book review cae exam

2.        Divide content points into paragraphs: Intro, décor, ambiance, service, food, recommendation.

3.        WHAT do you want to say? Add your notes to each paragraph in simple form.

4.        HOW are you going to say that? Brainstorm advanced grammar and vocabulary for each note.

5.        Forms and conventions: Title paragraph titles, fixed introduction.

6.        Write! Remember

find the time to…, however when I do take time out of my hectic schedule, I like nothing more than…

bit of a , the news that … had opened a new restaurant/released a new film/book had me . So last week I with a friend

before I approached … with a sense of trepidation, not knowing what to expect. Soon however, all my fears were allayed.

a page-turner / a white-knuckle ride / a tearjerker / a laugh a minute / I couldn’t put it down.

a slow start / a gentle introduction /gripping climax / nail-biting conclusion / cliff-hanger ending/ a shocking twist in the tail

The book is set in _______(place/time)

The action takes place in ______ (place/time)

the present day (now)

an alternate reality where vampires / wizards walk the earth

a sleepy village in the USA

the bustling city of New York

The plot centres around / focuses on (the adventures / lives of _________)

The plot follows the adventures of _________(character name)

Villain / hero / heroine / anti-hero / main character / protagonist

The characters are believable / well-crafted / a bit 2 dimensional.

An all-star cast

heavily influenced by the films of..

glowing reviews

startling originality

suspense builds up

a polished performance

a bold experiment

an accomplished actor

an unmitigated disaster (bad film)

a dazzling display of his/her talents

made a lasting impression on me.

Brought a tear to my eye

Like watching paint dry (boring)

I was on the edge of my seat (exciting)

A blockbuster (big commercial film eg Superman)

… sets off an amazing chain of events

Gripping film (exciting)

The director/author evoked a magical atmosphere

… awakened my interest in…

Hold my attention

Capture the audience’s imagination.

Spectacular set-pieces (main action scenes)

… is cast in the role of…

… is miscast in the role of…

…gives a(n) (un)convincing performance as…

The film is let down by a clichéd script.

To feast/gorge on (eat a lot of)

To eat/drink to your heart’s content

Devour/gobble up

Aromas wafting from the kitchen

Cheap – economical/reasonably-priced

Expensive – pricey/costs an arm and a leg

€20 a head (per person) Killer Lines: Were I to sum up … in one word, it would be…

… left a lot to be desired (wasn’t good enough)

…more than lives up to the hype (is as good as everyone says it is)

… is by far and away the best … you’re likely to … this year

… really raises the bar (sets a higher standard)

… sets the benchmark for other (others will be judges against how good it is)

… ticks all the right boxes

… holds up well in comparison with …

…comes off badly in comparison with … Grammar check list Have you included?

·         An inversion (not only/no sooner/seldom)

·         An inverted conditional (Were we to…)

·         A participle clause (Being…/Having gone…)

·         A double comparative (The more we… the more)

·         A cleft sentence (What is most crucial is…)

·         Idioms

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Author: Tim Warre

Barcelona based English Teacher, blogger and sometime actor and director. View All Posts

2 thoughts on “ CAE Review – Phrase Sheet ”

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Incredibly useful, cheers Tim!

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Home » C1 Advanced » CAE Course » CAE Writing Course » CAE Review | C1 Advanced | 14 Key Steps To Success

CAE Review | C1 Advanced | 14 Key Steps To Success

Table of Contents

Almost every day students ask me "Rory, how can I answer the C1 Advanced: CAE Review question in the exam?" However, before answering this question. Let's first answer another question, "what is a CAE Review?"

A CAE Review is a writing task from part 2 of the C1 Advanced (CAE) writing exam. However, reviews do not always appear in the exam. This is because in part 2 you only write one answer from three different questions which are based on 5 different writing tasks.

What are the chances of the CAE Review appearing in the exam?

Sorry, this section is available for CAE members only. Register/upgrade here >>

Where to begin?

Often students don't know where to begin with review writing, but luckily, you found me.

This page will lay out how to prepare for and write a review to get the examiners jumping up and down with joy.

Answering this question well , might affect whether you pass or fail the C1 Advanced exam. So make sure you follow the information on this page to ensure you get the highest marks possible!

CAE Tip: Register/upgrade to 'Gold' access this tip now >>

Right, enough prittle prattle (informal way of saying 'idle talk').

Examiners’ Marking Criteria

If you understand how the examiners mark your review, you will know how to get high marks for each criterion. This is imperative if you want to pass the CAE review.

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How to pass C1 Advanced CAE Writing Part 2 Review

Write down important notes from the video below in the relevant fields of this worksheet . You should keep this worksheet open in a separate internet tab and keep adding information to it from the rest of this page.

CAE Review Video Summary and Transcript

I hope you enjoyed the video above. Some students prefer to learn by reading rather than watching videos and so I thought it would be useful to outline the most important parts of the video for you. These are the steps you should follow if you want to pass the C1 Review writing:

Before the Exam:

• Watch and understand how examiners mark the CAE writing paper ( see this video ).
• Learn and remember what the examiners want from a CAE review (see ' review advice ' below).
• Do lots of practice examples. Use sample exam papers to help with this. If you are doing a computer based exam, make sure you write your practice answers on computer. If you are doing a paper based exam, make sure you write with a pen or pencil on a sheet of paper. When you have finished your practice answer, count how many words it is. If it is within the word limit, remember how much space it has used on the page. If you do this a few times, you will know approximately how long your writing needs to be in the exam and you do not need to waste time counting how many words you've written.

During the exam:

• Spend the first 2 minutes reading the question and underlining the important information and who the target reader is (see ' review question ' below).
• Spend 5 minutes planning your answer. Think about the type of language you will use and how you will link your key ideas together (see ' CAE review plan ' below).
• Take 30-35 minutes to write your answer. While writing, think about the type of language you will use (see ' CAE review vocabulary ' below). Examiners like to see you use complex grammatical structures and vocabulary, even if they are not executed perfectly. Make sure you answer all the required parts of the question. When you make a point, try to back it up with further information and focus on how you can link your points together nicely.
• Save 3-8 minutes to read over your work at the end. Try to read your work from an outside perspective. Make sure that the points you want to make are clear and obvious. Sometimes they are obvious to the person who wrote them, but not to a person who is reading the work for the first time. Have a look at this page for some common errors which students make at C1 Advanced .

