Reading

In the gapped text exercise the paragraph to be replaced will always be connected to either the preceding paragraph in the story or the following paragraph and often both. Search for the common denominator, that linking device which will create the cohesion:

Owls typically eat small rodents and lizards which they find using their keen eye sight.

It is this skill which enables them to be very effective night hunters as well.

Albeit a very simple example this demonstrates how the use of grammatical words to link the paragraphs of a text.

In any multiple choice activities always remember that very often it is not a question of choosing the right answer but the best answer. And also very often it is not a question of choosing the best answer but also eliminating bad answers in order to make your choice easier.

Remember there are no points subtracted for wrong answers so it is ALWAYS worthwhile just to take a shot. The process of eliminating the less possible answers may make taking a shot a bit easier.

Writing

Choose text types which you are clearly the most comfortable with and those for which you have demonstrated a talent for during preparation.

In Part 1 (the compulsory task) you are asked to write a text which requires several answers to questions or comments provided in the question. Be sure to address all of the questions or make all of the necessary comments. Forgetting to do this has a very negative effect on the mark.

Many people think that the quality of the English is the single most important thing in the writing part. This is not true. The marking criteria in order of importance is:

1. Task achievement - Did you do what the task asked you to do in entirety and obey the word limits?

2. Organisational competence - Does the piece of writing look as it should? If it is a report are there appropriate headings? If it is a letter, are the opening and closing appropriate? Are there appropriate paragraphs?

3. Range and accuracy of vocabulary- It is easy to write accurately if you are using a very elementary range of language. However it is essential that you demonstrate an appropriately high level of English. Does the language you use demonstrate that you have an FCE/CAE range of vocabulary?

4. Range and accuracy of grammar - Is the accuracy of grammar and grammatical sophistication demonstrative of a high level of English?

To make a small note about the word limit, many students assume that more is better. This is not true and it is as important to be efficient as it is to be high quality. The word limit should be obeyed as closely as possible. Staying under the limit is the goal while still being able to complete the task appropriately and with all of the necessary details. Going over the word limit demonstrates that you needed more words than effectively necessary and will negatively reflect your mark.

Use of English

There will be a lot more to come on this particular paper but perhaps one of the most fundamental things to remember is that spelling counts. In all cases if you are asked for a word and you are extremely close but made one mistake with one letter. (wonderful - wonderfull) This is treated as a completely wrong answer.

It is widely known that American and British have different ways of spelling certain words (i.e. color / colour or recognise / recognize) Both variations of English are accepted in the exam so long as you are consistent. That is to say that throughout the paper you mustn't switch back and forth between your spelling variations.

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