PAPER 3: Use of English - Part 4 - Key Word Transformation - Specific tips

PAPER 3: USE OF ENGLISH (45 MINUTES) 42 questions in total to answer – 40 points in total

PAPER 3: Use of English - Part 4 - Key Word Transformation - Tips to remember while in the exam

Part 4: KEY WORD TRANSFORMATION 8 questions; 16 marks

Tips to remember while in the exam

- Read each top sentence at least 3 times so that you understand its general meaning.

- Then read the bottom line with the gaps. Try to get the perspective of the second sentence.

- Check that the first sentence has a similar meaning to the new sentence you complete.

- Focus also on to the time scale of the first sentence and make sure the both sentences refer to the same times – past, present or future, continuous or perfect forms.

- Check the form of speech missing in the gap.

- Do not change the key word given (prompt word). It must be used without changes made to it.

- Glance quickly at each word given to see if you recognise any verb patterns or grammar structures. They are clues as to what you may be expected to respond to.

- Write between two and five words only.

- Remember, one word is wrong and more than five words are wrong too!

- Don't write more than five words.  Contractions* here in this part of the exam {e.g. “don’t”, “won’t”, “mustn’t”, et cetera} count as two words.) Remember that! (* See also notes below).

- Remember to include each word given in each sentence and do not change the word given in your answer.

- Check for the use of nouns, pronouns, objects, et cetera, in the first sentence. Do not change them unless the second sentence does so!

- Do not change proper noun forms (Mary) into pronoun form (She). Keep the proper noun as is.

- Focus on object pronoun use also (direct and indirect forms) and do not leave them out and careful how you use them. (i.e. He offered his help to me – He offered me help.) 

- Remember to check subject/verb agreements in your answers.

- Don't leave the answer sheet blank for any question.

- If you don't know the correct answer you should always make a guess.

- Make sure to write the words in the gap and check to make sure the sentence now sounds and looks at least right with the words you use.

- If you are not sure of the correct answer, write the given word along with another word and try to place the given word in its correct position. This may give you an extra point should only two words be required for the answer.

- To get full marks, the words must be spelt correctly, so check spelling.

- Use CAPITAL letters when writing in your answers where required.

- Use one box for each CAPITAL letter.

- Use BIGGER capital letters for proper nouns, etc.

- A hyphen, comma, or an apostraphe ( - ' , ) takes a box of its own.

- Don’t leave any blank spaces. Make a good educated guess at least!

N.B.: The remainder of your time in the exam is to read back over your work. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

At the end of this part of the test:

- There will be many clocks around the room for you to keep track of the time in the test.

- A whiteboard will indicate the start and finish times so you can keep track of the time during the test.

- Keep a close eye on your performance and stick to the timings that you have learnt during pre-testing.

- Once you have finished answering all the questions, you must quickly transfer your all answers to your answer sheet.

- You will need at least 5 minutes to transfer all your answers to the answer sheet before you finish the test. 

- You will be informed when 5 minutes remain for you to complete your test.

- Once the five minute time is up, and the test has ended, the invigilators will tell you:

"That is the end of the test!"

- Follow their instructions and pens down at that time.

- Once you have been instructed to finish, place your pens down quickly. If you fail to follow this instruction, you may be disqualified.

- Wait for the interlocutor to come round and pick up your question and answer sheet.

NOTES:

* Cambridge examiners, by rule, always count contracted words as two separate words. Thus a contracted form is counted as two words! When counting an FCE candidate's written response to Paper 2, Paper 3 (Parts 2, 3 or 4) and Paper 4 (Part 2) respectively, examiners count individual words as 1 word and count contracted words as 2 words; just as a contracted word would be if it were not contracted in the first place, i.e. any words used in formal register. They count contracted words like aren't (are not), doesn't (does not), haven't (have not) as two words. These contractions are counted as two words because they are in fact two very distinct words merely contracting into a one-word form of use.

There is one clearly established word to which this rule does not apply and that is the contraction to the word 'cannot', i.e. can't. In this case, the contracted form 'can't' is considered, and is counted, as only one word when used in informal register.