Candidates will be given 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the paper which contains seven parts.
For Parts 1 to 3, the test contains texts with accompanying grammar and vocabulary tasks.
Part 4 consists of separate items with a grammar and vocabulary focus.
For Parts 5 to 7, the test contains a range of texts and accompanying reading comprehension tasks.
PART 1: Multiple Cloze
A text containing eight gaps. There are 4-option multiple-choice items for each gap. Candidates have to choose which one of the four words or phrases in the set fills the gap correctly.
The main focus is on vocabulary, e.g. idioms, collocations, fixed phrases, complementation, phrasal verbs, semantic precision.
Correct answers receive 1 mark.
Tips!
Sometimes it is necessary to choose between words with a similar meaning, e.g. choosing ‘leaking’ rather than ‘spilling’, ‘pouring’ or ‘flowing’ to fill the gap in ‘The roof of our tent was …’.
Sometimes it will be necessary not simply to know the meaning but also to know which word is correct because of the preposition, adverb or verb form which follows, e.g. choosing ‘interested’ rather than ‘keen’, ‘enthusiastic’ or ‘eager’ to fill the gap in ‘You may be … in applying for this job’.
PART 2: Open Cloze
A text containing eight gaps. There are no multiple-choice options so candidates have to think of a word which will fill the gap correctly.
The main focus is on awareness and control of grammar with some focus on vocabulary.
Correct answers receive 1 mark.
Tips!
Candidates need to read the words which follow the gap as well as those which come before it; make sure that if you are filling the gap with a verb, it agrees with its subject.
PART 3: Word Formation
A text containing eight gaps. Each gap corresponds to a word. The stem of the missing word is given beside the text and must be changed to form the missing word. Candidates need to understand how prefixes, suffixes, internal changes and compounds are used in forming positive, negative and plural words.
The main focus is on vocabulary, in particular the use of affixation, internal changes and compounding in word formation.
Correct answers receive 1 mark.
Tips!
Sometimes the missing word will need to be in the plural, and sometimes it will need to be in a negative form. The sense of the text around the gap will help candidates decide if it is necessary to put the word in the plural or to make it negative.
Some answers will not need only prefixes or suffixes to be added to a word; sometimes internal changes will need to be made (e.g. ‘long’ to ‘length’).
PART 4: Key word transformation
Six separate items, candidates have to fill the gap in the second sentence so that the completed sentence is similar in meaning to the lead-in sentence. The gap must be filled with between two and five words, one of which must be the key word. The key word must not be changed in any way.
The ability to express a message in a different way shows flexibility and resource in the use of language. The mark scheme splits the answer into two parts.
Here the focus is on grammar, vocabulary, collocation.
Correct answers receive 2 mark – one mark for each part which is correct.
PART 5: (Reading) Multiple-choice
A text followed by six 4-option multiple-choice questions.
The focus is on detail, opinion, attitude, tone, purpose, main idea, gist, meaning from context, implication, text organisation features (exemplification, reference).
The 4-option multiple-choice questions are presented in the same order as the information in the text so that candidates can follow the development of the writer’s ideas as they work through the questions. The final question may require candidates to interpret an aspect of the text as a whole.
Correct answers receive 2 mark.
PART 6: (Reading) Gapped text
A text from which sentences have been removed and placed in jumbled order after the text. Candidates must decide from which part of the text the sentences have been removed.
The task tests understanding of how texts are structured. Rather than concentrating on individual sentences, candidates need to be able to follow the development of ideas, opinions and events through the text as a whole.
The focus is on cohesion, coherence, text structure.
Correct answers receive 2 mark.
PART 7: Multiple matching
A text or several short texts, preceded by multiple-matching questions. Candidates must match a prompt to elements in the text.
Candidates need to understand detail, attitude or opinion in the question and locate a section of text where that idea is expressed, discounting ideas in other sections which may appear similar but which do not reflect the whole of the question accurately.
The focus is on detail, opinion, specific information, implication.
Correct answers receive 1 mark.
Tips!
Read a wide range of texts in English. Make it fun! Read about your interests or hobbies. This will enable you to deal with a range of lexical items and grammatical structures in a variety of text types.