Date of the last update: 03.08.2026
The C1 Advanced exam is a comprehensive test that checks all areas of language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It consists of four parts designed to provide a reliable assessment of English language proficiency. Below you will find a detailed description of each exam component and the types of tasks involved.
It is worth noting that the formats described below are identical for both the digital (computer-based) and paper-based versions of the exam.
Table of contents:
- The C1 Advanced exam structure in a nutshell
- C1 Advanced – Reading and Use of English
- C1 Advanced – Writing
- C1 Advanced – Listening
- C1 Advanced – Speaking
- Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The C1 Advanced exam structure in a nutshell
| Exam Part | Structure | What is assessed? |
| Reading and Use of English (1 hour 30 minutes) | 8 parts / 56 questions | Tests whether you can confidently deal with different types of texts, such as fiction, newspapers, and magazines. It tests your knowledge of language structures through various exercises checking grammar and vocabulary mastery. |
| Writing (1 hour 30 minutes) | 2 parts | Involves preparing two different written forms, such as essays, letters/emails, proposals, reports, and reviews. |
| Listening (approx. 40 minutes) | 4 parts / 30 questions | Tests the ability to follow and understand a variety of spoken materials, such as interviews, radio broadcasts, presentations, lectures, and everyday conversations. |
| Speaking (15 minutes per pair; 23 minutes for a group of 3) | 4 parts | Shows that you can take part in a conversation by providing answers and asking questions. The oral test usually takes place face-to-face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. One examiner conducts the conversation, and the other listens. |
C1 Advanced – Reading and Use of English
This part of the C1 Advanced exam consists of eight parts and contains various types of texts and questions.
General Information:
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Number of parts: 8
- Number of questions: 56
- Total text length: approx. 3,000 – 3,500 words
- Text sources: Newspapers and magazines, specialized journals, books (fiction and non-fiction), promotional and informational materials.
Detailed description of C1 Reading and Use of English parts:
| Part | What does it contain? | What does it assess? | Questions | Scoring |
| Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze) | A text with numbered gaps. Each gap has four options (A, B, C, or D) – you must choose the correct one. | Vocabulary – idioms, collocations, shades of meaning, phrasal verbs, fixed expressions, etc. | 8 | 1 pt per correct answer |
| Part 2 (Open cloze) | A text with gaps where one word is missing. You must find the correct word that fits the context yourself. | Grammar and vocabulary. | 8 | 1 pt per correct answer |
| Part 3 (Word formation) | A text containing eight gaps. At the end of the line, there is a “prompt” word that must be transformed to complete the sentence correctly. | Word formation. | 8 | 1 pt per correct answer |
| Part 4 (Key word transformations) | Each question consists of a lead-in sentence, a “key” word, and a second sentence with a gap. You must fill the gap (using 3 to 6 words) so the new sentence has the same meaning. | Grammar, vocabulary, and collocations. | 6 | Up to 2 pts per answer |
| Part 5 (Multiple choice) | A text with multiple-choice questions. For each question, there are four options: A, B, C, or D. | Reading for detail, opinion, tone, purpose, main idea, implication, and attitude. | 6 | 2 pts per correct answer |
| Part 6 (Cross-text multiple matching) | Four short texts and matching questions. You must read all texts to relate a fragment to the corresponding element in another text. | Understanding and comparing opinions and attitudes across different texts. | 4 | 2 pts per correct answer |
| Part 7 (Gapped text) | One page of text with gaps representing missing paragraphs. Below are the paragraphs in random order. You decide which fits best. | Understanding text structure and development. | 6 | 2 pts per correct answer |
| Part 8 (Multiple matching) | A series of questions requiring you to match information to a text or several short texts. | Scanning for specific information, detail, opinion, and attitude. | 10 | 1 pt per correct answer |
C1 Advanced – Writing
In the Writing section, you must demonstrate the ability to create different types of texts in English.
General Information:
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Number of parts: 2
- Number of tasks: Part 1 (one compulsory question); Part 2 (one question chosen from three options).
- Task types: Essay, letter/email, proposal, report, review.
Detailed description of C1 Writing parts:
| Task | What does it contain? | What does it assess? | Length |
| Part 1 (Compulsory) | You read a short text and write an essay based on the points included. You will be asked to explain which of two points is more important and justify your opinion. | Developing arguments as fully as possible to demonstrate a range of structures, vocabulary, and functions (evaluating, hypothesizing, etc.). | 220-260 words |
| Part 2 (Situation-based) | You write a text choosing one of the following types: letter/email, proposal, report, or review. Context and purpose are provided. | Writing different types of texts. | 220-260 words |
C1 Advanced – Listening
The Listening part consists of four parts. You will hear each recording twice.
