stunning concert venues in the West Country.  Throughout high summer, Iford Arts stages an internationally renowned festival in a breathtakingly beautiful pastoral setting. Operatic performances are staged in-the-round in the intimate surroundings of the Italianate Cloister, whichcould not be more perfect in terms of scale and style. While the classical backdrop could hardly be more fitting, the real delight for our audiences is that, as the sky turns purple overhead, the first stars appear and the first heady notes resound across the countryside, no-one is seated less than twenty feet from the performers. The opportunity for a relaxing pre-show picnic in our tranquil gardens overlooking the meandering River Frome will complete an already magical experience.Iford Arts, a registered charity promoting the appreciation of performing arts in the west of England, aims to benefit the local community by engaging young professional artists and stimulating young people’s enjoyment of being involved in live performances.  Wehope to support young musicians in their career development by encouraging them to develop repertoire and perform to a supportive audience and providing the exquisite environment in which to do so. Iford Arts does not receive any public subsidies, relying on vital private contributions. We offer various levels of private patronage and corporate sponsorship, each providing a range of privileges suchas priority booking.1    What aspect of Iford Manor is emphasized in the first paragraph?

 the Italian-style architecture  the countryside location  the seating arrangements  the quality of the music 

2    What is the main purpose in the second paragraph?

 To describe the history of the performances  To encourage young musicians to perform at the Manor  To encourage people to donate to the charity  To inform people about how they can be involved in charity work 

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 Cambridge English: CAE Reading 2Difficulty level: C1 / advancedThis page will let you practise for the Certificate in Advanced English exam (from Cambridge ESOL). This is the format of the secondpart of the reading section.You are going to read a magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one extraparagraph which you do not need to use.

Renovating the Lymm Water TowerAfter eight years of grit and determination, Russell and Jannette Harris have succeeded in transforming a derelict water tower into a spacious family home, and in doing so, won the 2005 Homebuilding andrenovation awards. However, the road to success was relentless, as what began as a whim turned into an insurmountable challenge, and there were times when they thought they might never move in. 1 . Finding themselves the owners of the dilapidated structure, the couple then had to decide what to do with it. Their early visions for the project were fairly modest; they originally considered wrapping the structure in timber cladding and fitting a copper roof,or keeping the tower as a folly and building a cottage in the grounds. As time progressed, the couple decided that they could use this opportunity to create something far more ambitious. 2 . Julian's masterplan involved wrapping a glass-and-steel extension around the tower, creating living spaces on various levels. Massive windows would give floor-to -ceiling views of the countryside, strategically placed so that the morning sun would shine into the kitchen and set on the dining area. The summer lounge, facing due south, would catch the daytime rays. 3 . Work also had to be done to hide the unsightly selection of antennaeon the roof of the old tower. These could not be removed, as they were essential part of funding the conversion. So they were rehousedin an extension to the existing stone turret, concealing them from sight.4 . Thankfully, they were able to reclaim something towards these costs from the income generated by the radio masts. They also reaped some

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money by making a television programme about the project. But with costs soaring to £450,000 and beyond, the family was forced to cut down on personal spending. They stopped taking family holidays, traded in their car and lived in cheap rented accommodation. 5 . The extension meanwhile, which accommodates the main living space, is a tribute to minimalism. There are no pictures. The house is likea work of art in itself, with its sweeping views of the countryside.White is the dominant colour, and everywhere there are sleek, curvedlines. Even the light switches and plug sockets are discreetly hidden.6 . With a total cost of over £500,000, plus eight years of hard slog, Russell is unsure whether he would advise other self-builders to putthemselves through the trouble. At times, he wished he had never bought the tower. But when he sits in the roof-top hot tub with 360 degree views over the countryside, he admits that it was worth the effort. And now that the Lymm Water Tower has been valued at £1.75m by a local agent, the Harrises can surely feel satisfied with their achievement.ParagraphsA  Russell and his wife had lived for several years in the picturesque village of Lymm where the crumbling 130-year old tower stood. The grade II listed building was one of several hundred surviving water towers which were built in the 1800s to improve public health across Britain. This particular tower was currently being used by three mobile phone companies to anchor their telephonemasts. Russell regularly walked along the footpath beside the tower,and when it went up for auction in 1997, he impulsively put in a bidfor £138,000.

B  But finally it all paid off. The end result is both contemporary and luxurious. The original tower houses a ‘winter' living room on the ground floor. Above it is a master bedroom with an en suite bathroom on a mezzanine. Above that, there is an office, guest room and a room for the telecom equipment. Atop it all is a roof garden with views stretching as far as Manchester and Liverpool.

