essay tips c1

CAE Writing Paper – Tips, Format & Tasks | C1 Advanced

C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing: Format

Format: cae writing paper contains two parts. Timing:  1 hour 30 minutes

Parts: 2 Task: candidates are required to complete two tasks:

•  a compulsory task in Part 1
• one task from a choice of three in Part 2.

A range from the following: email/letter; essay; report; review; proposal

C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing: Part 1 – Essay

Your essay should be organised well, including an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a compelling conclusion. The composition should capture the reader’s attention and express sophisticated ideas using a range of stylistic structures and vocabulary.

You will be asked to explain which of the two points is more important and to express reasons for your viewpoint. Your essay should include a well-organised introduction, supporting paragraphs and an appropriate conclusion.

 How much do I have to write?  220–260 words.

Tips for CAE Writing Part 1

• Read the entire task before beginning to plan your response . You will need to familiarise yourself with reading the input, understanding the instructions in full and then deciding on how to organise and construct your response.
• Select two bullet points and develop your essay around them . Avoid trying to discuss more than two of the points, for this would lead the composition to being less developed than needed.
• You may use the opinions expressed in the task to develop your answer, but be sure to use your own words as much as possible . No credit will be given for text that has been copied directly from the prompt.

Get Your (CAE) Essay Checked!

C1 advanced (cae) writing: part 2 – one task from three.

You write a text from a choice of text types – letter/email, proposal, report or review. To guide your writing, you’ll be given information about context, topic purpose and target reader  How much do I have to write?       220–260 words.

Tips for Writing Part 2

• lt is imperative that you become familiar with the various task types that the exam requires. All of the task types do not appear on each exam , thus it is important to be prepared to write in any of the styles.
• Develop your skills in deciding which type of task you will complete. Evaluate the required functions, grammatical structures, vocabulary and register required by each task. Then, you may select the task that you believe you can complete at the highest level.
• Be cognizant of your audience when crafting your essay. Consider whether the person is someone you know, a stranger or someone in a position of authority etc. lt is vital to develop a balanced approach whereby you equally weigh the functions required by the task and the relationship with the target audience.

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, c1 advanced (cae) writing: part 2 – types of writing.

The different types of tasks that may appear on the CAE writing exam endeavour to establish frameworks for candidates to develop their ideas on a topic with a purpose for writing and a target reader in mind.

is written for a group of contemporaries like club members or colleagues. Candidates will be expected to make suggestions backed by facts to persuade their readers.

How to write a proposal? | C1 Advanced (CAE)

AN EMAIL/A LETTER

is written to respond to a situation outlined in the question reflecting the appropriate register and tone for the specified target reader. Candidates are asked to develop correspondence to, for example, an English-speaking friend or colleague, a potential employer, a college principal or a magazine editor.

is always written for a teacher. lt should address the prompt provided in terms of addressing both content points and providing a new viewpoint of the writer’s own. The essay should be well developed with an introduction, appropriate conclusion as well as w ritten in an appropriate register and tone.

How to write an essay? | C1 Advanced (CAE)

is usually developed for a superior (e.g. a teacher) or a peer group (e.g. members of an English club). The question identifies the subject of the composition and the areas to be covered. Candidates must provide some factual information and make recommendations, but there is space for them to incorporate their own ideas and experiences.

How to write a report? | C1 Advanced (CAE)

is written traditionally for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website. The main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday. a product, a website etc.) and to give the reader a clear impression of what the item discussed is like. Description and explanation are key functions for this task and a review will normally include a recommendation to the reader.