CAE Review Advice

I would advise adding the most important bits of information from this section to your worksheet here .

This is from a Handbook which Cambridge instruct teachers to use when preparing their students. You can learn this yourself and be in exactly the same place as a teacher. I truly believe that you can train yourself to pass the exam if you know the right resources to use and you can access this document here .

What this shows us is that you need to use descriptive language but you also need to tailor your writing to the target reader. Think about this when deciding what type of language to use (see 'review vocabulary' below) and whether or not your ideas are appropriate. Try to practise with review questions which target different readers. Write and Improve is a good website with a variety of questions.

This is also good advice. When you are reading different types of reviews, try to check how the language differs from one review to another depending on the target reader. Check to see if you can find any reviews written by published or well known authors. If you find any of these reviews, check whether they give recommendations and try to copy the style of these and the language they use in your own writing.

When practising before the exam, focus on the descriptive and explanatory language you use.

CAE Review Example 1

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/167804-cambridge-english-advanced-handbook.pdf

These are the words I would underline from this question.

So, from the words I've underlined, see if you can answer these questions on a separate piece of paper:

• Who is the target reader?
• What are you reviewing.
• What are they key points you need to address?
• The target reader is a website.
• You are reviewing a book or film about a person who has made an important contribution to society.
• There are 2 key points you need to address: 1. Did you learn anything new about this person's life? 2. Did the book or film give you a better understanding as to why this person did what they did?

CAE Review Task - Plan

So with those points in mind, I'd like you to write down a plan for this review here .

It is really important that you do this because when you've done that, you can compare it with my review plan below.

In the exam I would recommend trying to write a review of something real as this will be a lot easier to write about.

My CAE Review Plan

Here is a plan I made for this question. Don't worry if yours is very different, this is just how I would write my plan to help me in the exam.

Sorry, this section is available for members only. Register here >> or log in >>

C1 Advanced Review Answer

Write down the mistakes you found in the answer above on this page >>

Examiners' Assessment Scale Template

Complete the assessment scale below based on the answer above. Print it off here , or complete an online version of this assessment scale here >>

Student's Answer With My Corrections

Did you know that a simple book can change the way you perceive (remove the word ‘the’ here because you are speaking about life in general) life? No sooner had (you should write ‘had’ here because you started reading before you ‘realised’ which was in the past) I started to read 5 a.m Club than (you need to write ‘than’ here) I realized that something in my life needed/had to (I think this should also be in the past, you read in the past then you realised your life had to change) change. I would like to introduce you few line about this (you should remove the words 'few line about this' and replace it with 'to this, ') such a wonderful book and how  it  (you should repeat the subject 'it' here) increased my productivity on a daily basis (we normally say 'a daily basis' rather than 'my daily basis') .

On the one hand, I have learnt how I can manage my time practising  ( you should say 'practising' with an 's' rather than a 'c' here because we are using the verb form of 'practice' not the noun form. This is a very common mistake which students and even native English speakers make)  the morning person routine. This routine consist s of waking up at 5 am every day ('consists of' is an example of a collocation. We use lots of collocations in English. If you don't know what a collocation is, watch this old video I made. I give lots more examples of typical C1 Advanced collocations on my website) . Honestly, I (remove 'was') struggled the first time  (remove 'which') I read about that because I never thought that I would be capable of doing it (you should always say capable of + verbing) . As it is said: ‘If you want, you can’ and it’s what I did. I was able to wake up at 5am, breaking my daily routine, and setting a new habit which took me 21 days to adopt ( you could also say 'which took 21 days until I adopted it'. Make sure you know the difference between 'adopt' and 'adapt' ) .

On the other hand, I learnt that if I would like to take advantage of my time, I should follow some productivity techniques which help (be careful not to jump between present and past verb tenses) me to complete all my daily goals. (It might be worth revising 'would like to have + past participle and 'should have + past participle). Sounds easy, but it is not. I started creating a calendar where I put blocks of 1 hours during my working hours. Then, I selected blocks where my concentration was higher, and I assigned the most critical tasks to these hours . For the rest of the blocks, I assigned the remaining tasks which were less important. It is wonderful the way I can complete tasks now!

After 21 days, I realized that my daily routine had changed a lot!  (It is better to use past perfect in the last sentence because your routine changed before the realisation).  I discovered that I had (had?) more time to spend with my family plus covering all the my daily tasks successfully. Would you like to learn the daily routine of the author of this book? Do not miss the opportunity, and follow him on his social networks.

This is a good attempt at the writing task. Although you have made some language related errors, you have tried to use a good range of language which you will be rewarded for in the exam.

Examiner's Assessment Scale With My Comments

Unfortunately this section is available for members only. Become a member here >>

C1 Review - Pass or Fail

Let's add up the marks:

Content: 1/5

Communicative achievement: 4/5

Organisation: 4/5

Language: 2/5

Total: 11/20

Remember there is an examiner's assessment criteria video above which you should watch if you have forgotten how examiners mark your writing.

This review is part 2 of the CAE writing paper. If we assume the student got 12/20 for part 1, the essay, then they would have got 22/40 in total.

This would mean the student would just fail this section of the exam by 2 marks. You need 24/40 to pass this exam paper. You can still pass the exam even if you fail one section as long as your average across all the exam papers is high enough. This page gives more detail on CAE exam marks .

CAE Review - Example 2

You see this announcement on a website which is particularly popular with university students and young adults. The website is called ‘Great People’:

Review Wanted

Send us a review about a person who, in your eyes, has had a great influence on the world.

How did this person influence the world? What can we learn from this person’s character?

Write your review in 220-260 words.

Before you read the sample answer below, you should open this sheet and write down any mistakes you find while reading the answer. You should also open this document and write your marks and comments for the sample review.

STEPHEN HAWKING:the life of a genius

World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76. The British scientist was famed for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. This scientist has also written several other books including：1.The Large Scale Structure Of Space-Time   2. A Brief History Of Time    3. Black Holes And Baby Universes And Other Essays   4. The Universe In A Nutshell    5. On The Shoulders Of Giants. The Great Works of Physics And Astronomy    6. God created the integers     7. George's secret key to the Universe    8. George's cosmic treasure hunt    9. George and the Big Bang    10. The Grand Design     11. My brief history. He has made many important discovers over the years, and has even been named the most influential person of the century.

