C2 LEVEL WRITING TIPS BY CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH

CPE COMPUTER- BASED TEST

Computer-based exam

You will need to use the Firefox browser to access these sample tests. You can download Firefox for free here. Once downloaded, open Firefox and use the links below to view the tests.

Watch this tutorial before you start to help you understand what you need to do.

Check your answers, using the keys below, as you do the test – once the test has finished you will not be able to check them.

Reading and Use of English sample test

Listening sample test

Writing sample test

Use the answer keys below:

Reading and Use of English answer key

Listening answer key

There is no answer key for the Writing Paper, but there are sample answers and examiner comments in the relevant pages of the C2 Proficiency Handbook.

Interesting links

Education diagram:

http://markaki-literature.blogspot.gr/2015/02/education-vocabulary.html

CPE sample activities and written texts:

http://markaki-literature.blogspot.gr/search/label/CPE

CPE exam format and sample papers:

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/exam-format/

CPE book review

The Alchemist

Written by Paulo Coehlo only 26 years ago, it has been translated into more than 60 languages and read by tenths of millions around the world till now. There is such a widespread acceptance of the book (to sound more natural: the book is so widely accepted/ acknowledged/ renowned) that it is considered by many as a "classic" novel of the modern literature.

"The Alchemist" recounts the story of a poor but skilled shepherd named Santiago and it starts , the story starting to unfold in the Andalusian fields of south Spain. Although Santiago originally plans to live as a shepherd, (comma) two unexpected events make his life take an unexpected turn. After a dream of finding a great treasure near the Egyptian pyramids and a meeting with an old and strange king, Santiago sets out for a long journey in pursuit of his dream.

The book in not renowned for its glossy language nor for its complicated plot. Though the book moves at a relaxed pace , it is extremely absorbing without being dull or loose. Coehlo has a remarkable gift of story-telling that challenges your imagination using a series of unexpected turns in the flow of story line and making great use of symbolism in most of the events and hero's decisions. The reader will invariably find himself many times contemplating about his own life, dreams and choices (unnecessary: that he makes from time to time). And that is what lifts the book above others of its type. Moreover, there is a number of thought provoking scenes where the readers will stop reading and start wondering if the hero made the best decision and whether (unclear:he) the readers/ they would make the same decision under the same circumstances.

So, if you are the kind of reader that you like slow, relaxing and thought provoking reading with not much background information, (comma) this is the book for you. The end of the story (no comma) carries to the reader an air of lytrosis brings about a catharsis that will satisfy even the hardest heart. 

Comments: Great ideas and vocabulary once again, with a few more mistakes than usual. 3/5 :)

------------------------------------------------------------

To Kill A Mockingbird

One of the most classic novels that have been written in the last century, shelved/ selected 23 times as one of the 100-books-to-read-before-you-die (or better: ‘100 Books To Read Before You Die’). Written by Harper Lee and published in 1960, (comma) this book has been loved by millions of readers and has been widely used in education. 

The story of the book takes place in a small town of the state of Alabama U.S and the central characters of the story are two children, Scout and Jem who live with their father, Atticus. Atticus is an honest lawyer who tries to be just, which is not easy since he sometimes has to deal with the prejudice and hatred of some of his fellow citizens. His children, with their innocence and lack of experience, tend to categorize people as good and bad and they feel surprised or confused when some people do not react according to this categorization. Through many real life encounters and the guidance of their father, (comma) the children gradually understand that before you judge someone you have to put yourself in his shoes and walk a mile. 

The story deals a lot with issues concerned with human morality like racism, prejudice, hatred and justice. The language is simple and though the book moves at a relaxing pace, it is extremely absorbing without being dull or loose. On the contrary, there are some extremely thought-provoking  scenes throughout the book. The writing style of Harper Lee is far from ordinary due to the fact that a child, Scout, is both the protagonist and the narrator of the story. However, that comes naturally since the story examines the perception and reaction of children to human behaviour and attitude. 

The intertemporal nature of the main theme and the easy-to-follow story-line which is presented from the point of view of a child explain much of the book's enduring popularity. As far as I know, the book remains a staple of high school and college reading lists and, in my opinion, the time spent to read this book is time well invested for sure.

