CAE CAE Exam Strategies 2

Question 1

What should a candidate do immediately upon receiving the CAE exam paper?

Accepted Answer

Read all instructions and briefly skim the whole paper

Answer

Start answering from question one without reading instructions

Answer

Calculate exactly how many minutes per question are available

Answer

Write their personal details at the top of every page

Question 2

In CAE Use of English Part 1 (multiple choice cloze), what should candidates focus on?

Accepted Answer

Identifying which option collocates correctly, fits the grammar, and matches meaning

Answer

Finding the word that sounds most natural in the gap

Answer

Choosing the word with the most letters as it is likely more precise

Answer

Always choosing the first option that seems possible

Question 3

Which mistake most commonly costs marks in CAE key word transformations (Part 4)?

Accepted Answer

Changing the key word or adding extra words beyond the limit

Answer

Using contractions

Answer

Writing in capital letters

Answer

Using synonyms instead of the exact meaning

Question 4

Why is it important to check spelling on the CAE answer sheet?

Accepted Answer

Misspelled words in certain parts (e.g., Listening Part 2) may not be accepted

Answer

Spelling mistakes are penalised by half a mark each

Answer

The answer sheet is scanned and only exact matches are accepted

Answer

Examiners deduct marks for any word not in standard dictionaries

Question 5

What is the best way to use process of elimination in CAE multiple choice questions?

Accepted Answer

Rule out options that are clearly contradicted by the text before choosing from remaining options

Answer

Eliminate the longest answer first, as correct answers are usually short

Answer

Always remove option A first and choose from B, C, and D

Answer

Eliminate the option containing the most unfamiliar words

Question 6

In CAE Use of English Part 2 (open cloze), what should candidates write if they are unsure of the exact word?

Accepted Answer

Write their best guess of a grammatically appropriate word

Answer

Leave the gap blank

Answer

Write two possible answers separated by a slash

Answer

Copy the word from the sentence immediately before the gap