How to write a review? | C1 Advanced (CAE)

C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing: General Tips

• Read each question closely, highlight the most important facts and develop a response that addresses all of the points required by the task. This will facilitate your ability to develop well-structured and balanced compositions.
• Be sure to not simply reproduce an essay you may have written in preparation for the test. lt is unlikely that at previous response will satisfy the exact requirements of the exam.
• Practise developing ideas fully to illustrate a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures to express more complex ideas where appropriate.
• Make effective use of linking words and phrases to polish the flow of your ideas. In addition, to enhance the logic and ease of your composition use a variety of cohesive devices and organisational patterns.
• Employ a range of complex language structures where suitable. The examiner will give you credit for attempting for sophisticated modes of expression, even if you make some mistakes, as long as it does not preclude the comprehension of the overall idea you are trying to convey.
• The time permitted allows for a brief period of planning and then the composition of your essay. lt does not account for time to compose fair copies or to count words. Each item on the Writing section carries with it equal marks. So practise using your time carefully on each question.
• Write legibly so that your answers can be marked fairly, though the quality of your penmanship will not be assessed. lt is immaterial whether your handwriting is joined up or not, nor whether you write in upper or lower case characters.
• Practice writing the compositions within the word limit so that you are well versed in w hat is required. lt is wasteful to spend time counting words and this often leads to poor alterations that erode the overall quality of your essay.
•   Check your work for spelling, grammar and errors in punctuation . These mistakes are not penalised specifically but these mistakes can preclude communication and/or have an adverse effect on the reader.
• Practice writing your essays without a dictionary , for they are not permitted in the examination room.

As you can see, C1 writing is not that easy at all. See what are the most common mistakes  you should avoid.

What is your level of English?

• CEFR levels
• English Level Test

Username or Email Address

Remember Me Forgot Password?

Get New Password

Cambridge C1 (CAE) Writing Part 1: Guide to Writing the C1 Essay

• July 15, 2024
• Cambridge C1 Writing

To successfully write a C1 level essay in the CAE exam, please do the following:

Step 1:  Understand the Prompt Step 2:  Plan Your Essay Step 3:  Write the Introduction Step 4:  Write the Body Paragraphs Step 5:  Write the Conclusion Step 6:  Review and Edit Your Essay

What you will find in this guide:

C1 essay for the cambridge c1 advanced cae.

Writing the C1 essay can be a difficult task, especially when it’s for an important exam like the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE). But don’t worry, with the right approach and preparation, you can master the art of essay writing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate through the process.

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s understand why mastering essay writing matters:

Showcasing Your Language Proficiency : The essay is your chance to demonstrate your language skills. It’s not just about grammar and vocabulary; it’s about coherence, clarity, and effective communication.

Structured Thinking : Essays require organized thinking. You’ll learn to structure your ideas logically, making your arguments more compelling.

Impressing the Examiners : A well-crafted essay catches the examiner’s attention. It’s your opportunity to shine and leave a lasting impression.

The first part of the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing Paper is an essay. This is a compulsory task, meaning there is no choice of tasks in this part. The essay is your first opportunity to demonstrate your writing prowess and your ability to construct coherent arguments in English.

The essay should be structured with an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction sets the stage for your argument, the supporting paragraphs delve into the details, and the conclusion wraps up your thoughts. This structure is key to producing a well-organized and persuasive essay.

The word count for the essay is 220–260 words. It’s important to stay within this limit to demonstrate your ability to express your ideas concisely. Overwriting or underwriting can lead to penalties, so it’s crucial to practice writing within this word count.

Planning your response is a vital step in acing the essay. Before you start writing, take a few minutes to understand the prompt, brainstorm ideas, and outline your essay. This will help you write a focused and coherent essay.

The essay prompt will include two bullet points that you need to cover in your essay. Selecting and developing around these bullet points is a crucial part of the task. Make sure you address both points adequately in your essay.

Understanding the C1 Rubric

The Cambridge C1 Advanced Writing paper is scored based on four key criteria 1 :

• Content : This assesses how well you have fulfilled the task, if all the content is relevant to the task, and if the target reader is fully informed.
• Communicative Achievement : This checks if the writing is appropriate for the task, if it uses the right register and tone, and if all the points are communicated effectively.
• Organisation : This looks at the way the text is organised, if it uses the right conventions of the communicative task, and if the text is coherent and cohesive.
• Language : This assesses the range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, the level of accuracy in their use, and the appropriateness of the language to the task.

Challenging Areas in Writing the C1 Essay

Though you can prepare for the writing part through practice, there are some factors that some candidates deem challenging. Here’s a list of some of those difficulties. 