Besides all of that, he was also an actor, he appeared in many movies and shows such as: Star Trek The Next Generation and The Simpsons. Sadly, no man is perfect, At the age of 22 Professor Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease. The illness left him in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesizer.

They praised his "courage and persistence" and said his "brilliance and humour" inspired people across the world. “We will miss him forever.”

C1 Review - Mistakes & Corrections

Have a thorough read of the mistakes and corrections, followed by the examiner assessment scale below. This will help you understand how to write a C1 Advanced review.

Sorry, this section is available to 'Gold' members only. Register or upgrade to Gold membership here to access now >>

Sorry, this section is not available to you. If you want to access it now, register or upgrade your membership here >>

C1 Review Sample 2 - Final Marks

Content - 1 Communicative Achievement - 2 Organisation - 2 Language - 2

Total: 7/20

Unfortunately this writing would require the student to get 17/20 in part 1 to achieve the C1 level for the writing exam paper (24/40). This is not an easy task.

Learn more about what marks you need to pass here .

C1 Advanced Review Vocabulary

"Did you know.....?" - It's good to ask a question in the review to make the reader more interested in what you're saying.

"...I really recommend + verbing"

"I highly recommend + verbing"

"must-see" - we use this phrase when we state that somebody must watch a film or television series.

"give it a miss" - this means do not watch or read the book/film/television series.

"It will have you in hysterics" - this means when you cannot stop laughing.

"I advise you..."

"...gives a great account of..." - this means the book/film summarises or describes something very well. You can switch the word 'great' for a different adjective to give the phrase a different meaning.

"...gives a remarkable performance as..." - this is normally used to talk about good acting by a particular person.

"the plot was dull..." - this means the story line was boring.

"the acting..."

"the character..."

"one strength/weakness..."

Read another CAE Review Sample

• Read my CAE Writing Samples e-book . In the book you will find 21 sample writings that my students sent me. I marked the writings based on the examiner assessment scale and gave each writing my feedback and critique. Take a look now >>

Submit a Review

Send a CAE Review to me via my CAE Writing Assessment Service >>

I will mark it for you and give feedback 🙂

Classroom Activities

Check out this page for some online instructions and forms for you and your students to complete on computer.

If you prefer to print out worksheets for the classroom, the instructions below will be better for you:

• Complete this worksheet with the most important information from the video and advice above.
• Read this example review question then write a plan for it here . You should try to do this within 5 minutes.
• Print and read this example review answer. Write down any mistakes you find.
• Compare your mistakes with the ones I found here .
• Complete this assessment scale  for the review.
• How similar is your assessment scale to mine?

Watch the video below and complete the exercises:

You'll need to upgrade to Gold membership to watch the video below. Upgrade here to watch it >>

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The Ultimate Guide to CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced)

Are you ready to take your English language skills to the next level? Look no further than the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) certification. Regarded as one of the most prestigious English language proficiency exams, CAE offers individuals the opportunity to showcase their advanced language abilities and unlock a world of possibilities. In this ultimate guide, we will explore the ins and outs of the CAE exam, providing you with valuable insights, expert tips, and effective strategies to excel. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an aspiring globetrotter, this article will serve as your go-to resource for conquering the CAE and achieving your language goals. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey towards English language excellence ( find out other important exams here !).

CAE: Reading and Use of English

The Reading and Use of English component is a crucial part of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam, designed to assess your proficiency in reading comprehension and language use. This section evaluates your ability to understand a variety of written texts, ranging from articles and reports to fiction and non-fiction extracts, while also testing your knowledge of advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary. Mastering this section requires a combination of strong reading skills, linguistic knowledge, and strategic approach. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect and how to excel in the CAE Reading and Use of English component.

c. Word formation : This part tests your knowledge of word formation, requiring you to create new words using a given root word.

d. Key word transformation : You are given a sentence with a key word and need to rewrite the sentence using the key word, while maintaining the same meaning.

e. Multiple-choice reading : In this section, you read a text and answer multiple-choice questions related to the content, main ideas, and specific details.

f. Gapped text : A text is presented with gaps, and you need to choose the correct sentence from a set of options to complete the text.

• Build a strong vocabulary: Enhance your vocabulary by reading extensively, focusing on a wide range of topics. Make a habit of noting down new words, understanding their meanings, and practicing their usage in different contexts.
• Improve reading speed and comprehension: Regularly practice reading various types of texts, such as newspaper articles, academic papers, and novels. Pay attention to the main ideas, supporting details, and the author’s tone and purpose. Work on increasing your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension.
• Develop skimming and scanning techniques: Skimming involves quickly going through a text to get a general idea of its content, while scanning involves searching for specific information. Mastering these techniques will help you locate relevant details efficiently during the exam.
• Familiarize yourself with different text types: The CAE exam includes a wide range of text genres, such as informative articles, opinion pieces, and literary extracts. Practice reading and analyzing various types of texts to become comfortable with different writing styles and adapt your reading strategies accordingly.
• Practice grammar and vocabulary exercises: Regularly engage in grammar and vocabulary exercises specific to the CAE exam format. Focus on advanced grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, and collocations. This will help you tackle the multiple-choice cloze and open cloze questions effectively.
• Time management : Allocate time for each part based on the number of questions and their difficulty level. Practice under timed conditions to improve your speed and accuracy. Be mindful of spending too much time on a single question, as it can affect your overall performance.
• Read instructions carefully: Pay close attention to the instructions for each part, as they may specify word limits, require you to use certain grammatical structures, or provide specific guidelines for answering questions. Following instructions accurately is crucial for maximizing your score.
• Guess intelligently: If you are unsure about an answer, make an educated guess by eliminating obviously incorrect options. Remember that there are no penalties for wrong answers, so it’s better to take a chance than leave a question unanswered.
• Practice past papers and sample tests: Familiarize yourself with the CAE exam format by practicing past papers and sample tests. This will give you a better understanding of the question types, time constraints, and overall difficulty level, allowing you to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

By implementing these strategies and investing time in targeted practice, you can significantly improve your performance in the Reading and Use of English section of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam. Remember to stay focused, manage your time wisely, and approach each question with a clear understanding of what is being assessed. With dedication and practice, you’ll be well on your way to achieving an excellent score in this critical component of the CAE exam.

