This is the last part of the series of articles on CAE (new 2015 format). The part which is all about Reading and Use of English. I imagine the hardest paper in the exam (Or maybe the easiest one for some of you).
1)As usual, get introduced to the format of CAE Reading & Use of English
Here are the format and the strategies for this paper:
CAE Reading & Use of English. Format & Strategies
2)Do the tasks in printed form
And the reason you should is that it works best. I’ve already talked about it in the article about CAE Listening.
3)Again, stick to the time limit
It’s especially important to do here since it is quite easy to get stuck in some part of this paper and spend on it far more time than is needed. Each part should take around 10 to 15 minutes. 20 at most. So keep track of how much time each task takes you, so you stay aware which part needs more practice. Additionally, it is a good idea to start with the tasks which you know are less time-consuming for you.
4)Practise on a regular basis
What you need to do here is to boost your vocabulary of advanced words, especially your knowledge of collocations, idioms and phrasal verbs. Expose yourself to materials on different topics.
(Actually, there are topics which are most frequently encountered in CAE exams. So you can take those into consideration. I’m going to list the topics later)
When you read something, try to spot words that form an idiomatic expression or, in other words, an indivisible unit in which all these words when put together create one single meaning. Additionally, enrich your knowledge of advanced grammar constructions.
And more importantly, use those in writing and speaking once there’s the right moment since it’s the best way to memorise things, not to mention that it will enhance your active vocabulary in these skills.
What often happens is that students end up having loads of notes with new words and phrases and only a small percentage of them have been applied in conversation or writing. (Though sometimes it happens to me either). So ensure that the things you actually practise aren’t immensely outnumbered by the things you just write down.
Another thing that will help you to memorise new words and constructions is regular reading because that way you are able to encounter the same words and expressions every once in a while.
And not only will it help you to memorise them, but also ‘feel’ their meaning. And, conversely, when you start feeling what they actually mean, you memorise them at your best. It’s different from just understanding words and phrases with your mind when you sometimes are not really sure what the right moments are to use the things you learnt. But when you come across the same phrase a few times and in different contexts then it kind of clicks and you have almost no doubts when or where exactly to say or write this phrase or whatever phrase or word you happened to encounter more than once.
And, in the following paragraph, I’m going to explain in details how it actually works.
The reading strategy
First and foremost, when you read don’t try to refer to the dictionary all the time, don’t try to translate all the words. There’s no need in it. (Perhaps you might already be aware of it, but just in case some of you aren’t). Personally, not all the words in different materials was I familiar with. Neither when I was preparing for my exam, nor when I was taking it. And it didn’t hold me back. But there should be a strategy so you won’t fall into another trap.
And here it is.
Look up only the words which:
1)seem very useful to you.
2)are ‘keywords’, that is, prevent you from grasping the general meaning.
3)have already been come across to you 3/4/5 and more times.
As regards all the other words you just try to guess their meaning from the context. If you fail to do so, don’t worry. After you encounter them a few times throughout your reading you’ll understand what they actually mean. If you still don’t follow them, then you might meet the same words in other sources.
There might be a question from you like, ‘But what if I won’t come across these words or expressions again in the future?’
Well, if they are very rarely encountered or even aren’t encountered anymore, then it means these words aren’t frequently come across. If so, you don’t really need them. However, sometimes you can look them up in the dictionary and use if you like.
And here are most frequently encountered topics in CAE tests which you should take into account when choosing materials to read:
Career/Job/Success
Modern technology
The Internet
Education
Travel
Health/Sport
Language studying
Ecology/the environment
Science
Psychology/Personal growth
Relationships (friends, colleagues, teammates, etc.)
The arts
History
Justice (much less often encountered than the others, but still is)
5)Commit to a tests book
Do 1 test once a week. Or your rate of practice can vary a little bit. The thing is to maintain a routine. Try not to skip your work throughout an extended period of time.
There is actually a tests book which is the closest to the actual exam materials. At least, it seemed to me that way, as if the same people were responsible for designing both the actual CAE exam materials and this tests. Anyway, this one is the most tricky and difficult as opposed to any other tests books. And the book is called ‘Cambridge English Advanced. Practice Tests Plus 2’ by Nick Kenny and Jacky Newbrook. So I think if you reach excellence in completing these tests, then you are sure to pass your CAE exam at a high grade. If you’re not really good at it, then it makes sense to start with an easier book first.
Alright. There you are. Hope these articles turn out to be useful for you. And also help you make your CAE preparation enjoyable in a way. Of course, this is labour in the first place and can’t be all about fun. But, strange as it may sound, we should also learn to enjoy our labour, for example, every day after our language practice we can enjoy the fact that we have made, although small, a step forward. And once you have managed to, then, wow, what an amazing learner you can be!
The other parts of this series:
How to Reach Excellence in CAE. Listening
How to Reach Excellence in CAE. Writing
How to Reach Excellence in CAE. Speaking