Exam Tips (paper by paper)

 

Exam Overview 

In English (incl. sample papers & answers keys) and in Spanish.

Here are a few resources to help you get a better understanding of the exam and learn how to tackle each individual part successfully. As indicated, some of them are in English and others in Spanish, which is only due to the usefulness of their content. 

1. Reading & Use of English (7 Parts / 1 hr 15 mins)

Use of English (Part 1-4)

Part 1 - Multiple-choice cloze (6-7 mins): video incl. examples & tips (Spanish).

Part 2 - Open cloze (6-7 mins): video incl. step-by-step explanation (Spanish).

Part 3 - Word formation (6-7 mins): video incl. tips & video incl. step-by-step explanation (Spanish).

Part 4 - Key word transformation (approx. 8 mins): video incl. tips & video incl. step-by-step  explanation (Spanish).

Please also check the tips in English Vocabulary in Use: Unit 1: Learning Vocabulary 

and Unit 2: Organising a vocabulary notebook.

Reading (Part 5-7) approx. 14 mins each

Part 5 - Multiple choice: video incl. tips (English).

Part 6 - Gapped text: video incl. step-by-step explanation (English).

Part 7 - Multiple matching: video incl. tips (English).

2. Writing (2 Tasks of 140-190 words each / 1 hr 20 mins)

Part 1 (approx. 40 mins)

- Essay: Sample task, candidate's answer and writing guide (English) + video with tips (Spanish).

Part 2 (approx 40 mins)

In this part you'll have to choose 1 of 3 options, which could be any of the following text types:

- Article: Sample task and candidate's answer, incl. corrections and feedback + video with tips.

- Review: Sample task and candidate's answer + video with tips. 

- Report: Sample task and candidate's answer, incl. corrections and feedback + video with tips.

- Informal email/letter: Sample task and candidate's answer, incl. corrections and feedback + video with tips.

- Formal email/letter (of application): Sample task and candidate's answer, incl. corrections and feedback, step-by-step introduction + video with tips.

3. Listening (4 Parts / 40 mins)

Check this guide (Spanish), incl. a video, explaining how to tackle each part of this paper.

Part 1 - Multiple choice: video incl. tips + a sample test you can do while watching (English)

Part 2 - Sentence completion: video incl. tips + a sample test you can do while watching (English)

Part 3 - Multiple matching: video incl. tips + a sample test you can do while watching (English)

Part 4 - Multiple choice: video incl. tips + a sample test you can do while watching (English)

4. Speaking (4 Parts / 14 mins for 2 candidates)

Watch this video of a real exam and see what different examiners had to say about the Cambridge speaking exams here:

Learn how to tackle part 1 & 2 in this video (Spanish).

Part 1 (interview) 2 mins
Part 2 (long turn) 3 mins

Learn how to tackle part 3 & 4 in this video (Spanish).

Part 3 (collaborative task) 3 mins
Part 4 (discussion) 4 mins