Part 1: Multiple-Choice Cloze
What is it?
This is a short text with 8 gaps. For each gap, you get four multiple-choice options (A, B, C, or D). Your job is to choose the one word that fits the gap perfectly.
What does it test?
This part is all about precise vocabulary. It checks if you know:
- Collocations: Words that just *sound right* together. (e.g., You
make a mistake, you don't do a mistake).
- Phrasal Verbs: Verbs that change meaning with a preposition (e.g.,
look up, look after, look into).
- Shades of Meaning: The small difference between similar words (e.g.,
glance vs. stare, or hope vs. wish).
- Fixed Phrases: Common expressions like
on the other hand or as a matter of fact.
👑 Top Tip: The "Word Vibe Check"
This part is a vibe check for words. Often, only one word has the correct "vibe" or collocation. If you're stuck, read the sentence four times, once with each option. One will usually *feel* much more natural (or less weird) than the others. Trust your gut!
Part 2: Open Cloze
What is it?
This is another short text with 8 gaps. This time, there are no options. You have to think of the one perfect word that fits each gap. It's tough, but it's always just one word!
What does it test?
This part is almost 100% grammar. It checks if you know all the small "glue" words that hold English together:
- Prepositions:
in, at, on, of, for, with...
- Articles & Quantifiers:
a, an, the, some, any, much, many.
- Pronouns:
who, which, whose, that.
- Auxiliary Verbs:
be, do, have (and their forms: is, are, was, did, has).
- Conjunctions:
and, but, so, although, if, unless.
🤖 Top Tip: The "Grammar Hacker"
Think of this text as a "hacked" document with missing code. You are the hacker who needs to fix it. The missing words are almost never big, fancy vocabulary words. 99% of the time, the answer is a small, "boring" grammar word. Don't overthink it!
Part 3: Word Formation
What is it?
This is a text with 8 gaps. At the end of the line for each gap, you are given a "base word" in capital letters (e.g., HAPPY). You must change this word so it fits the gap grammatically and makes sense.
What does it test?
This is a test of your internal "word factory." It checks if you know how to change a word from one part of speech to another using prefixes and suffixes.
- Noun to Adjective:
DANGER → dangerous
- Verb to Noun:
DECIDE → decision
- Adjective to Adverb:
QUICK → quickly
- Making Opposites (Prefixes):
AGREE → disagree or LIKE → unlike
- Making Plurals: (Sometimes, but less common).
🏭 Top Tip: The "Word Factory"
First, read the gap and decide what *type* of word you need. Do you need a noun (a thing/idea), an adjective (a description), or an adverb (ending in -ly)? Once you know, put the base word into your "word factory." Do you need to add a prefix at the start (like un-) or a suffix at the end (like -ment or -able)?