C  Work finally began when planning permission was granted in 2002. But before the new structure could be built, substantial work had tobe done to the existing tower. The stonework was cracked and the

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turret was damaged. Two skilled stonemasons worked for six months onits restoration. It was then sandblasted, the water tank was removed, and huge steel frames were put into place to support the new floors. Only then could foundations be laid for the extension.

D  Over 60 companies were involved in the construction, and Russell gave up work to act as project manager. There were problems at almost every stage. If something could go wrong, it inevitably would. Spirits plummeted and costs spiralled, and Russell and Jannette could do little but look on as their savings dwindled.

E  Russell and Jannette had just finished renovating a 1920s farmhouse nearby. This was done in a much more traditional style. Bythe time they'd finished with it, the once-roofless property had thetypical Aga, log-burning stove, rugs, country pine furniture, dried flowers and knick-knacks. Chintzy in comparison to the modernist design they attached to the water tower. Since the work on the tower, they have become a real converts to minimalism.

F  Colour is added to this stark interior by the creative use of lighting, which was designed by Kate Wilkins, responsible for the lighting scheme at the Tate Modern Art Gallery. The lighting is subtle, mostly made up of simply concealed fluorescent strips or cold-cathode tubes. The innovative approach to lighting design won them the prestigious Lighting Design Award.

G  Fate, however, had other ideas. Russell and Jannette had to battle town planners and local opposition to get their dream on the road. Five years along, work still hadn't started and the couple were losing heart. All this changed, however, when they met the architect Julian Baker, who drew up plans for a contemporary design blending old and new. His inspirational ideas gave them the impetus they needed to kick-start their project.

 Cambridge English: CAE Reading 3Difficulty level: C1 / advanced In this part, there is an emphasis on the understanding of a long text, including detail, opinion, tone, purpose, main idea, implication, attitude, and also text organisation features such as exemplification, comparison and reference.

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You are going to read a magazine article about an African film festival. For questions 1-7, choose the answer which you think best fits according to the text.The Sahara Film FestivalAfter a bumpy 225km drive from a meagre airstrip in Tindouf, south western Algeria, a sprawling single-story town begins to emerge fromthe desert’s dust.  As the sun climbs in the cloudless sky, visitorsare rewarded with their first glimpse of Dakhla refugee camp.  It isn’t the most obvious setting for a film festival, but for seven years, just before the glitz and glamour of Cannes, the Sahrawi people of Dakhla have hosted actors and film-makers from around the world for this six-day event.  This year, for the first time, directflights were laid on from London, giving the opportunity for overseas visitors to play a part in this extraordinary occasion.  But despite the energy and excitement, the background to the film festival is a serious one, as the Sahrawi people have been living for thirty years in this isolated desert outpost, having been forcedto flee their native Western Sahara.

Western Sahara, Africa’s last colony, was taken over by Morocco whenthe Spanish withdrew in 1976, despite a ruling from the International Court of Justice.  This was followed by a brutal 16-year war, during which time tens of thousands of Sahrawis fled across the Algerian border to refugee camps. In 1991, a ceasefire agreement was drawn up, in which a referendum on self-determination was promised to decide the fate of the country and its people.  However, almost twenty years later, the gears of diplomacy have turned slowly and nothing has happened.  Meanwhile the refugees havebeen left stranded in five refugee camps dotted around the vast, inhospitable desert. 

Dakhla, home to nearly 30,000 of these refugees, is the most remote of these camps, being located 175 km from the nearest city.  Unlike its namesake, the beautiful coastal city in Western Sahara, this Dakhla has no paved roads and is entirely dependent on outside supplies for food and water. Temperatures regularly top 120 degrees,there is minimal vegetation and there are frequent sandstorms.  Locally it is known as the Devil’s Garden.  Despite these obvious setbacks, the town is clean and well organised, with wide sandy streets.  Houses and tents are grouped in neat family compounds.  There are hospitals, funded by aid agencies, and a good standard of education.  For the duration of the festival, an articulated lorry is parked in the central compound, and a multiplex-sized screen is mounted on its side.  Around it are stalls and tents housing

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workshops and exhibitions.

The aim of the festival is to raise international awareness on the plight of the refugees.  However, it also offers a rare chance for the refugees to go to the movies and experience some educational opportunities.  It is hoped that it might foster a new generation ofSahrawi film-makers, especially as this year, the festival also celebrated the opening of a permanent film, radio and television school in a neighbouring camp.

