C1 Advanced facts for kids

C1 Advanced is an important English language exam. It was once known as Cambridge English: Advanced or the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE). This exam is offered by Cambridge Assessment English. It helps show that you are very good at English.

This exam is for students who want to study at a university or work in a professional job. It checks your English skills at a high level, called C1. This level is part of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR is a way to describe how well someone can speak and understand a language. C1 Advanced is one of many Cambridge English Qualifications. Each qualification helps you reach a specific CEFR level.

What is C1 Advanced?

A Brief History

The C1 Advanced exam was created because there was a big jump between two other English exams: B2 First and C2 Proficiency. Teachers felt students needed an exam to bridge this gap. It was designed to help people get a certificate for their advanced English skills. These skills are useful for school and jobs. The exam has been updated over time to stay modern. The most recent changes happened in 2015. The exam became shorter by 45 minutes. It now has four parts instead of five. The Reading and Use of English parts were combined. Also, some new types of questions were added.

How the Exam Works

The C1 Advanced exam has four main parts, called "papers." These papers test all your important English skills:

• Reading and Use of English (how well you read and use grammar)
• Writing (how well you write)
• Listening (how well you understand spoken English)
• Speaking (how well you talk in English)

You take the Speaking part of the exam face-to-face with an examiner. For the other parts (Reading and Use of English, Writing, and Listening), you can choose to take them on a computer or on paper.

Understanding Your Score

Since January 2015, your results for C1 Advanced are shown using the Cambridge English Scale. This scale gives you a score for each skill. It also gives you an overall score for the whole exam. If you score high enough, you will get a certificate.

Grades and Levels

Your Statement of Results and certificate will show:

• A score for each skill (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Use of English).
• An overall score for the entire exam.
• A grade (A, B, C, or Level B2) for your overall performance.
• Your CEFR level (C2, C1, or B2) for the exam.

The overall score is an average of your scores for each skill. The C1 Advanced exam mainly tests at CEFR Level C1. However, it can also show if you are at a higher level (C2) or a slightly lower level (B2).

Here's what the grades mean:

If your score is between 142 and 159, it will be on your Statement of Results. But you won't get a certificate for the C1 Advanced exam at this score.

When Do You Get Your Results?

You will take the Reading and Use of English, Writing, and Listening parts of the exam on the same day. The Speaking part is usually on a different day, either before or after the other papers. Sometimes, it can be on the same day.

If you pass the exam, you will get two documents. These are a Statement of Results and a Certificate. Universities, employers, and other groups might ask for these to prove your English skills.

If you take the exam on a computer, you can see your results online about two weeks later. If you take the paper-based exam, it takes about four weeks. If you score above 160 on the Cambridge English Scale, you will get a paper certificate within three months.

People with a C1 Advanced certificate have English skills similar to those with an IELTS score of 6.5 to 8.0. Both are respected English tests.

Why Take This Exam?

The C1 Advanced exam is useful for many things. It can help you with studying, working, and even moving to another country. It shows that you have a high level of English. This level is great for academic studies and professional jobs.

For Studying Abroad

Over 6,000 places around the world accept C1 Advanced. Many colleges and universities use it for student admissions. If you want to study at a university in the UK, for example, C1 Advanced can help you get in. It shows you meet their English language needs. In some countries, having this certificate can even mean you don't have to take the English part of your final school exams.

For Work and Travel

C1 Advanced is also accepted for some visa applications. For example, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection accepts it for several types of visas. These include student visas and visas for temporary work or holidays. Many employers also recognize this certificate. It shows them you can communicate well in English in a work setting.

See Also

• Cambridge Assessment English
• Cambridge English Qualifications
• A2 Key
• B1 Preliminary
• B2 First
• C2 Proficiency