CAE CAE Exam Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What should a candidate do immediately upon receiving the CAE exam paper?
- Start answering from question one without reading instructions
- Read all instructions and briefly skim the whole paper (Correct answer)
- Calculate exactly how many minutes per question are available
- Write their personal details at the top of every page
Correct answer: Read all instructions and briefly skim the whole paper
Briefly scanning the whole paper allows candidates to understand task types, plan time allocation, and identify any particularly easy or challenging sections.
Question 2: In CAE Use of English Part 1 (multiple choice cloze), what should candidates focus on?
- Finding the word that sounds most natural in the gap
- Identifying which option collocates correctly, fits the grammar, and matches meaning (Correct answer)
- Choosing the word with the most letters as it is likely more precise
- Always choosing the first option that seems possible
Correct answer: Identifying which option collocates correctly, fits the grammar, and matches meaning
Part 1 typically tests vocabulary in context — collocations, fixed phrases, and semantic precision — so all three factors must be checked for each answer.
Question 3: Which mistake most commonly costs marks in CAE key word transformations (Part 4)?
- Using contractions
- Changing the key word or adding extra words beyond the limit (Correct answer)
- Writing in capital letters
- Using synonyms instead of the exact meaning
Correct answer: Changing the key word or adding extra words beyond the limit
The key word must be used exactly as given (never changed), and the total word count must stay within 2–6 words; breaking these rules results in zero marks.
Question 4: Why is it important to check spelling on the CAE answer sheet?
- Spelling mistakes are penalised by half a mark each
- Misspelled words in certain parts (e.g., Listening Part 2) may not be accepted (Correct answer)
- The answer sheet is scanned and only exact matches are accepted
- Examiners deduct marks for any word not in standard dictionaries
Correct answer: Misspelled words in certain parts (e.g., Listening Part 2) may not be accepted
In Listening Part 2 (sentence completion), answers must be spelled well enough to be recognisable; in other parts, spelling is also an assessed criterion.
Question 5: What is the best way to use process of elimination in CAE multiple choice questions?
- Eliminate the longest answer first, as correct answers are usually short
- Rule out options that are clearly contradicted by the text before choosing from remaining options (Correct answer)
- Always remove option A first and choose from B, C, and D
- Eliminate the option containing the most unfamiliar words
Correct answer: Rule out options that are clearly contradicted by the text before choosing from remaining options
Eliminating clearly wrong options reduces the choice to two or three, making it easier to identify the most strongly supported answer from the text.
Question 6: In CAE Use of English Part 2 (open cloze), what should candidates write if they are unsure of the exact word?
- Leave the gap blank
- Write their best guess of a grammatically appropriate word (Correct answer)
- Write two possible answers separated by a slash
- Copy the word from the sentence immediately before the gap
Correct answer: Write their best guess of a grammatically appropriate word
There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so writing a grammatically possible word — even if uncertain — is always better than leaving a blank.
CAE CAE Exam Strategies 2
What should a candidate do immediately upon receiving the CAE exam paper?