The program of films for this year included over forty films from around the world.  Films range from international blockbusters to various works on and by the Sahrawi people.  The themes mostly centre on experiences of struggle and hope, but there were lighter moments, such as an animated film for the children and a flash of Rachel Weisz’s naked bottom during the ancient Egyptian epic Agora which proved to be a highlight for many older boys. However, the runaway favourite was ‘a Victime’, a documentary about Ibrahim Leibeit, a 19-year-old Sahrawi who lost his leg to a land mine last year.

Films are screened at night, so the daytime is taken up with exhibitions, camel races and football matches.  One afternoon the London-based charity ‘Sandblast’ put on a joint workshop with a film-maker, giving refugees the opportunity to learn about filmmaking and create their own video messages.  These were put online so that their extended families in Western Sahara, from whom they have been separated for more than 33 years, could watch them. Helen Whitehead, a film-maker from London said, ‘Working together really broke down language and cultural barriers.  It was very rewarding, and we came across some real talent.’

More than 500 visitors flew into Tindouf on charter planes and braved the rough drive to the settlement. All the visitors to the festival stay with Sahrawi families, sharing their homes and partaking of their food. Living with these displaced people gives overseas participants an invaluable insight into the conditions in which the refugees live.  Alongside the film buffs there are real celebrities such as actors Victoria Demayo and Helena Olano.  They are mostly B and C listers from the Spanish film industry, although the real stars do take an interest.  Director Javier Cardozo was a visitor last year, and Penelope Cruz is a long-term supporter, but pulled out of attending the festival this year at the last

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minute.    Will the celebrity backing make a difference to the plight of the refugees?  Possibly.  Cardozo’s suggestion that the Spanish, as the ex-colonial masters of Western Sahara, were responsible for the situation received significant coverage in the Spanish Media and put some pressure on the government to take some action.  However, although the campaign in Spain is growing steadily, the focus of attention cannot only be on the Spanish government.

On the final day of the gathering, there is a dusty red-carpet ceremony in which the White Camel award for best picture is presented to Jordi Ferrer and Paul Vidal for ‘El Problema’, their 2009 film about Western Sahara.  Actors, activists and festival organisers gather on stage in high spirits to show their solidarity with the refugees.  But as the stalls are dismantled and the trucks are driven away, the thoughts of the visitors turn to the people they are leaving behind.  They may never get the chance to see the world or fulfil their dreams of becoming actors or film-makers.  Forthem, there is nowhere to go.  Dakhla is essentially a desert prison.1    In the first paragraph, the writer emphasises:

 the enthusiasm that the festival instils  the sensational nature of the festival  the festival’s increasing media attention  the festival’s unlikely location 

Cambridge English: CAE Reading 4Difficulty level: C1 / advanced This page will let you practise for the Certificate in Advanced English exam (from Cambridge ESOL). This is the format of the 4th part of the reading section. This is a Multiple matching exercise. The questions focus on specific information, detail, opinion and attitude.You are going to read four different opinions from leading scientists about the future of fuel. For questions 1-15, choose from the writers A-D. The writers may be chosen more than once.A Howard Bloom, Author:

Even though most people are convinced that peak oil has already passed, to me, peak oil is just a hypothesis. There is a theory that

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carbon molecules can be found in interstellar gas clouds, comets andin space ice, and if this is the case, our planet could ooze oil forever. And even if we stay earthbound, those who say we have raped the planet of all its resources are wrong. There's a huge stock of raw materials we haven't yet learned to use. There are bacteria two miles beneath our feet which can turn solid granite into food. If bacteria can do it, surely we creatures with brains can do it better. As far as the near future of energy is concerned, I believe the most promising alternative fuels are biofuels, such as ethanol. It's an alcohol made from waste products such as the bark of trees, woodchips, and other 'waste materials'. And that's not the only waste that can create energy. My friend in the biomass industry is perfecting an energy-generation plant which can run on human waste. We produce that in vast quantities, and it's already gathered in centralised locations. 

B Michael Lardelli, Lecturer in Genetics at The University of Adelaide 

Nothing exists on this planet without energy. It enables flowers andpeople to grow and we need it to mine minerals, extract oil or cut wood and then to process these into finished goods. So the most fundamental definition of money is as a mechanism to allow the exchange and allocation of different forms of energy. Recently, people have been using more energy than ever before. Until 2005 it was possible to expand our energy use to meet this demand. However, since 2005 oil supply has been in decline, and at the same time, andas a direct result of this, the world's economy has been unable to expand, leading to global recession. With the world's energy and theprofitability of energy production in decline at the same time, the net energy available to support activities other than energy procurement will decrease. We could increase energy production by diverting a large proportion of our remaining oil energy into building nuclear power stations and investing in renewable forms of energy. However, this is very unlikely to happen in democratic nations, because it would require huge, voluntary reductions in living standards. Consequently, the world economy will continue to contract as oil production declines. With energy in decline, it willbe impossible for everyone in the world to become wealthier. One person's increased wealth can only come at the expense of another person's worsened poverty. 

C Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell 

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People are understandably worried about a future of growing energy shortages, rising prices and international conflict for supplies. These fears are not without foundation. With continued economic growth, the world's energy needs could increase by 50% in the next 25 years. However, I do not believe that the world is running out ofenergy. Fossil fuels will be able to meet growing demand for a long time in the future. Taking unconventional resources into account, weare not even close to peak oil. The priority for oil companies is toimprove efficiency, by increasing the amount of oil recovered from reservoirs. At present, just over a third is recovered. We can also improve the technology to control reservoir processes and improve oil flow. However, these projects are costly, complex and technically demanding, and they depend on experienced people, so it is essential to encourage young people to take up a technical careerin the energy industry. Meanwhile, alternative forms of energy need to be made economically viable. International energy companies have the capability, the experience and the commercial drive to work towards solving the energy problem so they will play a key role. Butit is not as simple as merely making scientific advances and developing new tools; the challenge is to deliver the technology to people worldwide. Companies will need to share knowledge and use their ideas effectively. 

D Craig Severance, blogger 

What will it take to end our oil addiction? It's time we moved on tosomething else. Not only are world oil supplies running out, but what oil is still left is proving very dirty to obtain. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred precisely because the easy-to-obtain oil is already tapped. If we don't kick oil now, we will see more disasters as oil companies move to the Arctic offshore and clear more forests. The cheap petroleum is gone; from now on, we will pay steadily more and more for our oil — not just in dollars, but in the biological systems that sustain life on this planet. The only solution is to get on with what we will have to do anyway - endour dependence on it! There are many instances in which oil need notbe used at all. Heat and electricity can be produced in a multitude of other ways, such as solar power or natural gas. The biggest challenge is the oil that is used in transportation. That doesn't mean the transportation of goods worldwide, it's the day-to-day moving around of people. It means we have to change what we drive. The good news is that it's possible. There are a wide range of fuel efficient cars on offer, and the number of all-electric plug-in cars

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is set to increase. For long distance travel and freight, the solution to this is to look to rail. An electrified railway would not be reliant upon oil, but could be powered by solar, geothermal, hydro, and wind sources. There is a long way to go, but actions we take now to kick our oil addiction can help us adapt to a world of shrinking oil supplies. 

Which writer:

1. believes oil will be available for many more

years 

2. believes that from now on, less oil is available

3. believes there are ways to obtain energy that we have not yet

discovered

4. sees a great potential in natural fuels

5. believes the fuel crisis will cause the poor to become poorer

6. sees energy and the economy as intrinsically linked

7. believes we should reduce our dependance on oil immediately

8. believes that people need to be attracted to working in the

energy industry

9. believes that it is unlikely that governments will invest a lot

of money into alternative energy

10. believes that future oil recovery will lead to more

environmental disasters

11. believes that better technology can help to maintain oil

production levels

12. believes there may be sources of oil outside our planet

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13. thinks that oil companies are responsible for developing other

types of energy

14. recognises that inventions that can help to prevent an energy

crisis are already available

15. believes we can use our rubbish to create energy

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) WritingDifficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Writing test like?The test has two sections and takes 90 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Write an article, report or letter Some material to read (up to 150 words) which may include material taken from advertisements, extracts from letters, emails, postcards, diaries, short articles, etc. Using this information, you may have to write an article, a report, a proposal or a letter. 180–220 words. 

2. Part 2 - Situationally based writing taskChoose one of four questions. You have to read some input material of no more than 80 words which describes a situation, and write one of the following: an article, a competition entry, a contribution to a longer piece, an essay, an information sheet, a letter, a proposal, a report or a review. 220–260 words.

Set TextsInstead of answering part 2 above, you can choose to write about oneof the set texts. The set text titles for 2014 are:William Golding: Lord of the Flies Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying a film version as well as, or instead of, the novel.

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P D James: The LighthouseThere is currently no film version of this book.The set texts will be discontinued from 2015.ScoringThe CAE Writing Test makes up 20% of the entire exam.Your writing is assessed using four criteria:

Content - have you answered the question?

