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El examen TOEFL iBT evalúa la habilidad de escuchar mediante grabaciones académicas, conversaciones en campus universitarios y diálogos. Se enfoca en la comprensión de detalles, la identificación de la función de lo escuchado y la conexión de ideas.

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You'll hear lectures and conversations in this section. Both use campus-based language.

3 lectures, some with classroom discussion, each 3-5 minutes; 6 questions per lecture

2 conversations, each 3 minutes; 5 questions per conversation

You can take notes on any audio item throughout the test to help you answer questions.

Test time: It should take about 36 minutes to complete the Listening section.

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Learn about the TOEFL iBT Listening section and watch videos about what to expect for each question.

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IELTS Listening examina la habilidad para comprender diferentes acentos de inglés. Consta de cuatro secciones, incluyendo conversaciones y monólogos. Se evalúa la habilidad de seguir el desarrollo de ideas, identificar información detallada y ciertas habilidades predictivas.

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The IELTS Listening test will take about 30 minutes, and you will have an extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

The four parts of this practice Listening test are presented over four separate web pages. Make sure you move swiftly from one page to the next so that your practice is as realistic as possible.

Download the question paper and blank answer sheet before you start, and write your answers on the question paper while you are listening. Use a pencil.

Listen to the instructions for each section of the test carefully. Answer all of the questions.There are 40 questions altogether. Each question carries one mark.

For each part of the test, there will be time for you to look through the questions and time for you to check your answers.When you have completed all four parts of the Listening test you will have ten minutes to copy your answers on to a separate answer sheet.

We can make special arrangements for test takers with disabilities. If you require a modified version of the test, for example, in Braille, contact your test centre three months in advance to discuss your requirements.

Instructions to test takers

In the actual test you will be given the following instructions:

do not open this question paper until you are told to do so

write your name and candidate number in the spaces at the top of this page

listen to the instructions for each part of the paper carefully

answer all the questions

while you are listening, write your answers on the question paper

you will have 10 minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers onto the separate answer sheet; use a pencil

At the end of the test you will be asked to hand in the question paper.

Review

Once you have completed the practice test, download the answers and see how well you have done.

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Free Online IELTS Listening Practice Tests | Take IELTS

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Free online IELTS Listening practice tests to help improve your IELTS Listening scores and prepare you for your IELTS exam. Access here.

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Listening

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Listening

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El CAE Listening prueba la habilidad para entender una variedad de materiales hablados, incluyendo programas de radio, presentaciones, y conversaciones cotidianas. Se evalúa la capacidad de captar puntos principales e identificar actitudes.

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15 CAE Listening Practice Tests with answer keys, tapescripts and explanations. Complete a test and get a score (out of 210) and your CAE Listening grade. Practice online, print it or save in PDF. These listening tests are perfect for self-preparation!

If you want to take tests home for offline use (save them in PDF or print them) have a look at this list of print-friendly CAE Listening tests.

To learn more about the tricks and techniques to help you score higher check CAE Listening article which explains this part of the exam and gives some advice on how to approach the task.

For more successful exam consider buying one of the books sold by Cambridge English official website.

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CAE Listening Practice Tests - EngExam.info

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Free CAE Listening Practice Tests - save them in PDF or print online. Each listening has a tapescript with answers.Finish a test to see your CAE grade!

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En PTE Academic, la sección Listening incluye una variedad de tareas como resúmenes orales, elección múltiple y dictados. Evalúa la habilidad para comprender el inglés hablado en contextos académicos.

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PTE Academic test format: Listening | Pearson PTE

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A detailed guide to the Listening part of the PTE Academic English test. Learn what to expect from each question, and how to answer them effectively.

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El examen TOEIC Listening se centra en situaciones cotidianas y profesionales. Incluye conversaciones y descripciones de fotografías. Se busca medir la habilidad de comprensión en un entorno laboral internacional.

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TOEIC® Listening Part 1: - photographs - free practice test

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Look at photographs and then listen to 4 sentences. Choose the sentence that best describes the photograph.

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Incluye pasajes académicos que evalúan la habilidad de entender textos de contenido universitario, enfocándose en la comprensión de ideas, inferencias y vocabulario contextual.

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The TOEFL iBT Reading section assesses how well you can read and understand materials used in an academic environment.

It includes two reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with 10 questions per passage. It should take about 35 minutes to complete the Reading section.

Reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks that would be used in introductions to a topic. The passages cover a variety of subjects. Don't worry if you're not familiar with the topic of a passage. All the information you need to answer the questions will be included in the passage. There is a glossary feature available to define words that are not commonly used, if you need it.

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Learn about the TOEFL iBT Reading section and watch videos about what to expect for each question.

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El examen IELTS Reading ofrece una mezcla de textos, desde descriptivos hasta analíticos, para evaluar la comprensión de ideas principales, detalles, inferencias y actitudes.

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Free Online IELTS Reading Practice Tests | Take IELTS

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These free online IELTS Reading practice tests will help you to practise for either your IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training Reading exams.

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Reading

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Reading

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CAE Reading examina la habilidad para comprender el significado general de textos literarios, no literarios, informativos y de opinión, evaluando vocabulario y comprensión de estructura.

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Below you will find 15 CAE Reading and Use of English Practice Tests. Each test is complete with answer keys, explanations and a short vocabulary. Take the test online to see your CAE Grade score. You can also print them or save in PDF for later use. These CAE practice tests are perfect for self-preparation!

The tests below are optimised for online and mobile usage. If you want PDF CAE Reading and Use of English tests, see this list of print-friendly tests.

Having trouble scoring high? Consider reading the basics of CAE Reading and Use of English first. The article has some strategies and tips to help you improve your score.

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CAE Reading and Use of English Practice Tests - EngExam.info

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Free CAE Reading and Use of English Practice Tests, complete with answers, explanations and a vocabulary for each section. Save them in PDF!

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La sección Reading de PTE Academic incluye pasajes académicos que requieren el análisis de la estructura, contenido y léxico de los textos.

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PTE Academic test format: Reading | Pearson PTE

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A detailed guide to the Reading part of the PTE Academic English test. Learn what to expect from each question, and how to answer them effectively.

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TOEIC Reading prueba la comprensión de textos usados en un entorno profesional, tales como anuncios, cartas y memorándums, enfocándose en la funcionalidad del idioma.

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The TOEIC® Listening and Reading test

The Listening and Reading test takes 2.5 hours and has two sections:

Where can I take the test?
The TOEIC Listening and Reading test is a paper and pencil test and can be taken in different centres

Who is it for?
The Test is used by organisations to determine whether an employee is suitable for a particular task. If you work or want to work for a large organisation, particularily in Asia, then the TOEIC test will be useful to you.

In some countries you can also take a Speaking and Writing exam along with the Reading and Listening.
What about scores?
The TOEIC Reading and Listening gives a score between 10 and 990:

905 - 990 International Proficiency

785 - 900 Working Proficiency Plus

605 - 780 Limited Working Proficiency

405 - 600 Elementary Proficiency Plus

255 - 400 Elementary Proficiency

185 - 250 Memorised Proficiency

10 - 180 No Useful Proficiency

Click here to see a table comparing the different exams related to their CEF level.

How much does it cost to take TOEIC Listening and Reading?
Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around $140 USD for each component (Listening and Reading / Speaking and Writing).

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toeic exam practice english language elt efl grammar writing structure teofl

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The TOEIC Listening and Reading test- about the Test of English for International Communication

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Test of English for International Communication - practice reading and listening tests

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Este examen mide la capacidad de hablar de manera clara y coherente sobre temas familiares y relacionados con el ámbito académico, mediante tareas de expresión y opinión personal.

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Question 1: Independent Speaking Task - requires you to draw entirely on your own ideas, opinions and experiences when you respond.

Questions 2-4: Integrated Speaking Tasks - require you to combine your English-language skills - listening and speaking, or listening, reading and speaking - just as you would in or out of a classroom.

Prep time: You'll get 15-30 seconds of preparation time before each response, and your response will be 45 or 60 seconds long.

Speaking response: To respond, you'll speak into the microphone and your responses will be recorded.

Test time: It should take about 16 minutes to complete the Speaking section.

Scoring: Speaking tasks are scored based on the Speaking Scoring Guides (Rubrics) (PDF) by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters. Raw scores are converted to a scaled section score of 0-30.

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Learn about the TOEFL iBT Speaking section and watch videos about what to expect for each question.

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La prueba de IELTS Speaking evalúa el uso del idioma en situaciones cotidianas y formales, a través de una conversación en persona con un examinador.

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There is just one version of the IELTS Speaking test for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

As the Speaking questions and topics are the same for both tests, you can be sure that the practice material provided here is suitable for you, whichever version of the IELTS test you are taking.

