CAE Exam Help: READING AND USE OF ENGLISH

• English
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2-4

CAE Reading and Use of English 

Use of English before Reading

One of the most popular plans recommended by  teachers. Based on the idea that we are looking at two tests in one – Reading AND Use of English. Most candidates struggle with the UoE and feel more confident about the Reading. Therefore, they try to do the harder part at the start when they are still mentally fresh.

The sequence looks like this: 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Parts 2, 3 and 4 come first as they make up the Use of English section followed by the rest (Reading). It is a good way of tackling your weakness first and then cruise through the rest without having to worry.

Part 1 – multiple choice cloze (a text with gaps)

You read a short text with eight gaps. For each gap, there are four possible words to choose from (A-D). This part tests your vocabulary skills, or more specifically your knowledge of idioms, collocations, fixed phrases, etc.

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About Part 2 - Open Cloze

In Part 2, you read a short text with eight gaps, but this time, there are no options to choose from. Instead, you need to analyse the gaps and decide by yourself what is missing in each gap. The focus shifts from vocabulary, as in Part 1, towards grammar and you need to demonstrate your knowledge of the control of different grammatical structures.

Pronouns

Pronouns will often be gapped. In particular look out for reflexive pronouns such as 'ourselves', 'yourself' etc. and relative pronouns - 'who', 'where', 'when' etc. 

Articles and quantifiers

Articles and quantifiers like 'much', 'more', 'some', 'many', 'any', etc. will sometimes be required. 

Modal verbs

Modal verbs, like 'will', 'would', 'must', 'can' etc and the auxiliary verbs 'be', 'do', and 'have' are often tested

Conjunctions

Conjunctions like 'although', 'yet', 'still' or 'because' will sometimes be gapped.

Prepositions

Prepositions, especially those in set expressions like 'on the contrary' or 'in the meantime' will sometimes be gapped.

Part 5 – Multiple choice

In this first true reading task, you have to analyse a text and answer six questions, each of which comes with four possible answers (A-D). This task tests a range of reading skills and different levels of understanding, for example, gist, attitude and opinion, tone, detail, purpose, etc.

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