Writing — Essay (Part 1) 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.

• !Listing arguments without evaluating their relative strength or implications
• !Not distinguishing clearly between the two viewpoints in the provided notes
• !Using informal language (phrasal verbs, contractions, colloquialisms) in an academic essay

Study tips

• 1Learn 15 advanced essay phrases: "It is widely acknowledged that...", "One could contend that...", "The evidence strongly suggests...", "A compelling counterargument would be...".
• 2Use the 5-paragraph essay structure: introduction (hook + thesis) → argument 1 → argument 2 → evaluation/your view → conclusion.
• 3Check register: every sentence should be formal — no contractions, no phrasal verbs, no informal discourse markers.

Sample CAE Writing — Essay (Part 1) 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

   A CAE essay prompt asks you to discuss whether technology improves or harms work-life balance. The strongest C1-level thesis statement is:

   • A"Technology is good and bad for work-life balance."
   • B"I think technology mostly harms work-life balance."
   • C"While technology undeniably enhances productivity, its pervasive presence in personal time raises legitimate concerns about the erosion of genuine rest."Correct
   • D"Nowadays, technology is everywhere and affects how we work."
   Why this answer?

   Option C demonstrates C1-level academic writing: formal vocabulary (undeniably, pervasive, erosion), a nuanced position (acknowledges both sides), and a complete argument in one sentence. Options A and D are too vague; Option B is too informal and one-sided for C1 academic essay style.