Comments: The only thing that can be said is… wow! 4.5/5 

CPE Writing, Part 1: Outdoor and electronic advertising

It cannot be denied that outdoor advertising has played an important role in the development of the economy since it is strongly (inter)related with the promotion of products and goods. However, not all people share common thoughts about its importance or are equally excited about (OR: approve of) the means being used.

During the last decade, outdoor advertising has been evolved from the well known static signs and
posters to the new digital screens that can display any kind of 'live' commercials. The use of technology has reduced the required costs and made advertising affordable to almost any company. Moreover, the employment of smarter, more amusing and more informative commercials has been made possible, while at the same time the old poster-like (billboards/ motorway hoardings) advertisements are still being supported.

Despite the excitement of the new possibilities opened in advertising through the use of digital media, there are many who find them at least annoying. They speak about visual pollution and the lack of protection of those target groups who cannot easily filter the information of a digital commercial, like children and elderly people. It is true (no comma here) that this new media has an increased capability of drawing the attention of people passing by and this can be even dangerous when/ as far as drivers are concerned. 'Distracted driving' has been identified as one of the most common reasons for car accidents and the contribution of digital advertising to this is indisputable.

In conclusion, it can be claimed that this new digital way of outdoor advertising is a debatable issue. The advances of technology is something that cannot be ignored or denied, (comma) but their use should not be made without taking into consideration their effects and people's social needs and rights.

Comments: Great writing once again, Alex! Apart from some minor spelling mistakes, the conclusions you drew based on the two texts and the way you summed them up were absolutely spot-on! I'd award you with at least 4/5! :-) 

CPE Film Review by Alex

"Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is finally on the big screens. This is the first part of a trilogy based on the famous novel by the scholar J.R. Tolkien and directed by Peter Jackson.

 

The film recounts a story set on an imaginary world called Middle Earth where, besides humans, live elves, wizards, dwarves, dragons and a great deal of other strange, magical or creepy beings live. The whole trilogy is about a fellowship that tries to hide and destroy a powerful ring forged centuries ago by a dark lord named Shauron. Although (no comma here) there are many key characters in this movie, the leading role belongs to the ring bearer of the fellowship; a hobbit named Frodo. Frodo, as well as other key characters who they meet in their journey, are tempted and corrupted to an extent by the power of the ring and the cruelty and malice of Shauron that accompanies this power.

 

Though a science fiction film, the main themes of the story include friendship, courage, self-sacrifice, humility and love. The strength of the movie can be found in the way that these themes are combined with special effects and a group of cliffhangers, most of them breathtaking to the point of being slightly scary. Apart from that, the whole movie is a masterpiece, from the excellent actors' performance to the enchanting Celtic-like film score.

 

The most difficult bet for Peter Jackson was the adaptation of a very long novel in only 3 movies. There are far more characters and scenes in the book than you can see in the movie and a vast amount of background information that relates to the ring and the fellowship. Although/ Even though (do not repeat the same linking words) the movie version does not stray at all from the story line of the book, Jackson has won this bet by carefully selecting the parts that should be cut and cleverly using a number of flashbacks throughout the movie. Having some very positive feedback from both readers and of the book and first timers/ viewers, I think we should expect nothing less than a blockbuster.

CPE Letter by Alex

Dear Sir/Madam, (leave gaps/ empty lines between paragraphs to facilitate the reader's eye)

I was very interested in your article about friendship that you have published in a recent issue of your magazine. In response to your inquiry for readers' opinions and views,  I would like to contribute to this subject. 

As we all know,  friendship plays an important role in everybody's life - both private and public - in many ways. But the definition of this word can greatly vary from case to case. Real friendship does not happen just by clicking the "Add to Friends" button in Facebook.  Real friendship is a long and complicated procedure that lasts for years and has to be reevaluated from time to time. Of course, before someone can speak about such a relationship he has to have experienced it. 