Communicative Achievement - have you completed the task in the right sort of language

Organisation - have you structured your writing with paragraphs?

Language - have you used a good range of grammar and vocabularyHow to prepare for the CAE Writing test

Choose a question that you are interested in. You will write better if you know the subject.

Read the instructions carefully before you start. Make notes. You must include all the points in the instructions.

Make a plan before you start writing. Decide what information to put in each paragraph.

Think about who you are writing to and use an appropriate styleof language.

Try to use a range of complex language.

Leave enough time to check what you have written.

Cambridge English: CAE Writing 1Difficulty level: C1 /Upper IntermediateWrite your answer in 180-220 words in an appropriate style.

You are organising a weekend away with a group of friends. You receive an email from a friend, Louisa, asking whether her sister and niece can come too.Read the extract from Louisa’s email and read the other information.Write a reply to Louisa, answering her questions and giving reasons.

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You said you have places left for the weekend away, and I was wondering, can my sister come too? I think you met her when you stayed with us. The thing is, she has a three-year-olddaughter, Maddy, and my sister wants to bring her as well.  Do you think it’s possible?Louisa

Plan for the weekend: SaturdayMorning:     Theme Park – Looking forward to going on some wild rides!

Afternoon: 

Check in at our holiday cottage. Beautiful Lake! Bring a torch and boots – it will be muddy!

Evening:  Great curry restaurant, followed by dancing at a night club!

Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct word)Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)Email about a weekend awayHi Louisa , Thanks for your email . I’m glad you can join us for the weekend away . There are indeed still free places , so your sister can come if she wants . I think the theme park has some rides for children , but my friends and I are definitely going to spend the day on the big rides , so your sister might have to spend time alone with Maddy, and so she might feel a bit left out . There is a twin room free that your sister and Maddy can have . Your sister will have to be careful with Maddy because there’s a lake on the site and we wouldn’t want Maddy to fall in .  It gets quite muddy there and it will be getting dark when we arrive , so your sister had better not let Maddy run off . As you know , I’ve booked a night out at a curryrestaurant and a bar in the evening , and I don’t think that’ll be suitable for Maddy . She’ll probably need to be tucked up in bed by that time . Your sister will have to stay at the cottage alone to look after her , unless you’re happy to stay in and keep her company. So , in short , your sister is welcome to come , but it might be abit boring for her at times . love Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (brochure)Difficulty level: C1 /Upper IntermediateWrite your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. Your college is hosting some visitors from England. Your teacher wants to create a brochure about things to do in your town, and asksthe students to write about a place they like to go.Write about a place you like to visit in or near your town. Describe

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it and state what young people can do there. State what type of person would enjoy this place. Indicate how to get there and give details of any costs and prices.Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct word)Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)A tourist brochureWhile you are in Westbury , you must visit the White Horse Country Park . The park is situated on the top of a hill overlooking the town , and has magnificent views across the countryside . The famouswhite horse , a chalk symbol which can be seen from many miles away , lies on the side of the hillside . The park is also the site of an Iron Age fort , and everyone , from young children to adults ,can enjoy climbing on the banks and can even roll down some of the gentle slopes . If you have a kite , bring it along because there isoften a strong breeze on the hill . There are a number of paths around the park where you can take in the view . These may not be suitable for people with pushchairs , wheel chair users and people who are unsure of their footing . After your exertions , you can enjoy an ice cream from the ice cream van which is always present . The easiest way to get there is by car . Just leave the town along the Bratton road and take the road on the right next to the pottery shop . The road is well signposted . If you don’t have a car , you can get a taxi . A trip will cost about £5 from the town centre . Otherwise it’s a steep , 45-minute walk . Entrance to the park is free of charge .

  Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (letter)Difficulty level: C1 /Upper IntermediateWrite your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. You see this advertisement in an international student magazine.

Volunteers neededWe are looking for volunteers to help out at a famous, international sporting event. We’re looking for friendly, respectful people with good language skills, good team skills and a ‘can-do’ attitude. We need people to welcome delegates, provide customer service and solve problems.If you think you have what it takes, apply now.