CAE: Writing

The Writing component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam is designed to evaluate your ability to produce coherent, well-structured, and accurate pieces of writing in English. This section assesses your skills in different writing genres, such as essays, reports, letters, proposals, and reviews. Mastering the CAE Writing section requires a combination of language proficiency, critical thinking, and effective writing techniques. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to excel in the CAE Writing component.

• Structure of the Writing Section: The Writing section consists of two parts: a. Part 1: Essay: In this part, you are required to write an essay on a given topic. The essay should be a formal piece of writing, expressing your ideas, opinions, and arguments in a logical and coherent manner. You should demonstrate your ability to analyze the topic, provide relevant examples, and support your arguments with appropriate evidence. b. Part 2: Situational Writing: This part consists of various tasks, such as writing a letter, proposal, report, or review, based on a given context or situation. You need to demonstrate your ability to adapt your writing style, tone, and register to suit the specific task and audience. Clear organization, effective use of language, and accurate grammar and vocabulary are essential in this section.
• Understand the task requirements: Read the instructions carefully and ensure you understand the task requirements for each part. Pay attention to the word count, format, and specific guidelines provided. Plan your writing accordingly to meet the task objectives.
• Brainstorm and plan your ideas: Before starting the actual writing, spend some time brainstorming ideas, arguments, and examples relevant to the given topic. Create an outline or a mind map to organize your thoughts and ensure a coherent and well-structured essay or piece of writing.
• Develop a clear thesis statement: In the essay part, establish a clear thesis statement that reflects your main argument or position on the given topic. This statement should guide your essay’s structure and content, providing a strong focus for your writing.
• Use a variety of sentence structures: Demonstrate your language proficiency by using a range of sentence structures, including complex and compound sentences. Vary the length and structure of your sentences to create a more engaging and sophisticated piece of writing.
• Support your arguments with evidence: In both the essay and situational writing tasks, support your arguments and claims with relevant examples, facts, statistics, or personal experiences. This will strengthen your writing and demonstrate critical thinking skills.
• Pay attention to coherence and cohesion: Ensure that your writing flows smoothly, with clear connections between sentences and paragraphs. Use appropriate linking words and cohesive devices to create a cohesive and coherent piece of writing. Organize your ideas logically and provide clear transitions between paragraphs.
• Use formal language and appropriate register: Maintain a formal tone and use appropriate language and vocabulary suitable for the given task. Avoid slang, colloquial expressions, and overly informal language. Adapting your writing style to the specific task and audience is crucial.
• Revise and edit your writing: Set aside time to revise and edit your writing before submitting it. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors. Ensure that your sentences are clear and concise, and that your ideas are effectively conveyed. Make sure your writing adheres to the word count requirements.
• Practice timed writing: Practice writing under timed conditions to improve your ability to complete the tasks within the allocated time. Develop a writing routine and practice different types of writing tasks to build confidence and familiarity with the exam format.
• Seek feedback and practice writing samples: Ask for feedback from teachers, tutors, or native English speakers on your writing samples. Incorporate their suggestions for improvement and identify areas where you can enhance your writing skills.

By implementing these strategies and consistently practicing your writing skills, you can enhance your performance in the CAE Writing section. Remember to focus on task requirements, develop strong arguments, and maintain a coherent and well-structured piece of writing. With dedicated practice and attention to detail, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a high score in the Writing component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam.

CAE: Listening

The Listening component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam evaluates your ability to comprehend spoken English in various contexts and accents. This section tests your listening skills by presenting a range of audio materials, such as interviews, discussions, lectures, and monologues. Mastering the CAE Listening section requires active listening, effective note-taking, and the ability to extract key information while understanding the overall message. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to excel in the CAE Listening component.

c. Part 3: Multiple matching: You listen to several short recordings and match them to a set of statements or questions.

• Develop active listening skills: Actively engage with the audio materials by focusing on the speaker’s tone, emphasis, and intonation. Train your ears to catch important details, such as key words, supporting examples, and specific information.
• Practice listening to a variety of accents: Expose yourself to different accents and speech patterns to improve your listening comprehension. Listen to podcasts, news broadcasts, and movies featuring native speakers from various English-speaking countries.
• Familiarize yourself with different listening genres: Practice listening to a wide range of genres, including conversations, interviews, lectures, and discussions. Pay attention to the specific vocabulary and structures used in each genre, as they may help you anticipate the content and understand the context.
• Predict and anticipate: Before listening to each recording, read the questions or statements related to it. Predict possible answers or information based on the context or keywords provided. This will help you focus your listening and be more prepared to grasp the relevant details.
• Take effective notes: Develop a shorthand or symbols system to take concise notes while listening. Jot down keywords, key ideas, numbers, and any other information that can assist you in answering the questions. Practice summarizing the main points of the recordings using your notes.
• Pay attention to distractors: Be aware that the recordings may include distractors, which are pieces of information that are mentioned but not directly relevant to the questions. Stay focused on the main points and avoid getting distracted by irrelevant details.
• Improve your listening speed: Practice listening to audio materials at a slightly faster pace than you’re comfortable with. This will help improve your listening speed and ability to process information quickly, which is crucial during the exam.
• Use context and clues: Utilize the context and information provided in the questions to guide your listening. Look for clues in the question itself that may direct you to the relevant part of the recording.
• Be aware of different question types: Familiarize yourself with the different question types in each part of the Listening section. Understand the specific requirements for each question type, such as identifying the main idea, making inferences, or matching information.
• Practice with authentic listening materials: Use a variety of authentic listening materials, such as TED Talks, podcasts, and news broadcasts, to practice your listening skills. Pay attention to the content, structure, and vocabulary used in these materials to prepare yourself for the range of topics and styles in the exam.
• Practice under timed conditions: Simulate exam conditions by practicing listening exercises under timed conditions. This will help you improve your time management skills and build your confidence in completing the section within the allocated time.

By implementing these strategies and regularly practicing your listening skills, you can significantly improve your performance in the CAE Listening section. Remember to actively listen, anticipate information, take effective notes, and focus on the main points. With consistent practice and exposure to various listening materials, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the Listening component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam with confidence.

CAE: Speaking

The Speaking component of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English in various situations and contexts. It evaluates your speaking skills in terms of fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and interaction with other speakers. Mastering the CAE Speaking section requires not only linguistic proficiency but also the ability to express opinions, engage in discussions, and respond appropriately to different prompts. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to excel in the CAE Speaking component.

c. Part 3: Collaborative Task: You engage in a discussion with the other candidate(s) based on a set of visual prompts or written prompts. You need to exchange opinions, express agreement or disagreement, provide reasons and examples, and work collaboratively to reach a conclusion.