General Information:
- Duration: Approx. 40 minutes
- Number of parts: 4
- Number of questions: 30
- Recording types: Monologues (radio, speeches, lectures) and conversations (interviews, discussions).
Detailed description of C1 Listening parts:
| Part | What does it contain? | What does it assess? | Questions | Scoring |
| Part 1 (Multiple choice) | Three short fragments of conversations. Two multiple-choice questions (A, B, or C) per fragment. | Feelings, attitudes, opinions, purpose, function, agreement/disagreement, gist, and detail. | 6 | 1 pt per answer |
| Part 2 (Sentence completion) | A monologue lasting about 3 minutes. You must fill in gaps in sentences with information from the recording. | Specific information and stated opinions. | 8 | 1 pt per answer |
| Part 3 (Multiple choice) | A conversation lasting about 4 minutes. You must answer multiple-choice questions (A, B, C, or D). | Attitudes, opinions, agreement/disagreement, gist, feeling, purpose, and detail. | 6 | 1 pt per answer |
| Part 4 (Multiple matching) | A series of five monologues (30 seconds each). You must match each speaker to one of eight possible answers for two separate tasks. | Gist, attitude, main points, purpose, feeling; interpreting context. | 10 | 1 pt per answer |
C1 Advanced – Speaking
The Speaking test has four parts and is taken with another candidate. There are two examiners: one interlocutor and one assessor.
General Information:
- Duration: 15 minutes per pair
- Number of parts: 4
- Interaction types: Interview with examiner, collaborative task with candidate, individual long turn.
Detailed description of C1 Speaking parts:
| Part | Description | What is assessed? | Timing |
| Part 1 (Interview) | Conversation between candidates and the examiner. You answer questions about interests, studies, career, etc. | Giving personal information and expressing opinions on various topics. | 2 minutes |
| Part 2 (Long turn) | You talk about two out of three pictures for 1 minute. The other candidate comments for 30 seconds. Then roles are reversed. | Comparing, describing, expressing opinions, and speculating. | 1 min per candidate + 30s response |
| Part 3 (Collaborative) | Conversation with the other candidate based on written prompts. You discuss for 2 mins, then have 1 min to reach a decision. | Exchanging ideas, justifying opinions, agreeing/disagreeing, evaluating, and negotiating. | 3 minutes total |
| Part 4 (Discussion) | Further discussion with the other candidate based on the topics from Part 3. | Expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing. | 5 minutes |
Summary
The C1 Advanced exam is a high-level test of English proficiency covering all key competencies. Each part consists of several task types designed to evaluate both grammar/vocabulary knowledge and the ability to use the language practically in various contexts.
The entire exam lasts about four hours and requires good time management and precise communication. Familiarity with the structure – the number of parts, task types, and timing – is essential for effective preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam look like?
The C1 Advanced (CAE) exam consists of four parts: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. It assesses reading, grammar and vocabulary, writing, listening comprehension, and spoken English skills.
How many parts are there in the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam?
The C1 Advanced (CAE) exam has four main sections. Reading and Use of English includes 8 parts, Writing has 2 tasks, Listening contains 4 parts, and Speaking consists of 4 stages.
How long is the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam?
The entire C1 Advanced (CAE) exam takes about four hours. Reading and Use of English lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, Writing 1 hour 30 minutes, Listening about 40 minutes, and Speaking approximately 15 minutes per pair of candidates.
What skills are assessed in the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam?
The exam assesses reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking skills through a variety of task types.
Is the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam the same in the digital and paper-based versions?
Yes. The digital (computer-based) and paper-based versions of the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam have the same format, task types, and structure.
What happens in the C1 Advanced (CAE) Speaking test?
The Speaking test consists of four parts and is usually taken with another candidate. It includes an interview with the examiner, an individual long turn, a collaborative task, and a discussion based on shared topics.
What types of writing tasks are included in the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam?
The Writing paper includes two tasks. The first is a compulsory essay, while the second is chosen from a letter/email, proposal, report, or review.
How many questions are there in Reading and Use of English?
The Reading and Use of English paper contains 56 questions divided into 8 parts. It assesses grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension through different task types.
