📚 CPE-CAE preparation 📖

Introduction

Dear subscribers,

I decided to share with you my personal experience of CPE-CAE preparation as it may inspire some of you to take these exams too.

Frankly speaking, I've been preparing for Cambridge Proficiency and Advanced Exams CPE-CAE (C2 Proficiency Exam - C1 Advanced Exam) during 3 years (2018-2021). 🙈

Obviously, it's too long and I don't recommend anyone to do the same because you can really achieve similar results in a shorter period of time.😎

The truth is I didn't push myself too hard as it wasn't my intention to earn the certificate as soon as possible because I wanted to enjoy the process after many stressful exams at university and school (spoiler - I managed to do it and exams can be fun 😉).

What's more, my preparations coincided with studying for PhD in Roman Linguistics, full-time job and life in a foreign country (Argentina). So I had my reasons to take it in small doses and to be honest, I really enjoyed my journey. 🏞️

Please, ask me any specific questions in comments if you're interested in taking these exams on your own 😊

If this information is useful, your reactions will be highly appreciated 😉👍🥰

#CAE #CPE #waytoC2

📚 CPE-CAE preparation 📖

Part 2

⚖️ Why I finally did CAE instead of CPE?

I opted for CAE in the second half of my preparation period because I realized how tough CPE was (in terms of accuracy and strict evaluation) and didn't want to expose myself to additional stress-factors. At this time, I was overwhelmed with the workload and PhD, and figured out that being a perfectionist in everything won't do me any good. 😰

Both CAE and CPE can confirm that you have B2, C1 or C2 level. The difference is that CPE is more complicated and gives you more points (scale score 210-230) while CAE is a little bit less sophisticated (scale score 180-210). 😉

However, no matter what exam you take you can attain C2 Proficiency level and it will be valid for life! (Unlike the TOEFL and IELTS exams). 🤠

#CAE #CPE #waytoC2

📚 CPE-CAE preparation 📖

Part 3

How I prepared? or maybe how we prepared? 🤔

Now it's time to confess that I had a perfect study buddy from the very beginning of the preparation. It was my husband who actually suggested that we take CAE together 👫

I should say it was a good experience for us as a couple. Though we had different backgrounds in English-learning and our approach to studying vary significantly, we shared ideas, coursebooks for self-studying (my favourites were Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency and Objective Proficiency SB and WB), and of course, practiced in pair the speaking part and worked with different tutors. 👨‍🏫👩‍🏫

First, my husband contacted a language school that had native-speakers teachers that prepared for CPE exam. The best part of those private lessons was that we worked with experienced professionals, they were young but older than us and meticulously prepared their classes basing on our needs. 📝

At some point in early 2021 we figured out it was time to pull ourselves together and set a date and place for taking the exam. Completing some basic research, we found the most trustful language centre authorized by Cambridge to hold CAE exams in our area and killing two birds with one stone, first, enrolled on an intensive course preparation for CAE and second, selected the date for the exam. 📅

The interesting thing about CAE classes on Zoom in a group of 10+ students was the opportunity to discuss different issues together and actually realize that our language level comparing to other students was sufficient enough to pass the exam. ⏱️

#CAE #CPE #waytoC2

📚 CPE-CAE preparation 📚

Part 4

Final stage

Approximately 2 months before the exam day we realized we didn't need intensive group classes with Compact Coursebooks any more as we have already practiced all types of written tasks (essays, proposals, letters, reports, articles, reviews) and the tutor's feedback was positive. 💯

That's why we opted for another private tutor to have classes in pair with only one goal - practice speaking part as much as possible. Looking back now I can say that was a good choice 😉

The tutor recommended that we included as many topic-related C2 expressions as possible in our speech and writing tasks and controlled it during our classes. 🧑‍🏫

On our own we revised our notes for all these years of studying and did as many tests as possible. The results were quite satisfying so at the end of 2021 we took our paper-based CAE exam. ✍️

Leave your reactions if this information was useful and you'd like to know how we did at our exam 🤗

#CAE #CPE #waytoC2

👀👁️🕵️10 eye idioms 👀👁️🕵️

What other eye idioms do you know? Please, share in comments
⬇️⬇️⬇️

#idioms #CAE #CPE

📚 Perfect English Friday Reading Suggestion 📚

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

👩🏼 Arianna is a Greek American writer, businesswoman, co-founder of The Huffington Post - a successful news website available in 8 languages. The book is a testimony of her own success story with failures and dark pages.

📔 In this book you will find tons of useful vocabulary for #CAE and #CPE exams on such topics as work-life balance, mindfulness and female empowerment.

#reading #vocabulary

❓ Has anybody read this book yet? What do you think of it?

The PDF version of the book you can find in the comments below 👇

Hey everyone! 👋

I bet there's one fact about famous British writer ✍️ Charles Dickens you didn't know!

It has been a huge revelation to me that his surname 'Dickens' can be translated as 'Devil' and is actually not a pseudonym but his real family name 👺

"Dickens" is a euphemism for "devil" and is used in the phrase 'scare the dickens out of sb' which means shock or frighten sb very suddenly or severely.🙀

Did you know that?
😁

#Vocabulary #fear #Dickens #idioms #CAE #CPE
🌟💜
Perfect English for C1-C2 students

🤓 Recently I've come across an amazing video with lots of juicy vocabulary and grammar for advanced learners to speak about your routines
🔦

How to describe your daily routine at C1 (Advanced) level

It will be incredibly useful for those who are taking CAE, CPE and IELTS exams.

Enjoy!
🤗

#CAE #CPE #IELTS #vocabulary