What to expect

In the IELTS Speaking test, you will have a discussion with a certified examiner lasting between 11 and 14 minutes. This will be interactive and as close to a real-life discussion as possible.
The test has three parts:

In Part 1 - you will answer questions about yourself and your family.

In Part 2 - you will speak about a given topic, which will be introduced by the examiner on the day.

In Part 3 - you will have a longer discussion with the examiner about the topic introduced in Part 2.

How to practise

This practice material is designed for two people working together, so you'll need to find a study partner to help you. This might be a teacher or a friend.

You should take all three parts of the test one after the other without a break to make sure that your practice session is as realistic as possible.

Remember to speak clearly and accurately. It is important to say as much as you can (without rushing) and to be spontaneous. Do not prepare answers in advance as you will not have this option when it comes to the real-life IELTS Speaking test. The more natural and authentic you can be, the better the test is likely to go.

It's a good idea to record yourself (e.g. via your smartphone or laptop) so that you can go back and check your performance. If you can't record yourself, ask your study partner if they can do so.

There are two practice tests below. Each test includes questions for your study partner to ask you as well as a sample topic for you discuss.

If you need more guidance, you can also listen to real-life audio recordings of a candidate taking the test.

How to review your Speaking test

Listen to your own recordings (if possible) and review your performance with your study partner. You may want to discuss the following:

Think about how you spoke. Were you fluent? Did your speech sound natural? Were you able to express yourself clearly?

Did anything prevent you from doing your best? Is there anything you might approach differently next time?

IELTS Speaking test samples

If you wish to hear samples of the Speaking test, you can listen to the recordings and read the audio transcripts for each part of the test. These are designed to give you an understanding of the format of the test, and they do not represent model answers so you should not try to imitate them.

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Free Online IELTS Speaking Practice Tests | Take IELTS

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Take our online free IELTS Speaking practice test to help improve and familiarise yourself with IELTS Speaking exam.

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Speaking

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Speaking

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El examen CAE Speaking valora la habilidad para interactuar en conversaciones formales y debates, considerando fluidez, organización de ideas y uso del vocabulario.

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CAE Speaking consists of four parts and lasts for 15 minutes. This part normally involves two candidates, so you will have a speaking partner, a test-taker just like you. There are also going to be two people marking your answer: one asking the questions and showing the cards (the interlocutor), and the other assessing responses (the assessor). This page will guide you through the exam structure, give sample tasks with answers and provide phrases, templates, and tips to make your speaking score higher! Use the menu below to help you navigate to the part you're interested in.

1. Part 1: Conversation between the assessor and each test-taker (2 minutes)
- 1.1 Part 1 sample questions with answers
2. Part 2: Describing pictures. Long and short turns (3 minutes)
- 2.1 Part 2 sample pictures with answers
- 2.2 Part 2 tips and useful phrases
3. Part 3: Discussion between candidates and reaching an agreement (discussing a mind-map) (3 minutes)
- 3.1 Part 3 sample mind-maps with answers
4. Part 4: Discussing questions related to Part 3 topic (up to 5 minutes)
- 4.1 Part 4 sample questions with answers.
5. CAE Speaking marking criteria

CAE Speaking Part 1: Examiner and test-taker conversation

The first part consists of general questions such as "Why did you decide to take this exam?", "How long have you been studying English?", "What do you think is the best about your country?" and so forth. The questions then take on a broader scope; the candidates are asked about their lives, hobbies, plans and so on. The examiner asks both test-takers in turns. Test-takers do not get to answer the same questions. This part takes about 2 minutes.

Your responses shouldn't be too long and will generally be as long as two or three sentences. Don't get too carried away with the answers as you will have the opportunity to give more detailed responses in the next parts of the exam. However, do explain and develop your responses. Give the examiners something to assess - they are interested in your command of English. They probably don't care much for your hobbies or food preferences.

Unlike other parts of the exam, Part 1 doesn't really have any templates or useful phrases to learn. It's just general English. A good thing is not to repeat yourself - you wouldn't believe how many test-takers overuse words like very or other words that could be synonymized.

Part 1 sample questions and answers
More CAE Speaking Part 1 sample questions with answers
Where are you from?
I'm from Germany; however, I was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland. My family moved to Stuttgart when I was five, and I've been living there ever since. It is a lovely place with spectacular architecture, rich cultural heritage, and it is a great place to live in overall.

