Below is a list of 50 phrasal verbs which I have often seen used in Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) exams. I would recommend that you go through the list and try to learn the meaning(s) of each.
Because to pass the CAE exam, you need to have a broad/wide knowledge of English vocabulary, the majority of the below phrasal verbs are advanced (you wouldn't be expected to know what they mean or be taught them when studying lower levels of English (e.g. the Cambridge FIrst Certificate of English (FCE) exam)).
However, in addition to using advanced phrasal verbs, in the CAE exam you will also find used many phrasal verbs which are less advanced (those which would be used in FCE exam). So, I would strongly recommend that you also see the list we have created for Phrasal Verbs Commonly Used in the FCE Exam and learn these as well.
To learn some advanced synonyms for common words which you can use in the exam, read our article called 'Vocabulary to Improve your Writing and Speaking in the CAE Exam'.
Learn the different meanings
Some of these phrasal verbs only have one meaning, but the majority have multiple ones. You probably already know the most commonly used meaning for many of the below phrasal verbs (and also those which are in the FCE exam list), however, in the CAE exam they often use meanings of phrasal verbs which are less commonly used.
So what you need to do is to learn what the main two to three meanings of a phrasal verb are and in what situations they are used in.
In order to help you learn these meanings and uses, for some of the phrasal verbs in the below list (those which are underlined) I have written down what the meaning or meanings are (with example sentences to help you understand their use). To see these, simply click on the underlined phrasal verb.
For the other phrasal verbs (those which are not underlined in the below list) I would recommend that you learn their meanings through an online dictionary (the Macmillan Dictionary is very good for this) and learn the first two or three meanings which are listed for it there.
Remembering these meanings
When you learn the meaning or meanings/uses that a phrasal verb has, make sure that you use them. I would recommend that you create one or two sentences in your own words that uses the meaning of the phrasal verb you have just learnt. You can either write this down or say it out loud (it's your choice). Doing this will help you to remember this meaning in the future.
A list of 50 commonly used CAE phrasal verbs
- Account for
- Attribute to
- Back out
- Base on
- Be apt to
- Be drawn to
- Be bent on
- Blow away
- Bring on
- Build on
- Carry out
- Come across
- Dawn on
- Draw on
- Drop out
- Fall back on
- Get on
- Get rid of
- Get through
- Go along with
- Go on
- Iron out
- Lead to
- Lie in
- Make out
- Mess up
- Opt for
- Pay off
- Phase out
- Pick out
- Put down to
- Put forward
- Rely on
- Set about
- Set apart
- Set aside
- Set out
- Settle down
- Show off
- Sort out
- Stem from
- Take away
- Take on
- Take to
- Taps into
- Torn between
- Turn into
- Turn to
- Wind up
- Wipe out
There will be other phrasal verbs used
Unfortunately, you are going to find other phrasal verbs being used in the exam. It is impossible for me to tell you what these will be. The best way to be prepared for this is through regularly reading texts in English which are at the level of the CAE exam. By doing this, you see phrasal verbs which you may find used in the exam.
When you see a phrasal verb which you don't know or are unsure what it means, guess its meaning from the context it is in, check you are right in a dictionary and then create a sentence in your own words using with meaning.
To learn some advanced synonyms for common words which you can use in the exam, read our article called 'Vocabulary to Improve your Writing and Speaking in the CAE Exam'.
