The C1 Advanced English examination, formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), is one of the most demanding English exams you can take. Our friendly, experienced staff at ELC Chester are ready to help you achieve your English language goals and pass the C1 Advanced exam.
A Cambridge C1 Advanced English qualification proves you have the English language skills that employers and universities require to work or study in English at a very high level of ability. C1 Advanced (previously called the CAE or Cambridge Advanced) is a challenging exam and requires thorough preparation and determination to pass.
C1 is a language level taken from the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and is the second-highest level on the scale. A C1 Advanced English Exam Preparation course will provide you with practical, comprehensive lessons and advice to ensure you are in the best possible position to take this testing examination.
The Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Examination course at ELC Chester helps improve your overall language ability as well as developing the skills necessary to pass the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam. The course provides complete and careful preparation for all aspects of the examination.
* Minimum age: please see more information regarding levels of care and supervision for 16 and 17 year olds in international classes. We occasionally accept 15 year olds in international classes provided they are part of a group with a group leader.
The C1 Advanced Exam Preparation course includes:
30 lessons (22.5 hours) per week
Our short 4-week full intensive courses in summer lead to exams in July and August. You study for the C1 Advanced exam all day in dedicated classes
You may choose from:
| Dates | Duration | Intensity | Exam on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Jul – 31 Jul | 4 weeks | 30 lessons per week | 31 July |
If you are planning to study for 24 weeks or more, the Cambridge Examination Courses can be taken as part of our Study Year Programme..
If you need to pass this exam for work, or for entry into an English speaking school, college or university, then a preparation course specifically for the Cambridge Advanced exam is a good idea. The course will still help you enormously with your General English, and by preparing for the Advanced exam you’ll also be improving your everyday vocabulary, grammar and all the main language skills.
The Cambridge Advanced is actually a really good, well-rounded test of your English, and another good reason to prepare and pass the exam is for the external confirmation of an excellent level of English.
If you’re aged 16 years or over, and possess a CEFR level of B2 to CEFR C1+ then this might be the ideal course for you.
The C1 Advanced exams are held either in Manchester (1 hour from Chester) or Liverpool (45 minutes from Chester). Please contact us for further details.
If you have different questions, please let us know!
Our Exam preparation courses are arranged so that you can study leading up to an official exam date. Courses normally start on set dates for 4, 10 or 12 weeks. If you do not have the time to do a full 10- or 12-week course, the minimum stay is normally 4 weeks. If you are planning to study for longer it is also possible to combine different courses General English and Exam preparation. Please ask for more details.
We book the exam with the test centre about 5 or 6 weeks before the exam date so if you take the 4-week course, your should register for the exam before you start the course. If you are taking the 10 or 12-week courses you will have plenty of time to see how you are getting on and what is best.
Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport are the closest to Chester, at 45 and 35 minutes’ drive respectively. We can organise an airport transfer for you from these airports to your accommodation in Chester. Or alternatively you can use public transport. Some students also choose to travel to Heathrow Airport in London. This is only recommended for experienced travellers as you will then have to take the Underground to central London and then a direct train to Chester (CTR).
We can organise a taxi for you and the price is £105 each way from Manchester or Liverpool airports. The meet and greet service for juniors is £115 each way. (2026 prices).
You can stay up to 6 months and study without applying for a visa. You will need a valid passport and you can use e-gates on arrival at a UK airport. If you wish to study English with us for between 6 and 11 months, you should apply for a short-term study visa. You will also need to pay a health surcharge.
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Our language learning levels relate closely to how the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) define them, but with a difference which we have found to help our students at Elementary level.
| ELC level | Equivalent CEFR levels | |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | ||
| A1 | ||
| Upper A1 | Lower A2 | |
| A2 | ||
| B1 | ||
| B2 | ||
| C1 | ||
| C2 | ||
We offer an English level test which anyone can take. It involves 50 questions and, depending on your level, will probably take you from 10 to 20 minutes. At the end of it, we will tell you your probable level.
But when you book, we will ask you to take a more detailed and accurate test, to make sure that you start in the class which is best for you.
Please get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss your current level, or find out if this is the best course for you. We’ll also be able to advise you on how long you might need to study to get the grade you need. We’re here to help!