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CAE Essay Topics + Keys PDF

This document provides 36 sample essay topics that are commonly used in the Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) exam. The topics cover a wide range of subjects including education, cities, government policies, environmental issues, and everyday life. For each topic, 3-4 potential sub-points or perspectives are provided to help examinees develop their ideas and arguments for the essays. The document advises examinees to practice fully developing their points, using language functions such as evaluating, expressing opinions, hypothesizing, justifying, and persuading.

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Andrea Rosian
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1K views5 pages

CAE Essay Topics + Keys PDF

This document provides 36 sample essay topics that are commonly used in the Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) exam. The topics cover a wide range of subjects including education, cities, government policies, environmental issues, and everyday life. For each topic, 3-4 potential sub-points or perspectives are provided to help examinees develop their ideas and arguments for the essays. The document advises examinees to practice fully developing their points, using language functions such as evaluating, expressing opinions, hypothesizing, justifying, and persuading.

Uploaded by

Andrea Rosian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The exact words of the CAE official page:

 You’ll be asked to explain which of the two points is more important, and to
give reasons for your opinion.
What do I have to practise?
 Developing points as fully as possible to demonstrate structures, vocabulary
and language functions, such as: evaluating, expressing opinions,
hypothesising, justifying, persuading.

36 COMMON CAE ESSAY TOPICS

1. What is the best way to improve your English skills?


Language learning: English
 spending time in an English-speaking country
 attending intensive classes
 using films, videos and audio in English
2. What are the best methods to learn a language?
Language learning
 self-study
 learn witha teacher
 live abroad

3. Which subjects could be cut from the school curriculum?


Education: curriculum - cuts
 sports
 art
 music
4. Which courses should be included in the school curriculum?
Education: curriculum – additions
 ancient Greek and Latin
 computer studies
 plumbing
5 How can schools help students develop important life skills?
Education: skills development
 encourage more competitive sports
 have off-site team-building days
 introduce home-making and parenting classes
6. Which are the most suitable trips for school or college students?
Education: travelling
 visits to places of cultural interest abroad
 excursions in their own country
 foreign sports or adventure trips
7. Should UK universities charge tuition fees?
(Higher) education: tuition fees in UK
 no
 yes, but very low ones
 yes, high ones
8. Should universities be free for everyone?
(Higher) education: tuition
 tuition fees should be reduced, not eliminated
 tuition fees are necessary to pay professors and equipment
 universities would lose exclusivity if they are free
9. Who would make the best speaker at your college?
(Higher) education (role models)
 a tv celebrity
 a politician
 a renowned scientist

10. What are the facilities most needed in your area/ town?
Hometown/ community: facilities
 car park
 sports centre
 history museum
11. What are the major benefits of a bypass around the town?
Hometown/ community: bypass
 improved transport links
 less traffic congestion in the city centre
 a welcome reduction in pollution and noise
12. Which school facilities should receive money from local authorities?
Hometown/ community: funding school facilities
 library
 catering facilities
 swimming pool
13. In what way should local companies sponsor your school?
Hometown/ community: commercial sponsorship for your school
 generous funding
 professional management
 local involvement

14. Which is the best solution to housing problems in cities and towns?
City problems/ solutions: housing
 renovate empty properties
 extend the suburbs
 build high-rise blocks
15. Which are the best ways of reducing traffic flow in the cities?
City problems/ solutions: traffic
 improve public transport
 a toll fee on cars
 build more roads
16. What are the best measures to reduce traffic and pollution in big cities?
City problems/ solutions: traffic + pollution
 exclusive lanes for public transport
 congestion charge for vehicles accessing the city centre
 ban all vehicles from the city centre during busy hours

17. Which is the best way of producing healthy food in a cost-effective way?
Healthy lifestyle problems/ solutions: affordable healthy food
 genetically engineered food
 new technological methods and new pesticides
 traditional, old-fashioned methods with no pesticides
18. What are the most effective methods for weight loss?
Healthy lifestyle problems/ solutions (obesity) + advice
 sensible eating
 slimming pills
 regular exercise
19. What methods can encourage healthier eating in schoolchildren?
Healthy lifestyle problems/ solutions (food in schools) + education + children
 subsidy of healthy foods in school canteens
 school educational programmes
 ban on unhealthy foods in school canteens

20. How could the government increase the minimum wage?


Government policies: minimal wage
 enforce laws making companies pay living wages
 let the market decide if increasing the minimum wage is affordable
 reduce taxes on companies that give lowest-earning employees raises
21. Which charities should receive governmental funds?
Government policies: charities
 sports and recreation
 health
 human rights
22. What can governments do to encourage people to exercise more?
Government policies: encouraging movement
 more sports facilities
 education
 media campaigns
23. What methods can governments use to encourage an interest in science?
Government policies: encouraging science
 tv programmes
 improved teaching facilities
 career opportunities
24. How should authorities protect children against too much screen use?
Government policies: children + media
 encouraging parents to take action
 publicising the problems
 persuading users to limit their own use
25. Which methods can governments use to save on local library services?
Government policies: public libraries (cuts)
 reduced hours
 library closures
 voluntary assistants

26. On which days should shops be open in the EU?


Everyday life: shop timetables
 7 days a week plus holidays
 closed on Sundays and all public holidays
 shop owner's choice
27. What are the foremost advantages of working from home?
Everyday life: work from home
 no travelling
 flexibility
 comfort
28. How can people turn their hobbies into careers?
Everyday life: hobbies + careers
 find a very creative hobby
 figure out how to market their hobby
 advertise themselves and what they do

29. What are the best methods for minimising the use of fossil fuels?
Environment problems/ solutions (fossil fuels)
 recycling
 increasing taxes on petrol
 increasing the use of nuclear energy
30. What initiatives can the public take to protect the environment?
Environment problems/ solutions (pollution)
 consuming less electricity
 using greener means of transport
 recycling
31. Which methods should be used to reduce plastic pollution?
Environment problems/ solutions (plastic pollution)
 ban plastic bags
 use biodegradable plastic bags
 charge customers for bags

32. Which forms of renewable energy are most suitable for a tourist island?
Tourism: renewable energy
 wind turbines
 solar panels
 nuclear power

33. What are the main aspects of reality and talent tv shows?
Society: TV, entertainment
 entertainment for viewers
 influence on young people
 effect on participants
34. What are the reasons why young people commit crimes?
Society: Crime + young people
 lack of control by parents
 influence of friends
 absence of opportunities in life
35. What are the advantages of digital technology in everyday life?
Society: Technology + everyday life
 communication
 access to information
 shopping and services
36. Why it is difficult to know the truth about historical events?
Society: History + popular culture/ politics
 evidence
 popular culture
 politics

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