For example, I have such a close friend named Costas. We have known each other from school. Although we had quite different personalities, we shared a common sense of humor, many common (do not repeat words/ better omit them) interests and we lived in the same neighbourhood. But that was just back then. Since then we have shared many moments, either funny or sad. For the last ten years we have lived over a thousand miles apart and we see each other only once a year. We don't even talk more often that once in 2 months. But every time we see each other it's like we haven't met just for a few days.

The truth is that's is not easy to have a time-tested friendship. Many things may happen that can affect the relationship with a good friend. Many friendships have fallen apart due to a minor misunderstanding or a girl that got between two friends. Moreover, one of the two sides may happen to move to another town and, (comma) as it well known, it is easier to forget about someone that you don't see regularly. 

Another important factor that can influence a relationship between two friends is a change in the social status. This change can make someone change habits, the way that he thinks, the people that he is surrounded with and many other things (instead of saying he, use they that includes both sexes or generalize by using people/ individuals/ etc). Inevitably, what comes as a result is the reconsideration of some friendships in order to keep the ones that are most suited to your new status and social environment. 

In conclusion,  I can say that from my point of view a strong friendship is something that should not be undervalued. The odds are most of the times stacked against such a friendship and that's what makes it both rare and precious. it's like an investment with a long-term profit.

Yours (no comma) faithfully,

Alexandros Gougousis

CPE Formal Letter by Alex

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have recently read your survey on young people's television viewing haBits and I was glad THAT such a social issue is given the proper attention by your programme. I am writing in response to your request for people's opinion on the subject.

Viewing habbits can be attributed to many factors but not all of them WEIGH equal. As strange as it may sound, i think that the main cause of this habbit is related TO the modern way of life in big cities. For example, leaving in a big city restricts the variety of activities available to young people. Walking around in a big city is not as safe as in a small town or a village. Therefore, most parents tend to keep their children inside the house for MOST hours of the day. Moreover, most activities include a significant cost for participation that some families cannot afford. 

It is extremely alarming that most of the parents are not concerned with this problem or they don't even recognize this habbit as a problem. Spending hours and hours in front of a screen makeS children develop an anti-social behaviour. What is more, they don't exercise their imagination (like when reading a book) or their critical thought/ THINKING SKILLS  (like when playing, discussing and socializing in general). Last but not least, this behaviour can cause health problems. Their eyes, back and wrists are the USUAL victims, not to mention that many children that spend so many hours sitting on a chair or lounging on a sofa tend to be A little or more overwEight.

There are many steps than can be taken in the direction of addressing such a social phenomenon. Parents should play the main role. First of all, they can control the number of hours and the parts of the day that children have access to the TV or to the computer. Secondly, they provide (NO TO) their children WITH the appropriate stimulations for alternative hobbies and activities. Another important factor in young people's behaviour is school influence. Well educated teachers can sometimes affect strongly the way that their pupils think. 

All in all, what i can say for sure is that the viewing habbits of young people are, at least partly, caused by a significant lack of guidance in their life. Parents, school and maybe even the government should be motivated and take actions before it's too late. Young people should realize that real life is out there and waiting for them.

Yours faithfully,

Alexandros Gougousis

Personal questions answered by an amazing CPE candidate!

My Home Town

(When it is a personal pronoun, I is always capital)

Tell us a few things about Chania

It's the second biggest city of Crete located at the eastern part of the island.  The population of the city itself (not the municipality), according to the 2011 census, is around 55.000. It's a coastal town with a beautiful old port at the north and a street layout of grid type which facilitates pedestrian orientation. Winter here is mild and rainy. From May to October, it hardly ever rains but it is not so hot as in big cities because Chania is next to the sea and there are strict regulations about the buildings’ height.

What is the most interesting place for visitors to see there?

If someone had to choose only one place or area to visit in Chania that should be the old town located at the north part of the city. Exploring the narrow winding pedestrian streets of the old town, that are more like alleys,  it's the best way to invest your time during a short visit in the city. In these streets you can discover shops, restaurants, and churches that date back hundreds of years. The architecture resembles the one of a venetian town's, which is no surprise since it was established by the Venetians. At its north side the old town ends on the old harbour, where a significant part of the city's social life takes place. That's why you can find many locals strolling in the old town before they end up to the old harbour for a coffee, a drink, lunch or supper.

