Reading & Use of English
What this paper tests
This paper tests your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, as well as your ability to understand written English texts at B2 level. It combines language knowledge tasks (Parts 1–4) with reading comprehension tasks (Parts 5–7).
Overall structure
The paper has 7 parts with a total of 52 questions. Parts 1–4 focus on language (grammar and vocabulary), while Parts 5–7 focus on reading longer texts.
- In Parts 1, 2, 3, and 7, each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
- In Part 4, each question is worth up to 2 marks.
- In Parts 5 and 6, each correct answer is worth 2 marks.
- Total: 70 marks.
What makes this paper difficult
The main challenge is time management. Many candidates spend too long on Parts 5–7 and rush the language tasks, or vice versa. The language tasks require precise knowledge — close alternatives are designed to trap you.
- Spend roughly 10–12 minutes on each part to stay on track.
- Do the parts you find easiest first to secure marks.
- For language tasks (Parts 1–4), your first instinct is often correct — don't overthink.
- For reading tasks (Parts 5–7), read the text first before looking at questions.
- Always answer every question — there is no penalty for wrong answers.
- Leave 2–3 minutes at the end to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
Jump to a part
Part 1: Multiple-Choice Cloze
What you need to do
Read a short text with 8 gaps. For each gap, choose the correct word from four options (A, B, C, or D). The focus is on vocabulary — collocations, phrasal verbs, and fixed expressions.
For questions 1–2, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
Question 1
Question 2
Select an option for each gap.
- Read the whole text first to understand the general meaning.
- Look at the words around each gap — they often form collocations or fixed phrases.
- Try each option in the gap and see which sounds most natural.
- If unsure, eliminate options you know are wrong, then guess from the remaining choices.
- Don't change your answer unless you are certain — first instincts are usually right.
- Learn collocations in groups, not individual words.
- Pay special attention to phrasal verbs — they are tested frequently.
- Read widely in English to develop an instinct for what "sounds right".
Part 2: Open Cloze
What you need to do
Read a short text with 8 gaps. Write ONE word to fill each gap. No options are given — you must think of the correct word yourself. The focus is on grammar and structural words.
For questions 9–11, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.
Type your answers, then check.
- Read the full text first to understand the overall meaning.
- Look at what comes before AND after the gap.
- Think about what type of word is needed: conjunction, preposition, pronoun, article, auxiliary verb?
- Check your word makes the sentence grammatically correct.
- Remember: the answer is always ONE word. Don't write contractions (write "do not", not "don't").
- The answer is almost always a "grammar word" — not a noun, adjective, or main verb.
- Common answers include: the, a, an, it, this, that, which, who, whose, if, although, however, despite, in, on, at, by, for, with, up, out, off, been, being, have, had, do, did, would, could, should.
- Practise by reading English texts and covering small words to test yourself.
Part 3: Word Formation
What you need to do
Read a short text with 8 gaps. You are given a "stem" word in capitals for each gap. Change the form of the word to fit the gap (e.g. EMPLOY → employment, employer, employee, unemployed).
For questions 17–19, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.
Type your answers, then check.
- Decide what part of speech is needed: noun, adjective, verb, or adverb?
- Look at the words around the gap for clues (e.g. "a" or "the" before a gap = noun needed).
- Consider whether a negative form is needed (un-, in-, im-, dis-, -less).
- Check whether a plural noun is required.
- Read the completed sentence to make sure it makes sense grammatically and logically.
- Build a word formation table: for each root word, list the noun, verb, adjective, and adverb forms.
- Pay attention to common suffixes: -tion, -ment, -ness, -ity (nouns); -ful, -less, -ous, -ive (adjectives); -ly (adverbs).
- Spelling counts — learn the tricky ones.
Part 4: Key Word Transformations
What you need to do
You are given a sentence, a key word, and a second sentence with a gap. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using the key word. You must use between 2 and 5 words, including the key word.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.
Type your answers, then check.
- Read both sentences carefully and identify what grammar point is being tested.
- The key word CANNOT be changed in any way — no changing tense, adding -s, -ing, etc.
- Count your words carefully: the answer must be 2–5 words INCLUDING the key word.
- Common grammar points tested: passive voice, reported speech, conditionals, comparatives, phrasal verbs, wish/if only, causatives.
- Write the full phrase, then count the words to make sure you're within the limit.
- Learn the most common transformation patterns: active ↔ passive, direct ↔ reported speech, too/enough, so/such, comparative structures.
- This part rewards grammar knowledge more than any other part.
- If stuck, think about what grammar structure the key word typically belongs to.
Part 5: Multiple Choice (Reading)
What you need to do
Read a long text and answer 6 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four options (A, B, C, D). Questions test detailed understanding of the text, including opinion, attitude, purpose, and inference.
Read the extract from an article about urban gardening. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to the text.
What does the writer suggest about Clara's initial reaction to city life?
Select an option for each gap.
- Read the text through once to get the general idea.
- Read each question and underline the key words.
- Go back to the relevant part of the text and read it carefully.
- The correct answer will be a paraphrase of what the text says — it won't use the exact same words.
- Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong, then choose between the remaining options.
- Be careful of answers that are true in general but not supported by THIS text.
- The questions follow the order of the text — question 1 relates to the beginning, question 6 to the end.
- Look for paraphrases: the correct answer almost never uses the same words as the text.
- Practice reading English articles from newspapers and magazines regularly.
Part 6: Gapped Text
What you need to do
Read a text from which 6 sentences have been removed. Choose from 7 sentences (A–G) the one which fits each gap. There is one extra sentence you don't need.
Two sentences have been removed from the extract. Choose from sentences A–C the one which fits each gap. (In the real exam there are six gaps and seven sentences.)
Question 37
Question 38
Select an option for each gap.
- Read the whole text first with the gaps to understand the overall topic and flow.
- For each gap, read the sentence BEFORE and AFTER carefully.
- Look for linking clues: pronouns (they, it, this, these), conjunctions (however, moreover), time markers (then, later, by that time).
- Check that the sentence you choose makes sense with both the sentence before AND after the gap.
- Do the easiest gaps first, then use elimination for harder ones.
- The extra sentence is designed to be tempting — double-check your choices.
- Underline pronouns and linking words in the options — they are your biggest clues.
- If two sentences seem to fit one gap, check both gaps — one of them will have a clearer fit.
- This part rewards understanding of text cohesion — practise identifying how paragraphs connect.
Part 7: Multiple Matching
What you need to do
Read 4–6 short texts or one long text divided into sections. Match 10 statements to the correct text/section. Some texts may be matched more than once.
Read the extracts in which two people talk about learning to cook. Choose the person (A or B) that matches the statement.
Which person learned to cook because of financial constraints?
Select an option for each gap.
- Read the 10 statements first and underline key words.
- Then read each text carefully, matching statements as you go.
- Highlight or underline the evidence in the text that supports your match.
- Remember: some texts may match more than one statement, and some may not match any.
- Look for paraphrases — the statement will express the same idea in different words.
- If a statement could match two texts, look for the one that more precisely fits.
- This is a scanning exercise — you don't need to understand every word, just find specific information.
- Work through the statements in order and cross them off as you match them.
- If you're unsure, move to the next statement and come back later.