Courses

Cambridge CAE Intensive

Section 1: Overview

Is this course for me?

  • This course is for students who need to improve the key language skills needed to score as high as possible in all parts of the Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE) exam.

Key Facts

Available in

  • London
  • Oxford
  • Los Angeles

Start dates:

  • Refer to table below

Entry level:

  • Upper Intermediate (Kings Level 6)

Age:

  • 16+

Duration:

  • 4, 10 or 12 weeks (depending on start dates and location)

Class size:

  • Maximum 14

Lessons per week:

  • 28 lessons (21 hours) total

Included in the price:

  • 28 lessons per week (21 hours)
  • Welcome Information Pack
  • Access to multi-format course materials
  • Placement test on arrival, weekly assignments, group participation and progress tests
  • Use of Computer Learning Centre
  • Free Wi-fi at school
  • Full access to Kings social programme, with at least two free activities per week
  • Full access to join Kings' school clubs and societies
  • Optional weekly lecture programme
  • End-of-course certificate (90% or higher attendance required)

Please note exam fees are not included.

The schools will help students book and pay the local exam centres.

Prices change by location but for 2023 they range between £180 and £213.

"I knew that studying English at a high level like Cambridge would give me the opportunity to improve my skills considerably and at the same time help me to communicate with English speakers. What I enjoy most about my lessons is the fact that I learn new things everyday."

Section 2: Course structure and content

London

  • 28 lessons (21 hours) per week of Cambridge CAE exam preparation

Oxford and Los Angeles

  • 20 lessons (15 hours) per week of General English
  • 8 lessons (6 hours) per week Cambridge CAE exam preparation

Key features:

  • The Cambridge English: Advanced preparation course is taught by specialist and experienced teachers.
  • The course syllabus has been specially designed to maximise students' exam success and covers all papers of the exam.
  • Students will be given regular homework and will be expected to complete at least five hours of assignments each week.

Key areas covered include:

Communication skills

  • Conversational language skills
  • Listening and accents
  • Reading and interpretation
  • Writing and presenting

Linguistic resources

  • Building your vocabulary bank
  • Fine tuning your pronunciation
  • Interpretation of texts
  • Grammar and syntax

Study skills

  • Note taking and revision
  • Research skills
  • Time management and planning
  • Dictionary work
  • Learner autonomy

Cultural and personal development

  • Understanding cultural difference and similarity
  • Team work and leadership
  • Presenting an argument
  • Discussion skills

Exam technique and strategies

  • Working under exam conditions
  • Understanding the requirements of each section of the exam
  • Understanding what the examiner is looking for
  • Planning and reviewing your answers
  • Preparing mentally for exam day

Assessing progress

  • Students will be given homework tasks to complete every day, including writing practice.
  • In addition to homework tasks, students' progress will also be monitored in class and they will complete a short test at the start of each week.
  • Students are given a number of opportunities to complete mock examinations under simulated exam conditions. The results of these mock exams will be used to help them improve in specific areas.

Section 3: About the Cambridge: C1 Advanced (CAE) exam

  • The Cambridge English: Advanced exam is the main English language qualification offered by Cambridge English to those who want English for acceptance at an English-speaking university, or for a career.
  • It is targeted at Level C1 of the CEFR and is offered at more than 2,800 exam centres around the world.
  • Candidates are tested in all four skills and in use of English, and receive a separate score for each, as well as an overall score. A final grade and CEFR level are then assigned.

Course start dates

2024 start dates
8 January
10 weeks London
11 March
12 weeks London, Oxford, Los Angeles
6 May
4 weeks London
1 July
4 weeks London
29 July
4 weeks London - Exam on
16 September
12 weeks Los Angeles
23 September
12 weeks London and Oxford
18 November
4 weeks London
2025 start dates
6 January
10 weeks London
10 March
12 weeks London and Oxford
6 May
4 weeks London
30 June
4 weeks London
28 July
4 weeks London
22 September
12 weeks London and Oxford
17 November
4 weeks London

Sample timetable

Please note:

  • Sample timetable is subject to change
  • Placement test, induction, locality walk and ice breaker activities, which take place on the students' first day at Kings, are an essential part of the teaching programme, included in the weekly hours of lessons.

