Cambridge B2 Reading & Use of English

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• English
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Cambridge B2 Reading & Use of English

Tips & Practice

Part 1: Multiple Choice Text

What it tests: vocabulary, collocations, phrasal verbs, fixed expressions, and subtle differences between similar words.

Tips

1. Read the whole text first before looking at the options.

2. Look at the words before and after the gap.

3. Pay attention to:

   • Collocations (e.g. make a decision, not do a decision)

   • Phrasal verbs (carry out, give up)

   • Fixed expressions (in charge of, by chance)

4. If you're unsure, make your best guess and move on.

Common mistake

Students often choose a word because it has a similar meaning. Cambridge usually tests whether it is the correct combination of words, not just the meaning.

Part 2: Open Cloze

What it tests: grammar words such as articles, prepositions, auxiliary verbs, pronouns, linkers, and fixed grammatical structures.

Tips

1. Ask yourself:

   • Is a preposition needed?

   • Is an article needed?

   • Is there part of a phrasal verb missing?

   • Is there a linking word missing?

2. Read the sentence both before and after the gap.

3. Look for common patterns:

   • interested ___ → in

   • not only ___ also → but

   • ___ fact → in

4. Only write one word.

5. Check spelling carefully.

Part 3: Word Formation

What it tests: prefixes, suffixes, word families, and changing word class.

Tips

1. Decide what type of word is needed:

   • noun?

   • adjective?

   • verb?

   • adverb?

2. Check whether the word needs a negative prefix:

   • un-

   • dis-

   • im-

   • mis-

4. Always check the entire sentence before deciding.

5. Remember: you must change the given word.

Example

SUCCESS → successful (adjective)

HONEST → dishonesty (negative noun)

Part 4: Key Word Transformations

What it tests: grammar and paraphrasing. Students often find this the hardest section.

Tips

1. Read both sentences carefully and identify what has changed.

2. Think about common grammar transformations:

   • Passive voice

   • Reported speech

   • Conditionals

   • Comparatives

   • Gerunds and infinitives

   • Phrasal verbs

3. The key word cannot be changed.

4. Write 2–5 words only.

5. Check that the meaning is exactly the same.

Part 5: Multiple Choice Text

1. Notice the structure of the text.

   • What is the title?

   • Is there an image?

   • What type of text is it? This is indicated in the instructions.

   • Are there any line # indications?

2. Read the text globally.

   • Understand/notice the topic - structure - overall viewpoint

3. Find evidence for your answer in the text.

   • Often synonyms and/or paraphrases

Part 6: Gap Fill Text

1. Need to understand the following:

   • how ideas develop

   • how paragraphs connect

   • what information logically comes next

2. Read entire text globally.

3. Then, focus on context both before and after the gap. Ideas must connect in both places.

4. Do the "easy" ones first.

   • Some paragraphs contain obvious clues:

     • names

     • dates

     • pronouns

     • specific references

     
     

Part 7: Paragraph Matching Text

Part 7 tests your ability to scan for specific information, opinions, attitudes, and experiences across several short texts (or sections of a longer text).

1. Read the questions first.

2. Find the key words

Example:

Which person mentions learning something unexpected?

Focus on:

• learning

• unexpected

You now know exactly what you're looking for.