Strategies for Tackling the CAE Use of English Paper

10.10.2025

6 minutes

Cambridge English
Tips & Strategies
Methodology

Let’s get one thing straight: the Use of English paper in the Cambridge Advanced Exam (CAE) is the linguistic equivalent of a ninja obstacle course. You’ll need agility, precision, and a touch of madness to master it - but master it you shall.

I’m not just another ESL teacher waving a grammar book from the sidelines. I’ve sat the exam. I’ve faced the dragon. I’ve circled the wrong answer out of pure panic. And I’ve lived to coach others through it, with scars and honor badges (and way too many flashcards).

If you’ve got your sights set on C1 glory, the Use of English paper is not just a hurdle - it’s a gatekeeper. But I promise you, with the right mindset and strategy, it’s also incredibly conquerable. So, grab a metaphorical cup of strong coffee and let’s unpack this beast.

What Exactly Is the Use of English Paper?

For those of you who haven't met it yet, the Use of English part is one half of Paper 1 in CAE (the other half being Reading). It consists of four parts, and each one tests a slightly different kind of linguistic magic:

Multiple-choice (Part 1) – Choose the correct word to fill the gap.
Open close (Part 2) – Fill in the blank with any word that fits contextually and grammatically.
Word formation (Part 3) – Take a base word and transform it like a grammar god.
Key word transformations (Part 4) – Rewrite a sentence using a given keyword while keeping the same meaning.

It might seem like a walk in the park - and maybe you’re not entirely wrong. But beneath the surface lie plenty of sneaky challenges that can trip you up on your way to success. Luckily, I’ve navigated this maze myself, and I’m here to guide you through it!

General Mindset Tips Before We Get Nerdy

Before we even touch exam strategies, we need to address attitude. Because the truth is, if you approach the Use of English paper with either with pure fear or overconfidence you’re setting yourself up for a very British disappointment.

Here’s your mantra:

It’s not about how many words I know. It’s about how smart I am with the words I know.

What I am trying to say is strategy matters more than vocabulary size, though that helps, too.

PART 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE CLOZE – AKA "The Synonym Hunger Games"

What it tests: Collocations, phrasal verbs, idioms, shades of meaning.

Let’s look at an example (classic CAE-style):

She was deeply ______ by the news that she had not been accepted for the scholarship.

You’d think, “They all make sense, right?” And that’s the trap. Only one fits in terms of typical usage and tone.

The correct answer? Disappointed.

My Strategy:

Know your collocations. “Deeply disappointed” is a fixed expression. No one says “deeply concerned” with the same emotional punch.
Phrasal verb alert. The CAE loves to throw in sneaky phrasal verbs. Think: “put off,” “come up with,” “look forward to.” Get comfy with these.
Elimination is your best friend. Even if you don’t know the right answer, you often know the wrong ones. Cross them out brutally and move on.

PART 2: OPEN CLOZE – AKA "The Invisible Grammar Trap"

What it tests: Grammar structures, linking words, articles, modal verbs, prepositions.

If Part 1 is vocabulary’s playground, this is grammar’s dark alley. Sample:

I was so tired that I fell asleep as soon as I got ______ home.

Correct answer: back

Easy? Maybe. But CAE won’t always go easy on you.

My Strategy:

Think structurally. Every blank is usually connected to a grammar point. Ask yourself: “What kind of word fits here — article? pronoun? preposition?”
Don’t overthink. If you feel like you’re writing an academic thesis to justify your answer, it’s probably wrong. The more you think - the more time you loose and you might not have this luxury.
Know your fixed expressions. “As soon as,” “in spite of,” “at all,” “by the time”, etc. The more you see them, the easier they are to fill in.

Practice tip:

Rewrite short paragraphs with the linking words removed and try to reconstruct them. Yes, you’ll cry a bit. But in a productive way.

PART 3: WORD FORMATION – AKA "Make That Word Work"

What it tests: Your ability to take a root word and turn it into the grammatically correct form.

Example:

His ______ to help was appreciated by everyone. (WILL)

Correct: willingness

My Strategy:

Think like a word surgeon. Prefix? Suffix? Negative form? Adjective or noun? Your job is to diagnose the word’s needs and operate accordingly. Also there should be at least ONE negation in this task. You are welcome!
Don’t guess wildly. Not every word formation is obvious. For example, “decide” becomes “decision,” not “decidement.” Yes, I’ve seen that. Yes, I cried.
Practice families. Create word family trees like: “Appear → appearance → apparent → apparently → disappearance…”

Practice tip:

Make it a game. Use Instagram reels, TikToks, or sticky notes on your mirror. Turn your bathroom into a word formation shrine.

PART 4: KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS – AKA "The Grammar Olympiad"

What it tests: Paraphrasing, advanced grammar, passive voice, modals, conditionals, cleft sentences…basically everything ever.

This one is brutal. But beautiful and I should say - my favorite. Example:

I regret not studying harder for the exam.

WISH

I ______ harder for the exam.

Correct: wish I had studied

My Strategy:

Spot the grammar point. In the example, “regret” hints at past unreal — cue “wish I had…”
Keep the same meaning. The biggest mistake is producing grammatically correct answers that change the meaning.
Use all the words. Yes, even “if,” “to,” “have,” or “been” if they’re needed to make it accurate. If you miss at least one word - you miss a point.

Practice tip:

Do transformation drills daily — but speak them aloud. It helps lock in the structure and makes it feel more natural.

Bonus Pro Tips from a Battle-Tested Teacher

Create a CAE Error Log. Every time you make a mistake, write down why. Then review it weekly. Painful? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
Time yourself. You’ll only have about 45 minutes for the whole Use of English paper. Get fast, but never frantic.
Don’t memorize—internalize. Repetition is good. Context is better. Learn words in phrases (e.g., “take responsibility for,” not just “responsibility”).
Use mock tests wisely. Doing 20 tests back-to-back doesn’t help unless you analyze your errors and understand why something was wrong.

Final Pep Talk

Look, no one dreams of spending their Saturday morning decoding sentence transformations or untangling awkward close tests. But you’re doing this because you’re reaching for something bigger - international studies, better job opportunities, travel, or just proving to yourself you can.

The Use of English paper is a challenge, yes — but it’s also a playground for those who love the quirks, precision, and chaos of the English language. And if you’ve read this far? You’re already way ahead of the curve.

So, grammar warriors, sharpen your pencils, dust off your phrasal verbs, and march into that exam with confidence.

I’ll see you on the other side.

Written by a CAE-certified ESL teacher who once thought "conjunction" was just a weird medical term, but now lives for the thrill of key word transformations.