20 lessons General English + 8 lessons CAE Preparation per week: taught in Oxford, Los Angeles

Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri

09:00 – 10:30
(Lessons 1 & 2)

General English

Progress test
including listening and writing

Individual and group feedback on test

Grammar
Using 'will' and 'shall' in polite requests

Pronunciation
Open and closed questions (intonation)

Professional skills
Interviews.

Vocabulary
Common idioms and phrasal verbs used to describe behaviour

Reading, listening and writing
Giving tips on how to behave in different situations

Listening
Understanding how technology works

Functional language
Giving instructions

Task-based learning (leadership and team work)
Building a bridge

Grammar review
'Will', 'shall' and relative clauses

Video
Ted Talk: How to lead a conversation between people who disagree

Discussion
Beyond right and wrong?

10:30 – 11:00 Break Break Break Break Break

11:00 – 12:30
(Lessons 3 & 4)

General English

Vocabulary
Social behavior: Talking about norms and customs

Discussion
Understanding cultural differences

Video
Phone addiction.

Role-play
Asking for and offering help

Study skills
Making effective notes

Real English
People in the newspapers today

Grammar
Defining relative clauses

Vocabulary
Adjectives of character

Writing
An email describing a new invention.

Presentations
A future without cars.

Vocabulary
Diplomatic language

Professional skills
Giving and receiving feedback

Discussion
Beyond right and wrong?

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

13:30 – 15:00
(Lessons 3 & 4)

Cambridge Advanced Skill: Special Interest Group

Speaking
Expressions, to agree and disagree

Exam practice
Speaking parts 1 and 3

Reading
Understanding meaning from context and underlining key words

Listening
Avoiding distractors; synonyms

Speaking
Comparing and contrasting photographs; speaking about yourself and expressing preferences

Free time

28 lessons CAE Preparation per week: taught in London

Mon

Tues

Weds

Thurs

Fri

09:00 – 10:30
(Lessons 1 & 2)

Cambridge Advanced Exam (CAE) Preparation

Grammar
Review of tenses


Speaking
Expressing likes and dislikes; preferences

Reading
Cross-text multiple matching - Office Politics

Listening
Multiple choice - family relationships

Vocabulary
Phrasal verbs - relationships and work

Vocabulary
Money

Speaking
Discussing ambitions and the importance of money

Listening
Sentence completion - Advice on Money

Grammar
Modal verbs of deduction; relative causes

Speaking
Comparing photographs, using modals of deduction

Writing
Formal and informal style

Grammar
Review of conditionals

10:30 – 11:00

Break

Break

Break

Break

Break

11:00 – 12:30
(Lessons 3 & 4)

Cambridge Advanced Exam (CAE) Preparation

Vocabulary
Health and sport

Speaking
Discussing health and sport

Writing
Writing and proposal

Grammar
Review of the passive forms and the causative

Speaking
Events in the news

Grammar
References and ellipsis

Exam practice
Use of English - sentence transformations

Grammar
Conjunctions and linking adverbals

Exam practics
Use of English - Open Cloze Text

Writing
Writing a report

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

13:30 – 15:00
(Lessons 3 & 4)

Cambridge Advanced Skills: Special Interest Group (SIG)

Speaking
Expressions, to agree and disagree

Exam practice
Speaking parts 1 and 3

Reading
Understanding meaning from context and underlining key words

Listening
Avoiding distractors; synonyms

Speaking
Comparing and contrasting photographs; speaking about yourself and expressing preferences

Free time

Contact and Apply

Hi,

If you are ready to apply / book or need more information please contact me:

Mayumi Weed
Kings

Or send me a message: