CAE WRITING EXAM

What is the CAE Writing test like?

The Cambridge Advanced writing exam consists of 2 different parts. The exam lasts for 1 hour
and 30 minutes. In each part you must write between 220 and 260 words.
Scoring
Each part has the same number of marks (total of 20). To pass each part you need to have a
minimum of 12/20
Content /5
Communicative Achievement /5
Organisation /5
Language /5

PART 1: ESSAY
In part 1 of the writing exam, the only option you have will be an essay. You should spend around
45 minutes doing this part.

PART 2:
In part 2 there are 5 different options. In the exam you will have 3 of the following options and you
must choose only one. You should spend around 45 mins doing this part.

REPORT
INFORMAL LETTER/EMAIL
FORMAL LETTER
REVIEW
PROPOSAL
 ESSAY
• Purpose of an essay

An essay is a formal piece of writing in which you are asked to discuss a topic and give
your opinion. It usually follows a class discussion.

• Language

The language of an essay should be very formal. Do not speak directly to the reader,
avoid this by using passives. Never use contractions or idioms in an essay. Also, make
sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate connectors to link your
sentences and paragraphs.

• Structure

When writing an essay, you can choose whether to give it a title or not, it’s not absolutely
necessary. Regarding the structure, it should have a total of 4 paragraphs: an
introductory paragraph, and a conclusion at the end. The main body should consist of 2 of
the points you have chosen from the question. The conclusion usually asks you to make a
decision and decide which of the 2 options is the most important/appropriate/effective etc.

• Giving your opinion

Typically, in an essay we tend to express our opinion at the end, so avoid answering the
question in the introduction. You should only speak in the first person (using ‘I’) in the
conclusion.

• Common topics

Some common topics to write essays about are the environment, health and fitness, work
and employment, friendships and family, money, fame, etc

• Things to include
GRAMMAR CONNECTORS
- Passive (it is universally acknowledged Moreover/In addition/Furthermore
that…)
- Inversion (Not only is/does/will/has/can However/Nevertheless/That being said
it …. But also…)
- Double comparative (the more….the Due to the fact that/On account of
more…)
- 2nd/3rd conditional (if + past simple + For instance/One such example/Such as
would/if + past perfect + would have +
past participle)
- Cleft sentence (what is most crucial is…) As far as I am concerned/I wholeheartedly
believe that
 ESSAY TEMPLATE
Use the phrases and structures from the previous page to make yourself an empty essay template.
Here’s an example:

When it comes to ________________, it is universally acknowledged that there is always a heated

debate regarding ________________. Some would suggest that ______________ while others
consider that ___________________. The only question therefore is ________________?

Firstly, it is undeniable that

____________________________________________________________________Nevertheless,
if ...past
simple..would/could..._______________________________________________________________
___

Secondly, few people would dispute the fact that not only
_____________________________________________, but also
_________________________________. That being said, _______________________________

To sum up, taking all this into consideration, I wholeheartedly believe

that_____________________________________________________________________________
___

It is important that you don’t just copy and paste the above structure. You MUST make your own. Try it
here:
The impact of advertising campaigns on society

It is universally acknowledged that advertising campaigns have become more intense over
the past years. It is certainly true that advertisements influence people's everyday lives as
well as their consumption habits. The only question therefore is in which of these areas the
business of advertising has a profound impact?

First and foremost, there is little doubt that present-day society lives surrounded by publicity.
Appearing in public places, radio, television and on the Internet, it is almost impossible to be
unaware of the latest advertisements. However, could these campaigns wield considerable
influence over the daily life of the masses? It is undeniable that some commercials are
memorable and part of social culture. Moreover, they are considered a modern art form in
which a wide range of celebrities perform.

On the other hand, advertisements have an effect on consumer choices. Despite the fact that
they are necessary to inform people about new products or services, an advertisement
always has a consumerist message. By using attractive prices and different psychological
techniques, companies are able to convince people to spend their funds buying unnecessary
items. Consequently, publicity could change the habits of a society unless people enquired
about more objective sources of information about products.