Do you have any hobbies or interests?
I'm really into road cycling. I used to participate in amateur competitions when I was in school. I would consistently come in the top three! Unfortunately, I don't have nearly enough time nowadays for any hobby that requires commitment. With my tight schedule, nowadays I'm lucky to have thirty minutes a day to read a book.

How long have you been learning English?
I've had English classes since I was seven, but I really started to apply myself in this field when I turned sixteen. I really wanted to get a degree at a prestigious university in England. Naturally, one has to have impeccable command of English to have a shot at such an ambitious plan.

What do you find most challenging about learning English?
Grammatically, it has to be articles and prepositions. My native language doesn't really have the former, so it is a foreign concept to me, it took me a while to figure them out. As for prepositions in English, they take a lot of time to get right, as they don't really work the way they do in my language.

CAE Speaking Part 2: Individual Long Turn

There are going to be two people - Candidate A and Candidate B - these roles are assigned randomly. Candidate A gets a set of three pictures from the examiner. The examiner then asks Candidate A to look at the pictures and answer two questions he provides. The questions can be something like "What could these people be thinking about?" and "In which situation might the person be feeling more comfortable?" with three pictures of people in different situations. Candidate A has to choose two of the three pictures, and they will have 1 minute to answer the questions.

Then the examiner reads one additional question to Candidate B using the same pictures. This time they have to choose only one picture and spend 30 seconds on the answer.

After that, the candidates swap roles, Candidate B goes first with two questions and three new pictures, and Candidate A gets one question and half a minute to answer it.

CAE Speaking Part 2 tips and useful phrases

Part 2 is about four things:

1. comparing (talking about similarities and differences between the pictures)

2. speculating (making guesses about what is going on in the pictures)

3. describing

4. answering the questions

1. Comparing

This aspect of Part 2 is really straightforward - we highlight similarities and differences in both photos. The only difficult part might be finding a good phrase or a template to talk about this. Here are some useful phrases for that:

Talking about similar things

Talking about differences

Both pictures show...
In both pictures we can see...
Both pictures one and two have...
Pictures one and two are similar in the way that there is/are... in each one.
Just like the picture on the left, the right picture has/shows...
The two pictures have a number things in common, namely...
These two pictures convey the same message/idea of... // share the same message/idea

Unlike the first picture, picture two has/shows
In contrast with the right picture, picture on the left has/shows/displays
Picture one..., while picture two...
Conversely, picture two...
Picture on the right shows a different approach to...
While the second picture takes place..., picture one...
Contrastingly, these pictures show different takes on... *some topic*

The comparison part can be extremely challenging if you choose two pictures that you can't see any real differences in - keep that in mind when making your choice.

2. Guessing and speculating

You have to do this when answering the questions and when describing the pictures. Showing doubt or uncertainty is one of the integral aspects CAE Speaking Part 2 & 3.

3. Describing the pictures

When describing pictures in CAE Speaking, alternate between different phrases:
The first picture has/shows/displays
In the first picture, there is/there are/we can see

One thing to keep in mind - don't spend more than 15 seconds describing BOTH pictures. I want to stress it - spend no more than 15 seconds on description. Another important aspect is not to just describe; you want to include either comparing the pictures or speculating:
"While in the first picture there is a man all on his own looking at a picture, the second one shows a group of kids, probably schoolchildren, enjoying a show together."

The part in bold introduces comparison, and the underlined part speculates (makes a guess) about the picture.

4. Answering the question

When you address Part 2 questions, you usually do so for both pictures, either talking about differences or similarities based on the question context. You are advised to speculate as well to make your answer more hypothetical since we can't really know it for sure. See examples below for reference.

Part 2 sample questions and answers
More CAE Speaking Part 2 sample questions with answers
CAE Speaking Part 2 Set #1

Examiner: Candidate A, here are your pictures. They show people having a nap.

I'd like you to compare two of the pictures, and say why they might have chosen to sleep like that, and how difficult it might be for them to relax.

Why might these people have chosen to sleep like that?

How difficult might it be for them to relax?

Sample answer

Candidate A: I'll be comparing the top picture and the bottom right one. The group of people in the top photo seem to be sleeping on something that looks like a pier. It's hard to guess what exactly they are doing there - they might have come here to have a quick snooze after classes. The lady in the other picture seems to be exhausted from work - she must be so tired she doesn't even realise she is sleeping on her desk.
I'm pretty sure that neither of the situations is comfortable for sleeping - the pier's boards are not the best surface to lie on. The person in the bottom right picture is probably feeling marginally better, seated on her chair with her head resting on her wrist.
Examiner: Candidate B, in which situation do people need to rest the most?

