The Use of English section, in Cambridge English: First & Advanced, is part of the first paper, Reading & Use of English. It comprises the first 4 parts of this paper. So here’s a brief description of each of the four parts:
1. Use of English Part 1: Multiple-choice Cloze
It’s a text with 8 gaps plus an example (0). For each gap you have to choose 1 out of 4 options (A, B, C, D). This part tests a variety of aspects of the English language, like idioms, collocations, shades of meaning, phrasal verbs, fixed phrases etc.
2. Use of English Part 2: Open Cloze
There’s a text with 8 gaps plus an example (0). In this case, you don’t have any options to choose from. Therefore, the focus in this part is not on vocabulary, but on grammar and the way sentences, paragraphs and ideas are connected. In most cases, you’ll need grammar words, i.e. words that don’t have a meaning for themselves (NOT nouns, verbs or adjectives, for instance). There’s a clear emphasis on prepositions, connectives, etc. However, vocabulary assessment is also present as part of phrasal verbs, fixed expressions, etc.
3. Use of English Part 3: Word Transformation
It’s a text with 8 gaps plus an example (0). At the end of the gapped lines there’s a word in capital letters. In order to fill in the gap correctly, you have to transform that word to another with the same root that fits the gap. The focus here is clearly lexical. You have to master word transformation processes (verb to noun, noun to verb, adjective to noun, adjective to adverb, etc.)
4. Use of English Part 3: Key Word Transformation (or Sentence Transformation)
In this part, there are 6 sentences that have to be transformed using one word given in capitals. You have to do this by filling in a gap in the second sentence with 2 to 5 words in First, and 3 to 6 words in Advanced. You must use the word given and you cannot change it in any way. Also, the meaning of the second sentence should be the same as the first.
If you’d like to practise the different parts of Use of English, download and share all the handouts you need from the First and Advanced sections in the top menu bar, or click below to be redirected to each part.- First – UoE Part 1 – UoE Part 2 – UoE Part 3 – UoE Part 4
- Advanced – UoE Part 1 – UoE Part 2 – UoE Part 3 – UoE Part 4
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My friends and I have created recently an English learning group on Facebook where we share together articles, exercices etc… to improve our skills together while having fun. I must say that I often share your articles with them because they really enjoy it! Thank you so much!
Thanks to you, too, Virginie! I’m also very glad they enjoy these articles. Thanks for sharing with your friends. Keep Smiling English also has a Facebook page, in case you and your friends want to check it out. Thanks again! 😉
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