Time Constraints: The allocated time for essay writing is very good but some candidates find it a significant challenge. Crafting a well-structured and thoughtful essay within the given time frame requires efficient time management skills, and if you can’t do this during the exam time, you won’t get the score you deserve.

Lack of Ideas: Some candidates find it challenging to generate ideas when confronted with unfamiliar essay topics. This may happen to everyone as you don’t know what the question will be about.

Lack of Clarity:

Many candidates are used to using unclear and generic ideas in their writing. This significantly hurts their score because an essay that is not elaborated with specific ideas often lacks clarity, and coherence does not get a C1 level score.

Grammatical Accuracy: Maintaining grammatical precision is a common struggle. Candidates are often so focused on the content and the ideas they need to write about to the point where they forget about grammatical rules. This leads to errors that can impact the overall quality of the essay.

Use of Vocabulary and Grammar Forms: A noteworthy challenge is the effective use of a diverse range of vocabulary and grammar forms, particularly for candidates operating both at and below the C1 level. Striking the right balance and demonstrating linguistic proficiency can be demanding.

Logical Progression of Writing Content: Ensuring a logical flow in the progression of ideas within the essay is another hurdle. Crafting a well-organized and coherent narrative requires a strategic approach to presenting arguments and supporting details.

Spelling: Spelling errors can detract from the overall impression of an essay. Achieving accuracy in spelling, especially under time pressure, poses a challenge for some candidates.

Sample Question

How to Overcome Challenges:

To address the lack of ideas and time constraint issues:.

Create an Outline: Develop the habit of outlining your essay before writing to minimize thinking time during the exam.

Read More Essays: Read as many essays, on as many topics, as possible. By reading more essays you can familiarize yourself with different arguments and example ideas for various essay topics.

Regular Practice: Practice responding to diverse essay prompts regularly to enhance idea-generation skills.

To Address Grammatical Accuracy:

Practice with Feedback: Regularly practice essay writing with a teacher or language partner to receive corrective feedback on grammar and sentence structure.

Review and Edit: Allocate time at the end of the exam to review and edit your essay, focusing on correcting grammatical errors.

To Address the Vocabulary and Grammar Issues:

Diversify Vocabulary: Expand your vocabulary by reading a variety of materials to improve the effective use of diverse words.

Seek Expert Feedback: Seek feedback from teachers or language experts to refine the use of complex sentence structures and uncommon words in your essays.

Guide to Writing the Essay in Part 1

Step 1: understand the prompt.

The first step in writing an essay is to understand the prompt. Read it carefully and make sure you know what is being asked of you. Identify the type of essay you need to write – it could be argumentative, descriptive, or another type. This will guide your approach to the essay.

Step 2: Plan Your Essay

Once you understand the prompt, start brainstorming ideas related to the topic. Don’t rush this process – take your time to come up with as many ideas as possible. Once you have a list of ideas, organize them into a clear, logical order. Make sure that you know how you are going to explain them (using very specific arguments and examples). Also, choose a few C1 Level words and grammar structures to use in your essay because you need to show that your writing is at C1 level. This will form the backbone of your essay and help you do a great job at writing your essay.

Step 3: Write the Introduction

The introduction is your chance to grab the reader’s attention. Start with a hook – a surprising fact, a quote, or a question. Provide some background information about the topic to give context to your essay. End the introduction with a clear thesis statement that outlines your main argument or focus.

Step 4: Write the Body Paragraphs

The body of your essay is where you make your arguments. Each paragraph should focus on one main idea that supports your thesis. Back up your points with very specific evidence and examples. Use transitional phrases to link your ideas and ensure your essay flows smoothly.

Step 5: Write the Conclusion

The conclusion is your final chance to leave an impression on the reader. Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new way. Provide a final thought or implication for the reader to consider. This should leave the reader with a sense of closure and completeness.

Step 6: Review and Edit Your Essay

Once you’ve finished writing, it’s time to review and edit your essay. Check for clarity, coherence, and cohesion. Correct any grammatical or spelling errors. Make sure you have fully answered the prompt and followed the essay structure.

