Writing a CAE Essay

BASICS

• You must write an essay. (In part 2 you get a choice, but the essay is always mandatory.)
• You have about 45 minutes.
• The tasks always look the same.
• Don’t ‘lift’ too much from the question – use your own words.

PREPARING

• Do lots of mock exams.
• Start early (mistakes in your writing take longest to fix). Months, not days!
• Computer-based – write on the computer. Paper-based, paper.
• The more you practice the less you’ll need to worry about word count.

WHAT IS AN ESSAY?

It’s a text where you present an argument (and support it with reasons).

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ESSAY AND A REPORT?

Essays tend to be general while reports are more concrete. So you might get an essay like ‘Which are more important, trains or hospitals?’ A report might be like ‘How can we improve the train network in your country?’

Reports are quite business and have subheadings. They send in a recommendation.

WHAT IS A CAMBRIDGE ESSAY?

• Cambridge wants to see that you can write an academic text in a neutral/formal style, and be persuasive while having a good structure, using linking phrases etc.
• Keep the reader in mind. Make sure you follow their instructions and that they can understand what your points are.
• You don’t need to include a title. It’s okay if you do.
• You have more access to a wider range of language if you have a negative point and a positive point.
• Your essay doesn’t have to be factually accurate! Lie/make things up if it helps your essay!

PLANNING

Give yourself at least 5 minutes to plan your essay before you start writing. The more you invest in the planning stage the easier the actual writing will be.

 

 

STRONG INTRODUCTIONS

The slideshow has examples of 3 easy-to-learn intro types:

• A question
• A quotation
• A surprising fact

KEEPING interested

Keep the reader interested by using great vocabulary and introducing surprises.

CHECKING

Learn how to check your work to spot simple mistakes and places where you could improve the language you’ve used.

RANDOM

They don’t care about your handwriting – as long as they can read it.

You can make some mistakes as long as the reader can understand what you are saying.

American vs British English – either is fine.