In latest instances, I’ve accomplished many C2 Proficiency observe examination Studying and Use of English duties in an effort to problem and develop myself as a trainer of English. The Use of English part seems along with the Studying part in what is named the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English Paper. I’ve additionally not too long ago ready a full information to the C2 Proficiency Use of English part so do test it out.
This submit particulars the three activity sorts within the Studying part of the paper. I additionally present an abundance of suggestions as to how one can obtain the very best mark attainable for every activity.
What activity sorts make up the Studying part of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper?
The Studying and Use of English paper incorporates seven components. There are a complete of 53 questions, with 72 marks availeble. The Use of English part consists of components 1, 2, 3 and 4, whereas the Studying part includes components 5, 6 and seven:
5. A number of alternative
6. Gapped textual content
7. A number of matching
C2 Proficiency Studying – Half by Half
Now let’s focus our consideration on every particular person activity sort discovered within the Studying part. I’ll describe the duty sorts in additional element and provides some suggestions as to how one can obtain the very best attainable mark for every activity:
Half 5 – A number of Alternative Process [6 questions / 12 marks]
Half 5 of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper assessments candidates’ detailed understanding of an extended textual content. Six 4-option multiple-choice questions, with two marks accessible for every right reply, accompany the textual content.
Basically, candidates must learn the textual content intently to grasp exactly what the author is saying and with the intention to distinguish between comparable viewpoints or causes within the choices.
The questions are introduced in the identical order as the data within the textual content. As for the ultimate query, it normally is dependent upon having the ability to interpret the textual content as an entire, e.g. the author’s goal, angle or opinion.
What does the A number of Alternative Process check?
The A number of Alternative activity assessments candidates’ on their capacity to grasp and interpret the content material and subtleties of an extended textual content. Questions could concentrate on any of the next (see Harrison, 2013, p.16):
- element – understanding of complicated items of knowledge and/or concepts that are clearly acknowledged within the textual content.
- opinion – understanding of opinions expressed or referred to by the author.
- angle – understanding of emotions described within the textual content which both the author or somebody the author refers to expresses.
- goal – recognising what the author is trying to realize within the textual content or a sure part of it.
- principal thought – figuring out the gist or the principle matter of what’s stated within the textual content or a piece of it, in distinction to minor factors or particulars which exemplify normal factors.
- tone – figuring out from the fashion of the textual content or a piece of it the impression the author needs to convey.
- implication – decoding what shouldn’t be instantly acknowledged within the textual content however which as a substitute is strongly steered in such a method that it’s apparent that the author’s intention is for the reader to make sure inferences.
- exemplification – understanding how some extent made within the textual content is illustrated with examples.
- reference – comprehension of what phrases, phrases or sentences within the textual content seek advice from or relate to elsewhere within the textual content.
- imagery – understanding why sure photographs are used, or how particular results are achieved by the author in order to point out similarities and variations between issues.
On the subject of the entire factors above, it’s important so that you can have wonderful deductive expertise. Deduction refers back to the act of drawing logical conclusions based mostly on the data that seems in a textual content.
How lengthy ought to candidates spend on half 5 of the C2 Studying and Use of English paper?
I like to recommend candidates to spend between 15-20 minutes on half 5 of the C2 Studying and Use of English Paper.
An Instance of a A number of Alternative Process
Cambridge English Studying and Use of English Pattern Take a look at 1
Ideas for acing half 5 of the C2 Studying and Use of English Paper
With a purpose to put together learners for the C2 proficiency studying part of the examination, I’ve accomplished very many genuine examination A number of Alternative duties in latest weeks. The next suggestions comply with on from my expertise tackling these half 5 observe duties:
1. Don’t be too hasty – Skim by the entire textual content
It’s essential that you just skim by the entire textual content shortly earlier than you try and reply any questions. This provides you with an thought of what the textual content is about and assist you to strategy the questions with some comprehension of the textual content. Don’t be tempted to start out answering the questions too swiftly. If you happen to do that, you might change into confused by what you uncover later within the textual content and have to start out over again, thus squandering precious time.
2. The questions seem within the order they do for a motive
The questions comply with the order of the textual content. It’s usually the case that every query pertains to every succeeding paragraph. i.e. query 1 is linked with the primary paragraph. Often, nonetheless, questions could relate to your complete textual content. The final query is normally a ‘abstract’ query which is related to the entire textual content.