Taking all this into consideration, I wholeheartedly believe that the biggest effect of
advertising is on people's lives as sometimes it can help to change stereotypes and reflect
the diversity of a modern society.
 REPORT
• Purpose of a report
Reports are usually written to evaluate a previous experience you have had, like a trip, or
a place you have recently visited. They normally ask you to discuss something that has
happened, which you must analyse and then make some recommendations for
improvement.

• Language
The language of a report is formal and impersonal. For this reason, you should avoid
including yourself or your views in most of your sentences. You can include results of a
survey to avoid this. However, you must give your opinion in the conclusion or
recommendations paragraph.

• Structure
The report should include a title and subheadings. Each paragraph should have a
subheading which summarises its main topic. Also, the introduction can always be
“Introduction” and the conclusion, “Conclusion” or “Recommendations”. A report
usually consists of 4 or 5 paragraphs depending on the question.

• Giving your opinion

There are two main ways to give your opinion in a report. You can give it at the end of
each paragraph, saying how you would solve or improve each aspect. Or you can give
leave it until the final paragraph, where you can summarise how you would solve or
improve each aspect.

• Common topics
Some common topics for reports include talking about visits to museums, local
businesses, trips and excursions, important events, etc.

• Things to include
GRAMMAR CONNECTORS
- Passive (it was commented upon by a Moreover/In addition/Furthermore
number of people that…)
- Inversion (Not only is/does/will/has/can However/Nevertheless/That being said
it …. But also…)
- Double comparative (the more….the Due to the fact that/On account of
more…)
- 2nd/3rd conditional (if + past simple + For instance/One such example/Such as
would/if + past perfect + would have +
past participle)
- Cleft sentence (what is most crucial is…) As far as I am concerned/I wholeheartedly
believe that
- Inverted conditional (If these In light of the above/To sum up/Taking all
recommendations were to be carried factors mentioned into account
out, the situation is bound to improve.)
 REPORT TEMPLATE
Use the phrases and structures from the previous page to make yourself an empty report template.
Here’s an example:

TITLE

Introduction
The main aim of this report is to _________________________ and also to make
recommendations as to ___________________

Heading
According to a survey that was carried out __________, it was commented upon by a
number of ________ . Another reason ___________________

Heading
As far as I am concerned, it would be highly advisable to _____________________
Furthermore, it must be said that not only ______(inversion)_________, but also
____________________ If ________(past perfect)_________I am convinced that
______________ would have ______(past participle)__________

Conclusion
Taking everything into consideration, were the above suggestions to be implemented,
_______________ is bound to _____________

It is important that you don’t just copy and paste the above structure. You MUST make your own. Try it
here:
The Cave of the Bear

Introduction
The main purpose of this report is to provide information on the Cave of the Bear, and
also to make recommendations as to how its international fame can be improved.

The cave
Located in the north of Alicante, the Cave of the Bear is a cave complex consisting of
twenty five chambers and a network of twisting passages. The main passage is
approximately two thousand meters long and varies from one to five meters in height.
According to archaeological excavations, the cave was occupied by prehistoric
humans forty five thousand years ago. One such example of the occupations are the
high quality paintings of local fauna found throughout the length of the cave, especially
bears and wolves, as well as handprints.

The impact of the Cave of the Bear in Spain

Attracting hundreds of visitors annually, the cave has certainly something to appeal to
scientists and to those who are enthusiastic about history. The works of excavation
and conservation are constant, and it is often of particular interest to national students.
Moreover, two years ago, the cave was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO,
increasing the reputation of the country.

Recommendations
Despite all the factors mentioned above, the Cave of the Bear is clearly unknown
outside our borders, and more could be done to attract people to it. As far as I am
concerned, what is most crucial are the following recommendations:
- Create an online museum with replicas and images of the prehistoric rock art to
make the cultural knowledge more accessible.
- Promote a global archaeologist summit in the city with conferences about the latest
investigations in that field.
Should the recommendations outlined in this report be carried out, I have no doubt that
it will encourage people to visit this unique discovery.
 INFORMAL LETTER/EMAIL
• Purpose of a letter or email
The objective of the letter or email depends on each task. Some tasks ask you to provide
your friend with some important information, while others will ask you to give advice or
make some recommendations.