Candidate B: I'd have to choose the picture with the young lady sleeping next to her laptop. Obviously, it wasn't her first choice of place to doze off - she must be absolutely knackered from all the work, otherwise she wouldn't be sleeping there. She's probably catnapping, only to continue on her project as soon as she wakes up.

CAE Speaking Part 2 Set #2

Examiner: Candidate B, here are your pictures. They show people learning new things.

I'd like you to compare two of the pictures, and say what they might find enjoyable about learning, and how effective their learning is.

What might they find enjoyable about learning?

How effective is their learning?

Sample answer

Candidate B: I'm going to talk about the picture with the young guy leaning on a pile of books and the child learning to swim. Both capture people in the middle of learning, however, one focuses on academic knowledge, while the other shows a more practical skill. The guy, who seems to be a college student, doesn't seem to be that happy - in fact, he is anything but happy; he looks pretty tired from all the rote learning. The little girl, on the other hand, is visibly elated to try something new to her - swimming.
I believe that the girl wearing the float suit is mastering the new skill in a much more effective way for two reasons - she's happy to do it, and she's very young. Young kids are like sponges, taking in new information and processing it more effectively than teenagers and adults.
Examiner: Candidate A, in which picture the person going to benefit from the new skill the most?

Candidate A: Without a doubt, it is going to be the guy with the books. One's academic performance is directly reflected in their quality of life, so the harder he studies, the better off he'll end up in the future, both financially and in a more general sense. He probably knows it, and that is why he works himself into exhaustion to the point of dozing off on the stacked pile of books.

Remember that you should use Present Continuous when describing pictures (i.e., "This picture shows people hurrying to their work in the early morning hours"). More on tenses in English.

Another tricky bit is the preposition. You should use "in" when talking about something shown by the picture (i.e., " In this picture, we see a man strolling down the alley"). See this short note on prepositions for more examples.

CAE Speaking Part 3: Mind map discussion between two candidates

In this part, the candidates are given a mind map - a question with five prompts, or aspects, which they discuss together. You are given about 15 seconds to look at the question and prompts, after which you and your partner have to decide who starts the discussion.

Both candidates have to discuss the aspects, suggesting new ideas and developing your partner's points. You try to maintain a discussion by asking for other participants' opinions and giving your own. Neither of you should dominate the talk. This part lasts for about two minutes. If there are three test-takers in the group, then the time is extended to three minutes.

In the second part of this task, you have to choose one of the aspects and either agree or disagree with the discussion topic. You have one minute for this part of the task.

Part 3 tips and useful phrases

I'd like to point out three important aspects of CAE Speaking Part 3:

1. Starting the dialogue

2. Connecting and transitioning the ideas

3. Reaching an agreement

1. Starting the dialogue

At the beginning of Part 3 you have to decide who will begin the conversation. It is important to be respectful and give your partner enough room to make a choice. You can either initiate this yourself or wait for your partner to go first. Here are some phrases for both:

Do you mind if I go first?
Would you mind going first/starting?
Would you care to go first?
Should I begin, or would you like to go first?
Would it be okay with you if I started this?
Is it okay for you if I start?

Yeah, sure, go ahead.
Okay, I will!
I'd rather you went first, if that's okay with you.
By all means, go ahead.
Sure, not a problem.

The responses do not necessarily have to be linked to the corresponding question, so feel free to mix and match them. A good idea is to let the initiator go first, but ultimately it is up to you.

2. Connecting the ideas

A common mistake in Part 3 is to simply wait for your turn to speak without paying attention to your partner's response. This is going to bring your mark down! Instead, you want to implement ideas from your partner's answer into your own. It's important to transition the ideas smoothly - your exchange should look like a dialogue, not a series of isolated sentences! Here are some ways to make your speech more cohesive:

Introducing an idea

Supporting or including an idea

What about...
I believe that (aspect) deserves mentioning/being mentioned
If we're talking about (topic), then (aspect) is definitely...
I'm not sure that (aspect) is really important, however...
A point worth discussing is...

Speaking of...
You've mentioned..., which is interesting because...
I'd like to add another point regarding...
There is one more thing about...
Another aspect of... is that...