3. Chorus from studying the multiple-choice choices straight off the bat
It’s a sensible tactic to learn every query after which have a look at the related paragraph with out studying the choices. Establish the sentence, clause or key phrases which you suppose reply the query. You may then examine the choices and hopefully spot the reply straight away. This tactic also needs to provide help to to eradicate the wrong choices extra simply.
4. It solely takes one, two or three key phrases that will help you to infer and make inferences
I not too long ago tackled an article concerning the historical past of running a blog, additionally taken from an genuine examination paper in a e book compiled by Cambridge English Language Evaluation.
The query beneath refers back to the remaining paragraph of the textual content. Nonetheless, I’ve included the final two paragraphs for contextual causes:
Cambridge English Proficiency: Certificates of Proficiency in English 2, 2015, pp.14-15
Though we be taught that Armstrong had beforehand taken dangers as a blogger, similar to by mocking vice presidents at an organization she labored at, the ultimate paragraph reveals that she had modified her methods as a blogger afterward in her profession.
For me, the important thing phrases within the remaining paragraph are ‘managed self-revelation’. In different phrases, bloggers can share their personal ideas however they need to do it with an inexpensive quantity of self-control. Due to this fact, choices B and D instantly stand out. Though the ‘protected’ matter of mommy running a blog is talked about, the ultimate paragraph doesn’t actually contact upon the advice that bloggers ought to ‘keep away from controversial topics’ (choice D). Due to this fact, choice B – running a blog safely and efficiently – is firmly related to ‘managed self-revelation’. In different phrases, you possibly can nonetheless achieve success as a blogger for those who don’t go overboard with the quantity of non-public info you expose. In accordance with the writer, running a blog ‘safely’ is extra linked with larger discretion and self-restraint versus the quantity of private revelation a blogger is prepared to share.
5. Don’t select probably the most interesting choice
Associated to the purpose I made above concerning the attraction of choices B and D in regard to Armstrong’s later profession, it’s important to keep in mind that greater than one of many choices offered could also be right in accordance to what’s acknowledged within the textual content. Nonetheless, solely one of many choices will appropriately reply the query that’s requested. The difficult factor about a number of the choices is that the mistaken choice could mysteriously be probably the most interesting choice. Within the following instance, I used to be virtually tempted to decide on the choice which is superficially true, though it doesn’t instantly reply the query. The choice I’m referring to is choice A. Choice B is right:
Cambridge English Proficiency: Certificates of Proficiency in English 2, 2015, pp.34-35
Simply because Edison used the phrase ‘failed’, and the phrase ‘failure’ seems in choice A, it’s good to look past what’s superficial and study the context and the entire surrounding sentences extra intently.
It seems that Edison held the opinion that we now have to expertise failure with the intention to achieve success. Nonetheless, he didn’t explicitly make this level. Edison did say that “each mistaken try discarded is one other step ahead.” This viewpoint, along with the phrases “strive more durable” and “spend longer”, all level in the direction of choice B and the view that optimists obtain success by persistence.
Half 6 – Gapped Textual content [ 7 questions / 14 marks]
The third of the C2 Proficiency Studying duties, and half 6 of the Studying and Use of English paper, assessments candidates’ understanding of textual content construction and their capacity to comply with textual content improvement.
Basically, this half consists of a single textual content, from a variety of sources, which has had seven paragraphs eliminated. These paragraphs seem in jumbled order after the textual content. Candidates should determine from the place within the textual content the paragraphs have been moved. To make issues tougher, there’s one further extract which does NOT slot in any of the gaps.
In easy phrases, candidates have to pick out from eight choices the proper extract to slot in every of the seven gaps within the textual content. There is just one right choice for every hole, with two marks awarded for every right reply. There isn’t a instance reply.
Candidates must learn the gapped textual content first in order to realize an general thought of the construction and that means of the textual content. They need to pay cautious consideration to the data and concepts earlier than and after every hole in addition to their improvement all through the entire of the gapped textual content.
What does the Gapped Textual content Process check?
The Gapped Textual content activity assessments the next expertise:
- cohesion – the connection of the phrases/sentences and paragraphs to one another.
- coherence – every paragraph should slot in in order that it is sensible by way of the that means of the earlier and/or subsequent paragraph.
- textual content construction – every paragraph should slot in because it flows logically at that individual level within the textual content with regard to its line of improvement (for example, the argument being made, and the sequence of occasions being described);
- world that means – every paragraph should slot in as a result of it could possibly solely be put in that place by way of the that means of the textual content as an entire.