• Practice speaking regularly: Engage in regular conversation practice with native or fluent English speakers. This will help you improve your fluency, confidence, and ability to express your thoughts clearly.
• Expand your vocabulary: Enhance your vocabulary by reading extensively, listening to podcasts or lectures, and using vocabulary-building exercises. Focus on learning idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, and collocations to enrich your spoken language.
• Develop critical thinking skills: Cultivate the ability to analyze different viewpoints, form opinions, and provide supporting arguments. Practice expressing your thoughts coherently and persuasively, with a focus on providing examples, evidence, and reasoning to support your ideas.
• Work on pronunciation and intonation: Pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation to ensure clarity and effective communication. Practice speaking at a natural pace, using appropriate stress and rhythm. Work on difficult sounds and practice word and sentence stress patterns.
• Use a range of grammatical structures: Demonstrate your language proficiency by utilizing a variety of grammatical structures. Practice using complex sentences, conditionals, reported speech, and other advanced grammar forms. However, prioritize accuracy and clarity over complexity.
• Be an active listener and responder: Actively listen to the prompts and questions posed by the examiner or the other candidate(s). Respond appropriately by addressing the specific points raised, asking for clarification if needed, and engaging in a meaningful conversation.
• Take advantage of the preparation time: Use the one-minute preparation time in Part 2 to plan your response. Quickly brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts, and structure your answer. Jot down a brief outline to help you stay focused during your speaking turn.
• Engage in meaningful interactions: In the collaborative tasks (Parts 3 and 4), actively participate in the discussion with the other candidate(s). Offer your opinion, ask for their views, and build on each other’s ideas. Practice using phrases to agree, disagree, interrupt, and politely express your opinion.
• Develop coherence and cohesion: Ensure that your responses are well-organized and coherent. Use appropriate linking words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a logical flow in your speech. Make sure your answers are relevant to the prompt and directly address the task requirements.
• Practice in a simulated environment: Simulate the speaking test conditions by practicing with a partner or a tutor. Time your responses and receive feedback on your performance. Focus on areas for improvement, such as clarity of expression, grammatical accuracy, and effective communication.
• Be confident and natural: Approach the speaking test with confidence and aim to be as natural as possible. Use appropriate body language, maintain eye contact with the examiner and other candidate(s), and try to relax and enjoy the conversation.

By implementing these strategies and practicing regularly, you can enhance your performance in the CAE Speaking section. Remember to speak clearly, express your ideas effectively, engage in meaningful discussions, and demonstrate your language proficiency. With consistent practice and a confident approach, you’ll be well-prepared to showcase your speaking skills in the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam.

CAE: Scoring

Understanding the scoring system of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam is essential for setting goals, tracking progress, and evaluating your performance. The CAE exam is scored using a standardized scale that provides an objective assessment of your language proficiency. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the scoring system and what it means for your CAE results.

• Grade A: 200-210 (Exceptional level of English)
• Grade B: 193-199 (Good level of English)
• Grade C: 180-192 (Effective operational command of English)
• Level B2: 160-179 (Limited operational command of English)
• Level B1: Below 160 (Basic competence in English)
• Reading and Use of English: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Writing: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Listening: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Speaking: The maximum score for this component is 40, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall score.
• Reading and Use of English: This component assesses your reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and language use. The scoring criteria include accuracy, range of vocabulary and grammar, understanding of different text types, and ability to complete tasks.
• Writing: The writing component evaluates your ability to produce coherent, well-structured, and accurate written responses. The scoring criteria consider organization and development of ideas, range and accuracy of language use, cohesion and coherence, and the ability to fulfill the task requirements.
• Listening: The listening component assesses your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. The scoring criteria include comprehension of main ideas and supporting details, understanding of different accents and speech patterns, ability to follow a conversation or lecture, and accurate interpretation of information.
• Speaking: The speaking component evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. The scoring criteria include fluency, coherence, grammatical accuracy, range of vocabulary, pronunciation, interactive communication, and ability to express opinions and engage in discussions.
• Pass/Fail: The CAE exam does not have a pass or fail outcome. Instead, it provides an overall score and a certificate that indicates your level of English proficiency based on the CEFR. Achieving a Grade A, B, or C indicates successful completion of the exam and demonstrates a certain level of language proficiency.
• Score Validity: It’s important to note that the CAE certificate does not have an expiration date. However, some educational institutions, employers, or organizations may have their own policies regarding the validity of English language certificates. Always check the specific requirements of the institution or organization you are applying to.

Understanding the scoring system of the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam allows you to set realistic goals, focus your preparation efforts, and assess your progress accurately. By familiarizing yourself with the scoring criteria and striving for a balanced performance across all components, you can work towards achieving your desired level of English proficiency as reflected in your CAE results.

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Home / CAE / CAE Writing

CAE Writing

Writing will be the second part of your Certificate in Advanced English exam. CAE Writing is 90 minutes long and it consists of two separate tasks:

In CAE Writing Part 1 you have to read three points on a topic and then write an essay based on two of them. In your answer you have to point out which of the two points are more important. Your essay has to be 220-260 words long.

For CAE Writing Part 2 you get three different assignments to choose from. There are four possible types of assignments: a proposal, a review, a report and a letter. Again, it must be 220-260 words long.

CAE Writing Assessment Criteria Writing Part 1 Writing Part 2 — Review — Report — Letter — Proposal

You might want to read advice on  basics of essay composition before moving to the exam tasks.

CAE Writing Assessment Criteria

Your Writing score depends on four different aspects:

• Content.  How well you is your writing at achieving the task. Have you developed all the points required by the task?
• Communicative Achievement.  How appropriate is your writing in terms of style. Have you used the right register ( formal or informal )? Does your writing fill the style requirements of your text type (report, review, essay, letter)? Do you understand the purpose of the text you’re writing?
• Organisation. How logically you structure your text (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion). How well you connect your ideas in the text ( cohesion ).
• Language. Your grammar and vocabulary. How diverse is your choice of grammar structure?  Is the vocabulary you use fairly varied? Do you make any mistakes in both and how much do they affect understanding the idea you convey?

