Name what you are going to be reviewing. Identify the book, restaurant or film
Describe the second thing mentioned in the task
Practice, write & improve, c1 advanced (cae) review: writing guide.
We will use the example CAE review topic below:
You see the following announcement on a website, Great Lives:
Reviews wanted Send us a review of a book or film that focuses on somebody who has made an important contribution to society.
Did you learn anything new about the person’s life from the book or film? Did the book or film help you understand why this person made their important contribution?
Write your review (around 220 – 260 words)
The first thing is to find underline a description part , where we have to describe something like a film, book, restaurant or anything else. Next , find a discussion part where need to give opinion and or make a recommendation or suggestion.
On top of that, find the target reader who is always specified so you know exactly who you are writing for and who is going to read your review.
Reviews Wanted Send us a review of a book or film that focuses on somebody who has made an important contribution to society. (to describe)
Did you learn anything new about the person’s life from the book or film? Did the book or film help you understand why this person made their important contribution? (to answer/discuss)
Thanks to this, we have all the elements we need to write a great review below:
You need to describe: B o ok or film that focuses on somebody who has made an important contribution to society
You need to answer/discuss:
Who is the target reader: website, Great Lives
We know now that the target readers are the users of the website, so the writing style can be quite direct and informal (idioms, phrasal verbs).
Now we can start building our structure and writing a review.
Step 2: title.
The review should start with the title, and there are several ways to write it:
Title (book): Green Lantern by Stephen King (by) Title (hotel): Ibiza Hotel in Barcelona – a review (a review) Title (restaurant): Taco Bell: U n forgettable experience (catchy)
we will use this title in our guide : TITLE : Mandela: Striving for Freedom — a review
The other function of your introduction is to engage the reader . There are certain tools we can use to achieve that for example, we can ask a rhetorical question.
It is a question that doesn’t really need an answer it is there as a stylistic feature that engages the reader and makes them interested in the topic
Make your introduction at least 2-3 sentences long.
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever been so passionate about something that you would sacrifice your very best years for it? In the film Mandela: Striving for Freedom we get not only a glimpse of Nelson Mandela’s life, but rather dive deep into who he was and how he changed a whole country . This autobiographical film, based on the book, and released in 2013, tells the amazing story of an even more extraordinary man.
– rhetorical question
– identification of reviewed item
TIP : Don’t waste your time looking for a real book or a real movie to match your review. Make it up or change the facts to suit the review, it doesn’t have to be real.
Unlike essays, your paragraphs don’t have to be of the same length (however, should be longer than the introduction or conclusion).
Use idioms , phrasal verbs and colloquial language – informal language is appropriate for your target reader – users of the website, Great Lives
See the example below, in which we dedicate one paragraph to one point…
[Why this person made an important contribution?]
While the whole film captivated me throughout, there was one aspect that truly stood out to me. Nelson Mandela and his second wife Winnie had a one-of-a-kind relationship driving each other to continue and grow the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa even after Mr Mandela was captured and imprisoned. It is a testament to their dedication and partnership and something ‘that a lot of us can learn from.
[Did you learn anything new about the person’s life?]
Despite having a strong and driven partner in his wife, I still used to be astonished by the fact that someone would simply sacrifice themselves and give up a big part of their life to help others, but this biopic made me reconsider. Witnessing segregated society and all the racial abuse the black community had to endure during apartheid, there was no other option for Nelson Mandela than to stand up and fight for equality.
– topic-specific vocabulary
– engaging/interesting vocabulary
– relevant details
It will contain your general impression and your verdict/recommendation .
Use this paragraph to make an objective assessment of the reviewed material. You may then recommend or dissuade your readers from seeing/attending it.
CONCLUSION: All in all, Mandela: Striving for Freedom gives some incredible insight into the life of one of the world’s most famous and influential personalities of the 20th century. It would be a shame not to watch it so I highly recommend that you check your favourite streaming service as soon as you can and I promise you won’t regret it. – recap, what you like about the film
– recommendation
Full review.