How lengthy ought to candidates spend on half 6 of the C2 Studying and Use of English paper?
Candidates could discover that they should spend AT LEAST 20 MINUTES on half 6 of the C2 Studying and Use of English Paper.
An Instance of a Gapped Textual content activity
Cambridge English Studying and Use of English Pattern Take a look at 1
Ideas for acing half 6 of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English Paper
Based mostly on my expertise of finishing a number of genuine examination Gapped Textual content duties in latest weeks, listed here are some suggestions based mostly on my encounters with these half 6 observe duties:
1. Topic hyperlinks – Take note of the data and concepts earlier than and after every hole in addition to all through the entire of the gapped textual content
When deciding on paragraphs to slot in the gaps, it’s important that you just pay cautious consideration to the data and concepts earlier than and after every hole in addition to all through your complete gapped textual content. Candidates typically choose the mistaken paragraph by selecting choices which can match the textual content earlier than the hole. Nonetheless, they neglect to examine that the textual content after the hole follows on easily.
Within the instance textual content above, paragraph H matches the second hole (38). Exhibiting paragraph H in addition to the paragraphs previous and succeeding it can allow me describe the continuity of knowledge and concepts between the three paragraphs:
To start with, let’s relate extract H to the paragraph previous it. Within the first paragraph starting with ‘Someday’, it’s attainable to make a number of topic hyperlinks with the next paragraph (H). To start with, there’s a shift in focus away from the island of Lanzarote as an entire. As an alternative, the primary paragraph makes reference to the “north of the island” (i.e. a area), whereas the second paragraph (H) refers to “this area”. Due to this fact, we will no less than low cost these extracts which allude to Lanzarote itself and the islands which make up the Canaries (e.g. paragraph D).
The northern area of Lanzarote shouldn’t be instantly referenced within the third paragraph. Consequently, we have to discover one other topic hyperlink. The obvious one is the “unsuccessful” planting schemes (paragraph H) and “failed efforts by native foresters” within the third paragraph.
A 3rd topic hyperlink issues the primary and third paragraphs out of the three paragraphs we’re specializing in right here. Within the first paragraph, Riebold’s plan to make use of synthetic fog harvesting is talked about. The author then returns to this undertaking on the finish of the third paragraph.
Total, there are no less than three very concrete topic hyperlinks throughout three successive paragraphs in our pattern Gapped Textual content activity.
2. Grammatical hyperlinks – The clues are within the language
Along with the presence of topic hyperlinks throughout paragraphs, you additionally must look out for grammatical hyperlinks from one paragraph to the following. Options to concentrate to incorporate pronouns, components of speech (e.g. nouns and verbs) and verb tenses.
The primary two or three paragraphs from our pattern textual content are reasonably dominated by the previous easy tense. Within the opening paragraph, the writer units the scene, taking us again to the fifteenth century with a number of previous easy verb kinds, similar to landed, amazed, managed and dripped. One of many principal causes I efficiently chosen extract D for the primary hole was due to the persevering with emphasis on the previous in that extract with previous easy verb kinds (e.g. had and quenched) and one very revealing previous time adverbial (In instances passed by).
Another excuse that paragraph D matches within the first hole (37) is because of the shift from the previous easy to the current excellent tense (has been misplaced). Basically, the author determined at this level to attach the historic background of how cloud forests and fog trapped moisture from the commerce winds to the current.
3. Final however not least – the additional paragraph
As a remaining examine, be certain that the additional unused paragraph doesn’t slot in any of the gaps. If it seems to suit, you have to to examine all of your solutions fastidiously once more to ascertain the place you have got gone mistaken.
Half 7 – A number of Matching Process [ 10 questions / 10 marks]
The ultimate C2 Proficiency Studying activity, which is an element 7 of the Studying and Use of English paper, consists of a single web page of textual content divided into sections and a set of 10 questions. The textual content is split into 4 to 6 sections – the choices.
Candidates should match the prompts (i.e. questions) with the related info (i.e. sections) from the textual content. With a purpose to do that, they should grasp element, angle or opinion within the questions, and find a piece of textual content the place every thought is expressed.
There are three principal textual content sorts for this half:
- a single textual content divided into sections;
- totally different folks giving their views on a subject;
- extracts from a single textual content, similar to a e book or lengthy article.
How lengthy ought to candidates spend on half 7 of the C2 Studying and Use of English paper?