Writing Part 1

We will use an example task as an illustration:

You have watched a TV programme about scholarship and who should get in in your country. You have made the following notes:

Who should receive scholarship?

• People with exceptional academic performance
• Foreign exchange students
• Members of low-income families

Some of the opinions expressed in the programme:

“Students have to earn their right for free education.” “Children of parents with low income are usually more diligent learners.” “Students from abroad should feel welcomed in our country.”

You should write an essay for your tutor discussing two groups of people that should get scholarship. You are free to use any of the opinions from the programme if you like, but you should use your own words whenever possible.

Your introductory paragraph should state the topic of your essay and its purpose. It is recommended to make it clear which two points (out of three) you will be writing about. Alternatively you may choose to state that in the first sentence of each body paragraph. It is possible to use both approaches together — then you will have to make sure to paraphrase these statements. Avoid making your introduction too long — 3-5 sentences is an optimal length for your opening paragraph.

Body paragraphs are the tools which you use to deliver the key message of your essay. As you will be writing about two different points it is natural to dedicate one paragraph to each point. You are advised to keep body paragraphs approximately the same size — both points should be developed equally well. Some of the tasks require you to choose which of the two aspects is more important, and to state the reason for it being more important. In that case it is acceptable to make one of the paragraphs slightly bigger. This can be done both in the body paragraph and conclusion.

Your conclusion is commonly the shortest of all paragraphs. Most students tend to write a slightly paraphrased version of ideas already mentioned in introduction or body paragraphs. This is a valid technique and there is nothing wrong about it. It is especially useful when you have exhausted the topic and therefore you have nothing else to contribute to the text. Another possible approach is to introduce extra ideas as shown in the example essay below.

CAE Writing Part 1 Sample Essay

Tuition fees have never been low — on the contrary, only the chosen few can comfortably afford paying their studying costs. To participate in a scholarship programme has always been every student’s aspiration. Not only does the scholarship spare serious expenses, it also looks good on one’s CV. In the paragraphs below I will explain my opinion on why members of poor families and students with outstanding marks should be getting preferences for scholarship programme participation. Young people from families with insufficient means are generally unable to to pay for their education. Conversely, children of financially-sound households are more likely to get into scholarship, as they usually have much better secondary education — not to mention their parents being well able to cover tuition fees. These facts eventually lead to further widening of the wealth gap between the rich and the poor, entailing a number of social and economic issues. Such opportunity inequality could be mitigated by lowering the scholarship requirements for the less wealthy. Prospective students with impressive academic records should not be discouraged from continuing their education by charging for it. Considering their mental aptitude and zeal, these young people are very likely to become highly-qualified professionals, potentially making an appreciable contribution to society. Therefore they ought to be eligible for scholarship participation even if they do not meet other, non-academic requirements. Provision of scholarship grants is not an easy task. The decision-making system should be fair and impartial, ensuring that only the most worthy and needy have their academic expenses taken care of by the government. It is only then we can ensure that the programme serves its initial purpose. (272 words)

Writing Part 2

The second part of CAE Writing gives you a choice of three different tasks to choose from. It is recommended to practice at least two out of four possible tasks (Review, Report, Letter and Proposal).

Your paper should be between 220-260 words long. Going over the limit is not penalized, but potentially leads to more mistakes. However if your text is under 220 you will have points deducted from your overall score.

CAE Review is about providing details on the task subject, giving your opinion and recommending (or not recommending) to see/watch/read it. Your review can be on a variety of things such as books, movies, plays, events and much more.

Your writing can be either formal or informal . It is clear from the task which register you are supposed to use. Whichever you use, you should be consistent and stick to one register throughout the whole essay.

Suggested CAE Review Structure

Use the introductory paragraph to name what you are going to be reviewing, state its genre (i.e. a science fiction novel, a horror movie, a vaudeville performance and so on). It is possible to write about author’s other notable works if there are any. To make your introduction more engaging, you may briefly state your general impression on it. Make your introduction at least three sentences long.

Your first body paragraph should give a short summary of the reviewed material. Give a brief overview — plot, setting, actors, general idea. Avoid giving your opinion in this paragraph — you will do this in the following passages.

Second and third body paragraphs can be used to describe good and bad points respectively. Unlike CAE Writing Part 1 your paragraphs don’t have to be of same length — if you liked the described thing then your paragraph with good points will be naturally bigger than the other one. In the negative points paragraph you can name things that could be changed to improve the quality of the product.

Conclusion will contain your general impression and your verdict. Use this paragraph to sum up the good and bad points to make an objective assessment of the reviewed material. You may then recommend or dissuade your readers from seeing/attending it.

An example CAE Review task to illustrate these points:

CAE Writing Part 2 Review Sample

The title I am going to review is a rare example when the movie manages to trump the book it is based on. Today I am reviewing Fight Club by an infamous American novelist Charles Palahniuk — his most widely-known, universally acclaimed work. It is a daunting task to find a person unfamiliar with the movie. The plot engages you from the very start — a young professional finds his apartment destroyed by an explosion of unknown origin. Agitated, he phones his newfound acquaintance Tyler whom he had met on the plane. They see each other at a bar and the story becomes increasingly complex, yet pleasantly effortless to follow. Through its narrative a number of problems are tackled – self-identity, peer pressure, middle-life crises and some other. The characters are likeable and easy to relate to. Both acting and directing are superb. But what makes it better than the book? The only objective fault I could find in the book was the order of events. It goes back and forth, which at times proves to be confusing. The movie manages the sequencing much better. Other than that the book is brilliant — vigorous prose that manages to evoke strong images. The movie however is so good that the book tends to slightly fade in all its glory. People tend to read the book after seeing the adaptation, thus coming with high expectations that can be hard to meet. To sum this up, I would recommend reading the book nonetheless. It may seem inferior in some respects, but it does help to understand the main theme of “Fight Club” better. (266 words)

CAE Review tips

• The task clearly stated that you will be writing to your tutor, which implies use of formal register.
• As you write review you will inevitably use words meaning “good, bad, very” and so forth. It is important to know as many synonyms to very and other general words .
• To get more idea of what a review should look like check some user reviews: For movies go to www.imdb.com and click on any movie. Then scroll down to see the user reviews. Click to see the full list of reviews like this one. Please note that these reviews do not follow the required CAE Review format — they are to give you some ideas and vocabulary examples. For book reviews try  www.goodreads.com . Just like the previous site you have to choose a book and read other people’s thoughts on it. The top-rated  reviews are at the top of the main page.