Mandela: Striving for Freedom — a review
Have you ever been so passionate about something that you would sacrifice your very best years for it? In the film Mandela: Striving for Freedom we get not only a glimpse of Nelson Mandela’s life, but rather dive deep into who he was and how he changed a whole country. This autobiographical film, based on the book, and released in 2013, tells the amazing story of an even more extraordinary man.
All in all, Mandela: Striving for Freedom gives some incredible insight into the life of one of the world’s most famous and influential personalities of the 20th century. It would be a shame not to watch it so I highly recommend that you check your favourite streaming service as soon as you can and I promise you won’t regret it.
Things to remember…
You’re writing for the public, not for your friends. Your are only interesting if you can , or make them entertaining.
People don’t read reviews in magazines in order to be bored, To be interesting, you should : |
Cae review sample 1.
You have seen this announcement on your favourite music website.
Have you ever been to an amazing concert venue?
Write a review of the best music venue in your local area and tell us about what makes it so special. Say who you would recommend it for a why?
The best entries will be published on our website.
The Apollo: The Theatre of Dreams
Never before have you seen such an amazing spectacle as you will see in the Apollo. It´s not only the facilities and personnel that make this venue so great, but also the amazing acoustics of such a large venue.
From the moment you enter the place there is an awe about it. All of the greatest acts of recent times have played here and you can feel the buzz as soon as you enter. The crowd are so close to the stage that they can literally feel the droplets of sweat coming off of the brows of their favourite artists, this creates an amazing connection between the musicians and the audience and I can tell you, the fans go wild!
I´d definitely recommend this venue to anyone, it has a great feel to it and the prices are at the lower end of what you would expect to pay in such a place. They also don’t go over the top on drinks prices, and through it sounds weird, it´s not all that difficult to get to the bathroom which is a plus. So, without a doubt, the next time your favourite group is playing, come on down to the Apollo, oh, and did I mention it is in London? It couldn´t get any better.
Cae review sample 2.
You see this announcement in an international magazine.
The most UPLIFTING and the biggest DOWNER . It’s sometimes hard to choose a film that fits your mood purely on the basis of the poster or the description on the cover of the DVD. That’s why we want to publish reviews of the most uplifting and the most depressing films our readers have seen, so that others know what to watch and what to avoid. Send in a review which describes the most uplifting film you’ve ever seen and the one you found the biggest downer. Make sure you give reasons for your choices.
Write your review in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.
A tale of two films
If I were to present two of the most contrasting films about overcoming adversity it would be The Blind Side (2009) and Doctor Zhivago (1965). Whereas the former left me with a huge grin on my face, sadly, the latter left me feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Doctor Zhivago , directed by five-time Oscar winner David Lean, is set in the Bolshevik revolution and follows the title character, who must adapt to the new order while pining for Lara, the beautiful wife of a political campaigner. The director succeeded in creating a film that is thoroughly engaging but full of gritty realism, cruelty and tragic irony. Take the tissues!
The Blind Side , which is based on a true story, is also a bit of a tearjerker, in a completely different way. Starring Sandra Bullock, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a rich white mother in Tennessee who takes a homeless black teenager under her roof. Understandably, the gentle giant thinks he isn’t good at anything but his new mother sees his potential to become a football star and part of the family. The plot is based on a true story, making it all the more touching.
I would strongly recommend The Blind Side . It will appeal to a range of people and is a great choice for a movie night. Although Doctor Zhivago is a classic, I think it has more of a niche audience and is best saved for when you want a dose of gloom!
Cae example topic 1.
You see the the following announcement on a website, Great Lives:
REVIEWS WANTED Send us a review of a book or a film focusses on somebody who has made an important contribution to society.
Write your review in 220-260 words
You see this announcement in an international magazine called Cinefilia.
THE MOST UPLIFTING AND THE BIGGEST DOWNER. It’s sometimes hard to choose a film that fits your mood purely on the basis of the poster or the description on the cover of the DVD. That’s why we want to publish reviews of the most uplifting and the most depressing films our readers have seen, so that others know what to watch and what to avoid. Send in a review which describes the most uplifting film you’ve ever seen and the one you found the biggest downer. Make sure you give reasons for your choices.
Write your review in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.
You see the following announcement in a magazine:
SEND US YOUR REVIEW
Have you read a book or seen a film that has a central character whose life is affected by an event or decision they make early in the story What did you learn about the person’s character? Did the book or flim help you to understand how the person was affected by this event or decision? Send us your review for our next issue
Write your review for the magazine readers. (220-260 words)
After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.
How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:
Communicative Achievement
Organisation
Try to include some sophisticated language in your review. But: you can think of some cool words and expressions before you go into the exam! Keep control of your language – don’t forget simple things like the third person singular ‘s’. However, don’t stick only to really simple forms. You need to show that you know higher level forms like past perfect and third conditional. | Start with a heading so you don’t forget to mention the name of the thing you’re reviewing. Put each content point in a separate paragraph. Finish with your recommendation. Vary the length of your sentences – some short, some long – to make the Review more interesting. |
Always think about the Target Reader. Are they going to learn enough in your Review to make a decision about the book? The Target Reader’s time is precious. Keep them entertained! At a most basic level, does your Review look like one? Is it written like one? | You should be able to get all 5 content points. Make sure to cover everything in the rubric. Remember, nothing that you write has to be real or honest. If it’s easier to make something up, do that. |
C1 advanced (cae) review: useful phrases.
We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is taking a shortcut, if you learn several expressions for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized text.
What I liked most was ….. The thing I liked most was …. I was pleasantly surprised by ….. ….. would appeal to ….. If you get a chance to ….
What I disliked most was ….. I was disappointed by …… I was disappointed with ….. I was very disappointed by ….. I was very disappointed with ….
main character is set in comedy science fiction thriller romance comedy: author written by chapter factual fiction unbelievable bestseller chapter ending
lead role star role star star actor star actress starring secondary role He plays a ……. She plays a ……. written by …. is set in ….. based on a true story …. believable true to life not very believable far-fetched comedy romance science fiction ending
location service setting attractive setting disappointing setting owned by run by head chef (restaurant) waiters (restaurant) staff ……. staff at reception …….(hotel hotel facilities …. reasonable prices ….. good value for money ….. excellent value for money ….. expensive a bit expensive overpriced not worth the money poor value for money always fully booked book in advance
The script seemed rather conventional/predictable to me. The plot struck me as completely bizarre/absurd/incomprehensible The characters are appealing and true to life The dancers were quite brilliant/amateurish
I would strongly encourage you not to miss/not to waste your money on… I would definitely recommend seeing/visiting/reading/having a look at …
COMMENTS
Article navigation: C1 Advanced (CAE): Vocabulary Tips C1 Advanced (CAE): Vocabulary List C1 Advanced (CAE): Vocabulary List - Download PDF Having a good knowledge of diverse English vocabulary is very important for doing well in the C1 Advanced exam. Therefore, more of your time should be spent on improving your vocabulary.
The C1 Advanced Writing exam has two writing parts, which you must complete in 90 minutes. Both parts have a word limit of between 220-260 words. We recommend getting lots of writing practice under these conditions! Part 1 is always a discursive essay. It requires you to think about arguments for and against a topic.
Writing an essay is the first part of the C1 Advanced (CAE) Cambridge writing paper and it is obligatory. You need to answer the question with between 220-260 words. In the text, you need to analyse a question using different points of view. It is a semi-formal/formal text and should be impartial until the conclusion.
Useful phrases for your essays (advanced level) Here you have some phrases to include in your essays (CEFR C1-C2). Hope you like it and find it useful !! Introducing the phenomenon to be discussed Stating your opinion Changing topic Presenting arguments Describing causes Proposing steps and measures Concluding Tip I think you should also have a few pages somewhere where you can keep a record ...