Write an application to become a volunteer. Mention:

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your language skills

your personal qualities

examples of times when you have demonstrated team skills

any relevant work experienceType in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct word)Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)A letter of applicationDear Sir / Madam , I read your advertisement in Students International and I would be very interested in volunteering in the sporting event you are organising . I am a French student and I have been studying English for eight years . I have taken part in several language exchange visits to the United Kingdom , so I can communicate confidently and quite fluently in English in social situations . I also speak a little Italian and German . I believe that I have good personal qualities which make me an effective volunteer for your event . I am outgoing and enjoy meetingpeople from different cultures . I have played in the college volleyball and football teams for over four years , so I am used to working with other people and encouraging them in our shared endeavours . I also have work experience in working on the front line with customers . I work at weekends in our local supermarket , which requires me to deal with customers with a pleasant attitude and liaise with other staff . I have also worked as a receptionist in a hotel in the south of France as a summer job . Here , I had to welcome guests and deal with any problems which arose . I can send you references from these employers if you need them.Thank you for your interest in my application . I look forward to hearing from you .

 Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (review)Difficulty level: C1 /Upper Intermediate

Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. 

A college which you attended in the past has written to you asking to what extent its facilities met the needs of the students academically and socially. Write a letter to the college answering these questions. Suggest areas where the college could improve facilities.

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Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct word)Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)A reviewThank you for giving me the opportunity to give feedback about my experiences at Brightwell College . Firstly , I’d like to talk aboutthe teachers , who were excellent . They prepared us very well for examinations , and it’s down to them that so many of us obtained good grades . We always had the opportunity to discuss our ideas in class and the teachers never dismissed our ideas , no matter how strange they were ! Having said that , the homework workload was very high . The teachers were very strict about handing it in and rarely gave us extensions . Although I realise that homework is important , I do feel they could have been given less homework and been less strict about deadlines , as this often prevented us from getting involved in sports and clubs and having evening jobs . Furthermore , although the teaching was excellent , the facilities were not . The text books we used were very outdated , the library did not have enough desks , and there were not enough copies of important books . There were also not enough computers for the wholeclass to use at the same time . Socially , there were a lot of sports and music clubs to join , but very few others . I would have been interested in taking extracurricular classes in drama , woodwork and cookery but these classes were not available , which was disappointing . Secondly , the school organised very few outingsexcept for a few geography and biology field trips , and I would have liked the opportunity to go on activity holidays with my classmates , such as ski trips or adventure sport weekends .

 Cambridge English: CAE Writing 2 (letter to a newspaper)Difficulty level: C1 /Upper IntermediateWrite your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style. You recently read an article in an English newspaper asking for money-saving tips for young people who are just starting college. Write a letter to the newspaper, outlining ways that students can look after their money.

Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct word)Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)A letter to a newspaperI would like to respond to your request for money-saving tips for students . As I see it , there are two main things that a student needs to think about : how increase your income , and how to reduce

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your outgoings . Getting a part time job is really worthwhile when you’re young . Notonly does it bring money in , but it will impress future employers .Find a job which fits into your schedule . Many shops offer Saturdayjobs , while you can get jobs at bars and restaurants in the evening. There are also lots of holiday jobs available in hotels , holiday camps or on farms . Secondly , you need to decrease what you spent . If you cook for yourself , buy value products and avoid ready-made meals . Share cheap recipes with friends . You will save money on food and energy bills if you buy food and cook it in bulk , so get together with friends and share the cooking . When shopping for clothes and utensils , buy second hand from markets or from online auction sites. Just don’t get carried away ! It’s easy to spend a lot when thingsare cheap ! Of course , you don’t want to stop spending altogether , or you willnever have any fun ! So it’s important to prioritise . Decide what’simportant to you , whether it’s sports , travel , good food , nightsout or nice clothes , and put enough money aside for that . Then youcan scrimp and save on the things that you consider less important .

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Use of EnglishDifficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Use of English test like?The test has five sections and takes 60 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Multiple-choice cloze  

2. Part 2 - Open cloze

3. Part 3 - Word formation

4. Part 4 - Gapped sentences

5. Part 5 - Key word transformationsScoringThere are 50 questions in the CAE Use of English Test. It makes up 20% of the entire exam.How to prepare for the CAE Use of English test

The Use of English paper tests your knowledge of vocabulary andgrammar.

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Read as much as possible, and use a dictionary to help you learn new words

Use a grammar book to help you understand sentence structure

Read the instructions carefully before you start each section

Look at the example question at the beginning of each section

Correct spelling is necessary. Get into the habit of checking the spelling of words

Read the surrounding context before giving an answer

Don’t give alternative answers for any questions Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

This activity helps with part 1 of the Use of English paper. You should complete this activity in 15 minutes.

Click on the gaps, then choose the best word to fill the spaces.

