The exam’s own vocabulary

Every Cambridge exam term, explained

The exams name their tasks precisely, and the names tell you nothing until someone defines them. Two sentences per term — and next to each one, the place to practise the thing it names.

Reading & Use of English tasks

Multiple-choice cloze: A short text with eight gaps, each offering four words (A–D) that look deceptively similar. It tests vocabulary in context — collocations, fixed phrases and shades of meaning — rather than grammar. Part 1 of Reading & Use of English at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Open cloze: A text with eight gaps and no options: you supply the one word that fits each. The missing words are almost always grammar — prepositions, articles, auxiliaries, relative pronouns. Part 2 of Reading & Use of English at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Word formation: Each gap comes with a root word in capitals — you change its form until it fits, with prefixes, suffixes, or both (STRONG → STRENGTHEN). Watch for gaps that need a negative or a plural; they are where the marks leak. Part 3 at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Key word transformation: Rewrite a sentence so it means the same, using a given key word you may not change. The answer must fit a strict word count — two to five words at B2 First, three to six at C1 Advanced — and each carries up to two marks, so a near miss still earns one. Part 4 at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Gapped text: A long text with pieces removed and shuffled below it — whole sentences at B2 First, whole paragraphs at C1 Advanced — plus one extra that fits nowhere. It tests whether you can follow the logic and referencing of a text, not just its words.; Practise at B2 at C1
Multiple matching: A set of statements to match against people or sections of a text; the same source may answer several questions. Speed is the real test — the answers are all there, but the paper's clock assumes you scan rather than re-read. The final part of Reading & Use of English at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Cross-text multiple matching: Four short texts by different writers on one topic, with questions asking whose opinion matches — or contradicts — whose. It exists only at C1 Advanced (Part 6) and is the exam's purest test of reading for stance rather than fact.; Practise at C1

Listening tasks

Sentence completion: You complete printed sentences with a word or short phrase heard in a monologue — the exact words from the recording, not a paraphrase. The sentences follow the recording's order, which is your map through it. Part 2 of Listening at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Multiple matching (Listening): Five short speakers in a row, and a list of statements to match one to each — with extras that match nobody. At C1 Advanced (Part 4) it doubles: two statement lists run against the same five speakers at once, which is why it is the part candidates rank hardest.; Practise at B2 at C1

Speaking

Long turn: The part of the Speaking test where you talk alone for a minute: at B2 First you compare two photographs, at C1 Advanced you choose two of three and answer the printed questions about them. Ends with a short question to your partner about your pictures. Part 2 of Speaking.; Practise at B2 at C1
Collaborative task: You and your partner discuss a set of written prompts around a question, then are asked to reach a decision together. Examiners reward negotiating — inviting, agreeing, disagreeing, building on the other's point — over dominating. Part 3 of Speaking at both levels.; Practise at B2 at C1
Interlocutor: The examiner who actually talks with you in the Speaking test — asks the questions, manages the timing, hands you the pictures. The second examiner, the assessor, only listens and marks. You take the test in pairs, occasionally in a three at the day's last slot.; What exam day looks like

Scores and certificates

Cambridge English Scale: The single score line all Cambridge exam results are reported on, so different exams can be compared directly. The numbers that matter: 160 passes B2 First, 180 passes C1 Advanced, and a B2 First grade A (180–190) is already reported at C1 level.; What passing takes
Assessment scales (Writing): The four criteria a Cambridge Writing answer is scored on, each from 0 to 5: Content (did you answer the task), Communicative Achievement (right register and effect), Organisation (structure and linking) and Language (range and accuracy). Marking here uses the same four scales and quotes your own sentences as evidence.; How marking works
Statement of Results: The online score report released before the paper certificate: your overall Cambridge English Scale score, your grade, and a score for each paper, so you can see which one cost you. Typically two to three weeks after a computer-based exam, four to six after paper.; After the exam
CEFR: The Common European Framework of Reference — the A1-to-C2 ladder European language levels are stated in. B2 First certifies the B2 rung (independent user), C1 Advanced the C1 rung (proficient user); universities and employers usually phrase their requirements in these letters.; B2 or C1?

The exam day

Computer-based exam: The same exam taken on screen at the centre: identical tasks, timing, marking and certificate. The practical differences are typing instead of transferring to answer sheets, headphones for Listening, and results that arrive sooner — typically two to three weeks instead of four to six.; Paper or computer
Confirmation of Entry: The document your exam centre sends after registration, with your candidate details, dates, times and venue — including the separate Speaking slot. You bring it on the day along with the photo ID you registered with.; What to bring

Definitions only get you to the door

Knowing what a key word transformation is and being able to do one under time pressure are different skills. Every term above links to the bank that trains it — or start with a whole paper.

