What does the 'Use of English' portion test?

Your control of grammar and vocabulary, through tasks like cloze, word formation and key word transformations.

What do you supply in an open cloze task?

One word per gap with no options — usually a grammar word (article, preposition, auxiliary, pronoun or linker).

What must you watch for in word-formation questions?

Both the correct meaning and the correct form — including negative prefixes and plurals.

What is a key word transformation?

Rewriting a sentence to keep the same meaning while using a given word that you can't change.

How do you solve gapped-text reading tasks?

Use referencing words and linkers (e.g. 'however', pronouns) to place the missing sentences or paragraphs correctly.

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Cambridge Reading & Use of English

The combined paper that tests comprehension plus grammar and vocabulary control — the cloze, word-formation and key-word transformation tasks.

The big picture

Reading & Use of English
- Multiple-choice cloze — Choose the word that fits a gap
- Open cloze — Fill gaps with your own words (grammar)
- Word formation — Change a root word to fit
- Key word transformations — Rewrite a sentence using a given word
- Reading parts — Multiple choice, gapped text, multiple matching

Grammar and vocabulary control

The Use of English parts test your control of grammar and vocabulary through gap-fill tasks. Multiple-choice cloze and open cloze fill gaps in a text; word formation changes a root ('happy' → 'happiness') to fit; key word transformations rewrite a sentence using a given word while keeping the meaning.

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Real example: Key word transformation: 'It's too cold to swim' → using 'ENOUGH': 'It isn't warm ENOUGH to swim.' You must keep the meaning and use the given word without changing it.

🧠 Memory hook: Cloze + word formation + key-word transformations = your grammar/vocabulary under the microscope.

Open cloze — think grammar words

In open cloze you supply one word per gap with no options — usually grammar words (articles, prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns, linkers). Read the whole sentence and ask what structure the gap needs.

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Real example: 'She succeeded ___ passing the exam' → 'in' (the phrase is 'succeed in doing'). The missing word is grammatical, driven by the words around it.

🧠 Memory hook: Open cloze = one grammar word per gap. Let the structure tell you which.

Word formation — change the root

Word formation gives a root word in capitals at the end of the line; you change its form (prefix, suffix, noun/adjective/adverb) to fit the sentence. Watch for negatives and plurals — the trap is the right word in the wrong form.

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Real example: 'It was a very ___ decision (WISE)' → 'unwise' if the sentence implies criticism — you must judge meaning AND form, including any negative prefix.

🧠 Memory hook: Change the root's form to fit — and check for negatives/plurals.

Reading parts — answer from the text

The Reading parts include multiple choice, gapped text (insert missing sentences/paragraphs), and multiple matching (match questions to sections). As always, answers are supported by the text — for gapped text, use referencing and linkers to slot pieces correctly.

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Real example: In gapped text, a removed paragraph that starts 'However, this changed…' must follow a paragraph it contrasts with — use the linking words and pronouns to place it.

🧠 Memory hook: Reading answers come from the text; gapped text is solved by linkers and references.

Frequently asked questions

What does the 'Use of English' portion test?: Your control of grammar and vocabulary, through tasks like cloze, word formation and key word transformations.
What do you supply in an open cloze task?: One word per gap with no options — usually a grammar word (article, preposition, auxiliary, pronoun or linker).
What must you watch for in word-formation questions?: Both the correct meaning and the correct form — including negative prefixes and plurals.
What is a key word transformation?: Rewriting a sentence to keep the same meaning while using a given word that you can't change.
How do you solve gapped-text reading tasks?: Use referencing words and linkers (e.g. 'however', pronouns) to place the missing sentences or paragraphs correctly.

Keep going — free practice

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