Legal fight hits music piratesThe global recording industry has launched its largest wave of legal  against people suspected of   music files on the internet. The latest move by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)   2,100 alleged uploaders   peer-to-peer (P2P) networks in 16 nations   the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Thousands ofpeople have agreed to pay compensation since the campaign . In the US, civil lawsuits have been   against more than15,597 people  September 2003 and there have been 3,590 settlements. 'This is a significant   of our enforcement actions against people who are uploading and distributing   music on p2p networks,' said IFPI chief John Kennedy. 'Thousands of people - mostly internet-savvy men in their 20s or 30s - have learnt to their   the legal and financial risks involved in file-sharing copyrighted music in large quantities.' Individual cases are generally brought by the national associations   the recording industry, and in some cases by the labels,   civil complaints. The UK record industry has so far brought 97 cases, with a   65 covered

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by the latest action. More than 140,000 in compensation has been paid to the British Phonographic Industry by 71 individuals. Those who   to resolve cases face civil court action.This activity helps with part 2 of the Use of English paper. You should complete this activity in 15 minutes.

Click in the gaps and type one word in each gap.US publication Rolling Stone magazine is   launch in China. The magazine,   should hit shelves early next year, will focus on China's emerging youth culture as well   foreign arts and entertainment. Rolling Stone   first published in San Francisco in 1967 to chronicle cultural changes in the US. "We feel Chinese music and arts   maturing rapidly and that a Chinese edition   be viable," said Jimmy Jung, of One World Publishing. Rolling Stone   licensed Hong Kong-based One World to publish the Chinese-language edition. Mr Jung said the magazine, to be printed in simplified Chinese characters, will   a mix of local content   primarily by Beijing-based staff and translations of articles from the US  . "We want to make   that we're faithful to the spirit of the brand," said Jung. He added that   Hong Kong and Taiwan had more developed pop cultures, mainland China   more important."We feel China offers greater potential and we want to be there fromthe  ," said Jung, whose company also   Chinese editions of British car magazine, Top Gear and gadget magazine T3.

This free CAE Use of English Practice Test helps with the word formation and vocabulary that you need to master for the CAE.Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.

Second Language LearningThere has been much debate in recent times about when young people should take up a second language. This has been especially fuelled in recent times by the increasing   placed on the EnglishIMPORTANT language. It is now commonplace to see parents providing asubstantial amount of  on additional tuition on language

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FUNDING lessons to give their children every   edge. In the pastCOMPETITIONdecade, language institutes have sprung up in urban NUMBERcentres, all claiming to provide rapid   in English. ADVANCEDThere has been a push by many parents to expose their children to English in their  years. This, many claim, will make the FORMATION language more  and ensure that all pronunciation errors INSTINCT can be avoided. There is some evidence which points to youngsters who have been raised in   families, where the language LANGUAGEspoken at home is different to the one that they  with CONVERSATIONin their external environment. While these children can switch between two languages with greater  , it remains to be seen EASYwhether this is  when learning additional languages. ADVANTAGE

This activity helps with part 4 of the Use of English paper.

There are 21 questions in this test. Think of one word only which can be used appropriately in all three sentences.

Question 1  

The factory was on the ________ of the valleyA river runs through the centre of the village with the church on one ________ and the market place on the other.Julia was lying on her ________ on the bed.

Type the word here: 

This activity helps with the key word transformations section of theUse of English paper.There are 9 questions in this quiz. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

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1.   Brian was really interested in North American history in his school days. INTEREST

Brian    North American history in his school days.

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) ListeningDifficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Listening test like?The test has four sections and takes about 40 minutes:

1. Part 1 - three short extracts from conversations with multiple-choice questions  

2. Part 2 - Sentence completion

3. Part 3 - conversation with multiple-choice questions

4. Part 4 - Multiple matchingScoringThere are 30 questions in the CAE Listening Test. It makes up 20% ofthe entire exam. How to prepare for the CAE Listening test

Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will do.Listen to the radio, English language TV, podcasts...

Recordings may be: monologues: announcements, radio broadcasts,speeches, talks, lectures, anecdotes, etc.; or interacting speakers: radio broadcasts, interviews, discussions, etc.

You will hear the audio twice

Read the instructions carefully before you start

You have time to read the questions before you hear the audio

Think about the topic, the speaker(s) and the context as you read the questions.

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced

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In this part, you will hear short extracts from exchanges between interacting speakers with two multiple-choice questions on each extract.You’ll hear two different extracts. For questions 1-4, choose the answer which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract. You can listen to the audio twice.

ou hear two people talking about World Cup Football.1    What do the two people agree about?

