How to write a CAE proposal (with examples)
A CAE proposal is a Writing Part 2 option in which you put forward a plan and persuade someone in charge to adopt it. It is the one genre in C1 Advanced that B2 First does not have, and it is organised under headings, with suggestions supported by facts.
- Part
- 2, optional
- Words
- 220–260
- Reader
- Manager or peers
- Marks
- 20
What a CAE proposal task asks for
Part 2 of the C1 Writing paper offers a choice of three tasks from four genres: email or letter, proposal, report and review. A proposal, like every C1 Writing task, is 220–260 words and marked out of 20.
Who a proposal is for
A proposal is written for a superior, such as a manager, a school director or a council committee, or for a group of peers, such as fellow members of a club. Its job is to make suggestions supported by facts and evaluation and to persuade the reader that they are worth acting on. It is organised under headings, and the register is usually formal or neutral.
The task normally gives you a situation where something is needed or money is available (a donation, a grant, a budget for improvements) and asks you to do two or three things: describe the current situation or need, propose what should be done, and explain the benefits. Some tasks also ask you to anticipate a problem or say how success would be measured.
What examiners look for in a proposal
- Content: every point in the task covered, with a plan specific enough that the reader could act on it.
- Communicative Achievement: a clear purpose from the start, a respectful but confident tone, and persuasion based on reasons, not enthusiasm.
- Organisation: informative headings, a logical sequence from need to plan to benefits, and a closing paragraph that asks for action.
- Language: the forms that proposals rely on: would and could for hypothetical outcomes, propose / suggest / recommend that… structures, and precise vocabulary for benefits and costs.
A proposal is close to a report, but it faces the other way. A report evaluates what has happened; a proposal argues for what should happen next.
CAE proposal example: task and model answer
An original exam-style task, followed by a model C1 proposal of about 250 words, including headings.
Part 2 · Proposal · 220–260 words
The language school where you study has received a donation from a former student, to be spent on something that will help students practise English outside class. The director has invited students to submit proposals. Your proposal should describe what is currently lacking, explain how you think the money should be spent, and say how students would benefit.
Write your proposal.
Model answer
Proposal for an English conversation lounge
Introduction
The purpose of this proposal is to suggest how the recent donation could be used to give students more opportunities to speak English outside lessons, and to explain why this would be money well spent.
The current situation
At present, students have very few chances to use English informally. Most of us share accommodation with people who speak our own language, and the common room, the only social space in the school, is usually too crowded and noisy for conversation. As a result, many students speak English only in class.
Proposed use of the donation
I propose that the empty room on the second floor be converted into a conversation lounge, open every weekday afternoon. The donation would cover comfortable seating, a selection of games and magazines, and a small payment for two former students to act as hosts. The hosts would start conversations, run a weekly themed discussion and make sure that quieter students are included.
Benefits
A relaxed, English-only space would allow students to practise what they learn in class in a natural setting. It would also help new arrivals make friends from other countries, something many say they find difficult. Moreover, since the furniture is a one-off expense, the only running cost would be the hosts' time, so the lounge could continue for years.
Conclusion
I am convinced that a conversation lounge would make a real difference to students' fluency and confidence, and I would urge you to give this proposal serious consideration.
Show the answer and explanation
Why this CAE proposal example would score well
- Content. The three points in the task each have their own section: what is lacking (The current situation), how to spend the money (a specific room, opening times, items and staff) and the benefits. The plan is concrete enough that the director could approve it.
- Communicative Achievement. The purpose is stated in the first sentence. The tone is respectful and confident, suitable for a student writing to a director. Persuasion is built on reasons: a real problem, a realistic solution, low running costs. The closing sentence asks for action without pleading.
- Organisation. Five headed sections in a logical order: purpose, problem, plan, benefits, conclusion. Linking includes At present, As a result, also, Moreover and since.
- Language. The formal structure I propose that the room be converted; consistent use of would for the hypothetical plan; precise phrases such as money well spent, a one-off expense, running cost, act as hosts and give this proposal serious consideration.
- Length. About 250 words including headings.
What would lower the mark: a vague plan (buy some things for students), benefits that are simply listed with no explanation, or an informal, email-like tone.