Do many tourists visit your area?

Chania is one of the most popular destinations for people that come in Greece for vacations. Tenths or hundreds of thousands of people visit the city every year. In July and August the city center is awfully crowded. The beauty of the old town, the venetian harbour, the amazing beaches, the mountains, the hospitality of the locals, especially in the rural areas, the traditional hamlets, the impressive cretan dances, the history of the island,.. It's a long list! West of the city, there is a huge area with touristic residential infrastructure; from studios to big hotels and resorts. Some years ago, a travel agent told me that only the visitors of the prefecture of Chania were more that the visitors of the island of Rhodes itself. It's hard to believe, but it's true.

Do you consider tourism as a bless to your area?

In some ways. It has brought wealth to my area but sometimes, I wish that our island was not so popular. You know, excessive and uncontrolled tourism has caused many problems. Environmental damages like pollution and increased vulnerability to forest fires. Inflation. A few people, like the owners of the hospitals or the shops, make high profits but the rest of us have to deal with increased prices for goods and services. Even the local culture is being affected. One common example of this is the production of souvenirs. The local people realize that money can be made by selling crafts to visitors and after a while, crafts which once had a spiritual or cultural significance, are just goods.  Some designs may also change to meet the visitors’ expectations. Now and then i think of my childhood in Chania when far less tourists were visiting the island and realize that life was not so bad. Many beautiful things of everyday life and culture  have been sacrificed on the altar of economic profit-seeking and that cannot be good.

My neighbourhood

A few things about your neighbourhood

sparsely populated area

at the edge of the city

isolated from the city's social life

nice and quite

underpriviledged suburban area

illegally built

approved architectural drawings

building code regulation , seismic safety

streets without pavements

friendly people

more interested in talking to you and maybe quite curious who is the one that lives at next door

less snobbish and more down to earth

you can see them gather at night in the balconies or front yards, when the weather allows it, and you can hear them laugh, sing, argue

What is your neighbourhood housing like?

I think that the housing of my neighbourhood is that of a typical underpriviledged suburban area. There is nothing special about the architecture and most of the buildings are detached houses or blocks of flats with 2 or 3 floors. After all, it not a rich neighbourhood. It's not that they are ugly. They are just plain buildings. Come to think of it, at least half of them have been built in order to be rent out by students of the nearby university. Moreover, most of them are illegal constructions that have been designed on a low budget and have been built in a short time frame.

What opportunities are there for doing sports in your area?

I am not very well informed about sports facilities in my area. As far as i know, there is  a five-a-side football club nearby. I haven't visited, not even once, but i can see the field lights and hear the voices from my house. There is also a gymnasium that belongs to the nearby educational institute but i am not sure if it is open to the public or it can be used only by students and personnel. While not exactly in my area, at the beach which is just 5 minutes away by car you can find a few beach volleyball courts. All in all, there are not many opportunities for sports but maybe that is not a surprise since we are on the outskirts of the city.

*Take a look at this explanation: http://www.learnersdictionary.com/qa/in-the-suburbs-vs-on-the-outskirts 

About me

How do you spend your free time?

Well, what do i do in my free time? The truth is that there are a lot of things that i would like to do but my free time is something not easily predictable so it's difficult to schedule an activity. However, one of my favorite activities in playing my mpouzouki (a traditional Greek string instrument- always explain Greek words briefly). Playing the instrument just makes makes me feel good. It allows you to express or intensify your feelings. Happy songs make you happier, while sad songs are comforting. It helps you relax, feel content,...it all depends on your mood and the song's melody. You can sing while you play or you can just listen and feel, let your mind travel. Takes your mind off your problems. It's an escape from the everyday routine.

Apart from that, i also try to work out regularly. You know, for the likes of me, whose job demands sitting many hours in front of a PC, exercising becomes a necessity if you want to keep healthy. But that's not all. Exercising can help you get it out, if you had a stressful day or keep fit without worrying about calories. And if you don't have much time for this you don't even have to go to a gym. With 2-3 pieces of equipment and some good music you can exercise without leaving the house. You only need some space. Moreover, my neighbourhood is a quite one with very little traffic, so i can also put on my running shoes and go out.

