English C1 level exam

Sample exam

The scope and form of the English as a foreign language exam at the C1 level (advanced), according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

A.1 The scope of the English C1 level exam

At the C1 level, the following language skills will be tested:

A.1.1 Understanding spoken text:

  • understanding the main idea
  • understanding detailed information
  • understanding implicit information / guessing the meaning from context

Text types and themes: longer monologues and dialogues (a popular academic lecture, a scientific debate, a professional discussion), current events, social, political and scientific issues

A.1.2 Understanding written text:

  • understanding the main idea
  • understanding opinions and arguments
  • understanding implicit information
  • interpreting the text
  • noticing connections within the text

Text types and themes: press articles, scientific and literary texts, social, cultural, scientific and literary issues

A.1.3 Knowledge of grammar:

  • knowledge of grammar allowing for a fully effective and accccurate communication
  • being able to spot grammatical mistakes
  • being able to apply grammatical rules

A.1.4 Writing:

  • creating text that are linguistically accurate, stylistically appropriate, and coherent
  • understanding formal requirements of the texts (layout and composition)

Text types: report, article, essay, composition, review

A.2 The form of the written C1 English level exam

A.2.1 Listening (understanding through listening / understanding spoken text)

  • One authentic text: a lecture

Test format: 10 multiple choice questions with 3 options (a, b, c,)

A.2.2 Reading (understanding written text))

  • One real-life text: academic article

Test format: 10 multiple choice questions with 3 options (a, b, c,)

A.2.3 Knowledge of language structures

Test format:

  • multiple choice test questions within the text – recognizing lexical structures and elements (idiomatic phrases) – 4 options (a, b, c, d)
  • open fill-in-the-gap questions within the text – producing structures and lexical elements
  • multiple choice test questions within the text – recognizing linguistic mistakes – 4 options (a, b, c, d)

The scope of grammatical material covered: according to the C1 English level curriculum

A.2.4 Writing

Test format: writing a text – a review, a short essay, or a composition