Sit a free mock How to prepare, step by step

Reading & Use of English tasks

Multiple-choice cloze

A short text with eight gaps, each offering four words (A–D) that look deceptively similar. It tests vocabulary in context — collocations, fixed phrases and shades of meaning — rather than grammar. Part 1 of Reading & Use of English at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Open cloze

A text with eight gaps and no options: you supply the one word that fits each. The missing words are almost always grammar — prepositions, articles, auxiliaries, relative pronouns. Part 2 of Reading & Use of English at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Word formation

Each gap comes with a root word in capitals — you change its form until it fits, with prefixes, suffixes, or both (STRONG → STRENGTHEN). Watch for gaps that need a negative or a plural; they are where the marks leak. Part 3 at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Key word transformation

Rewrite a sentence so it means the same, using a given key word you may not change. The answer must fit a strict word count — two to five words at B2 First, three to six at C1 Advanced — and each carries up to two marks, so a near miss still earns one. Part 4 at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Gapped text

A long text with pieces removed and shuffled below it — whole sentences at B2 First, whole paragraphs at C1 Advanced — plus one extra that fits nowhere. It tests whether you can follow the logic and referencing of a text, not just its words.

Practise at B2 at C1

Multiple matching

A set of statements to match against people or sections of a text; the same source may answer several questions. Speed is the real test — the answers are all there, but the paper's clock assumes you scan rather than re-read. The final part of Reading & Use of English at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Cross-text multiple matching

Four short texts by different writers on one topic, with questions asking whose opinion matches — or contradicts — whose. It exists only at C1 Advanced (Part 6) and is the exam's purest test of reading for stance rather than fact.

Practise at C1

Listening tasks

Sentence completion

You complete printed sentences with a word or short phrase heard in a monologue — the exact words from the recording, not a paraphrase. The sentences follow the recording's order, which is your map through it. Part 2 of Listening at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Multiple matching (Listening)

Five short speakers in a row, and a list of statements to match one to each — with extras that match nobody. At C1 Advanced (Part 4) it doubles: two statement lists run against the same five speakers at once, which is why it is the part candidates rank hardest.

Practise at B2 at C1

Speaking

Long turn

The part of the Speaking test where you talk alone for a minute: at B2 First you compare two photographs, at C1 Advanced you choose two of three and answer the printed questions about them. Ends with a short question to your partner about your pictures. Part 2 of Speaking.

Practise at B2 at C1

Collaborative task

You and your partner discuss a set of written prompts around a question, then are asked to reach a decision together. Examiners reward negotiating — inviting, agreeing, disagreeing, building on the other's point — over dominating. Part 3 of Speaking at both levels.

Practise at B2 at C1

Interlocutor

The examiner who actually talks with you in the Speaking test — asks the questions, manages the timing, hands you the pictures. The second examiner, the assessor, only listens and marks. You take the test in pairs, occasionally in a three at the day's last slot.

What exam day looks like

Scores and certificates

Cambridge English Scale

The single score line all Cambridge exam results are reported on, so different exams can be compared directly. The numbers that matter: 160 passes B2 First, 180 passes C1 Advanced, and a B2 First grade A (180–190) is already reported at C1 level.

What passing takes

Assessment scales (Writing)

The four criteria a Cambridge Writing answer is scored on, each from 0 to 5: Content (did you answer the task), Communicative Achievement (right register and effect), Organisation (structure and linking) and Language (range and accuracy). Marking here uses the same four scales and quotes your own sentences as evidence.

How marking works

Statement of Results

The online score report released before the paper certificate: your overall Cambridge English Scale score, your grade, and a score for each paper, so you can see which one cost you. Typically two to three weeks after a computer-based exam, four to six after paper.

After the exam

CEFR

The Common European Framework of Reference — the A1-to-C2 ladder European language levels are stated in. B2 First certifies the B2 rung (independent user), C1 Advanced the C1 rung (proficient user); universities and employers usually phrase their requirements in these letters.

B2 or C1?

The exam day

Computer-based exam

The same exam taken on screen at the centre: identical tasks, timing, marking and certificate. The practical differences are typing instead of transferring to answer sheets, headphones for Listening, and results that arrive sooner — typically two to three weeks instead of four to six.

Paper or computer

Confirmation of Entry

The document your exam centre sends after registration, with your candidate details, dates, times and venue — including the separate Speaking slot. You bring it on the day along with the photo ID you registered with.

What to bring