Register and Style Flashcards
7 cards from real CAE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Register and Style flashcards as text
A student writes the following in a formal essay: 'A lot of people think that social media is bad for teenagers.' Which revision improves the register?
Answer: A significant number of individuals hold the view that social media has a detrimental effect on adolescents.
Using formal vocabulary ('a significant number of individuals,' 'detrimental effect,' 'adolescents') raises the register to the level expected in a CAE essay.
In a CAE Writing task, a candidate must write a letter of complaint. Which approach to tone is most appropriate?
Answer: Maintaining a polite but firm tone and outlining the problem clearly and objectively
An effective formal complaint letter maintains a polite but assertive tone, presenting facts clearly without resorting to emotional or aggressive language.
Which of the following best describes 'style' in the context of the CAE Writing paper?
Answer: The way language is used to suit the purpose, audience, and text type
Style encompasses all the choices a writer makes — vocabulary, sentence structure, tone — to match the task's purpose, audience, and required format.
A CAE candidate is writing a review of a film for a student magazine. Which sentence best matches the expected register?
Answer: The film's stunning visuals make it a must-see for anyone who loves great cinema.
A student magazine review should be engaging and semi-formal — enthusiastic but controlled, accessible without being colloquial or overly stiff.
Which of the following is a key difference between the register of a formal essay and an informal article for CAE?
Answer: Formal essays use impersonal constructions, while informal articles may address the reader directly.
Formal essays avoid direct address and use impersonal constructions, while informal articles can engage the reader with 'you' and a more personal tone.
Which of the following phrases would be inappropriate in a formal CAE proposal?
Answer: Honestly, this plan is going to work out great for everyone involved.
'Honestly, this plan is going to work out great' uses informal, conversational language that is inconsistent with the formal register required in a proposal.
When checking a CAE writing task for register consistency, a student should look for:
Answer: Places where informal or overly casual language intrudes into a formal text
Register consistency means ensuring that informal expressions, contractions, or colloquialisms do not inadvertently appear in a text that should be formal throughout.