I also like dancing, reading, playing table games but as i have already said there is not enough free time for all of them

Could you tell us about some of your favorite foods?

Although there are a lot of foods that i like, i will try to pick out the first ones that come to my mind. First of all and one of my specialties, stuffed vegetables with rice. A traditional Greek recipe. The most common vegetables used are tomatoes and green peppers, though sometimes you may see aubergines and zucchinis, too. Some fill them only with rice and some use rice mixed with minced meat (usually beef). 

Another favorite is lamb with wild greens and herbs cooked in a stew pot. This is mostly a Cretan recipe but there is another version used in almost every place in Greece which uses lettuce instead of wild greens and adds avgolemono (egg and lemon sauce) just before the end.

The next is an outsider. It's not a food that will make you excited but i use to enjoy it very much in the winter if it is well cooked. Lentil soup! A very simple recipe with only 4 ingredients:  lentils, onions garlic  and laurel leaves. You can escort it with olives and salted fish.

What do you look forward to most when you go home at the end of the day?

I think some relaxation is what i need the most after a long day. I want to rest my mind, forget about all the responsibilities, the deadlines, the things you "have to" do. Put some good music on, watch a good movie or look for companionship. Spend some time with friends saying jokes, talking about our news, our problems, our ambitions and expectations. There are times that i am so pressed in my work that i spend most of the night thinking and planning about the next day. This is neither good nor productive. The matters of a single day are enough for that day. But it just can't be helped sometimes, especially the days that you can't hang out with friends. 

About studying english

Why do you learn English?

I need it for my job. It's a way to improve my employment prospects and that's something everyone should do from time to time if he wants to be competitive. Usually, i work for projects supervised by academic institutes and there is a trend lately to require an advanced or proficient level of English knowledge. To be honest, it's not the procedure of learning English that i enjoy the most but what comes as a result of this. I like it when i watch a movie and i can understand what the actors say without reading the Greek subtitles. Sometimes,  the quality of the greek subtitles is poor so that the meaning of the dialogue can be changed at some points. I also like it when i can understand the lyrics of a song or read signs, instructions and tourist guides when i travel abroad. I think that's more than enough to keep me motivated in my study.

Is English your main subject of study?

No, i wouldn't say that. Because of the nature of my job , you could say that most of the days i have to study about new technologies that come out or advances in my field of expertise. It can't be helped. The advances in IT are so fast that require you to study every once in a while.  But this kind of study does not follow a specific pattern. You can do it whenever you have the time and for anything you think it worths. Apart from this and as a amateur bouzouki player i have to study a little bit of this, too, almost everyday. Most of the times, the purpose of this study is not to improve my playing ability but just to preserve it. Unfortunately, i don't have enough time to go a step further, so i usually just go through the things that i already know.

Do you spend more time studying alone or with friends?

I usually study alone. I think it works better for me for two reasons. First, i can control my studying environment. I can pick a quite place if i need to concentrate better and avoid distractions or i can study at home with some music. I can take breaks whenever i want, i can learn at my own pace and the list goes on. Second, i usually don't like to share the responsibility when part of the studying includes the delivery of an essay or the preparation of a presentation. As a student, i was disappointed many times by fellow students that either were expecting from me to do their part of work or they just couldn't put some quality into their work. Of course, group studying cannot be avoided all the times. Sometimes you need a second opinion,  or some help because you are facing a difficult problem or because there is not enough time. After all, they say " two heads are better than one". However, i usually try to avoid such situations.

How important is to speak a foreign language in your country?

I think speaking a foreign language (especially English) is a must nowadays for every professional. Globalization of the economy on one hand and the fact that Greece is a very popular traveling destination on the other hand raises a demand for international communication. Anyone who works for a shop or a company that deals with tourists must be able to communicate with them. The same holds for the government employees for obvious reasons. Anyone who is involved in trading must be able to read English in order to search for products and communicate with vendors abroad. Last but not least, anyone who wants to travel abroad must be able to speak some english and traveling abroad is now much more common and easier than it was 20 years ago. 

How important do you think it is to have a routine when working or studying?

