Cambridge English Advanced Exam Preparation – C1 Level

The programme

Cambridge English Certificates are the world's most valuable and widely-recognised selection of English qualifications. Improve your English skills in Galway and gain an internationally recognised C1 Advanced Cambridge Certificate on our exam preparation courses.  

You can also book your C1 Advanced Exam only with us if you do not with to take the exam preparation course. Please select exam only option in the menu.

If you need to prepare for the Cambridge Advanced exam but you just can’t attend during the day, maybe our new evening course will be better for you. The Cambridge Exam Preparation Evening Course runs over six weeks and provides targeted preparation for taking the B2 or C1 Cambridge English exams. You study live for two evenings per week.

Find out more about the Cambridge Exam Preparation Evening Course here! 

Who is the course for?

The Cambridge English Certificates are the world's most preferred and widely-endorsed international English language qualifications. C1 Advanced in particular is the in-depth, high-level qualification that will demonstrate you have the language skills that employers and universities are looking for.

Here in GCI, we offer different exam preparation courses throughout the year for C1 Advanced, from 4 weeks long to 12 weeks long to suit all types of learners.

• C1 Advanced 12 week exam preparation course 20 lessons per week
• C1 Advanced 6 week exam preparation course with 30 lessons per week 
• C1 Advanced 4 week intensive exam preparation with 34 lessons per week

Galway Cultural Institute is an authorised Cambridge English Test Centre. This makes it easy for students to sit their Cambridge exam in a familiar environment.

The 12-week exam preparation course is for you if you wish to take and be fully-prepared for the C1 Advanced exam (CAE). Our students enrol on this course for a wide variety of reasons: some require the certificate for academic or work purposes, while others enjoy the challenge of working towards a specific English language goal.  Some are drawn by the beautiful location and city - Galway.  

The 6-week exam course is for individuals who wish to thoroughly prepare for the Cambridge English Advanced exam in a short period of time. Our students' motivation for taking this course can vary, some are focused on their future studies, some know that having the Cambridge Advanced qualification will greatly improve their employment prospects, while others simply embrace the challenge of working towards a specific goal. 

The 4-week exam course is the choice for you if you want to prepare for the C1 Advanced exam and you have a very limited time in which to achieve your goal.  This course is intensive by nature with 34 lessons per week taking place in July and August.  Some students are seeking new academic opportunities and require this for university entry, some wish to enhance their job opportunities, while others are simply seeking something that will take their English to the next level. Regardless of your motivation, this course in GCI is an excellent way to boost your fluency in a short period of time.

Whatever your background or motivation, our exam preparation courses will benefit you and your English language acquisition greatly.

Course objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide you with a sound foundation in all areas of the C1 Advanced Cambridge exam (CAE). This includes language use, skills work, familiarisation with the exam structure and practical exam skills and techniques.

The C1 Cambridge Advanced exam preparation courses are the logical step in your language learning journey between B2 First (FCE) and C2 Proficiency (CPE).

A C1 Advanced qualification shows that you are able to:

• Pursue an university English taught programme
• Fluently express yourself in English in any given circumstance whether for study or work
• Communicate confidently at a professional level 
• Master the English level at a very high level 
• Participate with ease in meetings, academic settings or in conferences

Course content

All our C1 Advanced exam preparation courses are designed to enhance students' English knowledge and English skills and boosts your exam skills. You work with our highly-experienced teachers using the very best exam preparation materials. 

We encourage you to make the most of your time here in Galway by providing you with study tips, at home  activities and plenty of self-study ideas. 

On arrival, each student will be given:

• An Advanced exam course book - used for lessons and home study
• An Advanced language practice book - used to support the lessons and self-directed study

Throughout our C1 Advanced exam preparation courses you will be continuously developing all four English language skills through exam type activities. Your existing vocabulary will grow over a wide range of topic areas and you will build on your current knowledge of grammatical forms. 

You will get the opportunity to practise all aspects of the Cambridge Advanced exam - Reading and Use of English, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. You will complete sample papers from Cambridge and even take a mock exam under real exam conditions & timings. You will receive frequent personalised feedback from your teachers and focus on exam strategies.

As a result of our commitment to the highest possible course quality, our students enter the exam with a feeling of preparedness and ready to succeed!  You will see this reflected in your exam results.

Sample timetable (20 lessons)