CAE CAE Exam Strategies 3

Question 1

A CAE candidate is confused by a long, complex sentence in Reading Part 5. What is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Break the sentence into shorter clauses and identify the main subject and verb

Answer

Skip the question and move to the next one permanently

Answer

Choose the longest answer option as it is likely to match the complex text

Answer

Re-read the sentence repeatedly until the meaning becomes clear

Question 2

How many marks is each question worth in most parts of the CAE Reading and Use of English paper?

Accepted Answer

One mark

Answer

Half a mark

Answer

Two marks

Answer

Variable — easier questions are worth less

Question 3

What is the purpose of leaving time to check your answers at the end of a CAE exam paper?

Accepted Answer

To catch careless errors such as misread questions or transfer mistakes

Answer

To rewrite answers in neater handwriting

Answer

To change any answer that seems too simple, as it is likely wrong

Answer

To fill in any questions you deliberately skipped earlier

Question 4

Which of the following is true about the CAE exam scoring?

Accepted Answer

There is no negative marking — wrong answers score zero, not negative

Answer

Incorrect answers in multiple-choice sections incur a penalty

Answer

All parts of the exam are weighted equally in the final score

Answer

Candidates must pass every paper individually to receive the C1 certificate

Question 5

What should a CAE candidate prioritise when proofreading their Writing paper?

Accepted Answer

Checking register consistency, grammar errors, and task completion

Answer

Counting the exact word count to ensure it matches 220–260 precisely

Answer

Re-reading the whole essay aloud to check pronunciation

Answer

Replacing all common words with more advanced vocabulary

Question 6

A candidate writes 195 words for a CAE Writing task (minimum 220). What is the likely consequence?

Accepted Answer

The candidate will lose marks because the task is likely underdeveloped

Answer

The answer is automatically disqualified

Answer

The candidate loses exactly 5 marks for each missing 10 words

Answer

No consequence — word count is not assessed in CAE Writing

A CAE candidate is confused by a long, complex sentence in Reading Part 5.What is the best approach?