Important Point

The key to mastering essay writing is practice. Write practice essays and get feedback. Learn from your mistakes and continuously improve your writing skills. Remember, the key to a good essay is a clear structure, strong arguments supported by evidence, and a thorough understanding of the topic. With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to acing your Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) exam. 

Tips for Success

Understanding the rubric is the first step. Here are some tips to help you excel:

• Practice : Regular practice can help you get familiar with the format and expectations of the paper.
• Feedback : Seek feedback on your writing from a teacher or a knowledgeable friend. They can provide valuable insights on areas of improvement.
• Self-assessment : Try to assess your own work using the rubric. This can help you understand the criteria better and improve your writing skills.

Sample C1 Essay Question and Answer

Write an essay discussing two of the ways in your notes that adults can influence younger people’s behaviour. You should explain which way you think is more effective, giving reasons to support your opinion.

Ways adults can influence how younger people behave: • giving rules • setting an example

Sample Outline (Planning)

• Adults influence behavior
• Giving Rules = Clarity and consequences BUT Risk of superficial compliance
• Setting an Example = Emotional impact and role modeling LEADS TO Cultivating trust and responsibility
• Effectiveness A. Long-term impact B. Internalization of values C. Adaptability

Sample Vocabulary to Use

• Cultivating trust
• Internalization of values
• Adaptability

Sample Answer

The influence of adults on the behavior of younger individuals is crucial for societal development as they play a significant role in shaping values, attitudes, and actions. Two prominent methods through which adults exert influence are by giving rules and setting an example. In this essay, I will explore these two approaches and discuss which one is more effective in molding the behavior of younger individuals.

One traditional method to influence the behavior of younger people is providing a set of rules and guidelines. Rules serve as a framework that defines acceptable and unacceptable behavior, helping establish boundaries and expectations. The rationale behind this method is that explicit guidelines leave little room for ambiguity, making it easier for younger individuals to understand the expectations placed upon them. While rules provide clear boundaries, they may be perceived as restrictive and authoritarian, potentially leading to rebellion or superficial compliance without true understanding or internalization of values.

On the other hand, setting an example is a more nuanced and subtle approach to influencing behavior as actions speak louder than words. The power of setting an example lies in its ability to evoke emotional responses and connect with individuals on a deeper level. Observing positive behavior in role models fosters a sense of trust, admiration, and inspiration, which can lead to the internalization of values. Setting an example taps into the emotional and psychological aspects of behavior formation, cultivating a genuine understanding of values and fostering a sense of personal responsibility.

In conclusion, both giving rules and setting an example are essential tools for adults seeking to influence the behavior of younger individuals. While rules provide structure and clarity, setting an example offers a more profound and lasting impact. The ability to inspire and motivate through personal conduct creates a foundation for genuine understanding and internalization of positive values. This approach is adaptable to different situations and contexts, promoting a more holistic and integrated understanding of ethical and responsible behavior.

CAE Writing Paper – Tips, Format & Tasks | C1 Advanced | engxam.com

How to write an essay? | C1 Advanced (CAE) | engxam.com

CAE Writing (engexam.info)

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Essays | CollegeVine Blog

9 Essay Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them – Oxford Royale (oxford-royale.com)

Cambridge English Writing Assessment Scale

C1 Advanced Handbook for teachers for exams

CAE Writing Exam Grading Rubric

Your Experience

How was your experience preparing for Cambridge C1 Advanced CAE writing part 1? Did you find writing the essay easy or difficult? Share your experience in the comment section below.