• Language
In general you should use an informal style if you are writing to a friend or close
relative. Here you can use contractions, idioms and plenty of phrasal verbs.

• Structure
All letters or emails should have a similar structure. You need an opening and closing
formula; an introductory and closing paragraph; and a body consisting of as many
paragraphs as ideas you are asked to discuss.

• Common topics
Many letters or emails to friends and relatives include giving advice on a certain subject
like visiting your town or keeping fit, or maybe some tips on how to deal with a problem.

• Things to include
GRAMMAR CONNECTORS
- Phrasal verbs (I’m really looking forward
to reading your next letter.)
- Inversion (Not only is/does/will/has/can By the way/Oh and another thing
it …. But also…)
- Double comparative (the more….the Guess what/You’ll never believe
more…)
- 2nd/3rd conditional (if + past simple + For example/such as/like
would/if + past perfect + would have +
past participle) I reckon/I guess/I suppose
- Idioms (I hope you can come, we’ll have
a ball!)
 INFORMAL LETTER TEMPLATE
Use the phrases and structures from the previous page to make yourself an empty informal letter
template. Here’s an example:

Dear (first name),

Thanks for your letter, it’s great to hear from you! How have you been? I’ve
been working like crazy as I‘ve got a few exams coming up soon.
Anyway, (Reason for writing) ______________________

By the way, ______________

Oh and another thing, ___________

I’m really looking forward to + verb ing. Drop me a line when you’re next in
town and if you’re looking for a place to stay I can put you up. I’m sure we’ll
have a ball!

All the best,

Becca

It is important that you don’t just copy and paste the above structure. You MUST make your own. Try it
here:
Hi James,

It’s great to hear from you; sorry I haven’t had a chance to write in so long, I’ve
had a lot on my plate recently.

Anyway, that’s fantastic news, I'm so glad you chose to come to San Vicente, it has
so much to offer. If you want to get out and about, by far and away the best thing to
do here is to go sightseeing. There are so many museums and unusual buildings
that I'm sure you'll love.

I know you mentioned that you aren't crazy about sports so if I were in your shoes,
I would check out a hot air balloon ride. I did this last year with a friend of mine
and the views were absolutely stunning. I totally recommend it even though it cost
me an arm and a leg; it's definitely worth it!

As for some indoor activities, you simply have to go to the shopping centre on the
outskirts of town. Not only does it have a wide variety of shops, it also has a huge
bowling alley full of arcade machines if shopping isn't really your cup of tea.

By the way, there's also a really cool theme park not too far from here so if you're
up for it we could go together.

Well, I hope I’ve been able to help you, let me know if there’s anything else you
need. Drop me a line when you arrive, I’m really looking forward to seeing you and
catching up in person.

All the best,

Becca
 REVIEW
• Purpose of a review
The purpose of any review is to talk about a topic in detail, this could be anything from a
book or a film to a product or a hotel. Reviews should entertain the reader while also being
informative.

• Language
The language can be neutral or even a little informal. You should address the reader
directly, in the second person, and you can use humour if you think it’s appropriate.

• Structure
Every review needs a title. This should be as catchy as possible, to grab the reader’s
attention from the beginning. In the introduction, you should introduce what you are talking
about in a leisurely way, trying to entertain the reader. Each paragraph between the
introduction and the conclusion should deal with a different aspect. And you should wait
until the conclusion to make a recommendation.

• Giving your opinion

In a review you are expected to give your opinion throughout the whole writing, although
the recommendation is expected to happen at the end. A review is very personal, so you
can use first-person sentences freely.

• Common topics
Review tasks usually ask you to write about restaurants, books, films, series, musical
events, plays, hotels etc.

• Things to include

GRAMMAR CONNECTORS
- Phrasal verbs (Don’t be put off by…) Firstly/Secondly/Last but by no means least
- Inversion (Not only is/does/will/has/can
it …. But also…) Additionally/Besides/On top of that
- Double comparative (the more….the
more…) As for/Apart from/Regarding
- 2nd/3rd conditional (if + past simple +
would/if + past perfect + would have + All in all/ In a nutshell/To sum up/On the whole
past participle)
- Idioms (It’s the best thing since sliced
bread)
 REVIEW TEMPLATE
Making a review template is a lot tougher than the other types of writing as we don’t know what thing we
will have to review. Make sure you make a note of some good phrases and expressions that you can
memorise to repeat in the exam.
Here’s an example:

I (verb in past simple) ________ for the first time last week and found that it
was simply the (superlative) ______ I have ever (past participle).