Routine a something vital when you try to self-organize your activities and that's a general truth no matter if this activity it's your job or your studies. Many professionals have a really hard time when they decide to work as freelancers because they undergo a significant lifestyle change.  You see, when you have a boss who tells you what to do and when, you don't need to think about schedule because that is dictated by the flow of your work. That same holds when you study alone as opposed to studying with a teacher. A routine helps you keep your activities organized and allows you to make better estimation of the time needed by each activity. It's important for one more reason. To much freedom makes you feel that you are free to take a break at any time but also makes you feel that you may return to work at any hour. But human beings are creatures of habit. So when you don't adopt good habits you can easily go out of rhythm. Most of the times, the secret lies in the morning routine. What time you get up, what you do first and what second and for how long. If you just jump up and dive into everything is thrown to you it can spin you off in the totally wrong direction. 

Others

With more shopping being done over the internet, what future is there for ordinary shops?

Well, internet shopping may be very convenient but a think it's a bit overvalued. Most people use the internet just to have a look or compare prices but when the time comes to buy the product most of them will march themselves to the real shop. Even if this is not the case, we can't ignore the fact that some people make online purchases just for curiosity. But this curiosity and their lack of experience, doesn't live forever. People with some experience in internet shopping know that many times there is a gap between what you see on the computer screen and what you get in your hands. Moreover, the evaluation of an online product can not be 100% trustworthy most of the times. For example, if what you are aiming for is clothes or shoes, you can't try them out nor you can be sure about the real color. If it is an appliance like a TV, you can't get the visual experience through your PC. So the first timers are often disappointed by what they get and even maybe by the procedure of returning a product and getting a refund/ getting their money back. 

Do you think people will still go to the cinema in 10 years’ time? 

I suppose, yes. It's not easy to get such a big screen or sound experience into your living room and i don't think living rooms will be much bigger after 10 years. But the frequency that people would go to the cinema will be lower. Even today, most of the movies are available in the internet just a few days or weeks after they have come out to cinemas. Anyone can get them using an internet technology for sharing files called torrents. Of course, people above 30 are not so familiar with this technology at the moment. But, as years pass, this will change. Nonetheless, as i said, cinema will stay alive. After all, going to cinema is many times just an excuse or a change to hang out with some friends or the girl you like.

If you could afford to, would you take a trip in space?

Hmm, let me think. A trip in space...as far as i know the only trip in space that is possible and safe for the moment is just to be in orbit around earth and therefore what are really talking is about having an earth view from space. So, it's all about a magnificent view and not about discovering "what is out there".  Yes, i would take such a trip under two conditions. First, that i would have someone to share the experience with (probably, my girl). Travelling alone is not  interesting at all. Second, that i would be so rich that spending a great deal of money on such a trip wouldn't change the fact of being rich. Otherwise, i can think a lot of better ways to spend my money.

What do you think is changing most in your country?

Nowadays? I suppose the way that people think. Apart from the apparent decrease of salaries and the great increase in unemployment, financial crisis had a very positive impact that most of us overlook. An impact on the quality of life. A quality not measured in financial terms but in social and ethical terms. People have started to be less haughty and snobbish. They have stopped going out almost every night and they work harder. They are simpler and more down to earth. Most of them, now appreciate more the simple joys of life. We have started gathering again in friends' houses and it's easier now to talk about your problems because you know that most of your friends have problems too and you are not the only one. You should say that it's not their choice but they are forced into it. I say "that's ok". It's a start. We are moving to the right direction. God blessed!

If you could live in any country , apart your own, which would it be? Why?

If such a country exists, it is without question located in southern Europe. At the lands where olive trees and vines grow. The temperament of the south cannot be much nor replaced by any other lifestyle. No one can deny that there is a vast gap in the "quality of life" definition between the north and south european countries. I have seen that in some way in my trips and i have been told that from north Europeans that have been moved permanently in Greece. So, it would probably be Italy. South Italy. They are also people who love the sun and the sea. People who like to flirt and be romantic, who love music and singing. Their music is also beautiful. Even the language sounds interesting. I think it's not luck their country is located next to ours.