Vocabulary at C1 Level for the CAE Exam

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

• !Relying on high-frequency B2 vocabulary when C1 alternatives exist: think → contemplate/infer; make worse → exacerbate
• !Using informal vocabulary in formal writing: a lot → a considerable number; get worse → deteriorate
• !Not knowing the difference between near-synonyms: ensure/assure/guarantee; raise/rise/arise

Study tips

• 1Learn the Academic Word List (AWL) top 570 words — they cover the core C1 academic vocabulary for reading and writing.
• 2For each new C1 word, learn: meaning, register (formal/informal), part of speech, and one natural collocation.
• 3Read The Economist editorials weekly — they consistently use C1 vocabulary in context across global topics.

Sample CAE Vocabulary at C1 Level questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real CAE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1. 1

   Choose the C1-level synonym for "the problem got worse over time":

   • AThe problem became more bad over time
   • BThe problem deteriorated progressivelyCorrect
   • CThe problem went worser and worser
   • DThe problem was getting more worse
   Why this answer?

   "Deteriorated progressively" is the C1 formulation: "deteriorate" (formal verb for worsening) + "progressively" (adverb indicating gradual change over time). The other options contain grammatical errors or non-standard expressions.