Firstly, _______

Secondly, the most incredible thing about this _____ is ________.

In a nutshell, I would have no hesitation in recommending this ____ to

anyone who ____. So what are you waiting for? Go out and try this
______, it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

It is important that you don’t just copy and paste the above structure. You MUST make your own. Try it
here:
A tale of two films
In this review I am going to compare two contrasting tales about
overcoming adversity. Whereas The Blind Side (2009) left me with a huge
grin on my face, sadly, Doctor Zhivago (1965) left me feeling the weight of
the world on my shoulders.
Doctor Zhivago, directed by five-time Oscar winner David Lean, is set in
the Bolshevik revolution and follows the title character, who must adapt
to the new order while pining for Lara, the beautiful wife of a political
campaigner. The director succeeded in creating a film that is thoroughly
engaging but full of gritty realism, cruelty and tragic irony. Take the
tissues!
The Blind Side, which is based on a true story, is also a bit of a tearjerker,
in a completely different way. Starring Sandra Bullock, who won an
Academy Award for her portrayal of a rich white mother in Tennessee
who takes a homeless black teenager under her roof. Understandably, the
gentle giant thinks he isn’t good at anything but his new mother sees his
potential to become a football star and part of the family. The plot is based
on a true story, making it all the more touching.
I would strongly recommend The Blind Side. It will appeal to a range of
people and is a great choice for a movie night. Although Doctor Zhivago is
a classic, I think it has more of a niche audience and is best saved for when
you want a dose of gloom!
 PROPOSAL
• Purpose of a proposal
The goal of a proposal is persuade/convince someone of the benefits of your idea.

• Language
The language of a proposal is formal and impersonal. For this reason, you should avoid
including yourself or your views in most of your sentences. You can include results of a
survey to avoid this. However, you must give your opinion in the conclusion or
recommendations paragraph.

• Structure
The proposal should include a title and subheadings. Each paragraph should have a
subheading which summarises its main topic. Also, the introduction can always be
“Introduction” and the conclusion, “Conclusion” or “Recommendations”. A proposal
usually consists of 4 or 5 paragraphs depending on the question.

• Giving your opinion

There are two main ways to give your opinion in a proposal. You can give it at the end of
each paragraph, saying how you would solve or improve each aspect. Or you can give
leave it until the final paragraph, where you can summarise how you would solve or
improve each aspect.

• Common topics
As you'd expect, sometimes the proposals in CAE are set in the business world, and
sometimes in the academic world. In these cases you'll be writing in quite a formal style.
Another common scenario is that you're in a club and want to propose some changes -
if you're writing to the other members of the club you can be a bit less formal but you
should still be polite.

• Things to include

GRAMMAR CONNECTORS
- Phrasal verbs (Don’t be put off by….) Firstly/Secondly/Last but by no means least
- Inversion (Not only is/does/will/has/can
it …. But also…) Additionally/Besides/On top of that
- Double comparative (the more….the
more…) As for/Apart from/Regarding
- 2nd/3rd conditional (if + past simple +
would/if + past perfect + would have + All in all/ In a nutshell/To sum up/On the whole
past participle)
- Idioms (Even if you only do it once in a
blue moon, it’s incredible!)
 PROPOSAL TEMPLATE
Making an article template is a lot tougher than the other types of writing as we don’t know what thing we
will have to write about. Make sure you make a note of some good phrases and expressions that you can
memorise to repeat in the exam.
Here’s an example:

TITLE

Introduction
The main objective of this proposal is to _________________________ and also to
make recommendations as to ___________________

Heading
According to a survey that was carried out __________, it was commented upon by a
number of ________ . Another reason ___________________

Heading
As far as I am concerned, it would be highly advisable to _____________________
Furthermore, it must be said that not only ______(inversion)_________, but also
____________________ If ________(past perfect)_________I am convinced that
______________ would have ______(past participle)__________

Conclusion
Taking everything into consideration, were the above suggestions to be implemented,
_______________ is bound to _____________

It is important that you don’t just copy and paste the above structure. You MUST make your own. Try it
here:
How to improve the quality of language classes

Introduction

The principal objectives of this proposal are to describe the current state of language teaching at
the Pennsylvania State University, identify areas for improvement, and offer recommendations
on exactly what improvements can be achieved.

