Mastering the Format of the CAE Cambridge Exam

Mastering the Format of the CAE Cambridge Exam

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the format of the CAE Cambridge Exam and be better prepared for the test.

Introduce the learning objective and explain the importance of understanding the format of the exam.

What do you already know about the CAE Cambridge Exam format?

Overview of the CAE Cambridge Exam

The CAE Cambridge Exam is divided into four sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

Provide a brief introduction to the exam and its sections.

Reading and Use of English

This section lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and consists of 8 parts. It tests your ability to understand and use English grammar and vocabulary in context.

Explain the purpose of the Reading and Use of English section and its duration.

Writing

This section lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and requires you to write two pieces of writing: an essay and a report, proposal, email, or letter.

Describe the Writing section and the types of writing tasks you will be asked to complete.

Listening

This section lasts 40 minutes and consists of four parts. It tests your ability to understand spoken English in a variety of contexts.

Explain the purpose of the Listening section and its duration.

Speaking

This section lasts about 16 minutes and consists of four parts. It tests your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English.

Describe the Speaking section and the types of tasks you will be asked to complete.

Scoring

Each section of the exam is worth 40 points, and the total score is out of 200. A score of 180 or above is considered a passing grade.

Explain how the exam is scored and what constitutes a passing grade.

Preparing for the Exam

To prepare for the exam, we will look at each section and practice two full papers. 

Provide tips for preparing for the exam and direct students to resources for practice materials.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.