Level B2 (First)
Exercise Overview & Explanation
The Part 5 Reading section consists of a long text (from modern articles, fiction, or non-fiction) followed by 6 multiple-choice questions (A, B, C, or D). It tests your ability to understand specific details, text organization, opinions, and the author’s purpose.
Top Tips & Strategies
- Questions follow the order of the text: The answer to question 1 will be near the beginning, question 2 follows after, and so forth.
- Don’t just hunt for identical words: Correct options almost always use paraphrasing and synonyms rather than repeating words from the text.
- Read the question stem first, then the text: Avoid looking at the four options (A-D) right away to keep your mind from getting confused by the wrong answers (distractors). Read the question, find the relevant area in the text, and then look at the options.
Level C1 (Advanced)
Exercise Overview & Explanation
At the C1 level, reading comprehension requires you to read between the lines. You will tackle a complex academic, editorial, or literary text followed by 6 multiple-choice questions. This part looks at abstract concepts, tone, implication, irony, and the overarching argument of the text.
Top Tips & Strategies
- Identify global questions: Sometimes, the final question asks about the text as a whole rather than a single paragraph (e.g., the author’s overall attitude).
- Beware of “distractors”: Incorrect options will often feature exact phrases or vocabulary lifted right out of the text to trick you. The right answer will usually explain the underlying idea with completely different words.
- Locate your evidence: Before committing to a choice, find the exact sentence in the text that proves your answer and highlight it.