Current situation

At the present moment, Penn State offers courses of several languages on three different levels.
One can study modern languages such as French, German, Italian Russian as a beginner,
intermediate or upper-intermediate student.

Issues

Following a final year survey among students taking language courses, the following areas for
improvement can be highlighted:

1. the number of languages in offer: undoubtedly narrow and restricted to European languages;
2. the structure of the courses is flat: no advanced level
3. little innovation in the language methods utilized: simple, old-fashioned grammar-translation
method still reigns supreme.

Recommendations

It is vital to address the issues raised in the student survey. Therefore, the following actions
ought to be performed with a view to improving the quality of the courses and their reception:

• The offer should be increased to include other widely-spoken languages, especially non-
European ones, such as Chinese, Arabic and Hindi. These languages are real challenges for
the speakers of European languages.
• It is advisable to expand the course options by offering lessons for advanced students.
Only comprehensive offer can motivate students to immerse themselves in language
learning.
• Last but not least, some variety needs to be introduced into the array of teaching methods
available to students, e.g. online multimedia lessons. The best method of language learning
is using many various methods.

All of these measures, if promptly implemented, are surely going to increase student satisfaction
in the area of language courses.
 FORMAL LETTER
• Purpose of a formal letter or email
The purpose of a formal letter will ask you to apply for a job or course, complain about
something, recommend something or ask for information.

• Language
Here you should stick to more formal language and you should avoid using contractions
and idioms.

• Structure
All letters or emails should have a similar structure. You need an opening and closing
formula; an introductory and closing paragraph; and a body consisting of as many
paragraphs as ideas you are asked to discuss.

• Common topics
For formal letters and emails, they usually ask you to apply for a job or a volunteering
programme, or to complain about something or ask for information. Sometimes these
topics may appear in combination.

• Things to include
GRAMMAR CONNECTORS
- Inverted conditional (Should you need Moreover/In addition/Furthermore
any further information, …)
- Inversion (Not only am/do/can/ I …. But However/Nevertheless/That being said
also…)
- Double comparative (the more….the Due to the fact that/On account of
more…)
- 2nd/3rd conditional (if + past simple + For instance/One such example/Such as
would/if + past perfect + would have +
past participle)
- Cleft sentence (what I enjoy most about As far as I am concerned/I wholeheartedly
working as a receptionist is…) believe that
To whom it may concern,
I would like to lodge a formal complaint against your hotel due to
the wide variety of issues that I came up against during my stay.

Firstly, the room that I had reserved was not available due a
configuration error on the website. Therefore, the hotel
accommodated me in the noisy north wing of the building, where
the restaurant and the gym are located. And to make matters
worse, the room was an unmitigated disaster. Not only was it not
up to scratch, but also the bathroom was extremely filthy.

Secondly, the quality of the customer service I received was

woefully inadequate on account of the fact that the hotel staff were
deliberately rude. Even when the problem arose due to their
inefficiency, they ignored my total dissatisfaction. I would also like
to point out that there was a major language barrier between us.

As you can imagine, I am quite disappointed. I feel entitled to a full

refund in addition to an apology for the inconvenience caused.
Moreover, I strongly recommend that the hotel increase the quality
of the rooms as well as their cleanliness. Apart from that, it would
be highly advisable that the hotel staff take a course of Spanish or
English in order to improve their service. Finally, I suggest re-
evaluating the design of the hotel website. Never again will I return
to your hotel unless these suggestions are implemented.

I expect to receive a prompt reply to this letter.

Yours faithfully,
WRITING MARK SCHEME
John Smith