3. Reaching an agreement

In the second half of Part 3 you have to agree upon one or two aspects of the mind-map. If you fail to agree on one, it is okay to respectfully disagree. Here are some useful phrases for suggesting, encouraging a conversation, agreeing, and disagreeing:

I totally agree with your point...
I'm with you on that one...
Your arguments are very compelling
I had a different idea, but your arguments sounded very convincing
Your points are very persuasive, and I side with you on that one

I see what you mean, however...
You make some valid points, but let's consider...
With all due respect, I can't agree/I have to disagree
Your logic here is flawless, but another point to consider is...

... is probably one of the things we should take/consider/mention, since...
I think/believe that... is worth nominating/considering/mentioning/pointing out
Let's not forget about...
Additionally,... should probably be included, as...

Where do you stand on...?
What's your take on...?
Please share your thoughts on this matter?
What about your idea on?
That's what I think, but what about you?

Part 3 sample task and answers
More CAE Speaking Part 3 sample questions with answers
Here are some different types of occupations people might choose to have. First, you have some time to look at the task. (15 seconds)

Now, talk to each other about the advantages and disadvantages of each of these occupations.

Sample answer

Candidate A (Boris): Do you mind if I go first?
Candidate B (Ira): Sure, go ahead.
Boris: I believe that a part-time job offers the serious advantage of giving you more free time and flexibility to do something else while allowing you to make enough money for a living.
Ira: It might be so, but are you sure working part-time will be enough to cover anything but one's living expenses like bills and groceries? I really doubt it, to be honest... I think working for a smaller company offers similar advantages to the ones you've mentioned, but the money must be better since you'll be putting in more working hours.
Boris: I guess you are right. And the smaller companies are usually willing to give you more leeway with your schedule and your decisions. However, smaller businesses tend to go under quite often, so there's very little in terms of job security. But what about self-employment? On paper, it should give you all the freedom you wish for - being your own boss and all!
Ira: Oh, I'm not so sure about that. You've brought up financial security, and working for yourself is such a dangerous venture! If stability is something you prioritise, that is probably not your best option. It does sound lucrative, though - you earn as much as you make; there is nobody to order you around. It sounds so invigorating!

Examiner: Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which occupation is most stressful.

Ira: Being self-employed is likely to be the most emotionally taxing, I mean, you have the weight of decision on your shoulders; everything depends on you, all this has to really take its toll emotionally, wouldn't you agree?
Boris: To be honest, at first I was thinking about working for a major company, but you do have a point, and you've managed to convince me. In the light of your arguments, mine seem irrelevant; I won't even bother with them.

CAE Speaking Part 4: Topic discussion

In this final part of CAE Speaking you have an individual conversation with the examiner. This task is similar to the first one, but the topic of discussion is the one from Part 3. You should express and justify your opinion on the subject as the examiner guides you, asking you related questions. You might get to answer the same question as your partner. The examiner might also encourage you to engage in a dialogue with the other test-taker. This part of the exam lasts for up to 5 minutes.

Part 4 sample questions with answers

High-paying jobs

Examiner: Boris, is it better to have a high-paying job or the one that is more enjoyable?
Boris: Well, if both can't be had, then I guess doing something you really like should be the priority. I doubt that the money you get for doing the job you loathe will do you any good. But to reiterate, ideally, the two should go hand in hand.
Examiner: Thank you. Ira, do you agree?
Ira: Of course, you'd be really blessed to do something you're passionate about and make good money out of it, but how often is that the case? You must be extremely lucky to find yourself in such a position. If we take more realistic cases into account, then I'd go with money over enjoying what you do - at the end of the day, that's what a job is all about - earning money! One can always have fun in their free time.

Unemployment

Examiner: Ira, how does unemployment affect the society in general?
Ira: It's a tough question... Lack of job openings must have serious economic and social consequences. When people are unable to afford even the most basic things, their purchasing power goes down, which in turn affects the economy negatively. People and society find themselves in a Catch-22 situation.
Examiner: What do you think, Boris?
Boris: I'm not sure if it's as bad as Ira makes it look. A well-qualified professional is always going to be able to find employment. It's the lack of necessary qualifications that might be preventing certain individuals from finding a position to their liking, and they are probably unwilling to resort to menial jobs. It's all about the attitude.