How to write a CAE proposal, step by step
- 01
Identify the reader and the decision they have to make. A director deciding how to spend a donation needs a clear, affordable plan. Everything you write should help them say yes.
- 02
Turn the task points into headings. Most proposals work with an introduction, a section on the current situation or need, a section on your plan, a section on benefits, and a short conclusion.
- 03
Make the plan specific. Say what, where, when, who and roughly how. Concrete details are more persuasive than general enthusiasm and show a wider range of vocabulary.
- 04
Explain the benefits and answer an objection. Link each benefit to the problem you described. If there is an obvious objection, such as cost, time or who will run it, address it before the reader raises it.
- 05
End with a confident request for action, then check that you have used would consistently for your plan and that you are within 220–260 words.
Mistakes that cost marks
Writing a report instead. Spending most of the words evaluating the current situation leaves too little space for the plan, which is the point of a proposal.
A plan with no detail. We could improve the facilities is not a proposal. Say exactly what you would do.
Mixing tenses. Switching between will and would for the same plan sounds careless. A proposal describes something that has not been approved, so would is normally the safer choice.
Over-selling. This amazing idea will change everyone's life! is less persuasive than a measured claim backed by a reason.
CAE proposal structure
| Heading | What to include | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Title | What you are proposing: Proposal for a student mentoring scheme | 3–8 |
| Introduction | The purpose of the proposal in one or two sentences | 25–40 |
| Current situation | The need or problem, with a reason or example | 40–55 |
| Proposal | The plan in detail: what, where, when, who | 55–70 |
| Benefits | Two or three benefits linked to the need, and an answer to any obvious objection | 45–60 |
| Conclusion | A confident summary and a request for action | 20–30 |
Persuasive language for a C1 proposal
- Stating the purpose: The purpose of this proposal is to… · This proposal outlines a plan for… · I would like to put forward a suggestion for…
- Describing the need: At present,… · There is currently no… · Many students have expressed frustration at…
- Proposing: I propose that… (be) set up · I would suggest converting… · One option would be to… · The money could be used to…
- Explaining benefits: This would allow… to… · The main advantage would be… · This would ensure that… · In the long term,…
- Anticipating objections: Although this would involve some initial cost,… · It could be argued that…; however,… · Any concerns about… could be addressed by…
- Closing: I am confident that… · I would urge you to… · I hope you will give this proposal serious consideration.
Proposal or report? A quick comparison
| Proposal | Report | |
|---|---|---|
| Main direction | The future: what should happen | The present or past: what has happened |
| Main purpose | To persuade the reader to adopt a plan | To inform the reader and evaluate a situation |
| Typical headings | Current situation · Proposal · Benefits | Findings · Evaluation · Recommendations |
| Typical verb forms | would, could, propose that… | past and present perfect, reporting verbs, recommend that… |
Practise the proposal in full CAE Writing tests
Five of our six CAE Writing tests include a proposal among the three Part 2 tasks. Each paper is timed at 90 minutes, and your text gets an expert evaluation on the four Cambridge criteria.
- Test 1: Your neighbourhood association wants to help residents borrow equipment which they only need…
- Test 2: Your college has received a donation to help students attend academic conferences, but the…
- Test 3: The manager of a cultural centre wants the building to be useful when no performances or…
- Test 4: Your college has funding to launch a monthly student magazine, but only a small team of…
- Test 6: Your town council wants to create more opportunities for informal learning in the town centre.
CAE proposal: questions
What is a CAE proposal?
It is one of the C1 Advanced Writing Part 2 options: a formal text, organised under headings, in which you suggest a plan to a superior or a group of peers and persuade them that it is worth adopting.
Does a C1 proposal need headings?
Yes. Proposals are organised under headings, and informative headings that follow the points in the task make your proposal easier to follow and help your Organisation mark.
How do I make a CAE proposal persuasive?
Describe a real need, make your plan specific, link each benefit to that need, and answer the most obvious objection before the reader raises it. Reasons persuade far more than enthusiasm.
Is there a proposal task in B2 First?
No. The proposal only appears in C1 Advanced. The B2 First Part 2 options are an article, an email or letter, a report and a review.
Sources
- C1 Advanced Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 28–35
- C1 Advanced exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
- Assessing writing for C1 Advanced: a guide for teachers
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
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