FCE PAPER 3 USE OF ENGLISH

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Paper format The paper contains four parts.
Timing 45 minutes.
No. of parts 4.
No. of questions 42.
Task types Multiple-choice cloze, open cloze, word formation, key word transformations.
Answer format Candidates may write on the question paper, but must transfer their answers to the  separate answer sheet within the time limit. Candidates indicate their answers by shading the correct lozenges or writing the required word or words in capital letters in a box on the separate answer sheet.
Marks Parts 1, 2, and 3: each correct answer receives 1 mark. Part 4: each answer receives up to 2 marks.


STRUCTURE AND TASKS

PART 1

Task type and focus Multiple-choice cloze. Lexical/lexico-grammatical.
Format A modified cloze test containing 12 gaps and followed by 4-option multiple-choice items.
No. of questions 12.

PART 2

Task type and focus Open cloze. Grammatical/lexico-grammatical.
Format A modified cloze test containing 12 gaps.
No. of questions 12.

PART 3

Task type and focus Word formation. Lexical/lexico-grammatical.
Format A text containing 10 gaps. Each gap corresponds to a word. The stems of the missing words are given beside the text and must be changed to form the missing word.
No. of questions 10.

PART 4

Task type and focus Key word transformations. Lexical and grammatical.
Format Eight separate items, each with a lead-in sentence and a gapped second sentence to be completed in two to five words, one of which is a given ‘key word’.
No. of questions 8.


PRACTICE TEST 1
PAPER 3: USE OF ENGLISH

          Test1 Part 1 (questions 1–12) (Multiple-Choice Cloze)

          Test1 Part 2 (questions 13–24) (Open Cloze)

          Test1 Part 3 (questions 25–34) (Word Formation)

          Test1 Part 4 (questions 35–42) (Key Word Transformations)



 PRACTICE TEST 2
 PAPER 3: USE OF ENGLISH

          Test 2 Part 1 (questions 1–12) (Multiple-Choice Cloze)

          Test 2 Part 2 (questions 13–24) (Open Cloze)

          Test 2 Part 3 (questions 25–34) (Word Formation)

          Test 2 Part 4 (questions 35–42) (Key Word Transformations)






Adapted from the 'FCE Handbook', which is available to order from Cambridge ESOL.