• make notes on useful ideas and vocabulary to help you write a discursive essay • learn useful strategies for planning, writing and reviewing your written work. Get to know the exam: Writing Part 1 . The C1 Advanced Writing paper has two parts. Part 1 has only one task, which you must answer. You will:
What you need to do is make sure you start building your vocabulary in a logical way. 1. Start with your interests. You will use this vocabulary the most frequently and you need to know it well. 2. Do not learn individual words. You should learn new vocabulary as short phrases. Only the new word should be new. E.g. LOOK AFTER =
There is a range of vocabulary used appropriately, but there is some awkwardness of expression at times, either due to word choice or word order. Some grammatical forms are used with control, such as present tenses and modals, but there are errors when more complex forms or expressions are attempted. ... How to write an essay? | C1 Advanced ...
On-the-go practice with Test & Train. Test & Train is an easy-to-use practice tool to help you get ready for your C1 Advanced exam through short, sharp workouts. With over 500 practice questions, you can use it anytime, anywhere and as many times as your like! Get started today.
Don't forget to note down important vocabulary so you can remember it for your writings! C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay Tips. You've probably got plenty of experience writing in English if you've reached a C1 level. Students who prepare for this exam often need their skills focused in the right way rather than being taught brand new ideas.
ESSAYS. There are two Writing Sections, Writing Section 1, which is based on the extract you hear in Listening Section 3, and Writing Section 2. Task 1 in Writing Section 1 is obligatory. To write the task, you must use the notes you have taken while you are listening to Listening Section 3 the third time and any other points you wish in order ...
C1 Advanced Essay (CAE) Examples. December 16, 2019. This is a collection of CAE (Cambridge C1) essays written by my students, with my thoughts about them. There's also a video I made of me writing an essay. If you want CAE writing tips, there are lots in the writing section of this site. Special pandemic offer: For a limited time I am giving ...
Writing Sample Scripts & Examiner's Comments. Expert level - C1. Marking the Writing tasks. In the Writing section, candidates are assessed against four assessment criteria. Each writing task is assessed separately. These criteria are Task Achievement, Accuracy and Range of Grammar, Accuracy and Range of Vocabulary and Organisation (Coherence).
A Chip On Your Shoulder. Being upset for something that happened in the past. A Dime A Dozen. Anything that is common and easy to get. A Doubting Thomas. A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something. A Drop in the Bucket. A very small part of something big or whole.
One of the things which you will be evaluated on in the Writing and Speaking parts of Cambridge Advanced exam is your use of English vocabulary. To get a higher mark in these parts you need to use a variety of words and phrases. To help you do this, you'll find below a list of advanced synonyms that you can use for some common English words ...
C1 Vocabulary: 38 Adjectives . The list of C1 adjectives provided earlier represents words that are typically associated with this advanced level of vocabulary.Learners who have attained a C1 level of proficiency are capable of using such words to articulate their thoughts and opinions in a sophisticated manner.
In this video, you will learn 12 advanced and proficiency level adjectives (C1/C2 level) which will help you to pass the Cambridge English exams: FCE, CAE an...
C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing: Format. Format: cae writing paper contains two parts. Timing: 1 hour 30 minutes. Parts: 2. Task: candidates are required to complete two tasks: a compulsory task in Part 1. one task from a choice of three in Part 2. A range from the following: email/letter; essay; report; review; proposal.
The most important words for C1 CEFR level. This vocabulary list will give you the words you need to learn at C1 CEFR level.
Terms in this set (13) Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like to aspire to, concise, to impose on and more.
An essay is the first part of the C1 advanced writing and it is obligatory. You need to answer the question with between 220-260 words. In the text, you need to analyse a question using different points of view. It is a semi-formal/formal text and should be impartial until the conclusion. What the examiner wants to see is a balanced argument ...
CAE Speaking Phrases. Here's a phrase list for the CAE speaking exam. There are also some speech bubble powerpoints to drill the language in class, click on each phrase to make it disappear. Drill all the phrases repeatedly taking one out each time until the class can repeat all 5 expressions by heart. I got the amazing speech bubble ...
C1 Advanced (CAE) Review: Structure. Title + Introduction. Name what you are going to be reviewing. Identify the book, restaurant or film. Main content: Paragraph 1: Describe the first thing mentioned in the task. Paragraph 2: Describe the second thing mentioned in the task. Recommendation.