The Use of English Paper

PART 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE CLOZE
In this part, there is an emphasis on vocabulary and grammar.
Each correct answer in Part 1 receives 1 mark.
Part 1 consists of a text in which there are 12 gaps (plus one
gap as an example). Each gap represents a missing word or
phrase. The text is followed by 12 sets of four words or
phrases, each set corresponding to a gap. Candidates have to
choose which one of the four words or phrases in the set fills
the gap correctly.
Candidates are required to draw on their lexical knowledge
and understanding of the text in order to fill the gaps. Some
questions test at a phrasal level, such as collocations and set
phrases. Other questions test meaning at sentence level or
beyond, with more processing of the text required. A lexicogrammatical
element may be involved, such as when
candidates have to choose the option which fits correctly with
a following preposition or verb form.
PART 2: OPEN CLOZE
In this part, there is an emphasis on grammar and vocabulary.
Each correct answer in Part 2 receives 1 mark.
Part 2 consists of a text in which there are 12 gaps (plus one
gap as an example). Candidates are required to draw on their
knowledge of the structure of the language and understanding
of the text in order to fill the gaps. In this part, as there are no
sets of words from which to choose the answers, candidates
have to think of a word which will fill the gap correctly.
The focus of the gapped words is either grammatical, such as
articles, auxiliaries, prepositions, pronouns, verb tenses and
forms, or lexico-grammatical, such as phrasal verbs, linkers
and words within fixed phrases. The answer will always be a
single word. In some cases, there may be more than one
possible answer and this is allowed for in the mark scheme.
The absence or misuse of punctuation is ignored, although
spelling, as in all parts of the Use of English paper,must be
correct.
PART 3: WORD FORMATION
In this part, there is an emphasis on vocabulary.
Each correct answer in Part 3 receives 1 mark.
Part 3 consists of a text containing 10 gaps (plus one gap as an
example). At the end of some of the lines, and separated from
the text, there is a stem word in capital letters. Candidates
need to form an appropriate word from given stem words to
fill each gap.
The focus of this task is primarily lexical, though an
understanding of structure is also required. It tests the
candidates’ knowledge of how prefixes, suffixes, internal
changes and compounds are used in forming words.
Candidates may be required to demonstrate understanding of
the text beyond sentence level.
PART 4: KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS
In this part, there is an emphasis on grammar and vocabulary
Each answer in Part 4 receives up to 2 marks.
Part 4 consists of eight questions (plus an example). Each
question contains three parts: a lead-in sentence, a key word,
and a second sentence of which only the beginning and end
are given. Candidates have to fill the gap in the second
sentence so that the completed sentence is similar in meaning
to the lead-in sentence. The gap must be filled with between
two and five words, one of which must be the key word. The
key word must not be changed in any way.
In this part of the paper the focus is both lexical and
grammatical and a range of structures is tested. The ability to
express a message in different ways shows flexibility and
resource in the use of language.
The mark scheme splits the answer into two parts and
candidates gain one mark for each part which is correct.