Candidates mustn’t must spend longer than 20 MINUTES on half 7 of the C2 Studying and Use of English Paper.
Ideas for acing half 7 of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper
Based mostly on the pattern activity above, listed here are some tricks to ace half 7 of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper:
1. Decide on an strategy earlier than the examination
Realistically, there are two approaches you possibly can take to deal with this activity:
(a) matching info/factors to sections/texts: you possibly can have a look at the ten numbered prompts after which look by the sections/texts to seek out the lettered part/textual content which matches it.
(b) matching sections/texts to info/factors: you possibly can learn every lettered part/textual content after which undergo all of the numbered inquiries to find which one or ones match it. After all, a piece/textual content could match greater than one of many numbered questions.
Each approaches have their flaws. For instance, with strategy 1, multiple part/textual content could include one thing intently associated to the query. Nonetheless, just one will include one thing that exactly matches that query.
As for strategy 2, a serious downside is {that a} query could also be intently related to one thing within the part/textual content you’re coping with, and but not be the proper reply. To be the proper reply, a query should exactly match one thing acknowledged in that part/textual content.
Personally, I desire strategy 1 because it includes a studying approach referred to as scanning. Scanning is studying quickly with the intention to find particular info or items of knowledge. I simply really feel that strategy 2 is extra laborious as it’s a must to learn every part/textual content extra slowly and punctiliously to be sure to don’t miss a numbered query which matches a piece/textual content.
2. The necessity to recognise paraphrases and synonyms
Apart from methods similar to skimming, scanning and having the ability to low cost concepts which can seem comparable, one of many principal skills it’s good to should get a high rating partially 7 is recognising synonyms and paraphrases.
In essence, it’s good to evaluate key phrases and phrases within the numbered questions and determine them in paraphrased type in the principle textual content. These paraphrases could take the type of mounted expressions, idiomatic expressions or normal paraphrasing of the principle thought it’s good to determine.
The instance beneath highlights that there is probably not a direct synonym to synonym relationship between the query and the textual content. Certainly, you will have to find a refined paraphrase within the textual content:
A typical dictionary definition of epitomise is “be an ideal instance of”. Solely a superb candidate will relate “epitomise” to “capturing the essence of”. Nonetheless, there are different clues inside each the query and part A to steer candidates to the correct reply. For instance, “the human situation” (within the query) could be linked with “our being” (in part A).
Questions on this half typically have two components, similar to a author’s shock at being confronted by a tough scenario. You could discover proof of a tough scenario in a specific part of the textual content and conclude that you’ve got discovered the reply even though no shock is expressed.
The instance above concerning “the potential of images to epitomise the human situation” illuminates the extent to which it’s good to practice your self find a paraphrase of the entire thought within the query, versus only one ingredient of it. In essence, the target of the duty is matching concepts. Search for the place within the textual content the place the identical thought (within the query) is expressed in numerous phrases and phrases. Lastly, don’t fall into the lure of on the lookout for a phrase within the query being repeated within the textual content. This is not going to be the reply, only a distractor.
Ultimate Ideas on the C2 Proficiency Studying Part
This in depth information on the entire duties belonging to the studying a part of the C2 Proficiency Studying and Use of English paper has hopefully alerted you to the truth that it’s good to learn as extensively as attainable earlier than the examination. This may be certain that you change into aware of language objects starting from phrases and phrases to idioms and phrasal verbs.
The Studying part incorporates totally different textual content sorts. Due to this fact, you need to goal to learn a wide range of genuine texts earlier than the examination, together with brief tales, fashionable fiction, non-fiction books similar to biographies and on-line newspaper and journal articles.
Lastly, I like to recommend you to deal with the extra complicated Studying duties (components 5,6 and seven) earlier than the Use of English duties. To start with, half of the marks for the Studying and Use of English paper come from the ultimate three components. Secondly, because the studying components are complicated and require quite a lot of focus, you don’t need to do them when the strain’s on and also you’re in a rush for those who occur to spend an excessive amount of time on the Use of English duties.
References:
Cambridge Examinations Publishing, (2002) Cambridge Certificates of Proficiency in English 2, Cambridge: Cambridge College Press
Harrison, M., (2014) Proficiency Testbuilder, 4th edn. Macmillan Training
Extras
Contact me for assist with getting ready for the C2 Studying and Use of English paper
Options to the C2 Studying pattern duties on this submit