Government and unemployment

Examiner: Now I would like you to discuss the following question: should the government be responsible and provide for the unemployed?
Ira: I'd like to express my own opinion, if you don't mind?
Boris: Of course, go ahead.
Ira: Thank you. I totally support this notion - the state should provide financial security for those unlucky ones without any reliable source of income. It would allow people to get better qualifications or enrol in a course to make them more employable.
Boris: You do make some valid points - it would be fair to support individuals who are keen to get re-educated to have a more relevant skill set in the ever-changing job-market. However, I believe that this system could be easily exploited by less conscientious individuals - people could just live off of welfare, being officially unemployed, while at the same time having a part-time job on the side. It is something that can't be tracked easily.
Ira: It doesn't have to be so negative, though! But I totally see what you mean, and indeed, such a possibility definitely exists. I guess it's not easy to find the middle ground in this matter.
Examiner: Thank you. That is the end of your CAE Speaking part.

CAE Speaking marking criteria

It is crucial to understand how your CAE Speaking is marked. It helps give the examiners exactly what they want and improves your chances of getting a higher score.

During the exam, two independent assessment procedures take place. The assessor (the person sitting in the back taking the notes) has 5 separate marking criteria that Cambridge uses to decide how good your spoken English is:

The interlocutor (the person asking the questions) assesses you using a separate criterion, referred to as "Global achievement". All of the assessment aspects will be explained below.

Each one is scored individually, from 0 to 5 in 0.5 increments. They are then combined to get an average of six.

1. Grammar

What is assessed

Naturally, the variety and accuracy of your grammar. Some examples:

Noun, relative and adverb clauses (some examples of each)

Active and passive forms

Verb patterns (infinitives, to-infinitives, gerunds)

Contrast and command of tenses (e.g., showing a temporary situation with Present Cont.)

Modal verbs and modality

Conditional sentences

Ability to produce longer, multiple-clause sentences

Flexibility (ability to rephrase in order to clarify).

How to improve your score

Alternate between active and passive voices.

Try to introduce more advanced tenses into your narrative (e.g., Present Perfect to talk about your experience of learning English or Future Perfect to talk about plans that you are sure of).

Learn verb patterns! They are extremely important in both written and spoken English.

Use conditionals - Second Conditional for unlikely things in the present or in the future, Third Conditional for unreal results of things that didn't happen. You should know all of this as CAE is a C1 level exam.

Use a variety of modal structures - modal verbs (could, might, must) and phrases that express likelihood (probably, likely, seems to be, appears to be, looks like).

Be ready to rephrase your phrase or sentence if you feel that it might not have sounded clear enough (usually by introducing the rephrased sentence with something like "What I mean to say is...", "In other words...", "Allow me to clarify - I mean that...").

When you attempt to make your speech more complex by adding two or more clauses to your sentences, mistakes are likely to happen. If you notice that you've made a mistake in your speech, it is perfectly normal to try to rephrase the idea. As long as the communicative task is achieved, your score won't suffer!

2. Vocabulary

What is assessed

Just like with grammar, it is all about the range and appropriate usage of your lexical resource. Factors that influence this mark:

Appropriate collocations.

Register (formal/informal, depending on context).

Rephrasing (if your speaking partner does not seem to understand you (Part 3, 4).

Using synonyms and avoiding repetition of words.

How to improve your score

Don't be lazy and look up collocations you aren't sure of when you practice. A good place to start is the freecollocation.com dictionary. This applies to writing as well.

Keep your register consistent throughout your response. Don't make it too informal - be respectful to both the examiner and your fellow test-taker.

If you see that your speaking partner struggles to understand your phrase, make sure to rephrase it.

Be mindful of your English - listen to yourself and don't use the same words over and over again. Here are some examples of synonyms for overused words and synonyms for "very".

3. Discourse Management

What is assessed

In essence, this is about how well your ideas are linked - the connection between words, phrases, and even whole sentences. Another important thing is how easy it is to follow and understand your speech - how much sense it all makes, that is. It's not about your pronunciation. These two aspects are usually called coherence and cohesion. Things that are assessed here:

Cohesive devices (more on that below).

Topical vocabulary (vocabulary related to the general theme that is being discussed).

Various grammar that helps the listener understand what you're referring to (articles and personal adjectives/pronouns).

Discourse markers (words and expressions that can normally only be found in spoken language, like "You know...", "I mean... ".

Staying on topic (so-called "relevance" - you have to talk about the question, do not stray too far away from it).

Introducing new ideas (rather than going over the things you have already said).