• Omid Kalantar

Omid Kalantar is an English Language Teaching (ELT) professor and researcher at Universidad Nacional de Educación (UNAE) in Ecuador. He has extensive experience coaching exam candidates prepare for TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge C1 Advanced, iTEP, PTE, and Duolingo for more than a decade. He is also a former Cambridge Examiner. His expertise and research interests include various issues in applied linguistics, advanced level language proficiency, fluency, accuracy, and complexity in language production, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), materials development and curriculum design, and psycholinguistics. A complete list of his scholarly articles can be accessed on Google Scholar linked below.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Add Comment  *

Post Comment

Related Posts

Cambridge C1 (CAE) Writing Part2: Guide to Writing the C1 Proposal

• July 22, 2024
• Cambridge , Cambridge Writing

Cambridge C1 Advanced: CAE Speaking Part 1

• July 8, 2024
• Cambridge , Cambridge Speaking

Cambridge C1 (CAE) Reading and use of English Part 1

• Cambridge , Cambridge Reading and Use of English
• 39 Comments

Cambridge C1 (CAE): Reading and Use of English Part 8

• July 1, 2024
• 14 Comments

Writing Persuasive Essays: The Ultimate Guide

• June 28, 2024

How to ace CAE reading part 7 – Your free step-by-step guide

• June 24, 2024

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy

Breakout English

Advanced (CAE) Essay Questions and Sample Answers

The Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) essay is a formal, academic writing. You’ll find it in Part 1 of the CAE writing exam and, just like at other levels, Part 1 is mandatory. That means whether you like it or not, you’ll be writing an essay for your C1 Cambridge exam. Considering that, it’s probably a good idea to practise. The good news is, the CAE essay can be quite formulaic. Once you’ve done it a few times, you’ll notice the structure and style are always pretty similar. Before you know it, you’ll be writing them in your sleep! In this post, you’ll find some useful CAE writing tips and three essay questions with sample answers.

If you’re looking for a complete overview of the CAE writing exam, with CAE writing tips and much more, check out Advanced Writing Plus , our complete self-study course.

Topics for Advanced (CAE) essay questions

At C1 level, you are expected to be able to write about pretty much any topic you can imagine. However, CAE essay topics are generally going to be quite formal. You’re not going to be asked about your plans for the weekend!

These are some of the topics which are most likely to come up in an Advanced essay question:

• Environmental issues
• Public projects
• Science and nature
• Global issues

Make sure you’ve looked into these topics and studied relevant vocabulary. You can also read different articles and listen to radio broadcasts (or podcasts) related to the topics. Don’t forget to note down important vocabulary so you can remember it for your writings!

C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay Tips

You’ve probably got plenty of experience writing in English if you’ve reached a C1 level. Students who prepare for this exam often need their skills focused in the right way rather than being taught brand new ideas.

Here are my top tips for preparing the CAE essay task.

• Don’t do anything too strange – The essay question is likely to be on quite an interesting topic. It could even be on something you feel strongly about or specialise in. But be careful! When essays start to ramble too much or go too far, they lose their strength. This essay isn’t going to change the world, so don’t go overboard!
• Use advanced language – Remember that to get top points, you must use advanced structures in your writing. Take some time to practise inversion, cleft sentences and participle clauses, then use them in your essay.
• Don’t be stingy with linking words – Linking words (and expressions) are the glue of a writing. Without them, everything falls apart. This doesn’t mean you have to use ridiculous uncommon linking words, but you should use them frequently, probably more than you expect. Take a look at our post about linking words for some ideas.
• Be stylish! – An essay needs to read like an essay, just like a report needs to read like a report. This means it is a formal, academic text. Formal means no contractions, few phrasal verbs, complex sentences and an impersonal style. The essay needs to include your opinion, so you need to express that opinion through style and substance, supported by facts.
• Focus on argument and coherence – To score high in the CAE essay, it’s important to have a clear argument and structure. Plan your essay and stick to the plan, making sure each paragraph has a clear purpose. Ensure that your points are logically connected and that your writing is coherent.
• Use a variety of sentence types – Varying sentence types and lengths keep the reader engaged and demonstrate your writing skills. Mix simple and complex sentences to add interest to your writing.
• Check your writing! – Proofreading is critical for writing a top-scoring CAE essay. Check for grammatical and spelling errors and make sure the writing flows well. Also, don’t forget to check your writing style and tone to make sure you sound professional and academic.
• Practice, practice, practice – Finally, practise writing essays under timed conditions. This will help you to improve your time management and build confidence for the actual exam.

