Reading Strategies for CAE

Reading Strategies for CAE

1. Part 1

   • Recommend you start by doing part 4. Read a lot. Choices are completely identical, then neither can be the answer = only one word that fits grammatically and has the right meaning. Double-check every sentence for prepositions that might link to the missing word. If the word 'for' is in the sentence, it's likely to be important. Read the title Quickly read the text = gives us an idea of the topic Manage your time

2. Part 2

   • Write only one word. (Cambridge consider contractions) Start by reading the title. The most common answers were (in order of frequency): to - being - which - for - with - one - not - as Prepositions: Look for uses of in, of, by, out, before, after, and all the rest.

3. Part 3

   • Word Formation activities test your ability to change one type of word into another, your ability to use prefixes and suffixes, your spelling, and your reading comprehension. Do not use that word to fill in an answer elsewhere on the page You need to read the whole text to get the writer's opinion on the topic. Understanding the function of verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. If you have a word which can be made plural or into a possessive form, it's a noun. Adjectives describe nouns. COMMON ENDINGS FOR ADJECTIVES: -able; -ible; -al (careful! this works with nouns too); -ial; -ant; -ate; -ative; -ive; -ing; -ed; -ous; -ly (not always an adverb!); -y; -ful; -ness; -ic; -ary; -ory.

4. Part 4

   • Use between 3-6 words. Don't change the word. Try to keep the same meaning. Check your tenses. START the exam by doing part 4, and don't spend too long on it.

5. Part 5

   • Part 5 is a long text with six comprehension questions. Read everything and carefully. The answers are sequential (exception might be the 6th question). You have to read the text for what the writer says, not what you assume he says. Read a lot in English. Questions like this are common: What was his main field of interest? / What was his most valuable painting? / Which subject did he specialise in?: Only one is the most valuable; only one is his specialty.

6. Part 6

   • You have to understand each writer's opinion on various topics and compare them with the opinions of the others. You might have to read each text several times Read questions.

7. Part 7

   • Cambridge calls part 7 a 'gapped text' activity. Read the whole text. Read all the paragraphs. Then pay special attention to the sentences before and after the gap. You don't have to start with the first gap. Sometimes there won't be a clue in the sentence immediately before or after the gap. A gap or two might be in speech marks ("") - that makes it pretty easy to find the answer.

8. Part 8

   • Start by reading the introduction to the task and the title of the texts. Next, scan the first text 9. Read question 1 and underline the keywords. Repeat the process with all texts. If a keyword in the text is the exact same as the word in the question, be careful! It's almost certainly not the answer. Practice guessing the meanings of words based on the context. Take a practice test and photocopy the texts, without looking at the questions. Then take some time to create questions of your own.