How to improve your score

Know and use cohesive devices. They can be roughly grouped into 'adding or elaborating' (in addition, also, moreover, as well as), 'showing consequence or result' (as a result, consequently, so, thus, therefore) and 'sequencing or ordering' (firstly, first of all, to begin with, secondly, finally). These help structure your speech, making it both connected and easier to follow.

Expand your vocabulary. It is pretty sad to see CAE candidates struggling to come up with any relevant words on topics as simple as Food, Holidays or Career. There is no way around it, learn new words! Here is a good vocabulary link that groups words and phrases in a nice way.

Make sure to know the basics of articles in English. Use them to your advantage. Don't forget about possessive pronouns and adjectives to make your speech more cohesive (it, this, that, one).

4. Pronunciation

What is assessed

First of all, elephant in the room - it is not about your accent. As long as your accent is easy to understand, you will do fine. This part checks other things, namely:

Clearly pronouncing all the sounds that should be pronounced (more on that below).

Stressing the right syllables in words (this might sound obvious, but it is a rather common problem).

Using intonation to highlight and emphasise points in your speech (well-used intonation goes a long way).

How to improve your score

Know how to pronounce words - and pronounce them with confidence. This is especially important when saying the ending of each word, as test-takers who lack confidence tend to omit the ending syllable. I would also suggest avoiding contractions, i.e. say "I have" instead of "I've" just to avoid ambiguity.

Intonation is an extremely powerful tool that can drastically improve the general impression of your answer. Use it to your advantage. Here is an interesting article on this topic by the British Council.

5. Interactive communication

What is assessed

Your ability to sustain a conversation as well as develop your individual response. This is what the examiners look at:

Expanding on your answer (not giving short, uninformative responses).

Including and encouraging your speaking partner.

Ability to initiate the exchange and to support it by contributing to the conversation or the topic.

Helping the other candidate to either phrase their ideas or suggest one for discussion.

Understanding the rhythm of a natural conversation, not "hogging" it.

How to improve your score

Short answers do not give enough information to accurately assess your level of English. To give your examiners something to work with, you should come up with at least two long or three shorter sentences in Part 1 and about three to four longer sentences in Part 4.

Be sure to include your partner! There are some phrases that you might find useful for that.

More phrases to initiate the dialogue and to support it with your ideas.

Do not take up too much time in CAE Speaking Part 3 - remember that you only have two minutes in the first half and one minute in the second.

CAE Speaking Tips

There are a number of typical Speaking mistakes. Know them to avoid embarrassment and guarantee a higher score.

Do not attempt to answer other students' questions, even if you see them struggling - you might get penalised for that. However, you might help them by paraphrasing your ideas in the collaborative task.

Keep practising. The most effective way to improve your speaking is to use the language. You can do so by either having live conversations or by writing.

Click to download this CAE Speaking worksheet in PDF

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CAE Speaking structure, sample questions with answers, tips how to get better score, useful phrases. Print or save in PDF!

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Writing

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Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Writing

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CAE Writing incluye la redacción de textos formales e informales, donde se evalúan ideas, estructura y precisión del lenguaje.

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Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing

Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
What is the Advanced (CAE) Writing test like?
The test has two sections and takes 90 minutes:

1. Part 1 - Write an essay with a discursive focus
Some material to read (up to 150 words) which may include material taken from advertisements, extracts from letters, emails, postcards, diaries, short articles, etc. Using this information, write an essay with a discursive focus.
220-260 words.

2. Part 2 - Situationally based writing task
Chooseone of four questions. You have to read some input material and write one of the following: a letter/email, a proposal, a report or a review.
220-260 words.

Scoring
The Advanced (CAE) Writing Test makes up 20% of the entire exam.

Your writing is assessed using four criteria:

Content - have you answered the question?

Communicative Achievement - have you completed the task in the right sort of language

Organisation - have you structured your writing with paragraphs?

Language - have you used a good range of grammar and vocabulary

How to prepare for the Advanced (CAE) Writing test

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cae  exam practice english language elt efl grammar writing structure cambridge business exercises

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Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE) - about the Writing part

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Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing - about the exam

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Esta sección de PTE Academic pide la redacción de ensayos y resúmenes, donde se mide la corrección gramatical y la estructura argumentativa.

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TOEIC Writing evalúa la capacidad para comunicar efectivamente mediante correos electrónicos y propuestas, en un contexto laboral internacional.