The materials

Here are three Advanced (CAE) essay questions. They each use different CAE essay topics. Use them to practise and improve in preparation for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam. After completing your own essay, check the example answer and compare.

Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE): How to Write an Essay

Get Your Free C1 Advanced Writing Cheat Sheet Now!

Introduction.

An essay in the C1 Advanced Writing paper is usually written for an academic tutor and may be written as a follow-up to a class activity, such as attending a seminar or watching a documentary. The main purpose of the task is to underline relevant salient issues on the stated topic, and to support an argument with subsidiary points and reasons. An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development and an appropriate conclusion. It should hold the target reader’s attention and communicate complex ideas using an appropriate range of vocabulary and structures. Source: Cambridge English C1 Advanced handbook for teachers

Essays are part of the first section of the CAE Writing paper. The task is mandatory, which means that you always have to write an essay unlike the other texts ( emails/letter , proposals , reviews , reports ) where you can choose which one you would like to tackle in the exam.

Essay writing is not that difficult…

Long story short, in this article I’m going to take you by the hand and guide you through all the different aspects of essay writing. We’re going to see what a typical essay task looks like, the structure and language and, of course, common problems and mistakes you should avoid on your way to mastering essays.

What a typical essay task looks like

Apart from that, you are also gifted a few ideas in the smaller of the two boxes . You can use these in your essay (You don’t have to.), but make sure that you don’t just copy them word for word. Instead, paraphrase them and make them your own, or simply come up with your own ideas.

Formal or informal language in an essay?

I’ll keep this short for you because this works in every single task: Keep your language formal , which means no contractions ( I’m , don’t , etc.), no colloquial expressions ( Hey, what’s up? , I liked it heaps ., etc.), and no slang or phrasal verbs that convey informality ( I’m bursting vs. I have had enough to eat; carry on vs. continue).

How to organise your essay

Plan before you start writing.

It took me 4 minutes to create this plan. I used the idea from the task for sports centres (“Sports centrs mean healthier people.”), but I paraphrased it (public health) while the idea for public parks seems too vague for me so I left it out. Remember that it is optional to include these thoughts in your essay. if you feel that you have better ones, go for it.

The different parts of an essay

In recent years, public funding for local facilities has become more problematic for many towns, which has become more obvious to me after listening to a panel on the financial needs of several different local facilities like sports centres and public parks. As these places battle for funds, the main question is which ones deserve the money more.

Let’s have a closer look at this intro. At the beginning the whole issue is put into the context of the financial problems many local authorities have experienced. Sports centres and public parks as our two topic points are included as well and, last but not least, a question is asked to create a little more interest in the reader.

It is widely known that sports centres provide many different benefits to the local community. Someone on the panel mentioned that, from a public-health standpoint, it is crucial to offer opportunities to exercise in order to keep everyone healthy physically as well as mentally due to the social character of sports. In addition to that, exercise comes in many different shapes and forms, from team sports to individual activities like swimming, so there is something for everyone to enjoy in a dedicated group of people. While green spaces in a town or city have their own benefits, it can be difficult to maintain such large areas in order to keep parks pleasant and inviting to everyone. Nevertheless, considered by many as the green lung of a city their use as a refuge from hectic city life cannot be debated, and groups of people as well as individuals can be seen following their favourite pastime or socialising with others, which makes the discussion about allocating funds even more difficult.

Last but not least, both parts are balanced in terms of their length, but I don’t want you to think that they have to be perfectly equal. If there is good reason to give one part a little bit more attention over the other, that’s fine. For example, you can say in your essay that one of the ideas is more complex than the other, which tells the examiner that you actually thought about this instead of just having messed up your text. Be clear about it and think it through before you even start writing.

Taking into account all the positions from above I come to the conclusion that funding should be allocated to both facilities as they provide essential resources to the local community. However, due to their more social character and possibly greater public health benefits I would give more funds to sports centres.

Time to start practising

Similar posts, cambridge c1 advanced (cae) – speaking, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): how to write a review, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): how to write an email/letter, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): how to write a report, cambridge c1 advanced (cae): reading and use of english part 2, reading skills – 7 great tips to improve.