English

The Cambridge C1 Advanced — widely known by its former name, the CAE — sits at the top end of the professional English proficiency range. It certifies that you can operate in English with a degree of fluency, precision, and nuance that makes you effective in demanding academic and professional environments.

One of the first questions English beginners ask: how many words do I need to know? The answer depends on what you want to do with your English — and it's more encouraging than most people expect.

You understand English. You can read it, you can write it, you might even think in it sometimes. But the moment you need to speak — in a meeting, with a native speaker, in a job interview — something happens. You freeze. You reach for a word that won't come. You second-guess your grammar mid-sentence. You apologise for your English before you've even started.