Exam Guides

Master every question type with strategies, tips, and practice

Cambridge

Cambridge English Guides

Strategies for A2 Key to C2 Proficiency question types

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Reading

Reading Multiple Choice

15 min

Read a text and answer comprehension questions with multiple choice options. Tests detailed understanding.

A2 Key (KET), B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Gapped Text

15 min

Put missing sentences or paragraphs back into a long text. Tests how well you understand the way a text is organised.

B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Multiple Matching

15 min

Match questions or statements to different sections of text. Tests scanning and detailed understanding.

B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Cross-Text Multiple Matching

15 min

Compare information across multiple texts and match statements to writers. Tests comparative reading.

C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Short Text Multiple Choice

10 min

Read short texts and answer comprehension questions. Tests understanding of everyday texts.

A2 Key (KET), B1 Preliminary (PET)
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Multiple Matching (A2 Key)

12 min

Read three short texts on the same topic and decide which text each question is about.

A2 Key (KET)
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Matching (B1 Preliminary)

12 min

Match five people to the text that best fits what each person needs.

B1 Preliminary (PET)
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Long Text Multiple Choice (B1 Preliminary)

18 min

Read a longer text and answer five multiple-choice questions about detail, opinion and overall meaning.

B1 Preliminary (PET)
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Simple Gapped Text

12 min

Fill in missing sentences in a text from given options. Tests understanding of text structure.

B1 Preliminary (PET)
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Listening Multiple Choice with Pictures

10 min

Listen to short conversations and choose the picture that answers each question.

A2 Key (KET), B1 Preliminary (PET)
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Listening Multiple Choice

12 min

Listen to conversations, interviews or short extracts and choose the correct answer.

A2 Key (KET), B1 Preliminary (PET), B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Listening Gap Fill

10 min

Listen to one speaker and write the missing words or numbers in the notes.

A2 Key (KET), B1 Preliminary (PET)
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Listening Sentence Completion

12 min

Listen to a talk and complete sentences with the exact words you hear.

B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Listening Matching

12 min

Listen to speakers or a conversation and match each item to the correct option.

A2 Key (KET), B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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IELTS

IELTS Guides

Strategies for IELTS Academic Reading and Writing

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TOEFL

TOEFL Guides

Strategies for TOEFL iBT reading and writing tasks

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TOEIC

TOEIC Guides

Strategies for TOEIC Reading section question types

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PTE

PTE Academic Guides

Strategies for PTE Academic reading, writing and listening tasks

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Complete Guide to English Proficiency Exam Question Types

These guides cover the question types we have practice tests for in Cambridge English exams (A2 Key to C2 Proficiency), IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC Reading and PTE Academic.

Cambridge Use of English Tasks

Multiple Choice Cloze, Open Cloze, Word Formation, and Key Word Transformation test vocabulary, grammar, and ability to paraphrase.

Reading Tasks

Reading Multiple Choice, Gapped Text, Multiple Matching, and Cross-Text Multiple Matching test comprehension and text analysis skills across Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, and PTE.

Writing Tasks

Essay Writing, IELTS Task 1 & 2, TOEFL Academic Discussion, and PTE Write Essay test your ability to communicate effectively in written English.