PAPER 3: Use of English - Tips and Preparation

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

PAPER 3: Use of English - Tips and Preparation

PAPER 3 USE OF ENGLISH Tips for the FCE exam

Tips for the FCE exam

- There are four parts to this paper.

- You have about 7-9 minutes for each part.

- Read each text at least 3 times.

- Some parts can take more time to do than others.

- Follow the same order as it is given to you in the paper. 

- You don’t lose points for any incorrect answers.

- Don’t leave any question unanswered.

- Answer all 42 questions in the time allowed.

- Attempt all questions as best you can.

- You must remember that the total time includes transfer of answers to the answer sheet.

- 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 or an apostrophe 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 is to read back over your work. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

REMEMBER: When filling in your answers on the answer sheet, make sure to fill in your answers in this order so as to maximise your overall results:

Part 4: 8 questions - 2 points each – 16 points awarded

Part 2: 12 questions - 1 point each – 12 points awarded

Part 3: 10 questions - 1 point each – 10 points awarded

Part 1: 12 questions - 1 point each – 12 points awarded

PAPER 3 USE OF ENGLISH Preparation before the exam

Preparation before the exam

- Practise doing past papers as much as you can.

- Get a good FCE grammar practice and/or vocabulary book to help you prepare better.

- By doing past papers, you will learn to recognise typical vocabulary and grammar that are tested.

- Note all new or unfamiliar grammar in context forms.

- Learn by heart what it means.

- Remember when and how it is used in each context.

- Continuously build up your word bank of new vocabulary and expressions.

- Use clear and easy contexts along with the examples of new vocabulary formations.

- Remembering to identify each new vocabulary piece as to whether it comes from a fixed expression or is followed by a particular form, as in a verb plus preposition or adjective plus preposition.

- Be very familiar with each part of this paper, and what you have to do in each one.

- Knowing each part will help you relax more when you are in the exam.

- Practise these types of questions in an FCE grammar/vocabulary book or try similar online exercises on the internet.

- Recall from memory the grammar rules and forms in order to check your answers after.

- Use a simple silly sentence like the following to check for grammar forms and/or rules:

“The simple can be present, past and future... always direct, frequently active, often perfect, sometimes continuous, occasionally indirect, rarely passive, seldom infinite, hardly ever reported and never conditional!”

- Remember to always check your work before you transfer your answers.

- As for writing any mistakes/errors: any trace of lead from your pencil, not rubbed out completely can be traced by the correcting machines which check your answers. So rub out, as best you can, any errors!

- If two answers are present in Part 1, both answers will be counted as zero. Rub out the one you do not want, and rub it out good!

At the end 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.