CAE Report task is giving your opinion on a subject or assessment of a situation. The difference between CAE Review and Report tasks is that your report should be as objective as possible. Another important difference is that CAE Report should have clear headings for each paragraph.

CAE Report has to be written in formal English. Check this page on formal vocabulary to avoid making any mistakes or inconsistencies.

Suggested CAE Report structure

In your introductory paragraph you state the subject your report will be about. It is usually done by paraphrasing the information you are given in the task (see example report below). You may also state the main points of your report to make it easier for your reader to navigate through it.

As it was mentioned before, each of your paragraphs should have a separate heading. For body paragraphs each heading will be an aspect of the thing your report is about. For example, if your report is on a local school, your headings could be:

• Staff . This paragraph will be about the school’s teachers and other personnel
• Classrooms . Description of school premises and facilities
• Curriculum . How the teaching process is organised.

The names of your headings don’t have to be that straightforward — you can show some creativity there. Make sure that the meaning of your headings is clear — your reader should understand the content of the paragraph from the heading.

Your conclusion sums up the points mentioned above and provides a general assessment. You can voice your recommendations and suggestions if the task says you to do so.

To help you structure your report you can write out possible headings. A properly structured text is much easier to write and more pleasant to follow. Use your draft paper to write up an outline plan, but do not spend too much time on it — 2-4 minutes are usually enough to come up with a solid heading structure.

CAE Writing Part 2 Report Sample

You have completed your internship at a big company. As a part of your job placement programme you should write a report to your employment counsellor. In your report you should describe the company you worked at, the problems you encountered and propose any additional training you feel is necessary.

Introduction For the past three months I had been working for Escom Limited, the biggest law firm in our town. I have participated in real working environment, gained new skills and made acquaintances with people from the industry. In this report I will sum up my experience in this company. Escom Structure The company has a well-defined tier system. Being an intern I started at the first tier with everybody except other interns being my superiors. To get used to this strict hierarchy proved to be a serious challenge but eventually I adapted to it. Such system has its merits — as you move up the ranks you get access to more documents, legal tools and get to interact with senior staff. Even though the system has its downsides it is nevertheless very effective and efficient. The Challenges As an intern I had to perform a wide array of tasks. I had to interact with the company’s clients, fill in various forms, go through tomes of legal data and sort the mail. Unfortunately some of them had no relation to my field of study whatsoever — oftentimes I would get asked to bring in some take-away food or fix a malfunctioning computer. Some of the tasks proved to be too daunting for me, but overall I think I did just fine. Improving Myself Having completed my internship I could finally see my professional shortcomings. There are many things to improve on — first and foremost I have to work on my social skills. I found it difficult to talk to clients that I see for the first time and it is a must to make them feel comfortable. I should also study up on the recent law amendments — at times I found myself unaware of the latest developments in legal proceedings. Conclusion I have thoroughly enjoyed my brief stay with the company. Even though the system has its downsides it is nevertheless very effective and efficient. (274 words)

CAE Letter/E-mail

This type of task presents a certain situation that you have to write a reply to. CAE Letter is one of the more diverse type of tasks, as it can vary greatly in content of the letter as well as the required style and register. For example, a letter to your friend is going to be rather informal and its content will be narrative. Conversely, a letter to a manager of a restaurant should stay stylistically formal as well as factual.

Narrative or factual?

The terms “narrative” and “factual” can be a bit confusing – after all, when we talk or write about something, we tell a story (we narrate) and we include facts. That is true indeed, and both styles include elements of one another. In fact, they overlap considerably. However, there is a difference.

Narrative style (Informal letters/e-mails)

Narrative style focuses on the subjective aspect of your writing. It is about making your writing piece more emotionally engaging. It is more appropriate when you want to make the reader interested in what you are writing.

You can use a number of devices to engage your reader. The two most used ones in informal types of CAE Writing are exclamation and question marks. The former makes your message stronger and more emphatic. The latter can be used for a rhetoric question (one that requires no answer) or to make the reader more included in the narrative:

Hey, how have you been? I heard that your last music album was an immediate success. Really great to hear that!

16 thoughts on “CAE Writing”

I appeared on CAE exam last month in part 2 of writing I forget to mention part number in the answer box and I did e-mail part one with full format etc .it will create any problem??

Hello Waqas! I believe you shouldn’t feel too worried about it, unless it is not clear from the context of your answer!

There is clearly a mistake on the report section. Instead of the example of the report there are two reviews. Would it be possible to fix it? Thank you very much!

Thanks you, fixed that. We seem to have some text missing here, we will have to look into this at some point 🙂

Hello, in the writing part of the exam, I did not finish my review (I only managed to write an introduction and one paragraph, but my essay was complete). Although, I am confident about other parts of the CAE exam. How does this issue affect my overall score. Does it prevent me from getting the certificate?

Hello, Jessica. You get a choice of 3 different types of writing in Part 2, you can just choose something else. In fact, you might not get a review in the three offered tasks at all. Usually students struggle with reviews as it requires a more specific set of vocabulary, so many choose to skip it and not spend their time on it.

Hello I have realized that both my essay and my letter consist of approximately 310 words each. Could it affect my score drastically? Or is it appropriate to put down more than 260 words (310 in my case) if I would like to cover all the points of the task?

Hello, Julia! As per Cambridge CAE Handbook: “Guidelines on length are provided for each task; responses which are too short may not have an adequate range of language and may not provide all the information that is required, while responses which are too long may contain irrelevant content and have a negative effect on the reader. These may affect candidates’ marks on the relevant subscales.”

In other words, the examiners might see excessive length as poor ability to organise your writing. I would recommend against going over 280 words. Your ability to write concisely and convey a message through fewer words is a skill they expect you to have at CEFR C1 level. I hope this answers your question 🙂

Hello I would like to ask you if you think writing an email to a club organiser at your college is supposed to be an informal or a formal email? You know the whole name of the organiser and the note said something like: “You can choose the next 2 movies that we will watch next Tuesday. Tell us your ideas!” I wrote an informal letter but I’m not sure if it’s right. Thank you for any answers!

Hey Barbora! Generally, exclamation marks like in “Tell us your ideas!” indicate that it would be informal. Moreover, the general context of the text hint at a more relaxed style, so sticking to informal register is the way to go. Therefore, you have made the right call!