 They believe the standard of the football is good.  They think it is a good opportunity to socialise.  They agree that it gives a sense of global unity. 

2    What, in the man’s opinion, is the best thing about this year’stournament?

 It takes place in a similar time zone.  His team are expected to do well.  The tournament coincides with his time off from work. 

Difficulty level: C1 / advancedIn this part, you will hear a monologue (which may be introduced by a presenter). You then have to complete 8 sentences with informationheard on the recording. You can listen to the audio twice.You will hear a radio programme about the life of the singer, Lena Horne. For questions 1-8, complete the sentences.

The 'talented tenth' was a label given to those African Americans who had good social positions and were  .She left school and began her singing career at the well-known  .Her motherwas keen that Lena's singing career would bring about the collapse of  .Lena refused to sing for audiences of servicemen and prisoners which were  .When Lena entered Hollywood, black actors were generally only hired to act in the roles of .While she was working for Hollywood, Lena found that, during the  , much of her spoken work was removed from the film.Lena spent a lot of the 1950s working in   due to her being

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considered a Communist. Most people will remember Lena for her  .in this part, you will hear a conversation between two or more speakers. You then have to answer 6 multiple choice questions which test your understanding of the speakers' attitudes and opnions. You can listen to the audio twice. You will hear a radio interview with the comedian Brain Conley, who does a considerable amount of work in panto, a type of family-friendly show which is popular at Christmas. For questions 1-6, choose the answer which fits best according to what you hear.

1    Brian likes Birmingham because:

 It has provided him with a steady income  It is where he grew up  It was where he first became famous 

2    When they discuss children’s participation in panto, Brian saysthat

 he prefers children not to come up on stage  it’s important to get the parents’ permission if a child wants

to participate  he thinks that children’s participation adds a certain quality

to the show 

3    According to Brian, the advantage of panto is that

 All the actors can change their lines to reflect current events. 

 The qualities required in panto match his talents.  It gives him the chance to play a comedy character. 

4    Brian became involved in comedy because

 He had wanted to do it since he was a child.  His friends at school encouraged him to do it.  He found he could earn more by doing comedy. 

5    What does Brian say about providing comedy for corporate events?

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 It is easy because the audience has had a lot to drink.  He has learnt how to respond to comments from the audience.  It’s the only way for many comedians to find work. 

6    What does Brian feel with regards to nerves?

 He agrees with a comment someone made early in his career  He no longer feels nervous because he is more experienced  The extent of his nerves has changed over the years 

Difficulty level: C1 / advancedIn this part, you will hear five speakers. Each speaker talks about a related topic. In this example all the speakers are talking about holidays. There are two blocks of five matching questions. Read the questions carefully before you listen. You can listen to the audio twice. Click on the 'See script' button to review your answers.You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their recent holidays or breaks.

For questions 1-5, choose from the list the type of holiday the person had.

1. Speaker 1: 2. Speaker 2: 3. Speaker 3: 4. Speaker 4: 5. Speaker 5: 

For questions 6-10, choose from the list what each speaker is expressing.

6. Speaker 1: 7. Speaker 2: 8. Speaker 3: 9. Speaker 4: 10. Speaker 5: 

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Speaking26

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced 

What is the CAE Speaking test like?The test has four sections and takes 15 minutes:Normally you will do the speaking test with another candidate. The two of you will meet two examiners. One of the examiners will talk to you, the other does not particpate in the conversations.

Speaking part 1: short questions and answers between you and the examiner

Speaking part 2: 'Long turn' .The examiner gives you between two and five photographs and asks you to talk about them. You have to speak for 1 minute without interruption and the interlocutorthen asks the other candidate to comment on what you have said for about 30 seconds. The other candidate receives a different set of photographs and you have to listen and comment when theyhave finished speaking.

Speaking part 3: Collaborative task. Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner gives you some pictures and a task to do. You have to talk with the other candidate and make a decision.

Speaking part 4: Discussion. Further discussion with the other candidate based on the topics or issues raised in the task in Part 3.

ScoringThe Speaking section is worth 25% of the total score for the exam.Your speaking is assessed using five criteria:

Grammar - have you used a range of grammar structures

Lexical resource - have you used a range of vocabulary

Discourse management - have you participated effectively in theconversations and discussions?

Proununciation

Interactive Communication - have you completed the tasks effectively?

How to prepare for CAE Speaking

Listen carefully to what the examiner has asked you to do.27

Speak as much as you can, with your friends Practise looking at photographs and speaking about them Listen! The more English you listen to the better your will do.

Listen to the radio, English language TV, podcasts...

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