CAE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CAE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does the CAE-level idiom 'to beat around the bush' mean? → To avoid getting to the main point
2. Identify the correct use of a relative clause: 'The scientist, _______ research was published last year, has won an award.' → whose
3. Which of these is a characteristic of an effective CAE essay introduction? → Presenting background context and outlining what the essay will discuss
4. The word 'exhaustive' in 'an exhaustive study was conducted' means: → A thorough and complete study covering all aspects
5. Which sentence correctly uses an adverbial clause of concession? → Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
6. In CAE Writing, 'range' refers to which of the following? → The variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures
7. Which word correctly fills the gap: 'The new software has several _______ features that the old version lacked'? → innovative
8. Which linking phrase is most appropriate to introduce a counter-argument in a CAE essay? → On the other hand
9. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the preparation time given before each recording in CAE Listening? → To read questions and predict the kind of information needed
10. A CAE Reading Part 5 passage uses the phrase 'no small feat' to describe an achievement. What does this phrase convey? → The achievement was significantly difficult
11. In the CAE Reading and Use of English paper, how should a candidate approach Part 5 (multiple choice) most effectively? → Read the text carefully, then locate the answer area for each question before choosing
12. CAE Listening Part 4 is typically a longer interview or discussion. What is one key skill tested? → Understanding speakers' opinions, attitudes, and agreement/disagreement
13. In CAE Speaking, what is the assessor's role during the test? → To observe and mark the candidates without joining the conversation
14. Which of the following is a characteristic of formal written English? → Nominalization, such as using 'investigation' instead of 'investigate'
15. Which of the following is true about the CAE exam scoring? → There is no negative marking — wrong answers score zero, not negative
16. Choose the correct phrasal verb: 'She had to _______ the meeting until next week due to a conflict.' → put off
17. What is a key strategy for answering CAE Reading Part 6 (cross-text multiple matching)? → Identify the writer's specific attitude or opinion and compare it across texts
18. In CAE Speaking Part 2, what must each candidate do? → Talk about two photographs for one minute, then comment on their partner's turn
19. Which word correctly completes the collocation: 'She made a _______ decision to leave her job'? → snap
20. What does 'coherence' mean in the context of CAE Writing assessment? → Ideas being logically connected and easy to follow
21. In the CAE Writing paper, how many tasks must candidates complete? → Two tasks: one compulsory and one from a choice
22. What does 'attitude' mean in the context of CAE Listening questions? → The speaker's feelings or opinions about a subject
23. What is meant by 'task achievement' in CAE Writing marking criteria? → Fully addressing all aspects of the given task prompt
24. In CAE Listening sentence completion, what should candidates do if they are unsure of a word's spelling? → Write their best phonetic approximation
25. Which word has a similar meaning to 'meticulous' at C1 level? → Thorough
26. Which opening is most appropriate for a CAE-style formal letter of application? → I am writing with reference to the position advertised in...
27. Which word fits the gap? 'The _______ of the ancient manuscript was confirmed by three independent experts.' → authenticity
28. How long does the CAE Listening paper approximately last? → 40 minutes
29. Which of the following could be regarded as a source of doubt? → A webpage with a.com
30. A CAE candidate is confused by a long, complex sentence in Reading Part 5. What is the best approach? → Break the sentence into shorter clauses and identify the main subject and verb