The Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) examination is a qualification commonly required by educational institutions or employers that assess a candidate’s ability to use everyday written and spoken English at a high level. One section of the CAE exam is the Writing paper which consists of two different tasks – an essay and a report or email. This article will focus specifically on CAE essay writing and provide tips and strategies to help candidates perform their best.
What is a CAE essay?
A CAE essay is a short composition of approximately 240-280 words in response to a prompt or statement. Candidates are given a choice between two essay topics and must clearly express their point of view on the given subject. The essays are assessed based on the following criteria:
Content – How well did the candidate answer the question by including relevant ideas and information? Did they address the key aspects of the topic?
Communicative Achievement – How effective was the candidate at conveying their ideas to the reader? Did the essay have a clear structure and flow logically?
Organization and Structure – Was the essay well organized with an introductory paragraph, body paragraphs to develop ideas, and a concluding paragraph?
Language – Was the vocabulary and grammar used at a sufficiently high level for a CAE exam? Did the candidate avoid basic mistakes?
Choosing a topic
When presented with the two essay titles, candidates should choose the one they feel most comfortable discussing based on their general knowledge and experience. It’s a good idea to quickly jot down some main points or arguments for each topic before deciding. Avoid picking a topic that you cannot think of much to say about.
Developing a structure
All strong CAE essays will have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion structure:
Introduction – State the topic clearly and outline the key points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
Body paragraphs – Have 2-3 well developed paragraphs where you analyze different aspects of the topic and back up your ideas with examples and explanations.
Conclusion – Briefly summarize the main points covered without introducing new information. You can also comment on the significance or implications of the discussed issue.
Using varied and advanced language
CAE assessors expect to see a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures used accurately. Some ways to demonstrate advanced language proficiency:
Use linking words like moreover, Consequently, etc. to connect ideas between sentences.
Include complex noun phrases with attributive or participial adjectives.
Apply advanced verbs beyond simple tenses like would have been doing.
Utilize a variety of clause structures such as conditional, relative, or adverbial clauses.
Sprinkle in idioms, phrasal verbs, prepositional verbs where natural.
Vary sentence structures and lengths for stylistic effect rather than just short simple sentences.
Check for any errors in spelling, prepositions, or word forms, which could undermine otherwise strong language.
Drafting and redrafting
It’s common for CAE candidates to run out of time before finishing the essay. To maximize performance:
Plan out your essay structure before writing and time yourself.
Write a timed draft and check how much time is left. Identify areas for improvement.
If there is time, redraft sections to tighten writing, vary language, add examples, etc. Don’t introduce new ideas.
Proofread carefully near the end – spelling/grammar errors are very costly at this level.
If revision time ends, stop writing to not write nonsense just to use up time which examiners may penalize.
Following the above strategies can help candidates approach CAE essay writing with confidence and allow them to demonstrate the full extent of their English proficiency in response to the given prompts. Regular practice drafting essays under timed conditions is also crucial for acclimatizing to the exam environment. With preparation, candidates can feel ready to showcase their advanced writing and analysis skills on test day.