Hello. Unfortunately, I have exceeded the word limit of the writing (a lot). I am worried that they will deduct points. Do you perhaps know how many points or what impact it has? please be detailed. Thank you very much.

Hello Hosi, I am sorry I missed your message at first. Exceeding your word limit considerably can be punished both directly and indirectly. The former way is to see it as inability to express your ideas in a structured and compact way. Indirectly you might get a penalty for all the possible mistakes that come with those extra sentences. It is a part of the four assessment aspects, so at best it accounts for 1/8th of your mark. So unless your general planning and structuring was absolutely terrible (I hope it’s not!) you should not be too worried about this.

Hi, I attended the CAE exam just last week. I made a silly mistake in Writing part 2 when I jotted down the wrong number of the assignment (I chose letter and wrote down the number for proposal). Will this somehow affect my scores? Also, I’d like to ask, I was supposed to write a letter to all of my customers telling them about my company (what does it do, what makes it different, benefits for new customers) etc. is formal letter appropriate in this context? Thanks a lot for your answer!

Hey Dionne, hope you’re doing great! To answer the first part of your question – no, it probably won’t affect your mark as it should be evident from the context of your answer which task you chose for the second part. As for using formal register when writing to your customers – yes, you definitely made the right call! Please let me know how it went as soon as you get the results.

Hi! I attended CAE writing exam today and in Part 2 I chose to write a review BUT instead used the report structure, using subtitles ☹️. Also, I didn’t have the time to write a conclusion. Will I receive any points for Part 2? Thank you!

Hello Monica! Using titles is not punished directly. You should be fine, provided these titles add cohesion rather than confusion to your writing. You will probably get slightly lower mark for failing to include a conclusion on the grounds that the potential reader will not be “fully informed” (Content criteria). It might also affect your Organisation score. I wouldn’t worry too much about getting zero points as it is never the case with Cambridge exams. Please let us know how it goes when you get your score!

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Sharpen is the new college study app that revolutionizes exam prep. Sharpen assesses your current knowledge, identifies areas for improvement, and provides personalized study activities to boost your exam readiness. Choose from three quiz modes, flashcards, bite-sized videos, chapter summaries, and practice problems, all seamlessly aligned with your college textbook. Features: NEW Quiz Bank: Thousands of questions across three modes (basic, advanced, exam). NEW Exam-like Questions: Fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice with images, standard multiple choice, and single choice. Exam Timer: Simulate the exam environment with a built-in timer. Personalized Recommendations: Custom study activities based on your progress. Bite-Sized Videos: Concise videos that explain key concepts. Flashcards: Learn key terms from your textbook. Step-by-Step Practice Problems: Reinforce understanding with detailed practice problems. Visual Chapter Summaries: Summarize chapters visually for better retention. Trusted Content: Content built by McGraw Hill subject matter experts and aligned to your textbook. Disciplines covered: McGraw Hill Textbooks & OpenStax Textbooks: Accounting, Algebra, American Government, American History, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Business, Business Law, Business Math, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, Human Resources, Investments, Management, Marketing, Medical Assisting, Medical Terminology, Microbiology, Music, Nutrition, Psychology, and others. Testimonials: “I’m rocking the exams and my understanding in class thanks to Sharpen.” “This app is amazing! It gets right to the point & connects with my book for school.” “Fantastic resource! I love the bite-sized lessons, quizzes, and design.” Download Sharpen today and experience a simpler, more effective way to study for exams and class.

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I can find topics that are very simple if not identical to my high school classes. While this is great and all I don’t really enjoy is the buy options. I would appreciate if there were adds instead but less hidden features. Other then my non important complaints this app seems to be good so far and I have already learned a bit about biology. Recommend.

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Hi there - Thanks for checking out Sharpen and for sharing your feedback on what you find most useful when studying. For your accounting class, please look at the solutions section in later chapters as we have quite a few income statement problems that may be useful to you. We really value student feedback and if you ever wish to share anything else, you can reach us at [email protected]. Wishing you a great semester!

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Thank you for such a thoughtful review. School is hard and we wish Sharpen could be there for you to help on your study journey. Unfortunately, we don't cover high-school materials just yet :/ But we sincerely look forward to being there for you as you crush high-school and move on to college. PS - if you want to see what our app looks like you can select any textbook that looks interesting to you and dive in.

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Italian Boxer Quits Bout, Sparking Furor Over Gender at Olympics

The Italian, Angela Carini, stopped fighting only 46 seconds into her matchup against Imane Khelif of Algeria, who had been barred from a women’s event last year.

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By Tariq Panja and Jeré Longman

Reporting from Paris

An Italian boxer abandoned her bout at the Paris Olympics after only 46 seconds on Thursday, refusing to continue after taking a heavy punch from an Algerian opponent who had been disqualified from last year’s world championships over questions about her eligibility to compete in women’s sports.

The Italian boxer, Angela Carini, withdrew after her Algerian opponent, Imane Khelif, landed a powerful blow that struck Carini square in the face. Carini paused for a moment, then turned her back to Khelif and walked to her corner. Her coaches quickly signaled that she would not continue, and the referee stopped the fight.

Khelif, 25, was permitted to compete at the Olympics even though she had been barred last year after boxing officials said she did not meet eligibility requirements to compete in a women’s event. Another athlete also barred from last year’s world championships under similar circumstances, Lin Yu-ting, has also been cleared to fight in Paris.

The International Boxing Association, which ran those championships and ordered the disqualifications, offered little insight into the reasons for the boxers’ removal, saying in a statement that the disqualifications came after “the athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognized test .”

The association said that test, the specifics of which it said were confidential, “conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.”

Those rules, which the boxing association adopted for the 2016 Rio Games, are the same ones the International Olympic Committee is operating under as the authority running the boxing tournament at the Paris Games. But the rules, the I.O.C. confirmed, do not include language about testosterone or restrictions on gender eligibility beyond a single line saying “gender tests may be conducted.”

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GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024, Focus Edition: Includes Book + Online Question Bank + Digital Flashcards + Mobile App (GMAT Official Guides) 1st Edition

GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024, Focus Edition: Includes Book + Online Question Bank + Digital Flashcards + Mobile App

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• ISBN-10 1394169949
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley; 1st edition (June 7, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
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