Exam tips
Reading and Use of English
Part 1: Multiple-choice cloze
• This part of the Reading and Use of English
paper is primarily a test of vocabulary.
Questions typically focus on fixed phrases,
collocations, idioms and phrasal verbs.
• Look at the choice of words and select the
one which best fits in terms of meaning and
grammar.
• Once you have completed the task, skim read
the text with your answers to check that it
makes sense.
Part 2: Open cloze
• Read the text first, ignoring the gaps, to get a
general idea of what it is about.
• You may be able to fill in some gaps just by
looking at the words immediately before
and after them. For others, you will need to
understand a longer passage or the whole text.
• Fill in each gap with one word only.
Contracted words, e.g. isn’t, count as two
words so will not be an answer in this part of
the exam.
• Think about what type of word the answer is
likely to be, e.g. a preposition, a linking word,
etc.
• If you are uncertain, guess. Marks are not
deducted for incorrect answers.
Part 3: Word formation
• Quickly read the text to get an overview of
the topic.
• Getting an overview helps you to establish the
context, the direction of the argument, and the
writer’s viewpoint.
• Use the context to decide whether to use
singular or plural forms, as well as positives or
negatives.
• Read your completed text to check that it
makes sense.
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© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017. This page may be photocopied and used within the class.
Straight to Advanced
Part 4: Key word transformation
• Remember the given word must not be
changed in any way. Think about what area of
grammar, phrasal verb or expression the given
word could relate to.
• Pay close attention to tenses, verb patterns
and prepositions as you rewrite the sentence.
• Re-read both sentences to make sure you
have not left out or added any information.
Part 5: Multiple choice
• For each question, identify and underline the
key information to look for.
• Highlight the part of the text that relates to
each question. Compare the four options
carefully to the part you highlighted.
• Make sure your answer is true according
to the text, not because of what else you
personally know about the subject or what
your opinions are.
• Remember the questions will follow the order
of the text, although the last question may
be about the text in general, e.g. the writer’s
opinion.
• Identify the writer’s attitude by noting any
evaluative language which is used. Try to
categorise this as positive or negative, and
then think of a term to describe their attitude
in general, e.g. optimistic, critical.
Part 6: Cross-text multiple matching
• Read the rubric, title and subtitle carefully to
find out what the central theme is.
• For each question, identify the key information
to look for.
• Skim read the four extracts quickly to get a
general idea of what it is about.
• Locate the information you need to answer
each question in the text.
• Identify each writer’s opinion and compare it
to that of the other writers.
Exam tips
Part 7: Gapped text
• Summarise each paragraph in the main text in
a few words. Try to predict what the writer will
say next.
• Read all the missing paragraphs and try
to identify the purpose of them. Are they
explaining a point, illustrating an example or
showing contrast?
• Grammatical clues can also help you decide
where the missing paragraphs fit. Look at time
expressions, linking words, pronouns or verb
tenses. Read the information before and after
the gaps to help you identify any reference
links, e.g. Them ➙ People.
• Check your answers by reading the whole
article again to ensure that it makes sense.
Check that the extra paragraph does not fit
any of the gaps.
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© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017. This page may be photocopied and used within the class.
Straight to Advanced
Part 8: Multiple matching
• Read the questions first and highlight any key
words. This will help you scan the texts for the
information you need. If you start by reading
the texts first you may waste time trying to
understand part of the text or some vocabulary
that is not being tested. Remember you do
NOT need to understand every word.
• Skim read text A and mark ‘A’ in pencil next
to any of the questions you think it answers.
Do this for each of the texts. If you have
two answers for one the questions, read the
appropriate part of each text more closely.
• Beware of choosing an answer just because
you notice a word in the question that is a
synonym for a word in the text. There are
often distractors in the text.