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. Which compound adjective is correctly hyphenated? 'The company released a _______ report on its environmental impact.' → hard-hitting
3. Identify the correct use of a relative clause: 'The scientist, _______ research was published last year, has won an award.' → whose
4. Which of these is a characteristic of an effective CAE essay introduction? → Presenting background context and outlining what the essay will discuss
5. The word 'exhaustive' in 'an exhaustive study was conducted' means: → A thorough and complete study covering all aspects
6. Identify the word with the correct prefix meaning 'not enough': 'The shelter was _______ equipped to handle the number of evacuees.' → under-equipped
7. Which sentence correctly uses an adverbial clause of concession? → Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
8. In CAE Writing, 'range' refers to which of the following? → The variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures
9. Which word correctly fills the gap: 'The new software has several _______ features that the old version lacked'? → innovative
10. Which linking phrase is most appropriate to introduce a counter-argument in a CAE essay? → On the other hand
11. 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
12. Choose the option that correctly completes the passive sentence: 'The ancient ruins _______ to have been built over two thousand years ago.' → are believed
13. 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
14. Which of the following phrases would be inappropriate in a formal CAE proposal? → Honestly, this plan is going to work out great for everyone involved.
15. A CAE candidate is writing a review of a film for a student magazine. Which sentence best matches the expected register? → The film's stunning visuals make it a must-see for anyone who loves great cinema.
16. Which word best completes the sentence? 'The storm caused _______ damage to the coastal infrastructure.' → extensive
17. A CAE text includes the sentence: 'The study's scope was, by design, intentionally narrow.' What does 'by design' emphasize? → The narrowness was a deliberate methodological choice
18. 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
19. A CAE passage describes a scientist who 'remained undaunted by repeated failures.' What does 'undaunted' mean in this context? → Not discouraged; persistent despite adversity
20. CAE Listening Part 4 is typically a longer interview or discussion. What is one key skill tested? → Understanding speakers' opinions, attitudes, and agreement/disagreement
21. Which of the following demonstrates an inappropriate mixing of registers in academic writing? → In conclusion, the experiment was totally a success and the results are great.
22. In CAE Reading Part 7 (gapped text), which of the following is a key strategy for identifying where a removed paragraph belongs? → Looking for lexical and grammatical cohesion links between paragraphs
23. In CAE Speaking, what is the assessor's role during the test? → To observe and mark the candidates without joining the conversation
24. Which of the following is a characteristic of formal written English? → Nominalization, such as using 'investigation' instead of 'investigate'
25. Which of the following is true about the CAE exam scoring? → There is no negative marking — wrong answers score zero, not negative
26. Choose the correct phrasal verb: 'She had to _______ the meeting until next week due to a conflict.' → put off
27. 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
28. In CAE Speaking Part 2, what must each candidate do? → Talk about two photographs for one minute, then comment on their partner's turn
29. Which word correctly completes the collocation: 'She made a _______ decision to leave her job'? → snap
30. What does 'coherence' mean in the context of CAE Writing assessment? → Ideas being logically connected and easy to follow